Do you want to know about my foot problems? No, of course you don't. But I'm going to tell you anyway so you reap the benefits of my trials and errors. You cannot enjoy a single minute of any trip if your feet hurt. Happy feet are non-negotiable.
I come from a long line not of famous inventors or poets, but of bunions and high arches and troublesome widths. But for decades I prioritized style, so I pinched, squeezed, and stuffed my long-suffering feet into pointed silhouettes, towering wedges, and blistering strappy things. Over the years, I witnessed both my mother and my niece endure major foot surgeries, and then I needed a major ankle surgery myself. I decided to permanently give up uncomfortable shoes that I can't actually walk miles in.
There was a pretty frustrating learning curve of figuring out comfortable, versatile, yet still style-minded shoes. But!! I've landed on some very good recommendations for your trip. Two notes:
I am an extensive walker; my typical day clocks in around 20-25,000 steps. When we travel, we usually clock about 40,000 daily steps. All of these shoes have been tested to go through it.
High-quality, comfortable, durable shoes are often an investment. But as in so many other categories, you don't need a ton of shoes—you need the right ones. I have never regretted purchasing a shoe that allows me to totally forget about my feet.
I always pack these, wherever I'm going. Saltwaters are from an era when things were made to last. These sandals are hand-stitched of leather, rubber, and brass. They won't take any space in packing. Bonus: they mold to your feet with use and they're waterproof—I use them as my beach and pool sandals. Despite a million miles of walking, and years of splashing, climbing, and being stuffed into random suitcase crevices, my Saltwaters still look almost new. But none of that would matter if they didn't also look great.
Saltwaters offer a chic minimalism that works with shorts, jeans, linen pants, skirts, dresses. I especially love how they pair with midi-length skirts and dresses as well as the current wide-leg trend. For more arch support, I velcro in my orthotics. Bonus bonus: they come in a million colors (I have tan, black, white, and red) and you can match your kid.
Try the New Balance 327s that everyone (everyone) is wearing right now. They come in dozens of colorways, but you'll get the best versatility from the white version. I love the grippy waffle soul, not only because it adds a little personality, but also because they offer grip on all those charming but slippery sidewalks and cobblestones. I've worn these with my custom orthotics. What I really love about the 327s is that they are somehow more feminine than most athletic shoes; they make everyone's feet look cute. They pair wonderfully with almost anything except a ball gown. But don't sleep on these; they're often going in and out of stock (these are so good that I actually bought a back-up pair).
You should pack at least one pair of waterproof shoes when you travel. I bought these waterproof white sneakers in lovely, relentlessly wet Ireland, and they were the MVP of the rest of that trip after all my other shoes got soaked. They're roomy, soft, comfortable, fit my orthotics, and they're legit waterproof! Plus I've used them tons back at home. They're cuter in person than I think this picture suggests.
I have bought these merino wool socks three times—not because the originals had worn out, but because they are so good I gradually swapped out all my socks for these. I have a collection of different colors and styles, but I recommend the no-show cream colorway for the best versatility. Merino feels pleasantly nubby on your feet, holds up to tons of use, never smells funky, and wicks moisture. Even in Louisiana August, your feet will stay dry. Some merino enthusiasts even say they wear these socks multiple times before a wash, and I can understand why they say that, but y'all. Wash your socks.
If you're on the hunt for truly no-show that do not slip down, stop testing random brands and get these. These are quite simply a product that does what it's supposed to do. Isn't it the best when you can just solve a need and move on?
If you absolutely need a shoe that can get formal, these are a good option. They're not in league with the others listed for comfort and support, but they are a case of "perfection is the enemy of the good."
A nude minimalist sandal like these will pair with anything you'd wear to a wedding or the opera; they are comfortable; they pack small; they're affordable; and they come in wide widths. These sandals won't last forever, but formal events are pretty rare anyway.
Honorable mentions:
If Paris street style is right, classic black or cream Converse will be forever chic, but you need some kind of arch support insole. I get the wide fit version to accommodate my orthotics.
Nike Daybreaks: I loved these for comfort, weightlessness, waffle sole, and minimalist chic, and because they somehow make my wide feet look slimmer. However, I found the nylon versions frayed at the bunion pressure points.
Mephisto Hester slide is beautiful, crafted to last forever, offers excellent comfort and support, and comes in a pairs-with-everything muted gold colorway. I wore these after my ankle surgery before I could resume wearing laced shoes.
These scalloped socks are well-made of textured cotton and add a bit of charm to your outfit.
And we can't forget these red socks: a pop of unexpected red to your regular neutrals and basics adds a lot of style bang for your buck. They come in tons of other colorways.
And a parting low-cut sock hack: Tuck the back of your sock over the heel of your shoe; they'll stay up and you will stay blister-free. De rien.
Now, off you go. Solvitur ambulando!
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