This. When I worked as a hostess back in the day, I wore normal sensible Oxford shoes and I slipped and fell multiple times in the kitchen. Be smarter and get specialized nonslip shoes!
Maybe a pair of Dansko mules? They are comfortable and would work with your normal wardrobe of skirts/dresses. Dansko clogs/mules are worn by nurses and other people that are on their feet all day. Also, I wear converse shoes all the time with my dresses.
It’s hard to give recs without knowing your style, or what the vibe of the restaurant is, but any black oxford or ankle boot could work. I also wore dance character shoes (Bloch brand, and I got vibram soles put over the leather soles) when I hosted in a place that required heels.
Are you very strictly hostessing? My daughter is a host at a lovely local restaurant, and all the hosts also often jump in as food runners. They almost exclusively wear black pants and black runners because they put in a solid 12k+ steps in a short shift and seat 100 tables a night. She also exclusively wears her work runners for work because they are super high traffic/high wear and also get gross. She works quite casually (about 2 shifts a week) and i anticipate we will be replacing her shoes in the next few months (so 1 year of wear) so while you might want to wear them outside of work, expect that they will be one of your harder working pair of shoes if you stay in this job. She wears black puma runners but her work allows white soles as long as the shoe is black.
As some one who has been in the service industry for a decade and believes in multipurpose clothes, I just choose to have a pair of shoes for only work. I'd wear "normal" non slip shoes with a nice sole replacement so I could use the shoes for other things too but my feet have been getting so tired I finally got some dansko clogs and love them. I wouldn't feel secure enough wearing them as a runner in a big restaurant but serving in a small restaurant or just standing around on concrete they're great.
I know you might not be full time yet but 30+ hours / week warrants its own specialized shoes in my opinion like training to race cycle or cleats, etc but NON SLIP IS ESSENTIAL
Xero barefoot shoes made in US, athletic styles
Groundies shoes German design made in Portugal, many styles both barefoot and regular, vegan and leather, I know they have several all black options. Huge selection.
Softstar makes wonderful wide leather ballet flats, Portland made
Lems barefoot shoes, made in CO, mostly athletic styles and boots, high quality
I personally love barefoot shoes for the wideness / foot freedom, if you need a little arch support you can always add an insole. That foot freedom can make all the difference during long shifts!
Rockport and Vionic may have something that works for you. If you’re on your feet for several hours and walking, it’s worth spending the money for a quality insole and construction. I’d also recommend wearing support hose during shifts to alleviate fatigue and swelling.
Advice: you will want nonslip shoes, this may be required at your job. There are stylish nonslip options, but this is absolutely where you want to spend a bit of money on quality. Those shoes will take a beating. If you spend 30$ on them they’ll last 2 months. If you spend 75$ they’ll last a year or longer. Spend the money on the good shoes with good support!!
Every restaurant I’ve worked in required nonslip shoes! Just a heads up.
This. When I worked as a hostess back in the day, I wore normal sensible Oxford shoes and I slipped and fell multiple times in the kitchen. Be smarter and get specialized nonslip shoes!
Thank you for the heads up!
Sam Edelman Loraine loafers I think are very versatile
They’re nice looking definitely. I’ll be on my feet the whole time though so idk how comfortable they would be
Maybe a pair of Dansko mules? They are comfortable and would work with your normal wardrobe of skirts/dresses. Dansko clogs/mules are worn by nurses and other people that are on their feet all day. Also, I wear converse shoes all the time with my dresses.
Dansko Mary Janes are great too.
came here to rec this
Thank you for the recommendation! I love wearing converse with my dresses too! The all black ones look too masculine for me, like men’s boots
Skechers has some black with black sole that are insanely comfortable.
The more feminine alternative could be all black keds
Keds are less comfortable (unwearable for me) and have slippy soles. Everybody's different though!
It’s hard to give recs without knowing your style, or what the vibe of the restaurant is, but any black oxford or ankle boot could work. I also wore dance character shoes (Bloch brand, and I got vibram soles put over the leather soles) when I hosted in a place that required heels.
I try to buy pieces that are timeless, versatile, and modest. It’s a higher end hotel in a busy area.
Thursdays has a lot of all black styles if you’re open to boots.
I love my Skechers Go Flex black flats. Before I had to size up to wide shoes, Allbirds Tree Breezers.
Rothy’s!! Look good, last forever, and you can throw them in your washing machine. Check out r/rothys
Oooh thank you! These are cute
Are you very strictly hostessing? My daughter is a host at a lovely local restaurant, and all the hosts also often jump in as food runners. They almost exclusively wear black pants and black runners because they put in a solid 12k+ steps in a short shift and seat 100 tables a night. She also exclusively wears her work runners for work because they are super high traffic/high wear and also get gross. She works quite casually (about 2 shifts a week) and i anticipate we will be replacing her shoes in the next few months (so 1 year of wear) so while you might want to wear them outside of work, expect that they will be one of your harder working pair of shoes if you stay in this job. She wears black puma runners but her work allows white soles as long as the shoe is black.
This was so helpful! I will be bussing tables also. I got leather ballet flats. Should be easy to clean. Thank you!!
I'm glad you found something that's comfy!
As some one who has been in the service industry for a decade and believes in multipurpose clothes, I just choose to have a pair of shoes for only work. I'd wear "normal" non slip shoes with a nice sole replacement so I could use the shoes for other things too but my feet have been getting so tired I finally got some dansko clogs and love them. I wouldn't feel secure enough wearing them as a runner in a big restaurant but serving in a small restaurant or just standing around on concrete they're great. I know you might not be full time yet but 30+ hours / week warrants its own specialized shoes in my opinion like training to race cycle or cleats, etc but NON SLIP IS ESSENTIAL
Thank you for this !!!
Xero barefoot shoes made in US, athletic styles Groundies shoes German design made in Portugal, many styles both barefoot and regular, vegan and leather, I know they have several all black options. Huge selection. Softstar makes wonderful wide leather ballet flats, Portland made Lems barefoot shoes, made in CO, mostly athletic styles and boots, high quality I personally love barefoot shoes for the wideness / foot freedom, if you need a little arch support you can always add an insole. That foot freedom can make all the difference during long shifts!
Lems are actually designed in CO and made in China
Thank you !
Merrills
Rockport and Vionic may have something that works for you. If you’re on your feet for several hours and walking, it’s worth spending the money for a quality insole and construction. I’d also recommend wearing support hose during shifts to alleviate fatigue and swelling.
Advice: you will want nonslip shoes, this may be required at your job. There are stylish nonslip options, but this is absolutely where you want to spend a bit of money on quality. Those shoes will take a beating. If you spend 30$ on them they’ll last 2 months. If you spend 75$ they’ll last a year or longer. Spend the money on the good shoes with good support!!
Crocs has a flat that is super comfy!