Thursday, December 13, 2012

Why are all the low heels so FUGLY?


Hi ESB,

I am getting married in April in a simple but pretty, all lace but no sparklies dress made by a local seamstress. I would love to wear any of the super cute heels and shoes that you and the other commenters have posted about in the past, particularly the Loeffler Randalls. Ugh, I drool.

However, I need a heel that is >1 inch tall to lift my hem off the ground so I don't have to hem the dress in alterations, and yet, not over 2 inches tall, since my fiance asked me to not be much taller than him on the wedding day (we're the same height).

I'd really prefer not to spend over $200; though if something is just killer, maybe I will. I feel like they are only selling ugly shoes of the kitten heel variety, so I need professional shoe shopping help.

Thanks in advance!

*****

Madewell has some cute "mini-wedges" with a 1 1/8" heel.


Which look to me like a knock-off of the Marais studded t-bar flats......


Probably you should just find a pair of flats you love and hem the damn dress.

Fugly shoes at top from Suitster via I'm Revolting via SUMI HA

47 comments:

  1. I agree with ESB--I'm 5'11" and have been looking for 1-2 inch cute heels forever and they don't exist. Flats are just look better.m

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  2. Hem The Damn Dress could be your new tagline ESB!

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  3. Granted, I'm the "dansko bride" that loves me some orthopedic shoes, but i've been looking at these recently and wonder just how ugly they are in person--maybe a coat of ballet pink leather paint to make them less "suntan" and they might be cute?
    http://tinyurl.com/csaml4s

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  4. Will it be warm in April where you are getting married?

    Marais Wedge

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    1. be warned, these run super narrow, and the ankle strap is a little too short (i use the very last hole on mine, and they're still a tad too tight)... shame, cause they're super cute. but i bought them over the summer and barely got any wear out of them cause they just weren't that comfortable.

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    2. I bought them 2 years ago and have worn them probably 3 times. Same issue... ankle strap is too narrow, so I feel like my feet are strapped so tight I can't walk normally. Bummer because they are so cute!

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    3. @Anon @lisa that IS a bummer. i might have to stop recommending those :/

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  5. Also these at anthro:

    http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/25496589.jsp

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  6. Ooh yay I'm not the only person with this problem! I am pro-hemming, my deal is that a little bit of a heel helps my posture, but 3" heels cause pain for me- I broke my ankle once upon a time and just can't do 3 inches like I used to. I wish the shoe industry would figure out how to make 1.5-2" heels look better (note that the good ones sell out quickly, see the Marais wedges above), I'd spend some good money.

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  7. I am super scared of posting these here (they are the opposite of hipster and possibly a bit mom-ish) but these are the most comfortable shoes in the world: look at all the pretty colors!

    I got them in pink for my wedding (the peep toes) and now I wear them all the time - including for walking all day, to work with a suit (they look hot), etc.

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    1. those are the most horrible shoes in the world. peep toe. there is nothing "peep" about that toe.

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  8. It's a tough height. These?

    I've seen a lot in that height by Stuart Weitzman too.

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    1. I was typing up my suggestion while you posted the same ones!

      There are actually a lot of short kitten heels by high-end designers (like Jimmy Choo) but they run $$$$$.

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    2. kitten schmitten. kitten heels are gross. please, just get a beautiful oxford.
      Dieppa Restrepo


      ooooh or this color, which i believe i found on esb originally.
      Peach

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  9. 1" is hard. You're maybe looking for a short heel, or maybe a flat with a stacked heel.

    LOVE these (more heel-like) DvF shoes.

    I like these JCrew flats (I prefer them in snakeskin but that's over budget -- they also come in glittah).

    Here are some heel options (for others looking for heels on the shorter side):
    too strappy?
    simple/classic + shorter than they look
    kind of cartoony
    slightly less cartoony

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    Replies
    1. JCrew currently has a 30% off promo... and they do them pretty regularly (just an fyi that would bring them in budget).

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  10. those fugly shoes at the top are REALLY FUGLY.

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  11. I think these have a nicer shape than most wedges at this height (although they're cuter with spots).
    These aren't my thing, but might suit?
    And of course you could design your own

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  12. OP here. Thanks all - really appreciate the shoe shopping. Some not bad options here. Nice to hear that you guys want me to hem the dress though; all of the friends and family are voting for fugly shoes. Also - Southern US will be hot in April. Pick whatever shoes you desire.

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  13. I ended up going with satin shoes from Dyables. Shoes.com sell them.

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    1. yeah I have the exact same issue... we're not the same height but I'm already so damn tall that I have no need to be taller and prefer lower heeled shoes anyways... all this to say... Dyeables.

      I had them dyed navy blue for my sis' wedding this past summer and will wear them as my "something blue" for my wedding this coming fall.

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    2. I love that brand since I can't wear slip ons and I have a dodgy knee so I can't wear anything with a tall heel.

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  14. I was in exactly this position for my wedding. That range of heel heights is really depressing to shop for. I almost gave up, but finally found a pair of Rachel Comey sandals that I LOVE and have worn many times since. Sadly she doesn't seem to have any nice 2 inch heels anymore, but I almost bought some from Chie Mihara, who does have quite a few shoes in the 1.5-2 inch heel range. Some of them veer to the fugly side of funky but some of them are pretty cute. A few possibilites:

    black and tan sandals
    green wedges (also in black)
    blue and silver heels

    The "mid heel" section of their site has many more options; these are just a few that caught my eye.

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    Replies
    1. Those black & tan sandals are lovely!

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  15. I immediately thought Stuart Weitzman, too. These 1.5 inch lovely taupe to gray gradient kitten heels are on sale.

    These 2 inch blush cutout kitten heels are also on sale.

    Also, you could just be taller than him. I mean, I get that he asked (and in marriage always pick your battles), but is his masculinity so delicate that he can't handle you being 3 inches taller than him?

    Also, also. If you find flats you love, hem the dress and all problems are solved.

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    1. really it has got nothing to do with delicate masculinity... if you've always been conscious of the fact that you're freakishly taller than a lot of guys, it feels nice when your guy is a tad taller than you on a day when the whole world takes your picture for everyone to see for eternity.

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    2. She didn't actually say how tall they are, but they are the same height. So, there's no way he can be a tad taller unless he wears heels. I don't think tall women are freaks, I think they should be able to wear whatever damn shoes they want, and I think their partners should support the lofty hotness of their long-limbed ladies. It has everything to do with societal pressures, gender roles and delicate masculinity if you ask me.

      Again, choose your battles. But if she loves a pair of 3" heels I think she should wear the 3" heels and he should suck it up. Anybody who looks at a picture of a bride and groom on their wedding day whose first thought is "OMG is she 3 inches taller than him?!" is a jerk. End of story.

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    3. It's his wedding day too. Maybe HE doesn't want to feel awkward. Or SHE doesn't want to feel like a giant next to her new husband.

      I'm 5'10" and was taller than every boyfriend until my 6'5" husband came along. This is not an abnormal request from guys who are as tall as/shorter than their lady. "Delicate masculinity" is very unfair.

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  16. If you can go just slightly over 2", there are some pretty cute low-heeled shoes at Re-Mix

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  17. These are not bad. I wish they still had the Nelumbo version of these from last year, they were cuter.

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  18. Problem solved! Put him in these: Men's Platform Shoes
    (I once went on a blind date with a guy who wore VERY similar shoes because they were the only vegan shoes he could find. That was in 2004.)

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    1. I'm thinking that was probably a huge lie. He probably just really loved some ugly ass shoes and was afraid to scare you away with his bad taste in shoes. There is no way those were the only vegan shoes he could find. Still hilarious though. Was there a second date?

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  19. I'm really digging these glittery pumps, pretty blue Via Spiga and Halogen wedges

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    1. Yes to the wedges. I'm a sucker for an ankle strap.

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  20. I laughed out loud at those first lovely flats.

    As for wedding flats/low heels, I got mine at ross (they are gold glitter, spiked toes). I seriously recommend checking out ross/marshalls/etc every few days until you fall in love with some. It beats spending hours online looking at shoes you can't try on immediately.

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  21. You could design your own with 1 1/2 inch heels at shoesofprey.com - it's amazing

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  22. Hi! I'm the founder of Milk & Honey where we let our customers design their own shoes -- including heel height! We have non-fugly flats, 1" wedges and 1.5" heel. Anything you see on our site (with the exception of boots) we can do in 1.5" heels!

    www.milkandhoneyshoes.com

    Thanks!

    Dori

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    Replies
    1. That is seriously cool, I just lost an hour of my life making a pair of work shoes.

      I wear flats due to a dodgy knee. However they still need to be well constructed, and have some decent padding in the sole. I'm not at orthopedic levels but I don't want to be able to feel the pavement when I'm walking around.

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  23. OK. Promise not to laugh. But if slightly vintage-y is your thing, take a look at the Clarks website (the English site rather than the American one). Mixed in with all the orthopedic ugliness are some actually kinda cute shoes...

    Read the Printed Word!

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  24. Ah crap. I clearly have not mastered that link thing.

    http://www.clarks.co.uk/p/20353053

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  25. How about mohop shoes? You can swap out the ribbon to any color you want.

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