Every now and then, I post a pair of shoes on here that I think might be kind of a tough sell, and the TOMS Wisett Dessert Bootie probably belongs in that category. People who read shoe blogs tend to like high heels and luxe materials and generalized fanciness, all of which are things I absolutely adore (obviously), but sometimes you just gotta have a pair of shoes to put on when you go to the bodega to buy your egg sandwich in the morning. Or when you go to the botanical gardens on a Sunday afternoon because it is spring and you clearly haven’t encountered enough pollen yet. Or, I don’t know, any time when you need to be casual and walk a lot? Isn’t that most not-at-work times when it’s warm? These are those shoes, for the flip flop-averse, a group of which I’m quickly becoming a member.

I didn’t always have an issue with flip flops. I used to live in a place with cars, and flip flops were fine then. But now I deal with the disgusting sidewalk puddles of New York, and they just won’t do. In fact, as my second spring in the city looms, I find myself looking for fewer sandals and more closed-toe classics to protect my feet from the constant bombardment of filth. A soft, no-sock-needed casual option like a denim dessert bootie is perfect, particularly at an under-$100 price point.

It seems like “fashion sneakers” get more popular every season, and I’d lump these shoes into that category along with regular TOMS. It’s a look that is chic without trying hard to earn the label, and with white shorts and a slouchy tank top, these little shoes could look pretty good for a day in the park. They’re not the thing that footwear dreams are made of, but for footwear reality, they aren’t half bad. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $69.