Comfortable and Chic: Styled Walking Shoes in Four Different Ways

These shoes were made for walkin’!

In my first week in Hong Kong amidst moving house and IKEA shopping trips, I had another thing in my shopping list… comfortable walking shoes. There was no way I was going to walk to and from the MTR stations in my wedges with two young kids in tow! I’m pretty sure you can all relate, right, mamas? It’s almost impossible to go from one playdate to another in heels!

When you are accustomed to stylish dressing and heels in the same sentence, the challenge of dressing fashionably in comfortable flats is something you’ll be thinking about. I’ve always enjoyed style and dressing up because it makes me feel good when I take time to look good. Recently, I’ve invested in a few sneakers which is something I’ve never worn much before.

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I’ve had a lot of “wrong shoe buys” in the past…  You know the ones you bought because they cost less than $100? I’ve certainly matured when it comes to buying footwear. I’ve learned that investing in a good pair helps my back, I can run after my children in them and they last longer too!

When it comes to buying shoes, here are some foolproof guidelines I always use:

1. The sole must be skid proof and stable. The last thing I’d want is to have one of those slip in the middle of a restaurant moments or you’re permanently clung to your husband’s arm for dear life as you cross shiny slippery floors.
2. It must have the right arch. “Flat” flats can hurt your feet. “There’s no arch support whatsoever. Ballet flats keeps the feet from functioning optimally and can lead to knee, hip, and back problems. Poor arch support is also associated with a painful foot condition called plantar fasciitis,” says Hillary Brenner, DPM, a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association. “We podiatrists like to call it shoe-icide.”
3. The inside of the shoe should be soft. Due to the amount of walking I do, anything cushioned will win my vote. Shoes with memory foam inside? Yes, please!

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So how can you look stylish while wearing comfortable flats?  Here are a few basic shoes you can wear around Hong Kong and some stylish outfits you can use to go with them:

Strappy Flat Sandals

I love this pair I got from Aerosoles. Pair strappy flats with a nice summer dress and be the head turner at a girl’s catch up over high tea or during evening cocktails. I love this particular dress from H&M with a deep bright blue colour. It’s perfect for the summer!

White Leather Brogues

These Cole Haan Zero Grand pairs are amazingly the most comfortable pair of shoes I own. They’re lightweight, stylish and worth every dollar. Look pulled together in a pair of ripped jeans and a white linen top to look effortlessly chic.

Black Leather Brogues

Impress the hubby on date night and look sizzling hot in an all-black ensemble with this pair from Aerosoles.  Balance the masculine of the shoes look with a sexy lace top paired with a patterned skirt or shorts. Top it all off with a fitted black blazer.

Read more: The Power of Minimalism: My Capsule Wardrobe Experiment

White Basic Sneakers

Stan Smiths from Adidas are very much on trend right now. I received a pair for Mother’s Day, and I must say they are very versatile. Walk down the streets in a nice button down chambray dress and add a striped shirt to complete the classically nautical look.

Sure, there are those days when you may prefer to just wear a pair of flip flops or even your good ol’ Birkenstocks. But just remember that it is possible to look good even with comfortable walking shoes. Besides looking fly, it’s more about taking care of yourself as a mum. It’s about dressing well to make yourself happy. Go on, have yourself a mini fashion show in your bedroom tonight and try different outfits that might fit the pairs of flat comfy shoes you have. Enjoy, mamas!

Thanks to the talented Jenna Louise Potter from Lucky Fish Photography for all of the beautiful images above! Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/luckyfishphotography