I know this doesn"t concern Gardens and such, although you could wear those combat dress shoes in the garden, and know one would be the wiser. I need a pretty pair of shoes for a wedding, You know the ones with small heels, and dainty. I went everywhere and all I found was thick soul, square toes, ugly heels, ugly ugly!!!!!What ever happened. Well just sounding off. Love Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), August 21, 2001

Answers

Irene,

I think they are non existant. Antiques! I have been looking for 2 years for a pair of basic black pumps...not to be found.

Hope you find the shoes for the wedding.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), August 21, 2001.

What happened to pretty, feminine shoes?

The same thing that's happened to pretty, feminine women.

Just guessing.

-- Bob (justguessing@hotmale.com), August 21, 2001.

I just got an attractive pair of "dressier" shoes, though they have a very low heel -- barely above 'flats'. The toe is round, not squared off (I hate those, can't WAIT till they're GONE). Mine are a sort of a pearl color, but the salesman did tell me they come in black (the season for the light shoes is about over for this year). The brand is Maine Trotters. I think they had some other nice styles.

Feminine and pretty are subjective words. Small heels -- well, do you mean not very high, or do you mean high but skinny heels. You might try a search for classic pumps. Take a look at this page -- the Life Stride shoes -- is that what you're looking for? http://www.thefoursome.com/lifstridladp.html

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), August 21, 2001.

They evolved into sensible birkenstocks (tm) or the like!! (Just kidding)

Try some other places like big department stores or large mail order places. They tend to allow for middle aged buyers more than the local Old Navy store.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), August 21, 2001.

Irene, they are in Area 51, right between the girdles and petticoats.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), August 22, 2001.

Try some second hand stores and garage sales. I have seen some lovely "older" styles in almost new condition for under $1. I don't have much use for dress shoes myself and have to scramble when I need a pair. I don't care much for the clunkies either except on the younger set. Good luck ! (did you check Walmart? I bought a pair of pink pumps last year for $5 to wear to my daughters wedding).

-- cindy palmer (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), August 22, 2001.

I order my dress shoes from a catalogue from B.A.Mason. They have an 800#. 1-800-422-1000. My favorite is a tea-strapped pump with a 1 1/4 heel. Cant find them anywhere else. They have a huge selection of good leather shoes for men and women. Blessings Peggy

-- peggy (wclpc@cookeville.com), August 22, 2001.

Irene, I totally understand what you are saying.

I am a man and am NOT interested in womens shoes for myself. I want to buy a plain jane dog butt regular pair of tennis shoes. No lights, stripes, platforms,built-in roller skates, nothing like that, just a plain pair of tennis shoes. Have I had any luck? I went to the outlet stores in San Marcos, Texas, one of the largest shoe store markets in the state. From what I saw, I might as well stick my feet into a pair of toasters; the toasters would be less eye catching IMHO.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), August 22, 2001.

Hey, I did a websearch for B. A. Mason. They have a website, and I bet they have something for you, Irene!

http://www.bamason.com/store/

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), August 22, 2001.

J.R. Guerra ~ I was in the outlet stores in San Marcos yesterday. The Reebok store and I believe the Easy Spirit store had the plain canvas sneakers.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), August 22, 2001.

You're evidently shopping in the wrong stores! Spiked heels and all kinds of the pretty stuff is still around.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), August 22, 2001.

I've never been THAT drunk Rogo . . . and even if I was, getting a size thirteen spiked heel would really be an interesting experience. hee hee hee.

But I'm not surprised about me missing out on the sneaker deal. My three year old son, riding on my backpack, was raising hell by the time I got serious looking for shoes. My wife is about two months pregnant now, so she can't lift or carry him now. O woe is me!

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), August 23, 2001.

I just bought 4 pairs of shoes today at a great resale shop, 3 heels, 1 loafer. All were $5 a pair and under, so try to find a nice resale shop (not Goodwill, etc they don't really have nice things, generally) I also bought a dress, a short suit and a pant suit (I show dogs and have to be dressy but I refuse to buy a $100 dress and stuff liver in the pockets LOL). These were name brand and $7-8 each, but half off since they were summer-y things. I've also bought new (tag still on) dresses and suits there and occasionally they have scrubs for work. Good Luck in your search

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 24, 2001.

I'm with you all on this shoe thang. No Volkswagens for my tootsies, thank you very much! I do like platforms, wedge heels, and even rounded boxy toes (they make your feet look smaller). But I HATE the huge angled-box heel. I've considered learning to make my own dress shoes. There's a company that sells kits to do just that; their ads are in the backs of sewing, craft and ladies magazines. I even found them on the web once, I think by keywording "make your own shoes". Happy steppin'!

-- cindy penuel grove (mgrove@satx.rr.com), January 17, 2002.

I was able to find them! You, for some reason, have to do a search for "sexy shoes". Be warned - some of the sites that come up may be inappropriate for children under 18. Some of the links and pop-ups will take you to adult sites. Leave it to my husband to find these!

Good luck!

-- Elaine (esolley@randy.mv.com), January 23, 2002.