Posted on by PeaceBang

Preaching Shoes, Again

Hey Pidgies,
anyone tried this brand yet? Aravon Mona by New Balance. I thought they were very ugly in the photo but they looked halfway decent in the video.

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Someone begged me to find professional looking flats. I’m afraid they are hard to find, as many of them are too flat (unflattering and insubstantial unless you’re Audrey Hepburn), girlish or transcendently frumpy.

Two examples of things to look for:

Standard, but with enough shape and design to say “grown-up lady.”
Screenshot 2014-03-04 09.54.35

The Floofy thing is floofy, but keep bold, rich colors in mind. They de-frumpify many an ugly shoe:
Screenshot 2014-03-06 11.00.23

Has anyone tried Taos Footwear? This isn’t a flat, but it’s in the comfortable category, it’s black, and it’s a design step away from the Dreaded Mary Jane. I would wear these to preach in without dying of Shoe Sadness.

Screenshot 2014-03-06 12.05.19 Taos Footwear Urge

These are Dreaded Mary Janes and as such must die, but they’re on the verge of being acceptable for younger clergy, for the work week. No. I can’t. You see how I can’t bring myself to endorse Mary Jane style shoes no matter how very much of an effort I make. I just can’t. Although I personally think these are very cute and would wear them on days that I don’t need to feel like a professional, like at a retreat or maybe running around making pastoral calls. They’re fine for that sort of day. Just never on a Sunday (points for you if you can sing it).

Screenshot 2014-03-06 12.04.03 Taos Footwear Samba

17 Replies to “Preaching Shoes, Again”

  1. What do you think about Capezio stage or dance shoes – with or without the t-strap? I bought a tan pair on sale, and am waiting for spring. The theory is that they are meant to look good and be comfortable while standing and moving for a few hours. Mine look like these, in tan: http://www.shoebuy.com/capezio-dance-jr-footlight-t-strap/640486/1311296?cm_mmc=googleproductads_pla-_-none-_-none-_-{keyword}
    [Oh my goodness. Well, first of all, the tan is flat and dull leather– you know that, right? The thing is, anyone with a little bit of theatre involvement will instantly know these as “character shoes.” They’re for the stage. They also aren’t comfortable to stand in. They’re for dancers and for musical theatre. But go for it and see how they work for you. I would recommend gel insoles. – PB]

  2. I don’t know what actually constitutes “Mary Jane”…if it is simply a strap across the top of the ankle, but MK at Outfit Posts was showing a pointed toe “Mary Jane” that I think totally says “Kick the Devil’s A$s” from the pulpit. But maybe it’s too vampy.
    http://www.outfitposts.com/

  3. BTW, she shows them off on March 6th post. heel a little high for preaching, but there seems to be something about the toe and the strap that make it less frump. Rev. Gidget, I like the dance shoes! [OH yea!! I mean, there’s Mary Janes and then there’s MARY JANES!! LOVE those! – PB]

  4. BTW BTW (like…p.p.s.) I have taken such inspiration from Outfit Posts for creating my “Pastor Capsule” wardrobe. She is professional without being stuffy. A lot of what she does speaks to my style and has been such fun to recreate her “one suitcase” posts in my own wardrobe. (Seriously, I think that’s all for now!)

  5. I actually ordered those very shoes in black from Zappos and found them much clunkier in real life. Back they went. Still searching for shoes that will work for a long Sunday morning, work with my bunion-y old feet, and look sort of cute. I do get lots of ideas on your blog but can’t bring myself to pay more than $150 for a pair of shoes. [I know. It’s obscene. I promise I keep looking for well-made shoes at a reasonable price point. – PB]

  6. I can’t figure out how to copy the image, but Gentle Souls, the most addictive shoes in the world, has lovely pumps. Yes, they are expensive, but you can often find them on sale. They also sell wedge pumps, which I don’t love personally, but are very stylish.

  7. But I love the Mary Janes! And the Capezios! And the kick-the-devil’s-*ss shoes! I also just moved to a place that has a DSW within walking distance with the deepest, hugest sale section ever, and I did NOT get the mirrored wedges, or the motorcycle strap wedge booties, so I may be having dang-wish-I-could-wear-all-the-shoes regret. Kind of makes me wish I could host “inappropriate shoe sunday”.

    I keep two pairs of black shoes in my office for no other purpose than for church. They have silent soles. Typically, one is a flat or a low heel, and one is a dress loafer. I highly recommend the keeping of Church Shoes! That way, I can wear whatever I want/need to for my walking commute to work, (and be obedient unto the weather, including the wearing of rain boots when necessary), and yet still have a proper shoe for services.

  8. Wow I can’t even conceive of spending $150 or shoes…I should come south – you obviously are much better paid! But I did spend $70 for some lovely leather boots at the Hudson’s Bay store with a nice complement of straps and a perfect heal for skirts. I too have 2 pairs of shoes in my office strictly for church one black low pump and one a very wonderful combo of black brown and grey- sounds strange- but they are subtle and good for poncing about at ACW teas.

  9. Beloved friends, am I missing something here? All the examples here seem like hiking/serious walking shoes, something one would pack for an extended walking tour of some European cities perhaps. When we preach, we are mostly standing for about 15 minutes, not traversing uneven, unfamiliar city streets in far-away places. I favor high heeled shoes or boots for all work occasions, including liturgical ones, and I find that they are quite comfortable and serve me well. They also work with vestments. Is this a comfort or an appropriateness issue? School me. Have I inadvertently earned myself a placein PB’s naughty corner?! [LOL!! No, dear, you have just joined a community of women with bad feet and knees, for whom an hour on heels feels torturous. I myself wear a sturdy heel or boots to preside in, but I have learned over the years at BTFM that I am asking too much of many of my colleagues to encourage them to get out of the Comfy Shoes and into something more professional, sleek and smart. I therefore try always to find shoes that exist in a decent place between “chic” and “geriatric.” It’s a struggle. – PB]

  10. While not ordained clergy, I do preach occasionally, and my professional life calls for dressy shoes that I can stand in for several hours. I have ‘difficult’ feet- wide, with bunions. I gladly spend $150 on a pair of shoes that I will wear once a week- amoritize the cost: $150 divided by 52 comes to a little over $2.88 cents a week. Well made shoes will last more than a year, so figure you might actually wear them two years- $1.45 per wearing. While the initial cash outlay is large, the weekly cost is less than i pay for coffee.

  11. Brigid, on a Sunday morning I am on my feet from about 8 a.m. to noon with just a moment to sit down if I’m in conversation with people between services. We have three services (8, 9:30 & 11) and during the worship service I’m on my feet almost every time the congregation is seated (announcements, prayers, etc.) as well as the times they are standing (hymns, creed, etc.).

  12. Former dancer before giving in to the call, here, so I have no aesthetic problem with dance shoes. I just can’t wear them since Capezio changed its last.
    I’ve done very well with Thom McAn footwear. The last fits my feet, they’re made of leather, the soles are flexible and non-slip, and I can comfortably wear them for hours. The heel placement is usually forward a bit like character shoes so that one’s weight is better balanced on the whole foot. A flat grosgrain bow shoe buckle or a few coats of dark nail varnish on metal buckles significantly de-frumpifies them.
    Character shoes with a comfortable last (completely a matter of individual fit) can be very good on sprung floors or thick padding/carpets, but the soles are slick and need to have non-slip toes and heels added. Trust me on that one; I’m a broken arm the wiser. They’re generally not comfortable to stand in for long, but are steady and do very well when one is moving. I’m with Peacebang on the gel inserts.

  13. Oh, yes, Sarah! Me too! 🙂 We;re all hard-working gals and guys on our respective traditions’ sabbaths/holy days. The shoes I wear on Sundays are the same kinds of shoes I wear every day to work. I never wear shoes that I find the least bit uncomfortable. I used to be a dancer and have high arches, so I don’t find high heels uncomfortable. I usually were wear hgh heels between 3 and 31/2 inches (or 4, if there’s an internal platform). I was just making the distinction between shoes I wear for work and those I wear for outdoor expeditions like hiking (for which I have hiking boots), running (running shoes), and walking tours on which I expect to cover 15-20 miles/day (for which I’d wear something like the Mary Janes discussed here).

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