Well, fall is almost here with September already in swing; where has the time gone? I am glad to say that I definitely went to the beach at least once this summer (a goal I am always trying to fulfill). What is summer without some sand and sun, right? Anyways, as someone who used to swear by sneakers, lately I am starting to think differently. As I am getting settled in my twenties, I realize that sneakers may not be the most fashionable choice. Some might think that "No way are any shoes more comfortable than my sneakers!" but then again, I, in fact have a few pairs of flats that are as comfortable as my sneakers if not more! You don't always have to settle for sneakers for comfort; comfort comes in many styles. Now I am on the search for more fashion alternatives to sneakers since flats are not the only choice. Check out my picks below and see if any of them inspire you to make the move from sneakers to whatever your heart desires!
1. Tom's Ballet Flats & Cardones
I have come to known Tom's and their slogan of "with every pair sold, a pair will go to a kid in need" but I have not been officially sold on the model; they just look funny to me. But alas they have rolled out wedges, flats and other shoes in some fashionable prints. They also have cardones that look especially like a pair of Keds but a more relaxed version because of the more rounded top and they can be worn with or without the laces. Talk about versatility! Both of these are definitely at the top of my shoe wants.
Paxton Burlap Women's Cordones, toms.com, $74
Alessandra Burlap Ballet Flats, toms.com, $79
2. Croc Flats
Your first thought was probably, Crocs makes flats?! Apparently they also make other shoes besides their infamous clogs, flats among one of them. To my surprise they have some pretty stylish varieties. These are slightly different than your average run-of-the-mill flats since they use the same material in their clogs to make them. I have been eyeing a pair of Adrina flats myself, but sadly they were out of my size at the outlet (they only had a few pairs of them left!)
Carlisa Giraffe Print Flat, crocs.com, $54.99
Adrina Flat, crocs.com, $39.99
3. Keds
Ohh Keds, the shoe I remember that was once popular when I was a little kid. These are a classic sneaker alternative and they have a style to fit any occasion! I am definitely feeling the pair below, which is also metallic for that extra pop.
Champion Star, keds.com, $45
4. Sperry's
I'm not a fan of boat shoes but since they are a sneaker alternative, I thought I would feature it to give you guys more options to choose from.
Sperry Bluefish 2-Eye Boat Shoe, sperrytopsider.com, $85
5. Oxfords
Definitely inspired by menswear, oxfords can look girly or not depending on the design you choose. I am not a huge fan of these either but after seeing a blogger wear them, I'm more open to the idea of them (but only the girly ones, of course.)
DV By Dolce Vita Mini in Clay, zappos.com, $79
Wanted Lace-Up Wing-Tipped Oxford in Myrtle, wantedshoes.com, $59.99
Well, that wraps up the different styles of shoes you can try out if you want to move away from the sneakers. Hopefully it helps you choose a new pair of kicks, if not add some variety to your shoe collection. If you enjoyed my article, be sure to check back weekly to see what I cook up!
Posted by mandy on September 24, 2012 at 01:19 AM EDT #