Search for the Everyday Shoes – Grendha & Crocs
If you have an office dress code that’s as frustrating as the one I am required to abide by — well, it’s only frustrating because those outfits are not only darned uncomfy and unfit for public transport, they also make you look manang — you’d probably dress up like Miss Tapia. (For those who can’t relate, imagine the most rigid schoolmarm you have ever encountered.)
(Ok, Gokusen‘s Yankumi, pictured here, is far from being a rigid disciplinarian…but she dons the look.)
Where I come from, women are required to wear heels and below-the-knee (make-short-women-look-like-hobbits) skirts from Mondays to Wednesdays, heels and slacks from Thursdays onwards. I’ve already howled about equal rights before: men should wear skirts and heels from Mondays to Wednesdays, too! I know they are forced to wear barongs or suits…I don’t mind wearing barongs or suits. Let’s face it, men can easily cheat on dress codes. There are trainers that are designed to look like leather shoes, noh!
Anyway, I used to sport stiletto heels and boots, but now my back and my feet are complaining. My feet are in constant pain, actually. They’ve also started to change shape. In that ghastly, ghastly kind of way.
I already have manly feet to begin with. Now they don’t even look like they belong to a human being. Thus began the search for that comfortable but non-manang pair of daily footwear. First, I found these on the Grendha shelves.
I was supposed to look for madaya flats (you know, flats that don’t like like they’re flats) but these kitten-heeled jellies were just too cute to pass up. They’re very comfy, although I noticed that when it comes to keeping my feet stink-free, they pale in comparison to my Melissa shoes.
So you wouldn’t need to ask what my Melissas look like, here’s a photo of my stylist sister wearing them.
She blogged about this outfit at Reluctant Stylista. These Vivenne Westwood Melissas are definitely not made for walking. Trust me, I tried. There’s a reason why they appear frequently on my sister’s blog and not on mine.
There are two things I love about this pair, though. One is that they’re designed by Vivienne Westwood. The other is how your feet smell like candy whenever you take them off. I’ve had them for almost three years and the scent remains.
But I digress. Let me segue back. The Grendhas are lovely. However, I still felt like I needed a good pair of flats. The search was tough because I have yet to see flats that I really like…
Until I stumbled upon these at Amazon.com
They’re Crocs. Yup. I had to blink twice to make sure that I was reading the brand right.
See, I have always thought that Crocs had the FUGLIEST designs known to mankind. In fact, my sister refused to look at them when she heard me say I bought Crocs. She didn’t have a choice when I came home today, saw them and said, “Cute shoes!’
To which I replied with, “They’re Crocs.”
I do understand why she reacted the way she did. Like I said, I never thought that brand could come up with something that looks fairly decent while still maintaining the kind of comfort they’re known to provide. I was just initially shocked. In a good way, of course.
Anyway, I’ll just let this hectic season pass before I go back to searching for more alternatives to the Miss Tapia look.
15 Comments
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Rowena Wendy Lei
December 19, 2010 at 2:28 pmI'm so addicted to Charles & Keith. I have 3 inch wedges from them and I could run around in those all day. They're so comfy. I don't think I own a single pair of flat shoes except for rubber shoes and the Crocs that everyone hates. XD
skysenshi
December 19, 2010 at 2:35 pmIba na kasi tabas ng paa ko eh. Even Naturalizer hurts after I walk with them for quite some time. My feet are deformed na. 🙁
I don't like flats din, but now I really have to look for them. But they have to look like they're not flats kasi bawal sa dress code ang flats. Hahaha!
The Reluctant Stylista
December 19, 2010 at 3:31 pmI think I'll buy from Charles & Keith nga, since I think they're a pretty good mid-priced brand. Certainly more expensive than the usual but not as expensive as Aldo, and I think I'm ready to shell out for comfort, haha!
Alex
http://www.reluctantstylista.com
JennyO
December 19, 2010 at 11:13 pmI got a shoe makeover wardrobe for work recently – puro Hush Puppies na. Soft, comfy, stylish, and I can run around in them! Like you, my back was complaining from high heels and uncomfy (but fashionable)shoes.
skysenshi
December 19, 2010 at 11:28 pmOooh, Hush Puppies also have madaya flats that look like regular business shoes. I checked them out but the style I wanted was no longer available eh.
dementedchris
December 20, 2010 at 2:53 amWow, those Crocs do look lovely. I like feminine flats in neutral colors so those are just perfect for me 🙂
Monti
December 20, 2010 at 3:34 ami thank God for crocs. why? you'll never catch me walking on flooded streets without wearing shoes during rainy season and i live in manila. so you can imagine the streets there with a little rain. my first pair of crocs is a mary jane. wear it to work and nobody at work notice that it doesn't follow the standard shoe required. 😀
skysenshi
December 20, 2010 at 5:51 am@Chris
Yup, they seem to have lots of these at Crocs.
@Tess
Exactly why I chose Crocs. Haha!
Yapo Nightroad
December 20, 2010 at 6:12 amwaaah gusto ko din ng crocs Y.Y meron sila flats na hello kitty inspired~ kaso di naman madaya tingnan. Huhu
skysenshi
December 20, 2010 at 6:29 amYeah, I saw those Hello Kitty shoes. Gusto ko nga sana bilhin pero nung sinuot ko, hindi sila bagay sakin. Wah!
isea
December 20, 2010 at 10:59 amomg. there is such a thing as a pretty pair of crocs!?! but, you bought them online from amazon? 🙁 iffy about buying shoes online cos my size is alanganin.
skysenshi
December 20, 2010 at 11:49 amAh, no. I just saw them in Amazon, but bought I bought the actual pair from Greenhills at the Promenade. 2nd floor, there's a Crocs branch there. 😀
skysenshi
February 16, 2011 at 11:25 amAh, no. I just saw them in Amazon, but bought I bought the actual pair from Greenhills at the Promenade. 2nd floor, there's a Crocs branch there. 😀
skysenshi
February 16, 2011 at 11:25 amYeah, I saw those Hello Kitty shoes. Gusto ko nga sana bilhin pero nung sinuot ko, hindi sila bagay sakin. Wah!
Monti
February 16, 2011 at 11:25 ami thank God for crocs. why? you'll never catch me walking on flooded streets without wearing shoes during rainy season and i live in manila. so you can imagine the streets there with a little rain. my first pair of crocs is a mary jane. wear it to work and nobody at work notice that it doesn't follow the standard shoe required. 😀