Please help me find new sandals!

[aggie94]

My absolute favorite pair of sandals are on their last leg. Okay, their legs are all fallen off, but I can't bear to throw them away. I wore them last year to meet Robyn(cz) at a movie and she was horrified. :o

Anyway, I bought them almost 10 years ago at a shop on South Padre Island. They're made by Flojos (the style has long since been discontinued, so that's no help), all leather, closed-toe but with little half-circle cutouts all the way around along the sole. And a neat design embossed into the leather on the top, although mine has long since worn down so I don't even remember what it was. :o They look a little like these, but definitely more beach-sandal-looking than shoe. And mine have a solid heel rather than the split piece in this picture. And I don't think that mine have those two little cutouts on the top of the foot, but I can't remember for sure.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/shoo-be-doo_1735_11311351

I've spent the better part of the morning looking online for something similar but haven't had any luck. Any thoughts? I will be SO sad if I can't replace these. :(

[lisas3575]

I hate it when I fall in love with a pair of shoes and then can't find something similar. :( It's happened to me many times. I feel your pain, sistah.

I find cute sandals at our Bass outlet, so I looked at the Bass website and found these. They're not very similar though. I'm not much help.

https://www.pvh-images.com/mgen/zoom.ms?img=Bass_US/P3182_200.tif&output=300&level=1&x=0&y=0

Not sure why the picture isn't posting... :confused:

[Kayla]

I haven't looked around much, but Birkenstocks can make some nice clog / sandals (especially the padded ones if you're going that route).

My mom has always raved about Clarks and how incredibly comfortable they were / still are. She says they really last too, and she has a cute leather pair of clogs / sandals :)

Lisa's suggestion of Bass or Bass outlet was a good one too. My Aunt always finds GREAT deals there on really great shoes. In fact, she just showed me two pairs she got a few weekends ago - leather boots and sandals for the summer... both under $25!!

Hope you find something good, comfy, and durable!

Kayla

[aggie94]

Thanks, guys. Truth be told, I guess I'm not really expecting to find something exactly like them. I just wanted to whine about the demise of my favorite sandals. :( Although I won't be throwing them out. No matter what everyone else thinks, I think they're still OK for some occasions. Like yardwork. :rolleyes:

I did find some Teva sandals that are cute and look vaguely similar to mine. I'll scope them out this weekend and try them on for size. Thanks for listening to me cry.

[BosunsWife]

I vote for Birkenstocks. I've worn them for the past 13 years. In my search and destroy mission this week (cleaning out for my big move next week), I finally tossed a pair (taupe suede Arizonas) that were in REALLY bad shape. I still have a pair, but think I'll invest in the clog version for my next ones. I currently wear "Florida" - its a three strap sandal.

[lisas3575]

from www.REIOutlet.com:

http://a1072.g.akamai.net/f/1072/2062/1d/gallery.rei.com/regularimages/697298.jpg

From http://shop.store.yahoo.com/shoo-be-doo/hafleatmarja.html

http://store1.yimg.com/I/shoo-be-doo_1735_631104


OK, I'll stop now. :rolleyes:

[aggie94]

Oooooh Lisa, the ones from REI look great! Very close to my old ones, but they don't have my size. :( Still, I'll look for them elsewhere.

And unfortunately for me, I can't wear Birkenstocks unless they're open-toed (which I don't do, as I can't adhere to the pledge that Maizeyoats posted :o). Birkenstocks, as I learned a few years back, are designed for "normal" people whose big toe is their longest toe. If you're weird like me and have a second toe that sticks way out past the big toe :eek:, they get crammed in the front because the way their shoes are shaped. :rolleyes:

[Kayla]

Originally posted by aggie94
Oooooh Lisa, the ones from REI look great! Very close to my old ones, but they don't have my size. :( Still, I'll look for them elsewhere.

And unfortunately for me, I can't wear Birkenstocks unless they're open-toed (which I don't do, as I can't adhere to the pledge that Maizeyoats posted :o). Birkenstocks, as I learned a few years back, are designed for "normal" people whose big toe is their longest toe. If you're weird like me and have a second toe that sticks way out past the big toe :eek:, they get crammed in the front because the way their shoes are shaped. :rolleyes:

Aww :( I feel your pain... well indirectly ;) I have a friend, male, whose second toe is MUCH longer than his big toe, and in the course of wearing his birks over several years time, he has worn a perfectly symmetrical hole - yes, round little hole) right down through the cork and soul.

If it makes you feel any better those with their second toe longer than their first are supposed to be better in bed!!! :eek: :D

[lisas3575]

They come in other colors:

http://www.zappos.com/images/w/wClarks123/wClarks123wind.jpg

Or these:
http://www.zappos.com/images/N/Naot4/naot4wald.jpg

[swquilts]

Check out Lands End. They have some really nice looking sandals out for summer.

[KristaMB]

I love those Clarks you posted Lisa! I want one of each!

[aggie94]

Thanks, Lisa, but those are much too shoe-like. I am looking for something more surf and beach-y. :)

[JLS]

Lisa,

The dark colored sandals you posted the pic of? (They look like funky
mary janes) where did you find them? REI?

They are cute!

[aggie94]

Okay, I took a picture of my sandals. :o I'm a little embarrassed to post them -- they're really in sad shape. Anyway, I'm having trouble downloading the images from the camera to the computer, so I'm waiting for DH to get home from school. Sit tight....

I know you all are just waiting on pins and needles. :rolleyes:

[Kayla]

I can't wait to see them... I'm waiting to see if they even come close to comparing to my beat up old birks ;) I used those WAY too much when I went camping :)

Waiting in eager anticipation,
Kayla

[Robyncz]

Having seen Eva's "sandals" in person, I can attest to the fact that they are DREADFUL (but obviously well loved)!!

The sandals from REI look right. It looks like the REI link is to an outlet. Maybe you can call an actual REI store and see if they can get you the right size.

Good luck!!

[ewatkins]

Thank you, thank you!! I just ordered a a pair from REI --I really like the closed toe style and my old ones were totally worn out!

[aggie94]

They're not THAT bad, right?? Actually, they really DON'T look that bad in the picture compared to real life. The soles have no tread left on them, and you can't really see all the chewed up leather shreds from where my dog (then-puppy) used them as a chew toy.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid58/pcf3082dd38330d4faab746d2d46cc77f/fc674562.jpg

[m4star]

Sorry Eva but they ARE bad. :(

I think you need new ones- and fast.

[Kayla]

Originally posted by aggie94
They're not THAT bad, right?? Actually, they really DON'T look that bad in the picture compared to real life. The soles have no tread left on them, and you can't really see all the chewed up leather shreds from where my dog (then-puppy) used them as a chew toy.


Dearest Eva,

I could tell they were very nice sandals... and beautiful once ;) They DO look comfy though! :D

Kayla

[KristaMB]

Eva, They do look rather comfy. Have you considered taking them to a shoe repair place? I had a favorite pair of leather shoes redyed and they came out great. I've also had puppy-chewed straps replaced, and I bet you could have new soles put on. Since you love them so much, it may be worth a shot.

[badunnin]

They DO look comfy. Personally, I'm just impressed at how cleanly shaven your legs are Eva! I'm currently "growing" so that I can get mine waxed next week, and it ain't pretty!

[SandyM]

Know what, Eva? They're NOT that bad. :p

I agree with Krista - try a shoe repair place to extend the life of those shoes you love so much.

Don't give up!!! :D

[BosunsWife]

I vote try and have them fixed too. I've done that with my beloved Birks.

[Abbey]

Originally posted by m4star
Sorry Eva but they ARE bad. :(

I think you need new ones- and fast.

Oh Eva...I feel your pain. I too have worn my favorite sandals until they looked like this. I will tell you what my best friend told me ..
"put those back in the shoebox and give them a funeral..you will find a new favorite pair".

[aggie94]

Originally posted by Abbey
I will tell you what my best friend told me ..
"put those back in the shoebox and give them a funeral..you will find a new favorite pair".

That's my fear, though. I've probably bought a half dozen pairs of sandals in the last few years, hoping for one of them to become my new favorite pair, but they all sit in the closet taking up space. :(

I think I'll take them to a shoe doctor and see if they can be saved. DH thinks they will laugh me out of the store. :o But it can't hurt to ask, right?

[emily]

Originally posted by SandyM
Know what, Eva? They're NOT that bad. :p

Sandy, you seem to put the wrong emphASis on the wrong syllABle (or word in this case). Really the sentance should read, "Know what, Eva? They're not THAT bad." ;) :p :D

I'm only saying this, because I too, have witnessed them in real life. I think that Eva must have bribed the camera and shoes to produce the picture shown ;)

Sorry, dear Eva, but it is time to let them go. The upside to all this is, is that you have an excuse to be continually shoe shopping :D

{{{Eva}}} good luck in the hunt!

-Schmemels.

[Kayla]

Sorry to go OT, but Shmemels - I LOVE that nick-name. I call my best friend Shmlaurs for Laura, and I'm sure if I knew you too I'd call you Shmemels :D :)

And Eva... let the hunt continue for sandals! ;)

[Abbey]

Eva,

I think of the universe like a vaccum...it won't give you the perfect new sandals until you get rid of the old pair.;)

[pattyp.]

Baby needs a new pair of shoes...............Badly..........:p

[phantomcg]

Originally posted by aggie94
But it can't hurt to ask, right?

Yep, it can't hurt to ask - besides, you may be pleasantly surprised.....

I can say that it's a good thing that I don't have a digital camera because I have a pair of Birkenstocks that are over 10 years old and never been repaired. They would scare everyone and most likely get me kick off the boards!

Cheryl

[shoyski]

I've found them for you, Eva!

http://www.earlywinters.com/shopping/search/searchresultsmain.jsp?searchType=keyword&keyword=74106

[aggie94]

Shelly,

Those look great!! But they're in mens' sizes, and the smallest is 7 1/2. Given that I wear in 8 in womens', I'm thinking they'd be too big. :(

But thank you! I was going to go sandal shopping this weekend but ended up car shopping instead. Maybe this weekend.

[Guest]

Eva,

Check this link out. There are 25 different fishermen's sandals for women listed.

http://www.zappos.com/n/es?d=722000285&size=0&width=0&color=0&price=0&order_by=default&show_all=1&page_size=25

[KristaMB]

Eva,

What about these?

http://www.vashoncountrystore.com/cs/countryStore/cs/footwear/sandals.html

I might buy myself another pair of Saltwaters from this site. I have brown and blue from twelve years ago that I still wear on a regular basis.:o

[aggie94]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'm not really looking for a fisherman's sandal, per se - they're a bit too strappy for my taste. I liked my old ones in that the upper is really just one large piece, not several pieces woven together.

I'll check out a few that I liked here in the stores and probably keep shopping.

[KathrynY]

Hi Eva! I was just over at Eddie Bauer (http://www.eddiebauer.com/eb/product.asp?product_id=23282&nv=3|104&cm_cg=C104&tid=&c=&sc=) (all women's shoes 20% off right now ;)) and found these:

http://www.eddiebauer.com/assets/products/C_flat/EB03IA_0200719_273C1.jpg

They might be a little too strappy for you, but I thought I'd post just in case. :)

[badunnin]

Originally posted by KathrynY
I was just over at Eddie Bauer (all women's shoes 20% off right now ;)) and found these:


I should not have read this. I should not have read this.

I love Eddie Bauer shoes.

[KathrynY]

So, Bethany - what did you end up ordering? ;) :D

[badunnin]

Originally posted by KathrynY
So, Bethany - what did you end up ordering? ;) :D

Kathryn - LOL! Nothing yet. I need to pay tuition next week, and that will be hefty, so I'm going to have to hold off. I also just ordered soap/bath fizzy making supplies to keep me busy. Of course, I don't know how long I'm going to be able to hold off. I do need summer shoes. Last summer, I was at a job where nothing open-toed/open-heeled was allowed, and I'm sort of lacking. But I'll deal with that when spring/summer actually hits. :cool:

[aggie94]

Okay, so I *finally* bought new sandals!!

I ordered these online this morning:

http://www.timberland.com/timberland/images/products/106_LG_40392_214.jpg

They're nothing like my old ones, but I hope I'll love them equally as well. I still have my old ones. I've actually got them at my office - they're waiting to be taken to the shoe hospital down the street, to see if they can be repaired. I haven't gone yet, though, because I'm still working up my nerve. :o :o

Anyway, I saw these and thought they looked really comfortable and versatile. If not, I guess I'll keep looking.

[SandyM]

Good job, Eva. I can see you in these. :)

Get those shoes up to the hospital, and don't fear. I'm sure they've seen worse. And think of how happy you'll be when they make them good as new!!!

What we women go through with our shoes....... :rolleyes: :D :D

[Wendy w]

Originally posted by SandyM
Good job, Eva. I can see you in these. :)

Yes, they are tres Eva. :)

[slknight]

Eva, I just saw these at Macy's last night and thought of you. Don't know if they're too strappy for what you were looking for. But I guess I'm a day too late since you just ordered some!

http://www.naturalizeronline.com/productimages/nat/sl47558.jpg

[lisas3575]

OK, I'm going to admit what a dork I am that I can no longer go into a shoe store without looking for sandals for Eva. :rolleyes:

[shoyski]

Actually, I can relate. :o I went shoe shopping Saturday with my husband who badly needs some new black shoes and noticed ALL the sandals I thought Eva might like. :D

On a side note, it was very frustrating to shop for shoes with DH. He wanted to find a pair of shoes that would go with jeans AND dress pants. Of course, he could not so we walked out of DSW without any shoes. His current pair of black shoes are both split horizontally so his feet will get soaked if it rains. :rolleyes: And if you've been following Ohio weather, you're right in assuming he's mostly been wearing his brown shoes the past month. :p

[Robyncz]

Originally posted by shoyski
He wanted to find a pair of shoes that would go with jeans AND dress pants.

LOL! I think we're married to the same man. . .

[aggie94]

LOL, you guys crack me up!! :D

It's nice to know that you guys think of me when you go shoe shopping. :p

[aggie94]

I never did work up enough nerve to take the old sandals to the shoe hospital, but DH called this morning to tell me he was heading over there with a couple of belts, to see if they could be repaired. I pleaded, "PLEASE, can you take my sandals with you and see if they can fix them up?" Poor DH, he was soooo embarrassed. But he did it. :D

They are going to put new soles on them and recondition the leather. I'm not sure how much of an improvement that will be, but I'm excited!! DH didn't even ask how much it would cost. With my luck, it will be more than I paid for them in the first place. :eek:

[KathrynY]

Eva, that's so sweet of Che to take your sandals in for you, despite being embarassed. Whatta guy! :D

[SandyM]

Originally posted by KathrynY
Eva, that's so sweet of Che to take your sandals in for you, despite being embarassed. Whatta guy! :D

Agreed, wholeheartedly. Give that handsome dude a hug for me - and congrats to you for getting those bad boys back in reasonable shape!! And you thought they were ready for the trash bin........:eek: :p :D

Eva - please note that I used this occasion to tally up my 4000th post. It needed to be the right thread, and this one was it. :p

[aggie94]

Okay, this is my last sandal update, I swear. :o

I love my new sandals. I wear them every chance I get - they're super comfy and very cute.

Yesterday, I got in the car to go to work, and my old sandals were sitting on the passenger seat. DH had picked them up from the shoe hospital the day before. They looked practically new!!! :eek: I was so impressed. They put new soles on, reconditioned the leather, and who knows what else - they looked great! I was thrilled. So now I have two pairs of sandals that I love. :D

DH wouldn't tell me how much it cost. Apparently, it WAS more than I had paid for the shoes almost ten years ago (at least that's what I'm guessing). He said he knew I'd feel bad if I knew how much it cost, and even though I think it's not worth it to have paid as much or more to have them redone as the shoes originally cost, he thinks it's worth it because I love them so much. What a sweetie. :)

[lorilei]

Eva - First of all, congrats!! You not only regained use of your old shoes, but you branched out into NEW territory and found it to be just LOVELY!! That's an accomplishment :)

And secondly -- you have a sweet, sweet husband. ANd you can tell him that. Any SO who will pay large amounts of money to restore stanky old shoes (out of love) should be commended. Plus... he touched those sandals to take them to the hospital. That, in and of itself, just proves his love :rolleyes:

[lisas3575]

Originally posted by aggie94
They looked practically new!!! :eek: I was so impressed. They put new soles on, reconditioned the leather, and who knows what else - they looked great!

Yeah, but how do they smell??!?! :p

That's great, Eva. Che is the man! Not sure my DH would do that for me...

[SandyM]

See. I told you they'd want to hear. :p :D

Congrats, Eva. And big, big kudos to Che. :)

[aggie94]

They smell like NEW leather. :D

I am guessing the bulk of the cost was for hazardous duty pay. :eek: :p

[MKSquared]

What a sweet guy! And what a happy ending! Two pairs of sandals, after being nearly without any!

[Gracie]

Eva, those are really cute!! (the ones you ordered). Where did you get them? I just read that you ordered them online so if you said where and I missed it, I'm sorry.

Loren

[aggie94]

Loren,

They're Timberland, but I ordered them through Zappo's (http://www.zappos.com). You can order direct through Timberland, but they didn't have my size. Zappo's did, and also had free shipping. :)

[KathrynY]

Yeah!! I just love happy endings :D.

[Molli526]

Yay Che! :D What a great guy.

[SusanL]

a second picture of those deadly sandals, now that they are refurbished!
What a great guy!!

[aggie94]

LOL, Susan! I will try to post one tonight. :)

[SusanL]

;) ;) ;) Thanks, this was a really fun thread to read, don't know how I missed it the first time around :confused: ! Can't wait!!

[KristaMB]

Eva, Glad you like your newly purchased shoes in addition to your refurbished ones!

I second Susan's photo request!