
Showing off my new shoes.
What a difference a new pair of shoes makes! My knees were hurting. My lower back was in pain. My husband and I walk every day about three miles or so. Hubby commented that his shoes were mushy and could I order him new ones.
That’s it, I thought. I need new shoes, too. My shoes felt mushy. I didn’t realize it until my husband mentioned it. A few days later the new shoes arrived. My walks feel so much better. Soreness has left my joints and I’m almost off and running.
Do you remember the excitement of getting new shoes growing up? New shoes were usually a back-to-school event. Unfortunately, I was restricted to a choice of Stride Rite “Corrective Shoes.” They came in one style, saddle oxfords in the wide variety of black and white, brown and off white or all black.
The best part of getting new shoes was a trip to the city, Seattle, and going into Nordstrom Best. At the time, Nordtsrom’s was a small store that only sold shoes.
I wore those shoes from babyhood through seventh or eighth grade. I was embarrassed by my stodgy, ugly shoes, while my classmates wore anything they wanted. That’s probably why in high school I went for platform sandals and the infamous “Get There” Famolares.

I remember spraining both ankles wearing the stacked wavy rubber-soled Famolares. A friend pointed out a cute guy in the bleachers at a basketball game. I turned to look, tumbled and fell down at least six steps. Yeah. Maybe I should have stuck with saddle shoes.
What shoes did you wear growing up? Were you excited to get new shows?

New shoes do make your feet feel so much better.
It can make a huge difference.
So funny that you bring this up! As I was falling asleep last night, I asked Dr. Zeus if he had a favorite pair of shoes in childhood. Mine were gifted 90s white leather cowboy books with stitched stars with lights that lit up when I walked. They were sooo cool! And a real treat because I almost exclusively got boring shoes at Stride Rite due to my low volume, narrow feet.
How funny! I would have loved to have those boots! How fun 😊
Yes, I felt like the coolest kid in the world! 😂
If only I had those boots! I did get boots in college that laced up the front. I felt cool in those.
Cheers to new sneaks that feel fab! And yes, yes! I remember those wavy soles…and the Earth shoes…and wacky denim platforms. Thanks for the fun memory lane prompts! 🥰
Earth shoes! I remember them but never owned a pair. They remind me of my kids’ Birkenstocks.
Totally…and a floppy, goofy, overly wide boat of a shoe to wear. Worse than platforms as falling/trip hazards! 😜
Ha! 😂
I remember saddle shoes, loafers, Keds, and something called a Waffle Stomper- which when I just googled is now what I would call a hiking boot but that’s not what I wore. Apparently I had the super early first version however because I do remember that they laced like high top hiking boots. I was so happy when I reached 7th grade and beyond. Platform sandals and the white strappy T sandals for spring…and athletic shoes of whatever cheap brand my parents would buy 🙂 Now it’s all about comfort. My Merrells have such great support and I love them. My summer sandals are sort of knock off Keens but they do okay as well.
Waffle stompers! I remember those. I completely forgot about them. I have Merrell hiking boots. I’m all about comfort now. I only wear my ASICS or yoga mat flip flops.
Famolares — I remember those. And I’d forgotten that Nordstrom started as a shoe store.
I have a corn on my left foot and the tendency towards plantar fasciitis. Shoes are so important! Love that your new ones are putting the spring back in your step!
I know all about foot pain. I have what looks like a bunion on my left foot. But the doctor said it’s a ball of arthritis. I have few choices (again) in shoes.
It makes swimming look great if just to take the pressure off!
Definitely. I need to get back to the YMCA and swim. We had such a cold, wet winter and even April was cool. I struggle to swim when the weather isn’t warm and sunny!
Hokas are my shoe of choice nowadays. Like walking on clouds.
My kids wear Hokas. My ASICS look like Hoka wannabes. 😊
Don’t laugh, try crocs (yes, indoors, I doubt I’ll ever be that person who, at work, wore purple crocs without flinching 🙂 ). I used to like walking barefoot at home, now I’ve been croc-ized 😀
We saw lots of Crocs around the pool deck!
In my school days, I wore sneakers and only wore heels after I got married! Not it’s only fit flops for me.
That’s amazing. Yes, I only wear sneakers or flip flops now.
Cool. Another similar habit. 😎🤓
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My daughter gave me a pair of Hokas for Mother’s Day after they changed her life. I’ve never been more excited about a pair of shoes.
Mine look like Hokas, but I’m thinking I should try the real thing. Next time 😊
Shoes have never been my thing. I don’t know why. I’d rather buy a purse.
I don’t have any nice shoes. Just ones to walk in or flip flops around the house. I love purses though!
I, too, noticed that the best thing I can do when I have back pain is buy a new pair of shoes, and a pair of arch supports to go in them.
Yes, I buy arch supports too.
Our family was much the same, new shoes for the new school year! My mom usually pushed us towards a practical shoe that would work for lots of occasions but I was in sports and often wore tennis shoes to school. This brings back a lot of memories. Hugs, C
I remember wearing Tretorn tennis shoes in high school. I was dabbling with tennis and one of my friends was number one on our tennis team. She wore Tretorns, so of course, I did too.
Glad you got new shoes. Funny, I was just “thinking” that my shoes did not feel good either. Mushy is a great description. I’ll be getting a new pair too! As far as what shoes I wore as a kid, gee, I don’t even remember.
New shoes feel so good! 😊
Oh, yes it can be good to get good new shoes that offer support in these aging days!
I was into some oddball footwear, such as ankle-high and knee-high moccasins. Desert boots. Maybe earth shoes. But then platform sandals with natural leather straps became the in thing and I just HAD to have a pair. I was so thrilled when the package from Penney’s arrived. Later, my favorite shoes were white leather Nikes that I would keep fresh with white shoe polish. Sheesh.🙄
You have had some very interesting shoes. I have never heard of knee high moccasins. They sound almost like UGGS.
Much less bulky. Sort of something you might picture in “Last of the Mohicans”. Just close-fitting leather with a leather lacing up the front.
That makes sense. I had granny type boots that laced all the up and were almost to my knees with heels. Loved them!
A new pair of basketball sneakers before each season started was always an exciting time for me growing up. Even now, when I get a new pair of sneakers it always feels like hitting a reset button of sorts, and I am sure my feet appreciate the gesture.😀
New sneakers bring you back to your basketball youth. That’s so great!
Nothing like a new pair of shoes or sneakers. Brings back so many memories.
It was a big deal to get new shoes back in my childhood compared to today!
I wore whatever was the new, hot buster brown shoe, which was usually some sort of Mary Jane. White keds. And rain boots with the handles on top
I wanted Buster Browns so badly. I’m jealous. We had rain boots in Washington that went over our shoes.
I remember those! I just remember putting plastic bags over my feet before I put them in rain boots. I don’t know why we did this
Maybe rain could get into your boots so your mom wanted to make sure your socks stayed dry?
Probably. Such an odd detail that I haven’t thought about in years
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As a child I wore whichever shoes would stay on my scrawny feet, sometimes Buster Browns occasionally Red Ball Jets or saddle shoes. Never stylish but practical.
I wanted Buster Browns so much. But I had to wear Stride Rites for my flat feet for some reason. They were called Corrective Shoes, but they didn’t correct anything.
I wear so many different pairs of sneakers with inserts and leave my pretty pairs off, and not for work anymore. I miss them like an old friend but comfort is in.
I have arthritis in my foot, so it sneakers for me most of the time, too!
As a child, I had fancy ‘New York’ shoes for events and simple slip ons.
Oh my gosh! My mother stuck me in black and white saddle oxfords. “I loved these in high school.” That alone guaranteed I’d hate them. I was a messy kid and they scuffed beyond repair. Not only that, Mother drew a mark on paper around our feet and brought the shoes home. I rarely got near a shoe store. P
That is so funny about your mom drawing around your feet and paper!
Boy did I hate that! She never brought home patent leather with rhinestones! It was always “I bought these plenty big to last through the school year.
That’s what my shoes were like, but I got to try them on in the store.
And you didn’t even know you were lucky.
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