The Great Shoe Quest Begins

February is off to a rip-roaring great start--already the sun has shone more in the past 3 hours than it did through all of January.  Colby arrived home Friday night and we immediately resumed our places on the couch, cuddled up with the puppies at our feet and tuned into the Lost Season 3 Finale and Season 4 premiere.  All I can say is that if the premiere is any indication, this season is going to be about 5,000 times better than last year.

We also got our passport pictures taken and can I just say, what a ripoff. Granted, it's been a very long time since I got my old passport photo done, but I seem to remember it being a slightly more advanced process than standing in front of a dirty projector screen while a bored Rite-Aid employee takes your picture with a crappy digital camera from 2001.  The pictures are AWFUL and pixelated and a horrific embarrassment, but then I guess that makes them the perfect passport photo.  Enough people in blogland and real life have indicated that it will only take 3-4 weeks tops to get my new passport, so I think I'm going to risk skipping the expedite fee and just keep my fingers crossed that when our plane takes off exactly two months from today, I'll be on it with passport in hand.

And as everyone in the country is probably aware, the Super Bowl was on yesterday.  I tried to give even half of a flip as Colby spent the first ten minutes agonizing over which team he was going to root for, his decision making mostly based on the number of former LSU players on the team, and eventually decided on the Giants.  Since I didn't care one way or another, I rooted for the Giants as well, but felt that I would be happier doing so from behind my computer screen, ensconced in the warm embrace of Zappos.com.

I've been on the hunt for comfortable, but CUTE, shoes to pack for Italy for a few months now.  I've searched the TripAdvisor website extensively looking for suggestions, but honestly the thought of wearing Tevas, Crocs, or hiking boots makes me want to poke my eye out (but just one!).  I have to believe that it is possible to combine style and comfort, but it has become apparent that I am going to have to take matters into my own hands.  Over the next month, I will endeavor to find these elusive "perfect" shoes, so that I can properly break them in before traipsing for miles around glorious Italia.  I'm documenting my search here in the hopes that I will be able to assist other world-traveling fashionistas conquer the planet one blister-less step at a time.

There are three categories that I'm looking to fill with the perfect shoe:

1. A cute, but well cushioned and supportive, flat that I can wear with skirts, dresses, or pants
2. A more sturdy shoe that will be more appropriate for evening hikes through the country-side or up Mt Vesuvius
3. A dressy but low, chunky heel that I can wear out to dinners and still easily walk in without breaking my ankles on the cobblestones.

So, if we liken The Great Shoe Quest to American Idol, let's think of this round of tryouts as the city auditions.  I scoured Zappos and Endless (online stores selected based on their free overnight shipping and easy as pie return policy) for shoes that showed great potential, but not all of these shoes will make it past Hollywood.  For now, I would like to award a Golden Ticket to the following shoes:

Category 1: Practical Ballet Flat
Clarks - Swan in Black Leather
Clarks - Arye in Champagne Leather
Clarks - Demure in Black Leather
Indigo by Clarks - Giana in Cafe Brown Leather or Green/Orange Printed Satin
Indigo by Clarks - Picnic in Red Striped Raw Silk or Black Leather
Privo - Spot in Chocolate w/ Pink Dots
Amy Gladstone - Bow

Category 2: Sturdy Walking Shoe
Privo - Comice in Brown or Black Nubuck
Privo - Float in Brown or Black Nubuck
Privo - Acacia in Smoky Brown or Black Nubuck
Privo - Trumpet in Chocolate or Black Metallic
Privo - Step Flat in Chocolate
Cole Haan - Phebes in Putty Suede/Patent


Category 3: Comfortable Heel
ECCO - Brig Petit T-Strap in Black Patent
ECCO - Basel T-Strap Pump in Black Patent
ECCO - Bristol T-Strap Pump in Black or Olive
Sofft - Serena in Chocolate or Black Suede
Sofft - Regina in Cashmere/Spirit Tan Leather

So, clearly, that is a LOT of shoes, and I'm definitely going to have some serious narrowing down to do over the next few days.  Looking back over my initial choices I can see that some are not exactly practical for traveling purposes--for example, while the red striped raw silk flats are absolutely gorgeous, they're not going to be able to match easily with a large selection of outfits.  Also, I need to do some serious thinking about whether I'll be packing more black than brown clothing and how much I'll care about the possibility of having to mix the two colors.  It's not the fashion sin that it once was, right? 

You know, it's a darn shame I don't put this kind of time and effort into things like keeping the house clean or whipping up gourmet meals.  I'd be giving Martha Stewart a run for her money for sure!

Comments

[Steph.]

You always manage to find the best shoes and when I got out and look I find nothing but blah...

You know, I'm not much of a shoe girl, but I have to send my favs from your choices. I tend to go more practical though, thinking about what would work with the most outfits:

1st section:
Clarks - Swan in Black Leather
Amy Gladstone - Bow

2nd section:
ECCO - Brig Petit T-Strap in Black Patent
Sofft - Serena in Chocolate or Black Suede

3rd section:
Sofft - Serena in Chocolate or Black Suede

I think black and brown are both neutrals and can be mixed. That's what Clinton and Stacey say, anyway!

[Princess of the Universe]

While I haven't been traipsing through Italy, I have been walking for weeks on the concrete floors of a Convention Centre and have finally found the perfect shoe for that: sketchers! I have some adorable little sneakers from there and they have been a dream! I didn't even have to add the little cushioned insoles!

Just a suggestion!
xo

[E]

KEENS! Seriously.
http://www.keenfootwear.com/product_categories.aspx?cat=Women
Check out the Blvd and Market St ranges.

[Miriam]

Can I just say that Crocs makes some really comfy, un-ugly shoes? They do! I promise!

I love my Crocs. I wear them everywhere, including my wedding.

I'm just saying :)

[La]

I vote for Clarks anything. They are the most comfortable shoes I own, and they've come pretty far over the years and have some really cute styles!

[Jass]

Can I just say that I am most undecisive person, specially when it comes to shoes. I spent almost 4 hours the other day at DSW! Walked out with two pair, one very comfy shoes for work, and black medium heels dressy shoes. I must have tried on like 50 pair, and my feet felt abused as I walked out.

So do not ask me about shoes. I need a few weeks to recuperate from this past weekend! lol Although those flats look great. Black or Brown would be my pick.

[meg]

I think black shoes go with everything, but brown shoes with black pants looks like a mistake

I vote for the Clarks - Swan in Black
and the Cole Haan Phebes are to die for!

I found a couple other options on Zappos.com...

Steve Madden Miraa
Clarks Bluebird
ALL the Rocket Dog flats - SO CUTE
Hush Puppies Caress

[Michelle]

I love to travel and I understand the need for cute, comfortable shoes! Sofft shoes are great. I walked for many miles a day with no complaints - and I'm picky!

http://www.onlineshoes.com/search_results.asp?gen=w&searchstring=sofft+flat&sort_option=Popularity

Onlineshoes.com also has great flats by Privo (as others suggested) and Born and Indigo.

Merrell has really comfortable hiking shoes that look nice too. Try the Siren Sport, one of my faves: http://www.onlineshoes.com/productpage.asp?gen=w&pcid=71190

Have fun!