Tips for finding cute and fashionable women's shoes with afos as well as orthotics when you have footdrop or other foot problems .

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with shoes my entire life. Finding the best shoes to wear with AFOs has never been easy.

Long before I started wearing leg braces (AFO’s), it was a struggle finding shoes that fit my high-arch, fused-ankle, drop-foot, callous-prone feet.

I remember the day I picked up my first pair of leg braces. You can read more about my history in the blog Skinny Jeans.  When the orthotist brought them to me in a clear plastic bag, I instantly burst into tears like someone first viewing a loved one’s corpse in an open casket. I was scared to touch them.

When I caught my breath, my greatest concern came off as superficial. What the f### kind of shoes do I have to wear with those things?

That Orthotist probably needed therapy for PTSD (trauma) after his experience with me that day. When he brought in a catalog with a pair of bulky, fake leather, clodhopper shoes on the cover, I literally started screaming at him,

“Do you expect me to look like Fred Flintstone?”  “No f####ing way am I wearing those!”

I left his office (AFO’s still in the bag) and didn’t take them out again for another six months, when cleaning bloody knees from sidewalk falls became a daily thing. I moved out of denial and into typical solution-focused “Lainie mode.”

As my leg braces evolved through the years, so has my ability to find stylish shoes that I can wear confidently. Today, it is so much easier as the trendy shoe styles have features people with hand and feet issues actually need. Here are 5 of my favorites:

#1.  KICKS ARE DOPE


Sneakers of all types are cool. They are no longer reserved for mall-walking, city-commuting, or gyms. People can wear sneakers with anything and everywhere these days.

Brands like Nike and New Balance have a ton more competition as it seems like every designer and brand has its own line of sneakers. I mean, hello, even Ellen Degeneres has her own line of sneakers.

When worn confidently, sneakers can look just as great with jeans as they do when paired with a dress or skirt. The key is to look like you planned to wear sneakers and not that you have to wear sneakers.

#2.  VELCRO IS LIT

For those of you without access to a teenager or slang decoder, Lit means “hot” or “cool.”
When I first saw velcro closures on shoes by popular designers, I wanted to jump for joy. I cant actually jump but I was REALLY excited.
This trend has been life-changing. Velcro shoes are no longer just worn by nurses and small children. People without hand or foot problems love the look and convenience of hook and loop closures. No more struggles with shoelaces for me.

#3.  GOTTA HAVE SOLE

 

People who have foot and balance issues are experts in flooring material. If I walk into a restaurant and see a shiny painted floor, my heart starts racing, and I go into survival mode. My eyes are always scanning the floor for spilled water, baby pacifiers or any other foreign object impeding my path, causing a likely fall.

I was so excited to see that rubber non-skid soles are now everywhere and on everything from sandals and booties to party shoes. As they say (and my 14-year-old son came up with), don’t forget the rubber!

#4. ELEVATE YOUR STYLE

elevate your style shoe

One of the hardest things to accept when you have foot and balance problems is the inability to wear heels. Heels, (or pumps as they used to call them in the 80’s when my friends dyed them to match their prom dresses) are considered a necessity when dressing up, a no-brainer for able-bodied women. Heels make women look taller, thinner and sexier. Those of us who can’t wear heels do not benefit from the illusion they give an outfit.

My life was forever changed six years ago when I discovered the Wolky, Jewel Sandal with a flat, platform sole. For the first time ever, I was walking comfortably in elevated sandals that made my legs look longer too. Since then, I have found even cuter platforms (only the completely level kind without a wedge) I can wear in any season. Here are some examples:

#5. ZIP IT

When you wear leg braces or orthotics, putting shoes on is a high-intensity workout. Even when you remove the insoles and buy a size or two bigger than your real size, there’s just not enough room in the opening to shove it in. It doesn’t help that both of my ankles are fused with pins, preventing any movement.

Like the struggle I have every summer, trying to get my kid’s sleeping bags shoved back inside the tiny nylon bags they came in, I eventually (sweat dripping) forfeit the fight; cuz it ain’t gonna happen.

This year, I saw a ton of cute hi-tops with zippers on each side. These hi-tops are not the Chuck Taylor style (I like those too) but rather, more grown-up, soft leather ankle boots that you can wear with anything.

In general, hi-tops are awesome for women with foot issues. Not only do they provide built-in ankle support, but if you want to wear trendy ankle cropped jeans, hi-tops conceal your orthotic/AFO.

Since laces are tough for me because of my fine motor issues and pull on style shoes are totally out of the question, I was bouncing off my chair with excitement when I found a pair of two zippers opening hi-tops with removable insoles.

CONCLUSION

Note that I do receive a small commission if you use links from this post to purchase. This does not cost you anything and helps me offset some of the website expenses.

Depending on when you are reading this, the exact shoes above may or may not be available. Finding shoes that work with orthotics and afos takes patience and trial and error. Try not to be frustrated and give up. Keep looking, be creative and of course, keep reading this blog ? You may find some of my other blogs about the best shoes to wear with afo leg braces helpful also.

Xoxo

Lainie

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Categories: Fashion, sidebar46 Comments

46 Comments

  1. Thanks so much for sharing Lainie! I have a 16 year old daughter who wears AFO’s and the fight for shoes is exhausting. We recently bought her a pair of Koolaburra by Ugg boots (shazi short) that have a zip on the side and are laced up the back, they are very easy to get open and allow her foot to get in. We have also found that high tops by DC are pretty roomy in width and are cute and stylish.

     Reply

    • As someone who within 3 months went from struggling just to find shoes for my size 12 feet to someone who needs an AFO and wears size who knows WHAT now…shoes have been a trial. I first found a really comfortable pair of Reebok’s (men’s) that we’re suitable to get me back in public. Now I want more. Thanks for the input. I’m not ready to give up some semblance of style when I’ve had All these other physical adjustments, too!

       Reply

      • Hi Tamara,

        Thanks for commenting. When it rains it pours to say the least right? Size 12 is tough…size 12 afos even tougher…but clearly you didn’t quit & found a great (and very in style) option. Send me a pic! I l0ve this.

         Reply

  3. Thank you Lainie! Reading your post gives me a glimmer of hope! It also shows me how different we all are in our journeys with leg braces. I can’t personally wear any shoes that do not lace. I feel like I need to have them laced really tight to stay on my foot. I also can’ wear shoes that have a platform or any type of heal whatsoever. My entire foot/balance must be on the same level, so I have not been able to find oxfords that are light weight enough and no heel. To make matters even stranger, I can’t wear shoes that are “too flat” like Chuck Taylors or the super cute velcro ones in this post. Go figure, I have no idea why …
    HOWEVER after “I can’t, I can’t I can’t” your post makes me hopeful! There is going to be something out there for me I know it! Keep up this great work! Thank you!

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  4. OMG, I can so relate. I laughed at your comments about being floor experts – yep, me too. I was in a shoe store and looking for Velcro shoes. The older woman asked me when I was going to grow up and wear real shoes. I left the shoes at the cash register.

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  5. Thanks for the post! What brand are the black high tops with the zippers and chains shown in post above? Super cute! Also love the slip ons with zippers you posted- I love that style but not enough room for AFOs without zippers!

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    • Hi Amy,

      Those are by Ash & I removed the insoles . Those zippers unzip and I tried those on. They are by Gentle Souls & currently at Nordstroms. I put a link on the Trends page ?

       Reply

      • Hi Lainie
        I brought two pairs of the gentle souls at Nordstrom as I heard they have a policy that lets you buy one pair of shoes in two different sizes. Which ended up being correct. I also pulled the insolesout to make room for my AFO. However, my physical therapists have since told me not to wear such flat shoes.

         Reply

        • Hi Dagmar,

          Yes, I talk about Nordstrom in the Odd Shoe Out Post I wrote😀 Glad it worked! Definitely do what your medical provider says & pay attention to your body. From my experience, the afos do the work so if a shoe fits & is comfortable for me to walk in, I buy them 😀

           Reply

    • Hi Ardra,

      Did you see the Boots are A Bitch post? I am wearing a boot by Michael Kors that is flat and has a side zipper. The style is Bromley. You wear just 1 afo, right? You can buy two different sizes at Nordstrom. There are many others too – working on a new boots post for sometime end of month. Xo

       Reply

  8. I was wearing the white velcro tennies from Walmart for over ten years. When I was working my one ankle would swell up from arthritis so It really helped. I can’t really bend down too much either due to a bad back to tie my shoes so it was also great to have velcro. After I had to stop working , I could wear shoes with shoe strings because I wasn’t walking as much and my velcro ones were super worn out. I still don’t really tie my shoes much. I usually just leave them tied and slip out of them.

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  10. Great updates, Lainie! I am forwarding this whole email to my orthotist to be sure he is sharing your first time AFO guide with new clients. Thank you thank you!

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  11. Great suggestions. Cole-Hahn makes lightweight flat laceups in different widths.

    Ideas for bedroom slippers/house shoes for those of us who have neuropathy and a dropped foot? We need slippers easy to put on in the middle of the night or early ,orninh brain fig that won’t slip off.

     Reply

  12. The list is absolutely gorgeous! Can’t wait to buy those kinds of shoes. They look so simple yet it can pull it off in any clothing. Anyways. thank you for sharing this. Love it!

     Reply

  14. So glad I found this site thru FPN. I have Small Fiber Neuropathy and can’t wear heels. However, I have small feet (adult size 5 – 5.5) and have found that children’s shoe stores sell many stylish shoes/boots with no heels and they are less than half the price.

     Reply

    • Hi Nancy,

      I’m so happy you found us too. Yes, I get the small shoe thing with orthotics as my daughter (17) is also a size 5 and we buy most of her shoes in the children’s department as well. I hope you are following our Facebook page so I can to know you.

       Reply

  15. Felt like I was reading “This is your life.” Foot drop, severe Neuropathy, used to have super high arches that now have dropped to flat feet. Just told a friend of mine at school I would be a millionaire if I became a shoe/boot maker for women that have AFOs to the calf and open somehow wide enough for my foot and AFO to fit inside, at the same time! Now I have your site bookmarked. Thank you.

     Reply

    • Hi Suzanne,
      I’m so glad you found us and can relate. I didn’t know high arches can drop? I’m curious about this and how your gait has changed as a result. Anyhow, I so appreciate you being here & bookmarking the website. I hope you also follow on FB so I can get to know you. Lainie

       Reply

  16. Thanks for this post! It actually gives me hope for the day that I have to wear AFOs due to CMT. Luckily, I still walk well with out, as long as I wear extremely supportive athletic shoes. And I have had a really hard time finding professional looking footwear that doesn’t make my ankle hurt. I would love a post on footwear for those of us with needy feet who don’t wear AFO’s.

     Reply

    • Diane,

      I’m sorry I missed this. Thanks so much for commenting. I hope you will subscrib (if you didn’t) as I do write shoe posts tha6 include comfort shoes for non Afo wearers as well. I’m so glad you found the website. ❤️ Lainie

       Reply

  18. Great post! I still struggle with finding shoes that work well, I have foot drop out on the right side so I either end up with shoes that are too tight on my brace or too loose on my left foot! I love that trendy shoes are coming with Velcro and zippers, hopefully they provide a great solution!

     Reply

    • Hi Laura,

      Thanks so much for reading & commenting. That must be annoying to have one shoe that’s too big (or small) all the time…Hopefully you learned some tips in these pages like putting insoles inside…I am happy you are here ? Lainie

       Reply

  19. I cannot thank you enough for this website!! I have been searching for cute shoes to wear for a year! This is amazing! Just wanted to say thank you.

     Reply

  20. My brace was made so big die to swelling that it won’t fit in any shoe but a Nike running shoe.I have ordered all kinds but noting will fit.The Dr even said that it was really large.I was told that I could not get a new brace for 5 years.Any suggestions

     Reply

    • Hi Kathy,

      If it can fit inside of a Nike running shoe, then there are other options . If ty come to the Trend-Able FB me and send a photo to me on messenger there, I’ll be happy to offer some suggestions.

       Reply

  21. Just found you and I love this! I am so frustrated with the current selection of shoes– i’m an eternal Cinderalla at the mall. it’s vain and not the end of the world but so exhausting to always have to search for something that’s room enough to fit over the braces, let alone something I’d choose if style was the only requirement!

     Reply

    • Hi Lisa,

      I’m really happy you found us & that you took the time to write…Thank you! I get it & feel exactly the same way…Since you’re clearly an expert, I would love it if you shared any great finds with me so I can let others know too. Don’t forget to sign up for newsletters etc so we can stay in touch. Have a great weekend! Lainie

       Reply
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