Orleans Shoe Co. — Eight Months of Sandal Weather
Women's Sandals
In New Orleans sandals aren't a summer shoe, they're most of the year. Which means the pair you buy has to actually hold up — arch support, a strap that doesn't rub, and a sole that grips when it's wet.
What ruins a good sandal
No Arch, Loose Strap
A flat footbed gives your arch nothing, and a loose strap makes your toes grip to hold the sandal on. Do that all season and it shows up as heel pain in October. Get fitted like you would for a shoe.
The Brands We Reach For
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BirkenstockThe cork footbed molds to your foot over the first week and then it's yours. Arizona, Boston, Mayari, Gizeh — the deepest Birkenstock selection in the city.
Shop women's Birkenstock -
SASHandcrafted in Texas. Huggy, Nudu, Relaxed and Duo, in widths from slim through triple wide.
Shop women's SAS -
NaotCork and latex footbeds that mold to your arch, with adjustable straps.
Shop women's Naot -
RevereSoft stretchy leather and removable footbeds. Our first pick for bunions.
Shop Revere -
OluKaiBuilt for heat, humidity and getting wet. Slides and thongs with real support.
Shop women's OluKai -
VionicOrthotic-level arch support built into a sandal.
Shop women's Vionic -
Chaco & TevaAdjustable sport sandals for water, trail and the levee.
Chaco · Teva -
Jax & BardOur own line. Soft leather, adjustable straps, contoured footbed. Only here.
Shop Jax & Bard -
Archies & OOFOSArch-support flip flops and recovery slides, for around the house and after a long day.
Archies · OOFOS
Getting the Fit Right
Your foot should sit inside the footbed
Not hanging over the edge, front or sides. That overhang is where blisters and rolled ankles come from, and it's the most common sizing mistake we see in sandals.
Snug, then adjust
Straps should hold the foot without pressing. Feet swell in this heat, so buy something adjustable if you can, and set it later in the day rather than first thing.
Break them in
Birkenstock cork takes a week or two to mold. Leather straps soften. Don't take a brand-new pair to Jazz Fest.
If you have bunions
Look for soft uppers, adjustable straps, and room across the ball of the foot. Revere, SAS and the adjustable Birkenstocks are where we start. See shoes for bunions.
Also see men's sandals · wide and extra wide · plantar fasciitis · arch supports
Come get fitted. Sandals get fitted the same way shoes do. Free fitting, no appointment, at Magazine Street · French Quarter · Metairie Road · Severn. Don't see your size or width? Call 504-910-2900 — we can usually order it. In New Orleans since 2002, seven-time Gambit Best Locally Owned Shoe Store. How we fit.
