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1 day ago
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There was a time in my life when I'd spend every morning post-commute commiserating with friends and coworkers about how much my beautiful, expensive shoes had destroyed my feet. "Oh, but they look so good," I'd say. "And they were on sale!" I wasn't alone, either. Back then, we were all wearing shoes that brutalized our toes, arches and heels, suffering for the sake of fashion.
These days, my shoe conversations are notably different. I'm over 40 now, and compliments on my footwear choices are fewer and farther between. And the first words out of my mouth are often, "They're so comfortable." What I usually leave out is that they also happen to be pretty freakin' ugly, at least compared with my younger self's standards. As much as I still love the look of a sleek stiletto or a strappy sandal, I shudder at the thought of actually squeezing my foot into one.
Looking at my Instagram feed, I was convinced that I was the only person stepping out of the house in questionable-looking sneakers and slides. Influencers and stylish friends always seem to be wearing the latest chic shoe du jour. But then, fellow shopping editor Saundra Latham revealed that she'd recently purchased a pair of Crocs. And they were, um, not cute. I was intrigued. How many others were secretly wearing ugly but feel-good footwear? I decided to ask, and it turns out there's a whole crew of us!
Are you part of the ugly shoes club? Don't be shy: Tell us your unsightly but oh-so-comfy faves, and we'll tell you ours.
"Do I consider these seriously cushy slides ugly? No. Do others? According to the reviews, very much so. But I'll take ugly when these sandals do soooo many good things for my joints. From the hips on south, my body is ... well, crap. Two knee surgeries, one hip surgery, janky ankles, etc. And when I say these cushy little numbers help with all of it, I'm not exaggerating. They're made from ethylene vinyl acetate, a material known for its cushioning and durability, and they have helped with all my various aches and pains. I've had them for over two years and though they get dirty (because I literally wear them everywhere), if I gave them a good scrub, you wouldn't know they weren't brand new. The only thing I wouldn't do is wear them on a longer walk — I've done so and end up with a mild blister by the end of a couple of miles." — Kris Scott, Commerce Editor
"I have two pairs of these and they're hands-down my comfiest sneakers. While they look OK with leggings, I wouldn't wear them with anything but activewear. They slide on and feel like a sock, but have plenty of cushion and support for ultra-long walks. They've never given me a blister, either. And while the brand doesn't advertise it, I toss these in the washing machine all the time. Now, the biggest downside is that they're costly, but I have a secret: I purchased mine in some of the not-so-popular colors at T.J.Maxx for a quarter of the price. You can usually find select colors there or on sale elsewhere." — Ellie Conley, Initiatives Writer
"I was first introduced to Hoka Recovery sandals by my husband, who discovered them when he interviewed Jeff Bridges, who was wearing them at the time after recovering from surgery and raved about them so hard he literally asked my husband to try on his pair. Bridges is right: They are, in fact, the most comfortable, stabilizing shoes I've ever owned, like having your feet ensconced in a bouncy, nurturing plastic cloud. Unfortunately, they are equally the most hideous. I've tried so hard to pretend they look good with ... anything. I've paired them with cute little socks and skirts and shorts and jeans and am here to tell you — Dude approved or no — this is peak fugly footwear." — Jennifer Romolini, Senior Beauty Editor
"Before this story, I didn't realize my husband thought I had a 'whole ugly shoe collection.' He would also like to nominate these adorable multi-purpose slip-ons. Here's the genius: they're part shoe, part slipper. They tackle the age-old camping dilemma: You need something sturdy for walking around, but you also need something you can slip on half-asleep for that inevitable 2 a.m. bathroom run. And no, flip-flops are not an option — not with those nasty camp bathrooms. The quilted upper is made of 'adventure-ready ripstop,' which sounds intense but mostly just means it can handle a trail and a Target run." — Janelle Randazza, Commerce Editor
"I put off wearing Crocs for a long time. People I know praise their comfort, but I just could not bring myself to wear such an unattractive shoe. And then, something in me just ... changed. Why continue to subject my feet to shoes that pinch, rub and squeeze? Why not embrace rubber clogs that make my feet feel good? So, I spent $300 on Crocs in one fell swoop and I haven't looked back since. These floral cutout mules are currently my fave — I wear them pretty much every day around the house, to the grocery store, on walks with my dog. And guess what? I've gotten compliments on them. Okay, more like one compliment ... from a toddler who was also wearing Crocs." — Jeanine Edwards, Director, Commerce Initiatives
"I should preface this by saying I don't think these shoes are all that terrible looking, but they are a hybrid fisherman sandal and clog, which are both inherently 'ugly' shoes. Maybe 'fashionably ugly' is a better description? At any rate, they are one of my go-to pairs for spring and summer, and I wear them with everything, but I especially like them with cropped jeans, all the better to show off their chunky weave and aggressive silver buckle. I'll admit that it took close to a dozen wears to break them in, but now they're extremely comfortable, and the footbed is very supportive." — Jessica Dodell-Feder, Senior Home & Garden Editor
"These classic Tevas feature polyester straps that are super soft against the skin and didn't dig in or give me blisters once, despite me walking around for 20,000-plus steps a day in them on a trip to Morocco. The sandals are fully adjustable thanks to the hook-and-loop straps, so I was able to find my perfect fit and not worry about them slipping or sliding. They also have a contoured footbed for comfort and a durable rubber sole that got me through cobblestone streets, packed souks and desert trails alike. They're also quick-drying, which came in handy when I was at the pool or when I needed to quickly rinse them off after a dusty day of sightseeing. Are they the most stylish sandals in my closet? No. But they're what I reach for whenever I'm going to be doing a ton of walking when it's hot out." — Rebecca Carhart, Senior Style Writer
"Rain boots aren't known for being especially attractive to begin with, but mine are especially polarizing. (I mean, the phrase 'duck boot' alone is unsexy.) For starters, they don't hit right below my knee like a pair of societally acceptable Hunters; rather, they come up just past my ankles. This is because I've reached an age at which it's more important for me to have a full range of motion than it is to look slightly stylish but walk like the Tin Man (pre-oiling, mind you). They also have these funny curly-Q laces, which are objectively un-chic but allow me to tighten the foot opening without worrying about tripping into a puddle, since they can't come untied. In all honesty, I wouldn't wear them if I thought they looked that bad; in fact, when I pair them with a short skirt and black tights, I think they're quite cute. Cute, not sophisticated — but they're hands-down the most comfy water-resistant shoes my feet have ever donned, and with solid traction to, well, boot." — Britt Ross, Senior Deals Writer
"I love these little booties, and I don't care who knows it. I have a curiously discontinued multi-color version that looks like little garden gnomes on my feet — and they inspire the same kind of magical joy. They’re the footwear equivalent of wrapping yourself in a blanket with a mug of hot cocoa — and that's not hyperbole. They're fleece-lined, so they actually do feel like a cozy blanket for your feet. I wear them on chilly morning dog walks and feel like I'm padding around in a cloud. Their water-resistant exterior and their grippy soles make them an MVP on dreary days. Are they sexy? Definitely not. Do I care? Not even a little." — Janelle Randazza, Commerce Editor
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