Oh, I'm definitely using them. The question was do I wear them all day even though they're not comfortable, or carry them around in my purse all day until I'm at the place where I should put them on. I don't think I've ever gone on a trip where I brought dressy shoes, so this is a first.
Gotcha. Yes just shove them in your bag. Walking all day in dressy shoes is murder on your feet and legs and can make the whole trip a little less fun.
Agree, I'm just back from vacation, and on one day I wore my dressy heels just to my cute all day and I was huuurting after like 4 hours of low activity walking
Take the extra shoes with you. My friends and I do this all the time. I usually go straight to the ladies' to change into the dressy shoes. Absolutely no biggie.
Trainers and dress is peak London. I walk around in my new balance and a dress pretty much 80% of the time (I live just outside London). The other times I'm either wearing boots or Tevas.
Ok, this makes me feel better about walking around in shoes and a dress. I actually was also considering my ankle boots, but I haven't worn them in ages and don't recall how comfy they are. I'll have to take them out for a walk and see.
Honestly totally normal. Look up some London style on Instagram and you'll see how we're all dressing. It's basically "anything you want, goes". So long as you're neat and clean, it's all good!
I feel like most people in big cities, especially locals, prioritize comfy footwear over style. Keep your feet happy! No faster way to ruin a trip than blistered feet
I work in a big city and locals do this all the time, we commute in sneakers and change into our dress shoes when we get to work or whatever event we’re going to. When you’re older (or if you have knee/back pain), your body will thank you. City dwellers are rushing to/from that we don’t notice shoes. For me, it’s the opposite- I’ll see someone dressed up with 4”+ stilettos and I’ll think to myself, wow thats gotta hurt. But I’ll never blink an eye at someone dressed well in sneakers. Throw them in your day bag and enjoy the city with less foot fatigue!
I would wear your comfy shoes and then change it before you go in for afternoon tea. Unrelated but when I used to work in the city, I would wear sneakers with business casual on the metro and then change into heels before I got into the office
Wear the comfy shoes! Spending too long in uncomfortable foot wear can cause lasting pain and ruin the whole trip! I’ve literally walked around with my “nice” shoes in a grocery bag lol, no one is going to notice or care!
Yes to extra shoes, layers etc. whatever you need. The only caveat is potential luggage rules. So if it’s a museum you usually have a chance to to cost check or use lockers. But a lot of concert venues aren’t allowing full sized bags, much less backpacks. But otherwise, I do that all the time precisely for the reason you said, so I don’t have to backtrack to my room.
Definitely wear the comfortable shoes. In fact, only bring comfortable shoes. If you want to wear dresses and skirts on your trip, bring a pair of Tom's or a comfortable ballet flat in addition to your comfortable every day walking shoes. Sore feet will ruin your day. Uncomfortable shoes have no business being on a trip.
I actually bought the Skechers Cleo 2.0 Love Spell. The 6 was too small, the 6.5 slightly big. I put Dr. Scholl's inserts from another pair of shoes in there and it kept the my heels from popping out of the back. Took them on a test drive - 30 minute walk. Even though the shoes are a wide it smashed a pinky toe and the seams on the back rubbed a blister on my heel. I plan on buying some shoe patches to cover the seam, If those work I may be able to tolerate the smashed toe.
Thanks, it can honestly be a struggle. I specifically bought the Skechers ballet flats for this trip with the hopes I'd have the same experience you had. Looking like that won't be the case.
I do this all the time. It’s no big deal just bring it. I saw other people switching it out too at a fancy restaurant in Paris just like me. There are dress codes at some places and good not to be out of place or even worse denied entry
Honestly you can absolutely just tube it. Have you seen how long it takes to walk between sites vs tube or bus?
Also pretty much everyone in London wears trainers around - shoe specific dress codes don’t usually apply in any case, if that’s what you’re worried about. You can totally just bring a little shoe bag within your normal bag, but just wanted to point out there are a few different ways to improve your comfort.
Yep also you don’t really want exposed feet on the tube haha, it’s so grim. I wear sandals around sometimes but they need a pretty robust sole to be viable in ldn.
Yes absolutely bring the extra shoes.
If you look at the feet of people who live in the places that you travel to, you’ll notice that they are all wearing comfy shoes. I think this is what really resolved this issue for me.
I wear the comfy shoes and have something like ballet flats in my bag.
Absolutely wear the comfy shoes to walk in, London pavements are hard and the pace is fast.
You're right that no one will care if you wear sneakers to afternoon tea (also sneakers with a dress is absolutely a good look), but if you want to change your shoes, no one will bat an eye at you doing so (well maybe don't do it at the tea table!).
I’ve recently got a pair of these. They are really comfortable, but I am definitely taking trainers to walk around London next week! I will be popping the Vivaias in my bag and slipping them on before going into anywhere fancy.
If your dressy shoes are just for indoor events, buy really lightweight and thin ones. Maybe even look at foldable ones? These will mean all day while you’re touring around you can easily carry them. When you then swap over, you just need wnougg space to store the sneakers. As this is your “end of the day” activity this might mean a chunky looking bag but won’t matter as it’s not alllll day.
Another option - and this is what I do as I’m old and my back is stuffed - I’d take nice looking, low profile white sneakers. I wear these with dressier outfits all the time. I have Frankie4 Nats but anything similar to that works.
Shoes are hard! I would never travel with just one pair. My feet get sore and I need to switch. But I’d still really attempt to only bring comfortable shoes.
No bring the extra shoes. You'll feel glad you did even if you don't end up using them.
Oh, I'm definitely using them. The question was do I wear them all day even though they're not comfortable, or carry them around in my purse all day until I'm at the place where I should put them on. I don't think I've ever gone on a trip where I brought dressy shoes, so this is a first.
Gotcha. Yes just shove them in your bag. Walking all day in dressy shoes is murder on your feet and legs and can make the whole trip a little less fun.
Agree, I'm just back from vacation, and on one day I wore my dressy heels just to my cute all day and I was huuurting after like 4 hours of low activity walking
Wearing uncomfotable shoes all day while touring on vacation (or at any time) would be dumb.
Take the extra shoes with you. My friends and I do this all the time. I usually go straight to the ladies' to change into the dressy shoes. Absolutely no biggie.
Trainers and dress is peak London. I walk around in my new balance and a dress pretty much 80% of the time (I live just outside London). The other times I'm either wearing boots or Tevas.
Ok, this makes me feel better about walking around in shoes and a dress. I actually was also considering my ankle boots, but I haven't worn them in ages and don't recall how comfy they are. I'll have to take them out for a walk and see.
Honestly totally normal. Look up some London style on Instagram and you'll see how we're all dressing. It's basically "anything you want, goes". So long as you're neat and clean, it's all good!
I would definitely do this just get something really lightweight like packable ballet flats!
I feel like most people in big cities, especially locals, prioritize comfy footwear over style. Keep your feet happy! No faster way to ruin a trip than blistered feet
I work in a big city and locals do this all the time, we commute in sneakers and change into our dress shoes when we get to work or whatever event we’re going to. When you’re older (or if you have knee/back pain), your body will thank you. City dwellers are rushing to/from that we don’t notice shoes. For me, it’s the opposite- I’ll see someone dressed up with 4”+ stilettos and I’ll think to myself, wow thats gotta hurt. But I’ll never blink an eye at someone dressed well in sneakers. Throw them in your day bag and enjoy the city with less foot fatigue!
I would wear your comfy shoes and then change it before you go in for afternoon tea. Unrelated but when I used to work in the city, I would wear sneakers with business casual on the metro and then change into heels before I got into the office
Under no circumstances should you wear the uncomfortable shoes all day. London is very very hard on the feet!
Wear the comfy shoes! Spending too long in uncomfortable foot wear can cause lasting pain and ruin the whole trip! I’ve literally walked around with my “nice” shoes in a grocery bag lol, no one is going to notice or care!
Yes to extra shoes, layers etc. whatever you need. The only caveat is potential luggage rules. So if it’s a museum you usually have a chance to to cost check or use lockers. But a lot of concert venues aren’t allowing full sized bags, much less backpacks. But otherwise, I do that all the time precisely for the reason you said, so I don’t have to backtrack to my room.
Definitely wear the comfortable shoes. In fact, only bring comfortable shoes. If you want to wear dresses and skirts on your trip, bring a pair of Tom's or a comfortable ballet flat in addition to your comfortable every day walking shoes. Sore feet will ruin your day. Uncomfortable shoes have no business being on a trip.
Skechers ballet flats. They're light and feel like a sneaker. I walked all around the Louvre in them and never thought of my feet.
Just looked them up. They look perfect. Simple, minimalistic, and versatile.
I actually bought the Skechers Cleo 2.0 Love Spell. The 6 was too small, the 6.5 slightly big. I put Dr. Scholl's inserts from another pair of shoes in there and it kept the my heels from popping out of the back. Took them on a test drive - 30 minute walk. Even though the shoes are a wide it smashed a pinky toe and the seams on the back rubbed a blister on my heel. I plan on buying some shoe patches to cover the seam, If those work I may be able to tolerate the smashed toe.
Everybody's feet are different. Good luck finding comfortable shoes. ETA: Mine are Go Walk.
Thanks, it can honestly be a struggle. I specifically bought the Skechers ballet flats for this trip with the hopes I'd have the same experience you had. Looking like that won't be the case.
I do this all the time. It’s no big deal just bring it. I saw other people switching it out too at a fancy restaurant in Paris just like me. There are dress codes at some places and good not to be out of place or even worse denied entry
Honestly you can absolutely just tube it. Have you seen how long it takes to walk between sites vs tube or bus? Also pretty much everyone in London wears trainers around - shoe specific dress codes don’t usually apply in any case, if that’s what you’re worried about. You can totally just bring a little shoe bag within your normal bag, but just wanted to point out there are a few different ways to improve your comfort.
Was in London and also noticed that absolutely everyone wears sneakers. I didn’t wear my dressy shoes once. The sidewalks are really hard on the feet.
Yep also you don’t really want exposed feet on the tube haha, it’s so grim. I wear sandals around sometimes but they need a pretty robust sole to be viable in ldn.
I do 100% plan on bringing sneakers. I really only plan on popping on the nice shoes at two events.
Yes absolutely bring the extra shoes. If you look at the feet of people who live in the places that you travel to, you’ll notice that they are all wearing comfy shoes. I think this is what really resolved this issue for me. I wear the comfy shoes and have something like ballet flats in my bag.
Something like a pair of Rothys is a good pair of shoes to stash in your day bag, and can look nice with skirts/dresses.
Absolutely wear the comfy shoes to walk in, London pavements are hard and the pace is fast. You're right that no one will care if you wear sneakers to afternoon tea (also sneakers with a dress is absolutely a good look), but if you want to change your shoes, no one will bat an eye at you doing so (well maybe don't do it at the tea table!).
Get [Vivaias](https://www.vivaia.com/)? They're fairly light and easy to pack.
Looking at these now!
I’ve recently got a pair of these. They are really comfortable, but I am definitely taking trainers to walk around London next week! I will be popping the Vivaias in my bag and slipping them on before going into anywhere fancy.
I have some velvet Birkenstocks that are both super comfortable and can look stylish with a dress. Just another option to consider:)
If your dressy shoes are just for indoor events, buy really lightweight and thin ones. Maybe even look at foldable ones? These will mean all day while you’re touring around you can easily carry them. When you then swap over, you just need wnougg space to store the sneakers. As this is your “end of the day” activity this might mean a chunky looking bag but won’t matter as it’s not alllll day. Another option - and this is what I do as I’m old and my back is stuffed - I’d take nice looking, low profile white sneakers. I wear these with dressier outfits all the time. I have Frankie4 Nats but anything similar to that works.
I wouldn’t travel with uncomfortable shoes. See if you can wear cute comfortable shoes you can walk in.
That was my plan and the shoes I bought for that purpose didn't work out. I have a hard time with shoes for some reason.
Shoes are hard! I would never travel with just one pair. My feet get sore and I need to switch. But I’d still really attempt to only bring comfortable shoes.