Real stories · No laces, no bending

Bending down to tie my laces had become the hardest part of going out

Shoes I step straight into, without bending down once — that's what got me out of the door again. I'm 67, and somewhere along the way tying my laces became the hardest part of going out. My back doesn't like bending first thing, so I'd perch on the bottom stair, grunting, wrestling with double knots while Winnie whined at the door.

What I wanted was a proper, supportive outdoor shoe I could simply step into.

Then I found the Velisanne from a British label called York Boutique — orthopaedic moccasins that look like classic penny loafers, on a chunky cushioned sole. I chose the black; there's pink, hot pink, blue, brown and green too.

They're slip-on, so there's nothing to tie — which is why I'm out of the door without bending down once. But slipping on doesn't mean flimsy: there's proper arch support and a cushioned sole that absorbs the impact, and they're lightweight, so they feel easy from the first step to the last.

Slip-on, with real arch support and a cushioned sole — which is why I step into them standing up and walk out of the door without bending down once.

I'll be honest: at £39.95 I paused. Then I thought about how many times a week I did that bottom-stair struggle — and it's half the usual £80.

They've done the school run with my granddaughter, a full Saturday in town and every morning dog walk this month, and Malcolm, who still ties double knots, has started eyeing them. I did check before ordering that I could send them back if they didn't suit — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free.

If tying your laces has become a chore too, do have a look. The Velisanne is rated 4.6 out of 5 by more than 270 women, it comes in six colours, in sizes 3.5 to 9 — and the black goes first.