Working Shoes

So my very lovely parents came for a visit last weekend. Two trips to the Ikea in Conshohocken and hours of labor later, I have a new living room and kitchen! But as we lifted the boxes into the rental truck, it got me thinking (as things often do) of shoes—work boots, specifically. If you had to do some serious work and needed protective footwear, would you be forced to choose something that looks like men’s steel-toed boots? I mean, menswear-style shoes certainly do have their place (see Father’s Day), but I’d still like to feel feminine when I’m wielding a power tool. (Maybe especially then! I love being unexpected.)

Help me out, internet! The Betsy Xtreme Pink Safety Boots by Moxie Trades are pink safety boots!!! (I’m sorry; they’re just too cool.) Don’t be fooled by the pink—they’re still a serious boot. Leather upper, oil-resistant, and a tougher-than-steel composite toe... they’re $110 ($94 if you’re a 6.5) from ConstructionGear.com.

There are more ways to be feminine than just pink:

  It’s a kiltie boot! The Ladies Waterproof Lace-Up Work Boot by Justin 3.1 is made of brown leather (Aztec Brown, to be exact) and comes with a removable orthodic insole for extra comfort. I found them at Cavender’s for $140 (free shipping both ways!).

You don’t have to be locked into boots, either:
  The Women’s Composite Toe Buckle Work Oxford by Avenger is tough enough to work during the day and cute enough to run around in afterwards. It has a cushioned insole and rubber outsole, composite toe, and is “compliant with ASTM F2413-05 Electrical Hazard standards” in case you were thinking of doing any electrical work. You can find them at Lehigh Outfitters for $77—and free shipping! (Yet they have no stores in the Lehigh Valley. Go figure.)

Maybe you live in sneakers and are loathe to give them up just to do some work. How about these?

  These are sharp-looking sneakers—you’d never guess the Women’s Composite Toe Work Shoe N1750 by Nautilus has a composite toe, a fiberglass shank for added support and stability, an air-control insole and oil-resistant rubber outsole, and is rated for hazardous electrical work. Stay grounded in a pair for $100 from Steel-Toe-Shoes.

Maybe you just want to hire someone to do the work for you, in which case, this is about as close to a steel toe as you’ll have to go: The Jasmine by Bouquets is basically entirely silver sequins. They have a four-inch gray satin heel and a half-inch platform, are on sale for $67—and they come in wide widths, too! Yours from Zappos.

Now off to your weekend projects! But, er, be careful if you were planning on doing any of that electrical work.

Sales this weekend: 
Sorry, ladies: the Shoe Fairy is on vacation this week. You’ll have to search out the sales on your own!