Pigeons,
Something serious has happened.
Quite serious.
PeaceBang cannot make up her mind on a shoe issue and needs your help!
The issue in question is lug soles. So many otherwise fabulous, entirely professionally appropriate shoes have them nowadays. They’re comfortable and look much less lunky on the foot than they do in photos. Here are some super-fab shoon that have lug soles that I would certainly wear for most days:
And these Fly London beauties (well, the top two).
I think that as long as the shoe is elegant and well-designed, the lug sole doesn’t make it into a sneaker but it most definitely does render it unfit for a formal occasion. One would not wear a lug sole to an MFC interview, wedding or funeral, period. But what about for preaching? That’s where I’m undecided. I have a pair of black Fly Londons, so you don’t notice the lug sole so much. I’ve worn them with my preaching robe once. They’re comfortable and give good height but I just could not abide by the casualness factor of that heel. I shan’t wear them again.
What do you think? Just to be clear, you’re not allowed to disagree with me about weddings and funerals because I’ve made up my mind on that and I am right. You can put your hand down over there, the one who’s waving from the corner. I am firm on this.
But – preaching? MFC interviews? With a sharp suit? I guess I’d have to see the whole outfit, eh?
Less than 100% formal but I would find that totally excusable if there’s fresh ice or snow about and one is showing up in it (as a professional would do, of course.)
(Who am I kidding? I don’t think I own shoes this formal yet, precisely because I so strongly resist buying shoes for winter wear that I can’t safely walk outdoors in.)
[Oh, I hear you on that. That’s why I own so many cool boots. – PB]
I’m not so keen on lug soles, so it’s weird to opine on something I wouldn’t personally wear. But when does that stop me? Preaching? Black, LONG pants, mebbe. I think you’d have to look at the whole effect and decide if it’s screaming “Shoes!!!!” But you knew that. That and see how many people talk about them. I once wore some very chic, pointy, peach-colored shoes that looked terrif with my Easter suit. Should’ve worn black pumps under the robe & switched out for coffee hour. My shoes were the topic of conversation into the next week.
I have zero problem with these for preaching. My only hard and fast rule for preaching is closed-toe.
Interview? If there’s snow or ice on the ground, they’re not just okay, they’re awesome. To me that sends a message that one knows how to look good and yet be practical at the same time. If there’s no snow or ice, I’d never wear them in a million years.
And at the risk of being sent to the corner, I would absolutely positively wear black/black ones for a graveside during snow/ice conditions.
I have a rubber zig-zag sole that might as well be lug that I bought for graveside services on sodden/icy turf. It has a patent toe so I can wipe off the ick before going inside. I think that a well structured and maintained shoe or boot like those you’ve posted are fine for all of the above engagements.
One of our southern California UU churches has a lovely outdoor amphitheater where they can worship many Sundays during the year – a lug sole could definitely work there. My own sanctuary is a lovely California mission style gothic, with incredible stained glass windows, and the lug soles wouldn’t feel right to me in that setting. Although I would wear vegan versions of both shoes in a heartbeat for other ministry duties. (but not weddings or memorial services!)
I must concur with Wintry Mix and the Rev Dr.–pastoral dignity is NOT preserved if your dress shoes send you ass-over-teakettle at an icy graveside.