Fashion sense & sensibility When style goes toe to toe with comfort, a shoe by any other name would feel just as sweet to your feet

Remember that David Lee Roth song “Sensible Shoes”?

Yeah, me too. I always hated it. Maybe I was jealous that his hair looked way better feathered than mine did. But I think it had more to do with the concept. I mean, of all the things to enshrine in song, why would anyone choose sensible shoes?

Boots, even if they’re made for walking, are sassy. And ZZ Top’s high-heeled sneakers had a certain musical appeal.

But sensible shoes?

How unsexy. How unflattering. How … unstylish.

I’m not one of those ditzy gals who can’t see the point of comfy footwear. Flats are fine if you need to be on your feet all day, and everyone needs great sneakers and hiking boots. But I’ve always had a not-so-secret aversion to Birkenstocks, most clogs and anything that looked orthopedic. Even Gwyneth Paltrow, who is an icon of style if ever there was one, couldn’t convince me to wear Birks.

I love heels, the higher the better. I love the way they streamline my clothing. I love the way they elongate the leg. I love the way they straighten my posture.

Unfortunately, they don’t love me back. One recent morning, after a long day in stiletto boots, I awoke with a sore toe.

I thought it would go away, but instead, it got worse. Finally, after wearing nothing but slippers and slide-on sneakers for a week, the pain subsided. And I knew it was time to change my tune. So I set off in search of Mr. Roth’s vaunted sensible shoes.

Normally, shoe shopping is a reason to rejoice. But I wasn’t exactly thrilled when I walked into Lamey-Wellehan last week. Where’s the fun in trying on “comfort footwear”?

A quick foot scan (a must-try!) proved what I had suspected all along – my rogue toe was bearing weight. Rather than go the insole route, I tried on a few pairs of clogs. First, I looked at the Danskos. My clog-wearing friends swear by these, and with good reason – these Danish “barn shoes” are known for comfort and support. They were actually, dare I say, cute. Especially in red. And patent leather. And silver. But they rubbed my toe the wrong way, and if I’m going to drop $115 on a pair of shoes, they need to fit.

Next, I tried the $99 clogs from Ariat, an Israeli company that specializes in equestrian footwear. I haven’t ridden a horse in years, but the Ariats felt so good I wanted to trot right out of the store in them. Not quite as sassy as the Danskos, but doesn’t comfort always come with a price?

Well, yes. And no. As I discovered at my next stop, The Walk Shop in downtown Bangor. Owner Peter Bennett says he loves my column, because I’m always writing about ridiculous heels. The way he sees it, the more women who wear ridiculous heels now, the more customers he’ll have in the future. I guess I’ve proved his point.

There, I tried on – gasp! – a pair of Birkenstocks. They weren’t sandals, rather a black leather number suitable for a professional environment. What they lacked in flash they made up for in comfort. But at $159, they were way out of my budget. The sweet Clarks slides – in black leather with a subtle turquoise design for $70 – fit my feet and my budget. And I loved the way they looked. But I still couldn’t commit, so I kept shopping.

In Ellsworth, I hit ShoeGazer (No, I’m not related to the owner, I just happen to love this place, so I go there a lot). I found Spanish clogs from El Natura Lista. They’re handmade, with a removable foot bed and leather treated with olive oil and tea tree oil. The green pair called out to me.

So, too, did the red sneaker-esque shoes from Tsubo. The name means “pressure points” in Japanese, and, true to form, has a sole designed to massage your feet while you walk. Faboo.

Since I’m a bargain shopper, I was drawn to the cushy Rocket Dog clogs, which cost $39. And I couldn’t ignore the adorable embroidered flats from Indigo by Clarks. But since they were basically glorified ballet slippers, that felt like cheating. If I’m going to do this sensible shoe thing, I’m going to do it right.

That’s not to say I’m going to pick up a pair of Wolky shoes anytime soon. Sure, they’re approved by the American Podiatric Association. And yes, they come in black, but they’re a little too serious-looking for my taste. And the Earth shoes, a wildly popular brand with the “negative heel” technology, are fine, but I couldn’t get used to the feeling of them. I’m klutzy enough – my shoes don’t have to trip me up, too.

Back in Bangor, I popped into Blue Seal Feeds & Needs, which has the best selection of Danskos in town. The store initially stocked them for horseback riding, but they’ve been popular with doctors, chefs and people who just like comfortable shoes. A pair of blue sandals with parrots on them caught my eye. Maybe I’ll be back come summer.

Or maybe I’ll copy my editor, who has a great pair of clogs from Sofft – they’re a lovely burnt orange color, and they feel like slippers. She got them at The Grasshopper Shop in Ellsworth. I may follow her lead.

I could pick up a pair of Borns or Clarks at Marden’s – for half-price – if I wore a different size. Or I could just stick to Aerosoles at Marshalls.

Regardless of what I choose, I’m now singing the praises of sensible shoes. Like David Lee Roth. With better hair.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.