Comments on: Reader Mail: On pant lengths and shoes…

By: S

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:17:12 +0000

Another vote for zakkerz here – I used them every day when I lived in NYC and had to commute on the subway. In the summer, I would wear them w/my flip flops, and in spring/fall, I usually used them w/a pair of ballet flats. I know a lot of people are concerned with people seeing them in them, but I clerked for a federal judge that year in nyc, and i don’t think he even noticed them when he saw me walk in, and not to mention it shaved a good 10 min off my commute because I was able to walk quickly. FYI – if you buy the zakkerz, make sure they are securely on your pant legs before walking. I know a friend lost hers on the subway because one of them wasn’t on properly, and I almost lost one of mine because it got dislodged while i was running down the subway stairs.

By: g

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:49:19 +0000

I work for a corporate law firm and I go to work every day in my gym clothes and change/shower in the office. If I run into a senior partner in the elevator, I am not worried about not “impressing” her or him. They will be impressed by the quality of my work, not by my shoes. The notion that a woman has to leave the house “put together” is outdated and stupid.

By: J.D.NYC

J.D.NYC — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:10:43 +0000

i think that the polished point is not one about feminism. for me, it isn’t about the subway– it’s about the walk through the lobby of my office building, the elevator ride, and then the walk down my hall before i get to my office where my work shoes are waiting for me. i am almost guaranteed to run into a colleague. i am of the mind that bare toes are NEVER appropriate in my office (corp law firm), so i don’t wear flip flops, even in the summer. not to mention that gummy thwacking sound up and down the hall in the summer as WOMEN arrive and leave work each day — not professional!
i wear flats in the summer and black “comfort shoes” (think merrell, ecco, etc) in the winter. i flip my pants up and cuff them. some stay that way on their own, and for those pairs that don’t i use a bobby pin or a paper clip at the inner and outer seams — safety pins take too long to fuss with! for days when i have to go to court or otherwise be out and about in heels and either don’t want to be in my heels all day or have to worry about keeping up with the pace of others, i wear Sofft brand pumps. Swear by them….

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:13:52 +0000

I work in NYC but my commute involves about a mile walk (Jersey City –> PATH –> office in downtown Manhattan) on each end. The idea of walking 2 miles in heels everyday to look “polished” just seems impractical – from both a movement and shoe upkeep perspective. I also try to save room in my gym bag by wearing my sneakers (though you might think that doesn’t go with my outfit either!).

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:41:07 +0000

Another option is to use double-sided tape to temporarily “hem” your pants. I use the kind sold in the lingerie section for securing clothes to your body, but regular double-stick would probably work fine too.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:19:05 +0000

How do you ladies commute in flip-flops? Don’t your feet get absolutely filthy from city grime?

By: Legalicious07

Legalicious07 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:02:13 +0000

Wow! From inner-city high school student to thug in merely three posts! ::smh:: Cat, perhaps you didn’t mean to offend, but I hope you stay far, far away from my inner-city high school students and their families.

By: SM

SM — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:43:32 +0000

Now THAT is the best solution I have read so far! I agree about slippping into Lululemons and comfy shoes or Uggs at the end of a long work day! I have done this when I go from work straight to yoga, I don’t know why I never thought about doing this on snowy/rainy days. Thanks, Kay!!

By: Nita

Nita — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:36:17 +0000

I wear Clark’s Privos, with a thick, athletic-type sole under a ballet flat upper. Many styles have a removable insole. They are as comfortable as running shoes and not unduly unattractive.

Also agree with posters who noted the personal preparedness aspect. If you had to walk a long way or run for your life – as many did on 9/11 and more recently at Fort Hood – would you be ready and able?

By: jcb

jcb — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:48:05 +0000

I am obsessed with my fit-flops. I don’t know about the firming benefits, but I do feel like I have better posture in them (and in my MBTs). Also, my feet and legs never get tired from walking, and they never give me blisters (miracle). I have far too many pairs of shoes, and yet all summer I wore the fit-flops, hated to take them off.

Like S said, the sole is thick enough to deal with the pant hem problem for the commute. I just bought the just-above-the-ankle length fitflop boots for winter. I figure that I can tuck the pants hems when it gets slushy out (am in Chicago), and otherwise the pants cover most of the admittedly not entirely attractive boots.

Extra bonus: they are furry inside and easy to slip on and off, so you can wear them under your desk if your office gets too cold. OH – and if you are half size, I’d recommend buying the size beneath rather than above yours. I am a 7 1/2 and bought an 8, and regret it now. The shoe instructions say that the boots should be snug. Mine have too much space and my toes can get chilly.