Tuesday 17 June 2014

My Gorgeous New Sandals

I'm not someone who owns or buys many pairs of shoes, in fact, walking in to a shoe shop fills me with dread. I've had problems with shoes rubbing against my skin and causing blisters since I was tiny so I've tended to break in whatever I'm wearing and then stick with them until they're just about falling off my feet.

In winter, I wear a pair of ankle boots and in summer, I usually wear open backed shoes or flip flops, not the ones which go between your toes I hasten to add, they rub me.

This year I decided that I wanted a pair of proper sandals. I wondered what style to go for. I'm no fashionista, anyone who knows me will tell you that I go for comfort above looks every time, so when I thought back to my childhood and remembered the Jesus sandals I used to wear, I decided they would do nicely. They didn't rub me and they were really comfortable. Of course, at the time, I thought I was being very badly done to being made to wear them above the trendy sandals my friends were wearing, but now I realise that my mum was acting in my best interests.

Mick's cricket match was cancelled again on Saturday, he's hardly played this season because of the rain. As soon as we heard, we hopped in the car and went to Leeds. You wouldn't believe the trouble we had finding a pair of these. The only place we could find any resembling what I was after was good old Clarks, the shoe shop of my childhood. They always measured children's feet and offered different width fittings so that shoes fit perfectly so it was the place my mum headed to first and it's been a tradition to take my own children to this shop for their school shoes too.

The sandals I found came in black or white and I had a bit of a problem deciding but opted for black in the end. I absolutely love them.


They're not exactly what I was looking for, but very close. The sole is much thicker than I wanted but I don't actually mind this now as the extra thickness means that they're really cushioned which makes them extra comfy.


I've worn them a couple of times now and there's no indication that they're going to rub. OK, I'm not going to win any fashion awards, but I am going to be comfortable and that's all that matters to me.

32 comments:

  1. I like them and I'm like you, I don't want anything between my toes and I always put bandaids on my heels when I get new shoes because I know I'm going to get blisters.

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    1. It isn't just me then. I don't think I've ever bought a pair of shoes which hasn't rubbed me.

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  2. ah yes.......I remember those sandals from my childhood too......I think we called them Moses sandals......wouldn't mind a pair now actually, they look very comfy

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    1. I think lots of us had these type of sandals when we were children. They're so comfy, it's like walking on a cloud. I'm really very pleased with them.

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  3. It often appears than comfortable things can't be fashionable and vice-versa. Give me comfort every time, especially with footwear. Flighty xx

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    1. That's true. It's a good job I'm not a follower of fashion.

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  4. Clarks shoes seem to be the only make of shoe I can wear without them rubbing me. I don't do sandals though I do have dreams of a silver strappy pair. Not that they would be much fun in the garden. Yours do look very comfortable though.

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    1. I've learnt my lesson about buying shoes which look nice, they're never comfortable.

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  5. They do look comfy, I cant stand anything that rubs, when I go shoe shopping they have to feel like comfy slippers the first try on or I'm not bothered! We tend to stick with .Clarks, luckily we have an outlet shop in Doncaster which saves a few pounds. I did buy some Hotter sandals last year in the sale and although they are comfy they arent as sturdy as Clarks. I've had a few pair if jesus sandalls in my time, usually the beige ones :-) xx

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    1. I was looking for some beige ones, it's a shame that these don't come in more colours. I think there may be a Clarks outlet shop at Freeport in Castleford, I must look in and see if there are any bargains.

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  6. I think they look very comfy and I'd certainly be happy to wear them, good old Clarks! xx

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    1. They're so comfy, just the thing I wanted for my holidays.

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  7. They look super comfy! I know what you mean, I have the same problem with finding sandals that don't rub. I have a few flip flop types which I persevere with but they are so annoying. On holiday recently, I ended up wearing a pair of sandals I brought from primark, very cheap but so comfortable. They were bliss! There is nothing worse than getting blisters!

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    1. I love to find shoes which are comfortable, they're few and far between so I tend to stick with them until they wear out. I'm wondering whether to buy another pair of these while I can, or I may wait and see if they come in the sale at the end of the season.

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    2. You should buy another pair! :)

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    3. I think you're right, but they weren't cheap so I'll probably wait and see if they come in the sale. I'm going to keep watching out.

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  8. I have been looking for a pair of brogue style for myself to replace my ankle boots (so I don't need a separate pair of shoes for the very rare occasion that I wear a skirt) and have found two pairs made by Clarks. I have tried on a pair and they seem really comfortable too, so will be ordering them any day now!

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    1. Glad you managed to find some. Paying a little more for well made shoes is definitely worth it. Clarks may not be cheap but I don't think you can put a price on comfy shoes.

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  9. Oh my - I had a pair of those as a child and I LOVED them. I've never managed to wear flip flops with the bit that goes between your toes either. I can remember spending some summer holidays with plasters between my toes because of them. My toes are curling just thinking about it!

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    1. I always envied my friends when they wore flip flops with the bit between the toe, I always wanted to wear them but couldn't stand the blisters they caused. Thank goodness I'm not bothered about fashion these days, comfort all the way for me.

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  10. Give me comfort above all things! They look like they are comfy, lots of room for toes spreading! I think you made the right choice with the black.
    Lisa x

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    1. I can think of nothing worse than scrunched up toes. I would have liked the sandals to be offered in different colours but I'm happy I chose the black.

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  11. I have big feet and now only buy shoes from Hotter, they are very pricey but last for years. I tend to buy from the sales and was lucky enough a few days ago to get 3 for 2 at sale prices. I bought loafers, sandals and walking shoes, they will do me for at least 4 years. The lot came to around £90 so cost per year is fine for me. I recently had to bin a pair that had been worn frequently for nearly 6 years. No blisters or sore patches, I do like toe post sandals though and have a pair left from 3 pairs that I bought in Australia5 years ago, they must have bigger feet down under as every shop stocks size 9 and most go up to 11.

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    1. Clarks are quite expensive too, but as you say, worth it if they're what you want and they last. That's a great price that you've just paid for three pairs. I was reading something recently about how feet sizes are increasing, you'd think that regular shops would stock larger sizes these days.

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  12. This is so funny Jo, I just posted about new sandals, along practically the same lines as your post. It is so hard for me to find shoes and I worry abut them being old fashioned when I do. I really like your pair, and imagine they would have been nice in the white too, so I understand the difficulty in making a choice. I hope that they are really comfortable and that you keep loving wearing them - not sure that the grammar is correct there! xx

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    1. I shall pop across to your blog shortly to see what you chose. I hate shoe shopping, it fills me with dread as I usually end up disappointed, not this time though.

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  13. I have a friend with feet covered in bunions, bumps, and such, all because she has been a slave to fashion shoes her entire life. I'm with you, comfort is more important. And sunny sandals weather is nice too :)

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    1. Like you say, buying sandals is one thing, having the weather to wear them is another. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a lovely summer now so that I can get my wear out of them.

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  14. Hi Jo,
    Thank you for entering my giveaway I can't wait to see whose name comes out of the hat. I have really enjoyed putting this together. Like you I hate shoe shopping of any kind. I have awful feet thanks to ballet at a very young age followed by inappropriate high heels as a teenager. These days it is all about comfort not style.

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    1. I remember my friend's mum buying shoes for her when she wasn't with her, I've always had to try on before I buy. I can't stand uncomfortable shoes so always have to make sure they fit right and don't hurt.

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  15. I need to get a pair for holiday, I like the Birkenstock style sandal but they can be a bit exspensive. Its nice that we are getting some sun so you can wear them! :)

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    1. I've worn them quite a bit now and they're so comfy, they're worn in ready for my holiday so I should have comfortable feet when I'm walking about.

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