Step Out in Style -- And Comfort

Until recently, I thought I might be close to the last person on Earth who would consider buying a pair of new shoes in a "comfort" shoe store.

I am nutty for shoes. The sight of a beautiful shoe can make me jerk to a stop, stare and whistle under my breath, not unlike a creepy man leering at a woman on the street. Not just nutty, I am also irrational, as I will trade acute physical discomfort and the possibility of deformity to prance about in a pair of marvelous but completely foolish and painful shoes.

That said, I am here to tell you there exist many fetching and well-made shoes that are also supremely comfortable shoes. Comfort shoes have come a long way, far enough to suit the broadest range of style sensibilities without having a whisper of anything orthopedic about them.

Riviera Euro-Comfort Footwear is a great place to find them. I stopped by the Riviera Village store to learn more from manager Javier, whose friendliness and knowledge of all things comfort-shoe-related have much to do, I suspect, with the longtime success of this local shop.

Find the right shoe for your needs. If you need shoes to accommodate a specific foot issue, do visit a specialty store and seek the guidance of a person knowledgeable about the many types of comfort shoes out there. While at Riviera Euro-Comfort Footwear I noticed that Javier greeted many customers by name, and immediately knew which styles would be suitable for their feet.

Make room for orthotics. Many comfort shoes are designed to accommodate orthotics, which are custom or over-the-counter inserts created to accommodate foot conditions such as fallen or low arches. There is no compromise in style for such shoes, as one would never suspect the moss green espadrilles with ruffles down the upper, the gorgeous Italian pumps or the silver slides with Marilyn Monroe's likeness printed on them to be covertly constructed for comfort.

Take advantage of new materials. Many comfort shoes are fitted with a latex outer sole because it absorbs the shock of walking on hard surfaces and allows for greater balance. Javier recommends these as ideal vacation shoes, particularly if your trip involves lots of sight-seeing or leisured strolls along cobblestone streets. I eyed a line of such vacation shoes, in this case fashionable flats that come in a selection of deep suede tones, that would never get you pegged as a dorky tourist. Ditto for the sleek black knee boots made from Gore-Tex which, Javier explained, are not only water-resistant but keep the feet cool.

Consider comfort shoes a preventative measure. If you are free from foot issues like bunions or hammer toes, consider yourself lucky. But keep in mind that many of these occur over time, and ill-fitting or shoddy shoes are major contributors. Our feet sustain our weight and absorb the shock of our steps, and should be treated right. Given that you can buy shoes that are beautiful and pleasing, keep you in comfort and maintain the health of your feet, there is no longer reason not to.

Riviera Euro-Comfort Footwear

255 Avenida del Norte

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

 (310) 316-1605