Our friend Kristen in South Africa asked us about comfortable, stylish travel shoes: “I love your site! It’s been great help as I plan a three-week trip to Italy and Paris next month. Big question: what are stylish, comfortable walking shoes for seeing the sights? I love ballet flats but they seem too dainty for cobblestones?”
Vigotti Saby Slip-on ($85), Sofft Bermuda Flat ($100)
If the flats have a little structure, they will be fine. I recently took a pair of Tory Burch flats on a trip to Monaco and I put Dr. Scholl’s Gel Pads in them and they were perfect solution for walking up, down and all around the town. The look that is chic for spring travel is a cork wedge and we went shopping to find this great selection. Cork is a natural shock absorber, making it an ideal travel shoe. For other great travel choices please visit Spring Shoes and Spring Leathers.
Left to Right: Tory Burch Natalya Wedge ($265), Prada Peep-Toe Cork Wedge ($475), Cole Haan Air delfina Wedge Sandals ($198), Christian Louboutin Miss Boxe Cork Wedge ($625), Tory Burch Carnell Wedge ($295)
Our best advice is to try out the shoes before your trip. I remember vividly a particularly painful trip to Rome with a new pair of “comfortable” shoes – ouch! If you have to travel with a newish pair of shoes, slip in a few Bandaids into your kit and put them on for blister prevention. or tuck in a Bandaid Friction Block Stick or Nexcare Active Waterproof Pads.
Band-Aid Active Friction Block Stick ($7), Dr. Scholl’s for Her Insole ($13), Nexcare Active Waterproof Pads ($4)
