argh! shoes!

[masterofmonkeys]

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It's a sequel to the handbag thread!

Seriously though. I'm Hindu. I don't eat beef or wear it. Even special ordered my car with fabric seats. In the hospital I wear all-black old school converse and a black cloth belt. And no one really cares. The few who've noticed accepted my explanation with no problem.

I have a fake leather belt. But I have yet to see decent dress shoes that weren't leather. Honestly, I even object to the appearance of leather. But I'll swallow my religious indignation for interview season. I heard a while back that there was some store or brand that made non-leather dress shoes, but can't for the life of me remember who it was. Can anyone help me out?

 

[anon-y-mouse]

It's a sequel to the handbag thread!

Seriously though. I'm Hindu. I don't eat beef or wear it. Even special ordered my car with fabric seats. In the hospital I wear all-black old school converse and a black cloth belt. And no one really cares. The few who've noticed accepted my explanation with no problem.

I have a fake leather belt. But I have yet to see decent dress shoes that weren't leather. Honestly, I even object to the appearance of leather. But I'll swallow my religious indignation for interview season. I heard a while back that there was some store or brand that made non-leather dress shoes, but can't for the life of me remember who it was. Can anyone help me out?

I am personally at home in my buttery-smooth calfskin Prada dress shoes and other such shoes I wear around the hospital... but I do have friends in your predicament! Google vegan shoes and you'll find a million results. I think the brand itself is called vegetarian shoes, but I can't remember. Wasn't too bad though. A little expensive, obviously.

 

[dragonfly99]

Don't wear Converse or any other atypical-looking shoes at your residency or fellowship interviews. You will live to regret it.

I respect your religious beliefs, however. If you are female, there are definitely nonleather women's dress shoes (AKA plastic pumps) out there, but I personally find them uncomfortable. For men, I would think they have the same, but perhaps not. I like the idea of googling "vegetarian shoes". As long as you wear something that looks traditional and conservative, you'll be OK.

 

[exPCM]

What shoes did you wear to your medical school interviews? I bet it was not Converse sneakers.

 

[Purple23]

Most people probably won't even notice the shoes- hem your suit pants to just barely touch the floor and then only your toes will show. I don't think I'd try converse, but they you might be able to get away w/ something that less formal. I think Steve Madden makes some pleather pumps, they're reasonably priced.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Most people probably won't even notice the shoes- hem your suit pants to just barely touch the floor and then only your toes will show.

That looks sloppy. The hem is supposed to break slightly onto the front of the shoe; any longer is too long. Then again, the OP is going into Psych, so too much attention to fashion detail and appropriate clothing probably isn't necessary. 😉

I don't think I'd try converse, but they you might be able to get away w/ something that less formal. I think Steve Madden makes some pleather pumps, they're reasonably priced.

Reasonably priced they may be, but since the OP is male, it might *engender* some strange looks. Then again, the OP is going into Psych... 😉

 

[masterofmonkeys]

cool thanks for the tips.

I actually wore some fake leather hiking boots to my med school interview lol. No one noticed.

And yes I am a male, and I'm a size 15 in womens' shoes (don't ask how I know that).

Thanks again.

 

[Winged Scapula]

cool thanks for the tips.

I actually wore some fake leather hiking boots to my med school interview lol. No one noticed.

I'll bet they did but were too polite to say anything.

 

[roja]

There are plenty of options. Just google it and go with something professional. I am on the west coast, and trust me, you aren't the only vegan out there who needs/wants dress shoes. good luck

 

[Bruingirl6]

I wore some dressy heels made of a cloth material to my med school interviews. However, on second thought, a part of them might have been leather.

 

[drbetty]

hahaha i love these fashion threads!

im love my leather pumps and i dont think foreskin will ever be the new leather...ew!! anyway, i was curious & found some decent shoes on the web...but i dont think they carry women's size 15😉:

http://www.vegetarianshoesandbags.com/

http://www.mooshoes.com/

http://www.planetshoes.com/index.asp

 

[DrDarwin]

No vegan here. All of my dress shoes are genuine leather.

Anyway, I have a pair of nice, broken-in John Varvatos shoes (pictured) that I really want to wear for interviews. They have white stitching, though, that I feel makes them look a bit casual. I think they look great with dress pants and a tie. I also think they look fine with a suit, but I'm not sure they are formal enough to wear for interviews. I have a really, really nice pair of brand new Zegna dress shoes as well that are more formal--I actually bought these for interviews--, but they are pretty narrow, and I hate the way my pants break when I wear them. I'm therefore wondering if it would be a mistake to wear my slightly less formal, but more comfortable shoes. Opinions? I know doctors are not always especially fashion-conscious, so I basically want to make sure that it wouldn't be an obvious mistake to wear them. If people disagree, I will take it as a sign that wearing them is fine. Thanks.

 

[Winged Scapula]

The Varvatos are more casual because of the stitching and the grain of the leather, but I don't think that:

a) it will be noticed (as you mention, most physicians have no idea about these details)

b) it will matter.

You will be walking a lot so being comfortable (within reason) is more important. Wear the Zegnas around the house or put shoe trees in them to stretch and save them for another occasion.

 

[DrDarwin]

Thanks, Winged Scapula. I actually have a brown and black pair of the shoes, so they go with any of my suits. Good pick up on the grain. I think they are called aged calfskin or something and are supposed to have a semi-distressed look. I should probably invest in some shoe trees. I have several pairs of dressier shoes I never wear because they squeeze my feet too much. They fit fine in the store, and then I want to hurl them in the garbage after wearing them for a day.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks, Winged Scapula. I actually have a brown and black pair of the shoes, so they go with any of my suits. Good pick up on the grain. I think they are called aged calfskin or something and are supposed to have a semi-distressed look. I should probably invest in some shoe trees. I have several pairs of dressier shoes I never wear because they squeeze my feet too much. They fit fine in the store, and then I want to hurl them in the garbage after wearing them for a day.

Yeah, I understand...my closet is full of beautiful shoes that I fear are giving me bunions, yet I still suffer for fashion!

 

[masterofmonkeys]

I thought all surgeons wore Danskos all the time?

Help! My world is falling apart!

 

[Blade28]

I thought all surgeons wore Danskos all the time?

Help! My world is falling apart!

Not the weathy attendings who do very well for themselves. 😉

 

[Winged Scapula]

I thought all surgeons wore Danskos all the time?

Help! My world is falling apart!

Ughh...Danskos are not appropriate for anywhere BUT the OR (and perhaps on rounds). I cannot stand it when I see people wearing them for interviews or even in clinic. Then again, I've always thought they were ugly and not very comfortable (or not more so than a pair of sneakers).

 

[Brunette1981]

For inexpensive non-leather shoes, in addition to the vegetarian specific websites, you could also try lower cost shoe sources like Target (most of the women's shoes are fake leather, assume men's as well) or Payless. You don't have to have the highest quality shoes for an interview, just something that looks professional and unremarkable.

 

[masterofmonkeys]

I wore some cheapie non-leathers from target for my first interview today. I don't think anyone noticed. Lots of compliments on the suit though. And I even picked it out without the help of my mommy or gf. Wooh!

 

[preventingdeath]

i'm vegan so the only animal's skin i wear is my own. for vegan guys shoes... i hope you have a Payless ShoeSource near you. they have at least 5 brands of vegan casual to dressy shoes. all very cheap too - no more than $30. they aren't the best quality but with a nice soft insole you can get for $5 they're plenty comfortable enough.

good luck!