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At 62, I'd been choosing between shoes my feet could stand and shoes I could stand to look at. This is a letter about the pair that ended the argument
Six things these olive slip-ons get right that a cupboard of pretty flats and beige "comfort shoes" never did, from a Perth woman who had started saying no to walks because of her feet.
Maggie Whitfield · 62 · Perth, WA · 5 min read
I'm 62, and for about ten years every pair of shoes I owned fell into one of two camps. There were the pretty ones, the ballet flats and little loafers that looked lovely and had me hobbling by lunchtime. And there were the "sensible" ones, the beige velcro things from the chemist that my feet tolerated and I couldn't bear to look at. So every morning I chose between my feet and my outfit, and most mornings my feet lost. Then this winter I caught myself telling Lorraine I'd skip our Thursday walk round the river "because of my shoes." That's when I knew something had to give. So this is not a review. It's a woman who finally found a pair that didn't make her choose, telling you why.
The shoes I'm writing about are the Kendall slip-ons from Perth Boutique, a small Australian boutique that dresses women our age. Mine are the olive green. Lorraine, who never lets me get away with anything, turned up to coffee in a pair, put her foot on my chair and said, "Mags, these are the ones. Six hours at Freo markets on Saturday and not a single complaint." She was right, as usual. When Perth Boutique later asked if they could share my letter, I said yes, on the condition I could be completely honest in it.
Here's what ten years of choosing taught me. When your feet hurt, your world gets smaller. You stop parking at the far end. You say no to the markets, the long lunch that turns into a wander, the walk with the grandkids along the foreshore. Not because you can't, but because you know how you'll feel at four o'clock. And somewhere along the way, you decide that pretty shoes are something you're simply not allowed any more.
My feet weren't stopping me from going out. My shoes were. It took me ten years to work out the difference.
The Kendalls are the first pair I've bought in a decade that I didn't have to make excuses for, one way or the other. Having worn them for a month, to the markets, round the river, through Woolies and on a full day out with the grandchildren, I can tell you it comes down to six things.
A cushioned insole with proper arch support
This is what Lorraine was talking about. The Kendall has a cushioned orthopedic insole with arch support built in, and the difference was obvious from the first morning. My old flats were basically a sheet of cardboard between me and the footpath. These feel soft underfoot but supportive at the same time, and for the first time in a long while, I got to the end of a full day out without counting down the minutes until I could sit.
Freo markets, then fish and chips on the harbour, then the long walk back to the car. Feet fine. Lorraine smug.
Slip them on. No laces, no bending, no fuss
There are no laces and no buckles. You just slide your foot in and go. At 62, bending down to tie a pair of laces on the front step is no longer the small thing it used to be, and there's a real pleasure in being able to step into your shoes while holding a handbag, the car keys and a container of leftovers for the neighbour.
Ray: "Ready?" Me: "Ready." Actually ready, for once, instead of sitting on the stairs wrestling with a shoe.
Breathable, for a Perth summer
The sides are perforated all the way along, so air moves through and your feet don't cook. Anyone who's worn closed shoes in Perth in January knows exactly what I mean. On a 34-degree day at the shops, my feet stayed cool and dry, and I didn't come home and kick them off the second I was through the door.
Hot day, shopping in the city, no sandals. Feet still comfortable at five o'clock. That has never happened in a closed shoe.
A grippy sole that feels steady
The sole is non-slip, and I didn't realise how much I'd been tiptoeing until I stopped. Shiny shopping-centre floors, wet tiles at the pool, the damp path down to the river after a sprinkler's been on. I feel planted in these in a way I never did in my old flats, and at my age, feeling steady on your feet is worth more than any compliment.
Rain at Garden City, the floors like an ice rink. Walked through normally. Noticed I wasn't holding Ray's arm.
They actually look lovely
This is the part I still can't get over. They don't look like comfort shoes at all. There's a soft suede-look finish, little tassels on the front, a warm tan band around the sole with contrast stitching, and a hint of metallic at the heel. They look like something from a smart little shoe shop in Claremont, not the chemist. I've had more comments on these in a month than on any shoes I've owned.
Daughter-in-law asked where I got them and whether they come in her size. They do. She's ordered black.
Five colours, sizes AU 5 to 12, and why I chose olive
The Kendall comes in green, black, blue, white and red, in AU sizes from 5 to 12. I went for the olive green because it's earthy and goes with absolutely everything I own: jeans, white linen trousers, my cream summer dress, even navy. It looks a little bit special without shouting. I ordered my usual size and they fitted straight out of the box. Care is simple, a wipe with a damp cloth or a gentle hand wash.
Thursday river walk, the full loop for the first time since last summer. Lorraine timed us. We were faster. Neither of us mentioned feet once.
These shoes, against the two pairs they replaced
Most of us aren't choosing a shoe. We're choosing which part of the day we're willing to suffer through. Here's the difference, laid out plainly.
Flats with no support, aching by lunch
Beige velcro you hide under the table
Laces to bend down and tie
Slippery soles on shiny floors
A choice between your feet and your outfit
Cushioned orthopedic insole with arch support
Tassels, tan trim and stitching that look lovely
Slip on and go, no laces
Non-slip sole that feels steady
No choice needed, finally
About the price
The Kendall is $69.95 at the moment. The website says it's usually $140. I won't pretend I know what a shoe like this ought to cost, but I can tell you I've spent more than that on pretty shoes that lived at the back of the wardrobe because I couldn't walk in them.
Perth Boutique also take a bit off if you buy more than one: 10% for two, 15% for three and 20% for four, and it comes off automatically at the checkout. That's how I ended up with a black pair for winter as well. You can split it with Afterpay too, which works out at about $17.50 a fortnight.
Shipping was free with Australia Post, tracked and insured, and there's a money-back guarantee if they're not right. After so many shoes that let me down, that's what got me to press the button.
true to size
to choose
Australia-wide
If you're 55, or 62, or 70, and you've been quietly choosing between shoes your feet can stand and shoes you can stand to look at, this is the pair I'd hand you myself, while your size is still there. Stop choosing. Go for the walk.
Maggie
Kendall™ · Orthopedic Slip-Ons
Buy 2 save 10% · Buy 3 save 15% · Afterpay available
- Cushioned orthopedic insole with arch support
- Easy slip-on design, no laces
- Breathable perforated sides for warm days
- Non-slip sole for steady footing
- Tassels, tan sole band and contrast stitching
- Green, black, blue, white and red · AU 5 to 12
- FREE shipping Australia-wide & money-back guarantee
Spring sale on now, while stocks last.
About the writer. Maggie Whitfield is 62 and lives in Perth with her husband Ray, a lemon tree that produces more than they can eat, and a standing Thursday coffee with Lorraine. She worked as a dental receptionist for twenty-six years and is now, in her own words, "saying yes to things."
This page is an advertisement for Perth Boutique. Individual experiences may vary. These shoes are not a medical device; if you have a foot condition, please check with your podiatrist. Perth Boutique · Free shipping Australia-wide · Money-back guarantee.