Successful shoe shopping today.
I took NA's advice and went to Nordstrom but nothing there was the combination of comfortable and skirt-compatible I was looking for. Then I remembered my old standby, the Easy Spirit store, and I found a couple of pairs that will do nicely. I still need something in brown or tan so I'll have to check out South Coast Plaza when I go back to work next week. But at least I can retire the black Mary Janes that look comfortable but aren't.