A LETTER FROM A READER
I am 68 and I have finally found the shoes that go on standing up. It took a woman in a pharmacy queue to show me
Six things the Annelies slip on shoes get right that easy shoes usually get wrong, from a woman who does not review shoes.
Let me be plain about who is talking. I am Kathleen, I am 68, and I live in Ireland. Until this year, I could not have told you one interesting thing about any pair of shoes I owned. What I could have told you is where I put them on. On the bottom stair, sitting down, wrestling with laces or forcing my heel in with a finger, every single time I left the house.
So this is not a review. It is a woman who thought shoes simply worked that way, saying she was wrong.
The pair I am writing about is called the Annelies. I first noticed them in a pharmacy queue, on a woman who seemed to get in and out of places all day without once having to sit down to put her shoes on. I noticed the shoes, asked her where they were from, and eventually decided to try them myself.
Brown slip on shoes of the clog sort. A closed rounded toe, a little strap with a dark buckle at the side, and open at the back, so they go on standing up. That woman never sat down to put on her shoes. I have thought about that more than I care to admit. Read on.
A simple shoe that makes getting ready a little easier.
Here is what a lifetime of shoe shops taught me. Easy shoes come in two piles. The slipper pile, soft shapeless things that flap at the heel and announce to the whole street that you have stopped trying. And the proper pile, smart shoes that look right and demand a chair, a battle with laces, and ten minutes of your morning you never get back.
I had done my years in both, and I had more or less settled for the battle.
Shoes you have to sit down and fight your way into, or shoes that slip on and look like giving up. Those were the options, and I had stopped arguing with them.
The Annelies is the first pair I have owned that feels like a sensible middle ground, and having worn them, I can tell you it comes down to six things.
The day they arrived. I expected to send them back. I did not.
They go on standing up
No sitting down, no bending, no laces, no shoehorn, no bottom stair. You step into them on your way out, hands full of keys and shopping bags. The back is open, the front holds your foot, and that is the whole job.
The first morning I did it without thinking, I stood in my own hallway feeling like I had got away with something. Ask any woman who has ever balanced on one leg in a porch. This is the thing.
“I can take the bin out, post a letter and be back inside before my husband has tied his first shoe.”
Susan H., IrelandFrom the front, they are a proper shoe
The trick of them is that all the easy is hidden round the back. From the front you see a proper shoe. A closed rounded toe, a smooth finish and neat stitching along the seams.
You can wear them to the shops, to a café or when visiting friends, and nothing about them says slipper. They look like an ordinary, everyday shoe, which is exactly what I wanted.
“They look smart with trousers and nobody guesses how easy they are.”
Margaret W., IrelandThe strap helps keep them on your foot
An open backed shoe can sometimes slap against your heel as you walk. These have a little side strap with a dark buckle that can be adjusted to suit your foot.
It is a small detail, but it gives the shoe a more secure feel than the loose backless pairs I had tried before. You adjust the strap to your fit and get on with your day.
The side strap and its dark buckle. A small detail that makes a difference.
“No slipping and no slapping when I walk, which every backless pair I owned before did from day one.”
Jean C., IrelandThe footbed has a shape to it
Inside, there is a shaped footbed rather than the completely flat feel you find in many easy shoes. Your foot settles into it, and that can make a difference when you are on your feet for a good part of the day.
I notice the difference most after a busy morning. I wanted a shoe that was easy to put on but still felt like a proper shoe once I was wearing it.
“You can feel the shape under your foot straight away. I wear mine from breakfast to teatime.”
Kathleen B., IrelandThe sole is ready for an Irish autumn
Underneath is a thick black sole with a textured tread. When the pavements are wet and there are leaves on the ground, I appreciate having a sole that looks ready for everyday outdoor wear.
The thicker sole also puts a little more material between your feet and a cold, hard floor. It is a practical detail that makes sense for the colder months, when the weather can change before you have even finished your errands.
“Wore them through a wet week. The sole feels substantial underfoot.”
Doreen F., IrelandThey go with everyday clothes
Brown goes with nearly everything I own. Trousers, skirts and the clothes I wear for everyday errands all work with them. The simple shape makes them easy to reach for without having to think too hard about what else I am wearing.
If brown is not your colour, check the product page to see which other colours and sizes are currently available. I always think it is worth checking the size options before deciding.
“I bought the brown pair and keep reaching for them. They are easy to wear with everyday outfits.”
Angela T., IrelandThe Annelies, against the shoes you may already know
You can find an easy shoe almost anywhere. I know, because I have tried plenty over the years. Here is what stood out to me about the Annelies.
Many easy shoes
- Laces or stiff heels that make you sit down
- Loose backs that can slap as you walk
- Flat footbeds with little shape
- Thin soles for everyday use
- A slipper-like look
The Annelies
- Step in while standing up
- Adjustable side strap with buckle
- Shaped footbed
- Thick, textured treaded sole
- A closed toe and everyday shoe style
About the price
The Annelies are currently listed at €44.95 at Emma & Martin Dublin.
Before I order any shoes, I like to check the available sizes and read the product details carefully. If you have been looking for a practical slip on shoe, it is worth taking a look to see whether your size is available.
EMMA & MARTIN DUBLIN
THE ANNELIES SLIP ON SHOES
- Step in while standing up
- Side strap with dark buckle
- Closed rounded toe
- Shaped footbed
- Thick textured sole
If you are still sitting on the bottom stair every time you leave the house, and you are tired of choosing between shoes that are difficult to put on and slippers that do not look quite right, the Annelies may be worth a look.
Have a look at the available sizes and product details before deciding. I hope you find a pair that suits you.
Kathleen
Take a closer look at the Annelies
Check the current sizes and product details at Emma & Martin Dublin.
See If Your Size Is Still In StockThe Annelies · €44.95
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