[shoesense]

Well, the beauty standards ARE dictated by the beauty/fashion industry, so we are programmed to automatically be repelled by whatever doesn't approximate a Manolo or a cutesy flimsy girly shoe with pink butterflies on top (well, you get the idea). On the other hand, that first Mephisto...even those immune to the siren songs of fashion and hardened in their Birkenstockian ways will find this shoe completely unattractive. I think.

Still, comfort CAN be married with fashion AND beauty, in my experience, so I guess we've got to persevere in our pursuits!