It’s been almost a year of living on my own in Manhattan. And the commute to work is very different than what it was commuting from home. At home, getting to and from the city was easy. I’d hop on a bus, put my headphones in and before I knew it, voile I was in Manhattan, two blocks away from my office. Now a day, I’m walking, I’m taking the subway, and I’m climbing up and down stairs multiple times a day. I’ve been realizing more and more, that my biggest predicament has not been what to wear, but rather, what shoes to wear that are stylish and still comfortable enough to last me through the day.
Thus, leading me to today’s topic: the commuting shoe. The idea of “commuting shoe” automatically makes me think of someone wearing white, clunky sneakers with black tights and a pencil skirt. This, then, incidentally, makes me cringe. You spend all morning deciding how you want to look, feel and represent yourself in your outfit. And then you compromise that entire process by wearing old, ugly sneakers while passing thousands on the street walking to your office to sit behind a desk. It doesn’t make much sense to me.
But, wearing high heels every day is actually really bad for you. It throws off your center of gravity by shifting your body forward, alters your posture and gait; and because of excess force on your joints, can take a toll on your spine, ankles, hips, knees and back. Not to mention, the concrete jungle is not an easy terrain to navigate in stilettos, making you more susceptible to sprains and breaks. Yikes. At the same time, you cannot deny that high heels do have their perks. They can pull your entire outfit together, make you taller and make your legs look longer and slimmer. So what are we supposed to do?
From struggling with this personally, I decided to look into some alternatives to the clunky white sneaker, “the commuter shoe” of options. They don’t sacrifice your health or body, but are also stylish and chic. Check it out…
1. The shoe bin: Whether it be a neat pile under your desk, a basket of shoes, or a drawer filled to the brim; most women have one. This is really great to have because you can wear any shoe you want, and when you get to the office change into a classy pair of heels that command confidence, professionalism and make you ready to kick ass throughout the day. By 5 o’clock, simply put them back in your bin and head home happily.
Thus, leading me to today’s topic: the commuting shoe. The idea of “commuting shoe” automatically makes me think of someone wearing white, clunky sneakers with black tights and a pencil skirt. This, then, incidentally, makes me cringe. You spend all morning deciding how you want to look, feel and represent yourself in your outfit. And then you compromise that entire process by wearing old, ugly sneakers while passing thousands on the street walking to your office to sit behind a desk. It doesn’t make much sense to me.
But, wearing high heels every day is actually really bad for you. It throws off your center of gravity by shifting your body forward, alters your posture and gait; and because of excess force on your joints, can take a toll on your spine, ankles, hips, knees and back. Not to mention, the concrete jungle is not an easy terrain to navigate in stilettos, making you more susceptible to sprains and breaks. Yikes. At the same time, you cannot deny that high heels do have their perks. They can pull your entire outfit together, make you taller and make your legs look longer and slimmer. So what are we supposed to do?
From struggling with this personally, I decided to look into some alternatives to the clunky white sneaker, “the commuter shoe” of options. They don’t sacrifice your health or body, but are also stylish and chic. Check it out…
1. The shoe bin: Whether it be a neat pile under your desk, a basket of shoes, or a drawer filled to the brim; most women have one. This is really great to have because you can wear any shoe you want, and when you get to the office change into a classy pair of heels that command confidence, professionalism and make you ready to kick ass throughout the day. By 5 o’clock, simply put them back in your bin and head home happily.
2. Flats: The thing about flats is that there are limitless options. Animal print, ballet flats, leather flats, flats with bows or cool patterns. The wide range of styles and designs are pretty much endless. They go with pretty much every outfit, and they are comfortable. They’re easy to store, carry in your bag and change in and out of. The type of shoe is probably one of the best alternatives to a sneaker because it still gives your foot the support it needs and won’t cause any extra stress on your body. I could really go on and on about this type of shoe, but I think you get the point- invest in flats, they are definitely worth it.
3. Boots: Whether they are low slung cowboy boots with a 1 inch heel or a cute pair of riding boots, this a great option because they are comfortable, but also durable. This type of shoe is great to wear during a commute because it can handle the concrete jungle, whether in the cold winter or the blossoming spring. They pull an outfit together and make an easy transition from the office to happy hour. In neutral colors they can be sophisticated but still casual; or with an added design like a chain or buckle can be edgy. Like flats, boots are found in all sorts of varieties and is really up to you and your own personal style of how to wear them. Have fun!
4. Lastly, shoes like loafers or oxfords are an amazing alternate to the flats as a “go-to” shoe. Personally, I live in my loafers. I think they are laid back but still professional. Though I would probably not wear them with skirts or dresses, I can walk in them all day long without a hint of pain. Likewise, oxfords are super cute and a different choice to your traditional sneaker. They take it up a notch, and twist it in a “grown up” edge. They can have a little bit of a heel but still won’t torture your joints in the long run. I also think an oxford can be a focal point of your outfit in a classic, throwback style.