I would walk 500 miles (and I would walk 500 more) in these ultra-comfortable fisherman sandals. (Jennifer Romolini/Yahoo)
I'm a harried middle-aged mom with lingering bunions from my "girl boss" days in heels, and I have a sexy touch of plantar fasciitis in my left arch. All that means I don't necessarily expect to be invited to the cool-kids footwear party. I can't follow trends the way I once did and instead must consider things like cushioning and arch support. At 52, the orthopedic granny shoes I wore ironically in my 20s and 30s increasingly make me look like I'm, well, an actual grandma.
Finding comfortable, still-cute footwear is a mid-life sartorial problem I've found difficult to solve, especially in the summer, when shoes are flimsier. But solve it I must. I have a trip to Europe coming up in August — one where I'll be walking miles in summer's hottest heat. I'm not checking a bag, which means my footwear options will be limited, and what I choose should match every outfit I pack. Sneakers will be too hot and bulky, too clunky for night and, as much as I love them, I don't want to clomp around in my crunchy old Birkenstocks. I've been on the hunt for something as comfortable as my Birks, but sleeker. I scrolled for weeks ... and then I found the Easy Spirit Gretty Fisherman Sandal, the ideal vacation shoes that happen to be 40% off for Memorial Day.
Easy Spirit's fisherman style features coveted arch support, which is hard to find in a stylish sandal that's not visibly AARP-coded. The cushioned insole makes you feel like you're walking on a cloud of air, and you kind of are — my one complaint is the swishy air-release sound these make when you walk, especially in the first few wears.
This croc-embossed leather is a bit more elevated and slightly more dressy, but it's still versatile enough to go with everything.
When I saw fisherman sandals trending this year, I liked the look, but I was hesitant to try them for myself. These styles tend to be flat and utterly unsupportive or too bulky, with an unwieldy heel. But, as it turns out, these Easy Spirits check all my persnickety travel footwear boxes. They're lightweight, soft, well-made and versatile, with a classic, pared-down design that makes them look a lot more expensive than they are. They're true to size, have a wide footbed and are available in two widths. The rubber sole is durable, sturdy and slip-free. Check, check, check and check.
On top of all that, they're comfortable right out of the box — there's no breaking-in period or bloody-heel blisters, just a smooth, pain-free glide. I wore them for a long, comfortable stroll the day they arrived, about 4 miles round-trip from my house to a dinner with friends. Since then, they've been my footwear of choice during errands for the past two weeks. I've already taken at least 50,000 steps in them — including 6 miles in one day.
As for style, so far, I've paired them with white jeans, traditional jeans, khaki barrel pants, a linen shirtdress, overalls and a vintage Banana Republic skirt. They're definitely coming with me to Europe later this year. In fact, I love them so much, I've already ordered a second pair in black.
And it turns out I'm not alone in my Gretty obsession — Amazon shoppers are loving them too: "Sensational shoes," raved one foot-comfort enthusiast. "The sandals are comfortable and look so cute with my summer outfits. The size is true, the arch support is good and the quality is great."
"I get compliments. These are everything sandals," said another Gretty fan. "You can go to a party in them or you can go on a hike. The color is perfect. They are a smidge on the loose side but not in a bad way. I wanted a sandal that looked feminine but eliminated the need for toe polish and these are absolutely the right choice for that. And, most importantly, they are all-day comfortable. I can go for miles in them."
Other than the swishing sound, my only critique is that they don't come in more colors, though Amazon does have a few that aren't on Easy Spirit's website.
I may also need this croc-leather style ...
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
