Ugly hot shoes for stomping around NYC in the summer

Credentials: I walk everywhere and hate how my legs look in most shoes.

It’s so fucking hot. The city is in its natural summer state: breezes feel like hot breath and sweaty condensation dots everything like a Soul Cycle toilet seat. When I’m walking from point A to B in these swampy months, every body part and extremity needs to disappear silently into the noise of the intense heat. I do not want to feel them. I want to forget they exist.

Vintage shoes cannot be trusted in the summer heat.

Finding the right shoe has always been tricky for me. Since the time that I could perceive my body and understand that items could either enhance or upset what I had going on, I knew that slender shoes were not for me. My legs were more of the sturdy sort and I didn’t like how they presented in shoes that were too narrow or dainty. A lean foundation disturbs the balance of my figure. Converse, for example, make me feel like a stump. In Vans, alternatively, I am a willowy skate God.

Chunk and clunk are imperative features of my silhouette—and when positioned at the base in shoe form—my wee, tiny body can exist in contrast as the wiry cattail reed it wants to be.

So when it’s hot and I’m walking a lot and I still crave the chunk, this is what I’m wearing.

The Nike Air Rift is unfortunately Elle’s “hottest shoe” of the summer. Thankfully, users in the comments still think the shoe is ugly. Phew. People must hate it for it to remain the perfect shoe. And if it cannot stay the perfect shoe, it will at least be the most comfortable one. I wore these (no socks) every day on a trip to Paris, clocking in nearly 20,000 steps every day, and didn’t get a single blister.

They also can hold sticks for your dog.

Here are some links to pre-owned Rifts online:

Nike Air Rift Breathe Neon Green Women's Size 8

Nike Air Rift Kenya University Red Stadium Green Forest Women’s Size 7

Nike Air Rift Breathe Brown Shale Women's Size 9

Nike Air Rift Metallic Silver Women's Size 9

Nike Air Rift Breathe White Citron Pulse Multi Color Women's Size 5

Next is the Sandy Liang ballet flat. These are dainty and slender and yet, because of the square toe, these work for me and my proportion dysmorphia. They’re also very comfortable.

Here are some links to pre-owned:

Sandy Liang Satin Cutout Accent Mary Jane Flats Size 5.5

Sandy Liang Satin Mary Jane Flats Women's Size 10

Sandy Liang Leather Mary Jane Flats Women's Size 8

Sandy Liang Satin Mary Jane Flats Women's Size 10

Sandy Liang Satin Leather Trim Embellishment Mary Jane Flats Women's Size 7

Labucq sandals are my prized possession. They make every outfit better. Most importantly, they’re super comfortable and make a great stomping shoe.

When you realize your feet pics are a crime scene.

Links to pre-owned:

Labucq Leather Sandals Women's Size 7

Labucq Leather Flip Flops Women's Size 7

Labucq Brown Leather Sandals with Silver Accents Women’s Size 8.5

Labucq Women's Cream and Black Sandals Women’s Size 11

Labucq Women's Black Sandals Women’s Size 7.5

Last but not least, Miista sandals, clogs, and mules. They’re a great shoe for a girl who loves chunk.

Links:

Miista Kristi Cow Print Mules Women’s Size 9

Miista Black Eunice Platform Sandals Women’s Size 8

E8 By Miista Sandals Silver Women’s Size 9.5

E8 By Miista Ota Slingback Clogs Blue Women’s Size 5.5

Miista Black Noreen Sandals Women’s Size 8.5

E8 by Miista Lacey Black Strappy Leather Sandals Women’s Size 7.5

I hope there’s a chunk-loving girl out there to whom this list spoke. This was for you.