Practical Footwear for the Busy Woman

My Top 5 Go-To Picks For My Busy Lifestyle

Busy woman like me? Also love shoes? Well then this post is for you! Below I have listed my top 5 shoes for my busy lifestyle. They are interchangeable from work, to every day errands, travel, or even a night out with the girls. I also need shoes that are versatile, will hold up against all types of weather scenarios and can also easily be packed for travel.

As you all know, I am big into supporting and working in agriculture. I also am an equestrian, so when I can, I spend a fair amount of time around horses or in and out of a barn. I also spend just over a week at my local fair working with the 4-H Horse Exhibitors and our Show Draft Horses. When I am not with them, I am traipsing around the fairgrounds crossing through the cattle barns, up and down the midway, across the race track, or spending some time in the pulling ring. So of course in this top 5 list, I will have shoes that will work for anyone who plans to attend a fair (because safe footwear is the best footwear when even being remotely close to livestock!) or works in agriculture. I also spent 7.5 years of my life on my feet working in retail, so one of my picks are best for people who are spending hours on their feet and need good support. Since then, I have been in more of an office environment and becoming a trustee or director on a few boards, so my footwear needs have changed slightly since I am constantly in meetings or traveling. I also happen to be busy outside of work and the fair and of course need practical footwear for every day life, so the rest of these picks will work for all of the above. So let’s dive in….

Practical Footwear Picks…

1.) Hunter Rainboots - I have seen these boots everywhere. They are popular among some of my equestrian friends because they are tall rubber rain boots, so good for rainy days, but of course for fetching horses after lots of rain out in a muddy pasture where the mud can be up well beyond your ankles. They are also just a popular fashion item (like UGGs) among other people out there. They are a classic style, and look great with just about everything. After doing this fair a few times I realized I needed something that would handle the rain, could protect my paints from shavings, dirt, rain, and more during the busy week. The weather in October in Maine can vary greatly, so this year I finally decided to go for it and buy them, and IT. WAS. WORTH. IT! I wore these at least 3-4 days in a row. There’s plenty of room in the footbed for you to wear thin socks (they’ll feel pretty big), or to wear wool socks/thick boot socks. They protected me from all the elements, and although the ones I got weren’t insulated, they still kept my legs warm against the cold and wind. Link is included for the pair I bought. Definitely an investment piece for your wardrobe. I have wide calves so these are their wide calf selection, and there is still plenty of room for boot socks and jeans. Regular calf options are also available! https://www.hunterboots.com/us/en_us/womens-tall-rain-boots/womens-original-tall-wide-leg-rain-boots/black/4881

2.) Dansko Clogs - These were my savior when I was working in retail. They provide amazing support, make you stand up straight, and my feet don’t ache after an 8-12 hour shift. These are in European sizes, and there is a chart for what your EU size would be compared to your US size. I wear a 40, and they should be a bit loose (at least a pinky width between your heel and the heel of the shoe. My favorite pair is their Mary-Jane style because it’s casual but can be dressed up. I wear mine to work in the office, but again, wore their other solid styles throughout my retail career and even at the fair since they have a more solid/hard toe (and I am on my feet a lot there too). Link is below for the Mary-Jane’s but if that’s not your style, browse the site because they have soooo many options! This one linked is called “Marcelle” - https://www.dansko.com/marcelle-black-cabrio

3.) Vans Slip-On Skate Shoe - This shoe has been such a “go-to” for me. They are comfortable, versatile, and can handle just about anything. I have worn them to fairs, I have worn them shopping, to work, or just for running errands. The color I have seems to have been discontinued (it’s from a couple of years ago and was a light grayish/purple color), but there is a wide variety of options for you to pick from! - https://www.vans.com/shop/tag/womens-slip-ons

4.) Toms Classic Slip-On Shoe - These have been my favorite shoes since I was in college. First of, there are so many colors, styles, fabrics, and such to chose from. They are also a more casual version of flat and you can, again, dress it up or dress it down. I have had these in Olive Green, Navy, Coral, Black, and Gray. I wear them until I cannot wear them any longer. It’s also great that every pair you buy, the company donates a pair of shoes to a kid in need. These work for me at the office, on the run, they are lightweight, and easy to pack for travel which is a great bonus for me too. The link included is for their classics that I have, but there are sooo many other options available throughout the website, so take a minute to look around if these aren’t quite your style. - https://www.toms.com/slip-ons/black-canvas-womens-classics

5.) Basic Black or Nude Flats - There are so many out there. I have two pairs in black that I love, that I bought from the Clarks Outlet that are no longer available, but I have linked a photo of them for you to view here - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/23432860553274336/. Clarks has great quality, and when you can shop their clearance rack you can usually get a great deal on quality shoes. The black Mary-Jane style flats I bought are super light-weight, and I bought them for traveling to a convention in Texas, but use them in the office in the spring/summer as well. I also have a pair of ALDO pointed toe nude flats that I bought from Nordstrom Rack, but having a basic pair of nude flats are great for again dressing up and dressing down.

Have a favorite pair of shoes that you use on the daily? Ones that you interchange between work and a night out? Drop a comment, and if you can share the link below! Hopefully some of these options help you busy ladies out there, but if not, there’s a few rules I live by when buying shoes; How many times will I wear these? What in my wardrobe will match these shoes? Can they be worn at work, at home, or out on the town? How study/versatile are they for the price I am paying?