People ask me all the time what shoes I wear when I’m in Paris. I used to bring several pairs of cute shoes for different outfits. I packed my running shoes, a pair of sandals, my chunky black loafers, a cute pair of slides. Most of the shoes I would bring would start to hurt my feet after about a mile or two. I would end up not wearing them most of the time. Thankfully, sneakers are in style right now world wide. You can see people wearing them with just about anything, including three piece suits. I think a pair of white sneakers can look cute with almost any outfit.
I have tried dozens of tennis shoes, running shoes, and sneakers and while they are more comfortable than dressier shoes, none of them could get me to my typical eight to twelve miles a day without some sort of foot pain. Sometimes it’s a blister, sometimes it’s arch pain and sometimes, because of all the cobbled streets, it can be hip or lower back pain. The shoes that I always bring with me nowadays are my Hokas. I can wear these shoes all day, for weeks on end and have no rubbing, no blisters and no back pain. They have a really thick sole that supports your body over the cobblestones, kind of like walking on clouds. They also come in wide and extra wide sizing. I order the wides because my feet appreciate the extra room. I always bring my white ones to Paris, because they go with everything. I just recently got these new ones because I love the color! They are the Challenger 8 shoe. The color is blush/dark cedar and I really like it in comparison to some of the pastels that Hoka usually does. They also have a little rubberized toe making them great for walking in a little light rain.
I used to bring along a dressy pairs of shoes for nice restaurants but I don’t even do that anymore. If you’re dressed nicely, the sneakers won’t be an issue. Parisian women are wearing sneakers, it’s in style right now. So don’t be afraid to pack light when it comes to shoes. Walking around Paris with sore feet or painful blisters just isn’t worth it. Not only will you still look cute, but you’ll be able to cover a lot of ground without any discomfort. You can then focus on all the great restaurants, and museums, and walking routes, gardens, and of course wine bars!
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