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Imagine a neatly organized shelf containing one pair of every general type of footwear. If you were asked to identify sneakers, boots, casual shoes, or flip-flops, you\u2019d have no problem. If you were asked to identify lifestyle shoes, however\u2026 well, it\u2019s kind of a trick question\u2014one that might cause you to flounder.<\/p>\n
The phrase \u201clifestyle shoes\u201d doesn\u2019t hold the same weight in the collective unconscious as, say, \u201csandals\u201d or \u201cslippers.\u201d Still, if you\u2019re out shopping for new kicks, especially during Black Friday shoe sales<\/a>, it\u2019s good to have an idea of what you might be buying.<\/p>\n The short answer is that lifestyle shoes are meant for casual wear\u2014in the sense that they\u2019re not built for strenuous activity. Ready for the full story? Read on to learn all about lifestyle running shoes and why you should add a pair to your fashion shoe rack.<\/p>\n Remember when you learned in geometry class that a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle isn\u2019t a square?<\/p>\n Lifestyle shoes follow a similar principle: \u201clifestyle shoe\u201d is more an umbrella term than a specific kind of shoe\u2014a rectangular category filled with specific shapes like sneakers, ballet flats, and espadrilles<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, while the definition encompasses a veritable smorgasbord of footwear, each style with its own unique origins and uses, there are two reliable indicators:<\/p>\n Next, we\u2019ll take a closer look at the distinction between a lifestyle tennis shoe and an athletic shoe that\u2019s actually designed with a tennis player\u2019s needs in mind.<\/p>\n Perhaps the best way to understand what lifestyle shoes are is to understand what they aren\u2019t: performance footwear.<\/p>\n Why is the distinction so important? Because many lifestyle shoes come in the form of lifestyle sneakers, which may look like your average athletic shoe, but are decidedly athleisure.<\/p>\n There are several points of difference:<\/p>\n From lifestyle running shoes to trainers, performance footwear is made with\u2014you guessed it\u2014performance in mind. You may have even heard of them being called sports shoes. These athletic shoes can take the heat of intense practice, and are also designed to help you<\/i> take the heat, taking the brunt of your maneuvers and allowing your feet to breathe.<\/p>\n Indeed, without the support a solid pair of athletic shoes provides, you\u2019re prone to short- and long-term health issues related not just to your feet but also your knees, legs, and hips.<\/p>\n Lifestyle shoes aren\u2019t designed with performance in mind. Not that you can\u2019t beeline to the bus stop at the end of the block if you\u2019re running late, but this footwear isn\u2019t built for traditional workouts and sports practice. They\u2019re better suited for more everyday activities.<\/p>\n A healthy amount of research, testing, and technology all go into ensuring performance shoes live up to their name.1<\/sup> For that reason alone, they often sit on the pricier side of the fence, sometimes costing upwards of $130.<\/p>\n The various kinds of lifestyle shoes come at various prices, but speaking strictly about lifestyle footwear, pairs are generally in the sub-$100 range (depending on the brand and designer, of course). They may look the part, but they often don\u2019t require the same degree of manufacturing specificity as their performative counterparts.<\/p>\n The Golden Rule is as true of shoes as it is of people: take care of them, and they\u2019ll take care of you. Learn how to clean your sneakers<\/a> so that they last even longer. Yet even your favorite pair must be replaced after so many steps. How long that takes depends on your shoes\u2019 material, quality, and how you use them.<\/p>\n While what is a lifestyle shoe and what isn\u2019t may still<\/i> be a matter of some debate, laying out specific types might help sway some votes.4, 5<\/sup><\/p>\n Continue below for the (non-exhaustive) lowdown on espadrilles, ballet flats, and different kinds of lifestyle sneakers.<\/p>\n You can wear espadrilles\u2014unmistakable thanks to their braided soles\u2014whenever you want, but something about them screams summer. Maybe it\u2019s how breathable they are, helping you beat the heat, or maybe it\u2019s their elegant simplicity, which complements a wide range of outfits.<\/p>\n Usually flat, espadrille wedges are perfect for taking things up a notch, as are open-toed sandal espadrilles for summer\u2019s sweatiest days.<\/p>\n In spite of what it may sound like, you don\u2019t have to know how to pirouette to wear ballet flats\u2014quite the opposite, in fact.<\/p>\n This style of <\/span>flat shoes for women<\/span><\/a> is<\/span> tailor made for wearing all day and all night, from the office to happy hour. Strapless, laceless, and slip-on, ballet flats are optimized for comfort and arch support\u2014because nice shoes shouldn\u2019t hurt to wear.<\/p>\n What are lifestyle sneakers? Hopefully, you already have the sense that they differ from performance sneakers.<\/p>\n But just as performance sneakers run the gamut from tennis to basketball and beyond, lifestyle sneakers span a range of categories, including the following:<\/b><\/p>\n Aside from the sheer variety of lifestyle shoes available\u2014and, by extension, the sheer variety of outfits they go well with\u2014there are a number of benefits to wearing lifestyle shoes.<\/p>\n The last thing anyone wants are shoes\u2014lifestyle or otherwise\u2014that cause cramped, aching feet. That\u2019s why Vionic\u2019s lifestyle shoes are designed with comfort in mind. Our Vio-Motion Support technology prioritizes arch support that keeps your foot aligned, impact-ready cushioning, and stability from toes to heels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comfort is nice enough on its own, but comfortable lifestyle shoes also come with impressive health benefits, including:6<\/sup><\/b><\/p>\n Although less tangible than comfortability and health benefits\u2014and partially dependent on how you carry yourself\u2014it\u2019s hard to deny that a well-picked pair of lifestyle shoes (paired with an equally well-picked outfit) is bound to be noticed.7<\/sup> They can easily give off the impression that you\u2019re well put together, that your stylistic sensibilities are on point, and that you care about what you wear.<\/p>\n One thing is already abundantly clear: lifestyle shoes aren\u2019t meant for that nightly jog by the riverside, or that game of ultimate Frisbee, or that marathon you\u2019re running next week. Performance footwear is performance footwear; lifestyle shoes are lifestyle shoes.<\/p>\n With variety comes versatility, though, making lifestyle shoes suitable for all sorts of situations.<\/p>\n In a similar vein, lifestyle shoes go with clothes from across the spectrum\u2014but what works with slip on sneakers might not work with moccasins.<\/p>\n Take the occasion, the season, how the colors sync up, and, of course, your personal preferences into consideration when pairing. That could mean wearing a sundress with your espadrilles, or a denim jacket with your high tops.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s circle back to the original question: What are lifestyle shoes? Well, they\u2019re many things: casual footwear with a touch of class, not<\/i> meant for performance, split into myriad types, beneficial for your feet, and wearable in more scenarios than you can shake a stick at.<\/p>\n If asked what one thing defines lifestyle shoes, however, this is as good an answer as any: they fit your<\/i> lifestyle.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where Vionic<\/a> has you covered. Our trendy selection of lifestyle shoes\u2014designed with comfort and support in mind, and constructed with top-of-the-line materials\u2014caters to lifestyles of all kinds. Order a pair that fits yours and get to breaking them in today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources:<\/b><\/p>\nSo\u2026 What Makes a Lifestyle Shoe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nLifestyle Shoes vs. Performance Footwear<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Design and Utility<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Price Point<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Lifespan<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Types of Lifestyle Shoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Espadrilles<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ballet Flats<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Lifestyle Sneakers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The Benefits of Lifestyle Shoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Comfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nHealthy Feet Are Happy Feet<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Getting Noticed<\/strong><\/h3>\n
When Should You Wear Lifestyle Shoes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What to Wear with Lifestyle Shoes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Vionic Lifestyle Shoes That Fit Your Lifestyle<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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