My 3 essential shoes

Somehow I have amassed over a dozen pairs of shoes that are never exactly what I want them to be. My shoe collection is a collection of compromises.

To work most days I wear a worn out pair of North Face, Converse-like black sneakers with white laces. This style was right, but they are just done.

What next?

I still haven't found a shoe with both this simple, tomboyish, work-appropriate style and excellent comfort for a girl on her feet. The solution here might be Converse low tops with orthopedic inserts. Are drug store inserts recommended? 

In ancient years I wore (and held onto past all rationale) a few pairs of Simple shoes. That was when Simple was a living brand committed to being eco-friendly. And they were awesome. Come back to me, Simple!

Simple shoes of my dreams

In the sandal realm I'm really fucked. I want leather-like sandals with a bit of a platform in order to be lifted from the filth and stand a tad taller. The sandal straps should be plentiful and adjustable enough to give me custom-fit security and comfort, yet I have to like how they look. In sandal-land I want to look down and feel like a young lady... a supremely comfortable, shit-kicking lady. I should be able to walk in the city or country for hours and wear them with skirts and dresses.

Is this possible? These are close. 

In reality, each pair of mine is a little wrong. This here is exactly what people mean when they tell us to spend more money on the perfect thing that will last for ages, instead of spending EVEN MORE money when you tally up your slightly imperfect purchases. When will I learn? 

Perhaps I'll learn before my next winter shoe purchase. 

I can't possibly recount for you all of my leather-based closed-toe-shoe missteps. It's too depressing. Boots, booties, lace-ups, and Mary Janes... all work for work, or looking nice, or styling it up on rare occasions. But I want to consolidate. I want one pair to work with everything. Instead all of mine are off just enough to grate me. Good for some things, not good for others, and perfect for none. 

When I'm ready to change my creed, one of these may be the first step in the right direction:

I luvz them.