These Shoes are Made for Walking: The Best Shoes to Travel in this Holiday

Posted by maryanne on December 19, 2011

We all love heading out to see our friends and family for the holidays, but it’s also one of the hardest times of year to travel, especially if you’re flying long distances or have multiple lay-overs. It’s easy enough to pack everything you need to look great once you arrive at your destination, but what most of us forget about is finding the perfect outfit to actually travel in. We need comfort, but don’t want to look like a bum. We want to look fashionable, but not like we went all out just to sit on a plane for 10 hours. And, as all shoe addicts know, the first thing to consider when putting together any outfit is, of course: your shoes! So here are a few suggestions for cute, warm and comfortable travelling shoes that will help you get where you’re going on time, feeling fresh and looking great.

1. Slip-ons:

One of the biggest hassles about flying is having to take your shoes on and off while going through security. Also, if you’re on a long flight, it’s great to be able to easily slip your shoes on and off without having to disturb your seatmate. If you have a lengthy flight ahead or are planning to go through security multiple times, slip-ons are great to wear to the airport or throw in a carry-on to change into before you board the plane. Pair some of these looks with stretchy skinnies or straight leg jeans, a soft T-shirt, a long comfy cardigan, or a soft blazer with a hoodie underneath.

• Patricia Green Womens Greenwich in Cappucino
• EMU Australia Jolie Slipper
• Quads Foldover Sneaker by Dereon
• Minnetonka Women’s The Ultimate Sheepskin Slipper, Golden Tan
• Daniel Green Women’s Nikki Moc Moccasin, Chocolate
• Sperry Top-Sider Women’s Bahama 2-Eye Boat Shoe, White/navy

2. Anything That is Basically a Slipper Disguised as a Real Shoe:

We all love this type of shoe for the comfort factor. When you travel, though, you have make sure that the soles of the shoe are actually made to wear outdoors and are sturdy enough to do some fast-paced walking if need be. You don’t want your shoes making it harder to get through the airport. Aside from that, any of these options would be the perfect shoe for a short flight where you don’t plan on taking your shoes off and don’t have anywhere too formal to go once you arrive at your destination. You can dress these up or down, depending on your needs. Go all-out comfy and wear them with sweats or leggings, a big sweatshirt and a soft scarf. Or do a cool casual look and pair them with skinny jeans or drop crotch slacks, a white-T, some shades and a motorcycle jacket.

• Woolrich Women’s Hawthorn Moccasin, Ruby Knit
• Manitobah Mukluks 20266 Moccasin, Russet
• Koolaburra Women’s Sonora Boot, Black
• Minnetonka Women’s 3451 Sheepskin Slipper Boot, Tan
• Roxy Women’s Grizzly Slipper, Ivory
• Sugar Women’s Moragami Flat Boot, Black Arctic

3. Soft Flats

Flats are awesome for traveling and can often feel like you have nothing on, but make sure that the material is soft enough to keep your feet comfortable for an extended period of time. A lot of leather flats are comfortable for the first couple hours but then inevitably wreak havoc on your feet for the next five hours of your trip. If you want to wear leather flats when you travel, make sure the leather is very supple. Or just play it safe and go with soft fabric flats. Wear them with anything from wide leg jeans to leggings.

• Wanted Shoes Women’s Glitter Ballerina Flat
• Marc by Marc Jacobs Love 6161961 Flat
• ALL BLACK Diamond Quilt Ballet Flat
• Wild Diva Women’s Sweety-39 Ballet Flat
• Bacio61 Women’s Paese Ballet Flat
• Aussie Dogs Women’s Fleur Boot
• Manitobah Mukluks 20120 Boot

4. Walking Shoes

If you are going to be doing some major traveling, or if you just want to ensure the comfort of your feet for the entire journey, the safest thing to do is opt for walking shoes. Most women shy away from sneakers because they don’t want to look like they just left the gym, but there are plenty of shoes designed with walking in mind that can be super cute, as well. Try some cool kicks and wear them as you would soft boots or slip-ons. Or try a fitted boot in a line made for comfort, like Camper or Gentle Souls.

• Gentle Souls Women’s Cree Boot, Black
• J75 by JUMP Women’s Fender-W2 Sneaker, Black Patent Lizard
• Camper Women’s 46446-006 Ankle Boot, Lapa
• Keep Unisex Ramos Sneaker, Bird’s Eye Suede
• Creative Recreation Women’s Cesario High-Top Sneaker
• Puma Women’s Soleil S Lace-Up Fashion Sneaker
• Adidas Exctasy Sleek W Sneakers

By-line: Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

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