Another "Shoes for the Office" Thread

[equiraptor]

Yes, it's another thread asking for recommendations for office shoes. However, my needs and requirements are a bit different from the other office shoe threads I've seen.

I work in a casual environment - jeans and t-shirts are the daily wear. However, we're required to wear closed toed shoes. Running shoes (tennis shoes, whatever) are the standard fare. In one of our locations, my VFFs are fine. But in our other location (which I only occasionally visit), the toeshoes will not fly. The people there perceive them as "slippers" (which are specifically forbidden in the employee handbook), and they'd complain if I wore them. The last time I went up there I wore my driving shoes, of all things. These shoes are ridiculously comfortable. The uppers seem to have little structure at all - both the suede and the nomex is very soft and flexible. The shoes are also a half-size too big - I'm 7.5 in women's, which would be 5.5 in men's, but these don't come smaller than a 6. These two features mean I can move my foot any way I want in the shoe and just have a soft, flexible surface over my feet.

The sole of these shoes is very thin and quite flexible, but it does have a bit of a heel. It's also noisy (it makes significant noise when I walk on hard floors). And the sole remains flat - when I curl my toes downward, the sole remains flat.

So what am I looking for? I'm looking for something very much like those driving shoes, but without the noise and with a more flexible sole. Optimally, the sole would curl with my toes (like my Jaya do). I fear this is asking too much, though, as even my Bikila LS and Komodosport LS soles don't curl with my toes.

So what out there will curl with my toes like the Jaya, but has a single toe pocket instead of individual toes? It shouldn't be mistaken for a slipper or a water shoe, but other than that, appearance isn't significant. I want something that won't make me curse Dallas for being so conservative when it comes to footwear!

[bigtruckguy3500]

Altra makes the Adam and the Eves, I guess you'd probably want the Eves.  They're like Vibram sandals, no laces, but no Vibram sole either.  They've got some other rubber. 

Alternatively, you could try Run-a-mocs.  They might work for you since their soles are super thin and made out of soft leather and/or really thin rubber.  But some look a little funky.

I'm actually in the market for a casual shoe that will almost be disposable, as there's a good chance they'll get pretty dirty.  I found these at Walmart the other day - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Op-Men-s-Dominica-Water-Shoes/17772306 - they look promising since they have the lacing system.  I tried water socks before, and they were too loose and my foot slid around too much, even though I have wide feet.  The lacing seems to hold the upper on my foot quite well.  As much as I disklike Walmart, I might have to give them a try.  And at less than $10, I figure it's worth a shot.

[PB Junkie]

Check out the Merrell delight gloves and dash glove.  Also soft star shoes merry janes and run amoc dash and Inov-8 bare x line.

[ksomatt]

Lemings seem like a great choice.

http://www.lemingfootwear.com/women_c_8.html

[equiraptor]

The Eves are a bit sandal-looking, unfortunately. They're the most appealing ones to me.

I'm not sure if I've handled the Merrell Dash Glove specifically. The Merrells I have handled have had stiffer soles than my Treks (admittedly new Merrells vs. broken-in Treks), and at that stiffness, I'll stick to the driving shoes.

From looking at some videos of them, the Lemings look to be similar in flexibility / stiffness to my Bikila LS / Komodosport LS - they bend upward (toward the foot) really easily, but don't bent down (away from the foot/toward the ground) as easily. Still, they're "stealth" enough to look like normal shoes, so they may be the ones...

[Mr. Leigh]

I recommend the LEMings.  They are my go to shoe when I cannot wear VFFs.