Embracing Modesty, No. 10
Since we’ve been painting all week we haven’t been fixing ourselves up like we usually do. It’s been paint clothes and messy hair. I didn’t even draw my eyebrows on most days. I am sure my family will be glad to see my better look again next week.
I’m going to take this pictureless opportunity to talk about shoes. It is hard to find shoes to flatter a long skirt, especially when you have kids and you’re running around all day. These things have got to be COMFORTABLE BABY!
Our personal conviction is that we don’t wear high heels. Sure, I think they’re pretty but they have too many drawbacks, not the least of which is they draw attention to your legs. They tend to lean toward being immodest. I will wear 2 1/2″ at most; that’s our boundary. And that would have to be for something really fancy.
There are plenty of pretty shoes that look great with dresses and skirts. Here are a few ideas….
Flats
We like Toms. They are a bit expensive, but it’s not hard to find sales on them and they look darling with dresses. I’ve got my eye on this pair of crochet flats!
My burlap Toms are my favorite…
These little flats we found at the flea market. They were new, but still cheap. Love!
And these are Hope’s favorites. They have a little bling on the top and I am always crazy about a metallic shoe.
Shoe boots
In the winter we like a shoe boot. They are trendy and fun to wear. In this picture, Faith took an old t-shirt of her brother’s that I was throwing out, cut off the sleeves and tucked them into her boots. Darling!
I like my little almost shoe boots. They are a suede shoe that I found on clearance at a store in the city (some off the beaten path place). I wear trouser socks that match the shoes.
And a pair of ropers looks cute too!
Tennies
My girls also like tennis shoes. Sometimes they will actually take a Sharpie marker to a cheap pair to make them the color they want. In this case, we found a pink pair that Patience really liked.
Wedges
I just think wedges are so adorable! Finding them in a low heel isn’t easy, but if you do then they can really flatter your outfit!
Vintage
And we also love a vintage style shoe. They are pretty easy to find and affordable.
and these cuties…
Pure Comfort
Last year I did some damage to my feet and have had foot pain ever since. I have to baby my arches and heels, so that makes shoe shopping difficult. I’ve had several emails from you telling me that some of you also suffer with foot problems. I’m just going to tell you, you won’t have the cutest shoes, but you can still feel adorable!
I basically have to wear nothing but Birkenstocks at this point, which is why I only have 2 pair. Once in a while I can put on a different shoe, but only if I won’t be wearing them for long.
You can put on a cute stocking, add a ribbon or button, do something that helps with the ugliness of the shoe.
Also, a great color helps make a shoe more fun!
I’ll show some sandals in a future post, this is our winter shoe edition. 😉
I think they key is making sure your shoes are in good shape and don’t look ragged. If they do, toss them and replace. Check your heels to be sure they aren’t crusty and shave your legs. I know it sounds silly, but those things make a difference in the way you look.
Do you have a favorite shoe?!
Check out the rest of this series in our Embracing Modesty Gallery!
Follow me on Facebook for more fun!
I ADORE your shoe-boots!! If I’m not mistaken, they are Dr. Scholl’s?! (I have looked at them and looked at them, but I won’t spend $90 on shoes.)
Thank you for embracing modesty! I love the concept, I love the practice and I love that people are now flying the modesty flag! I have a pinboard on pinterest for that purpose as well!
I bought my daughter some lace ones for under $18 the other day at Khols on sale…they werent Toms but looked just like them…she LOVES them!
I also have had problems within the last few years with my arches and went the Birkenstock route. I still love my “Birks” but found Dansko clogs. They, too, are pricey but are as comfortable as sneakers to me. I’ve invested in a brown pair and a black pair and wear them with nearly everything in the autumn and winter months.
Where do you find vintage shoes?
I too have foot problems and have started wearing Clarks as they are available in wide widths and some of them look adorable with a skirt. Now they are VERY pricey but after much discussion and encouragement from my husband I broke down and bought them. Typically I wear my shoes for a good 10 to 15 years…. I’ve even had my Birkenstock sandals resoled twice.
I’ll be praying your foot continues to heal and that you will soon be issue free! (trust me, I know what you are going through…. been there, and still am there but it is greatly improved.)
Thank you so very much for doing this series!
I love grasshoppers. I always associated them with my grandma, but they have some very cute loafers and tennis shoes. I am in my feet a lot and they stay comfortable. They are also machine washable. =)
I pretty much wear Clark’s too. We have an outlet near us and with a generous gift card a few Christmases ago, I managed to buy two pairs (brown and red) and had a bit left over for some cute summer sandles. I also found a pair of Clark’s at Ross.
I want cute shoes with my skirts and want comfort as well.
Fun post!
You know Lisa, we don’t usually think of shoes as having anything to do with modesty, but they really actually do. I used to be a different religion than I am now, & they were very strict about dressing modestly. Women did not wear pants. Necklines had to be up around the neck, hems were to be mid-calf or longer, & sleeves at least 3/4 length, however, that being said, nothing was ever said about shoes. So you would see young ladies coming to church with necklines, sleeves & lengths all appropriate lengths, but with really sexy heels on, sometimes lacing up the calf, & their dresses really slinky & fitting their figure. SMH
Thanks for series… I have really enjoyed it! 🙂
*hems LOL!
I love shoes, but I have high arches and a high in step. Which means I can’t wear about 95% of the shoes on the market. I too love my Birks, and another vote for Dansko’s. They are my two “go to” brands. I also have some Romika’s and Softspots that are comfy. I’m fortunate to live close to a town (I live in a rural area) that has a really good shoe store. The cute little old lady who owns it was the only one who’s ever taken the time to explain to me why the cute flats won’t work on my feet. She also told me part of my problem was wearing my Ariat boots in college. Also, a note on the Dansko’s, they are hand stapled, so each pair fits slightly different. When I buy a pair, I have them pull a few within the same size and try them all. I also have wide feet, so one pair won’t fit, but the next will. Therefore, I must try them on, which means I don’t order off the internet. There’s also another brand of clogs like Dansko, my favorite shoe store just started carrying them. I was told by the owner to make sure to check them out next time I’m in, I can’t remember the name, but they were the original clog Dansko’s were modeled after. They are supposed to be even better.