buying shoes IN europe

Maybe do a search on the net?
Are you staying at a hotel? If yes, the Reception staff might be helpful since they perhaps work in a similar work environment and might shop locally??

Ann, Danskos or Eccos should be easily found. If you see a shoe store just pop in. I had a similar situation in Wittenburg and I had 4 shoes stores to choose from in a 3-block radius.

Thanks for the speedy replies!

I am definitely planning to look in local shops this weekend (during the very short open shopping hours!).

I have searched the web endlessly, but see only options to buy online. I'm not sure enough of what I want to be able to do that, nor do I have a really reliable address here. And the Dansko website itself only has lists of stores in the US and Canada!!

Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks again!

Well you are not in the middle of the country, and Switzerland has some beuatiful and comfortable shoes I am sure, most likely much nicer then we can get in many places in North America.
Spend some time going into shoe stores on the weekend and shopping,, this would be a fun activity for most of us,, LOL. Don't just assume you only want a certain brand, look at some different ones also,, they have the most incredible shoes in Europe.

Thanks for your suggestions. In case anyone is wondering, Dansko does not have retailers outside of the US and Canada - at least according to the woman who answered their phones. I find it hard to believe you can't buy them even in the Netherlands, but perhaps it's a question of retailing and association.

Ecco shoes, on the other hand, are happily everywhere in Europe, and the website is helpful in that regard.

And yes, I am open to other options. Those mentioned were simply to provide indications of the type of shoe I seek. I am not willing to sacrifice comfort for style! Many of the women here in Geneva look lovely but they are balancing on a sliver of a high heel that would topple me. So it's a comfort compromise I seek, regardless of the name on the sole.