Girl, Manolos hurt too. Even sensible Prada pumps after awhile. We may have lost the evolutionary ability to wear them after Covid. If you can get a mule to stay securely on while walking, my sun hat is off to you
Yup! I’ve had to give up wearing my Prada loafers - they’re so heavy and inflexible that they’ve damaged my feet and now I’ve got a podiatrist bill to pay.
If I could tell my Younger Self three things it would be to skip husband #2 completely, to not take that one job in 2011 that we really thought we wanted, and to NEVER wear cheap shoes that hurt our feet. Because now I'm 51 and have non-stop ankle problems. I got rid of that husband and that job, but the bad ankles are apparently forever. I don't know what I'm going to when cute flats are no longer a thing.
I just got a pair of vintage Manolo Blahnik mules like the ones you talked about and I’m impressed by the quality. (They were $120 at the Real Real, roughly the cost of your up-leveled $35 shoes. I think The Real Real cannot possibly be profitable.) but I also haven’t walked that far in them. I’ve done some ill advised things with epoxy resin to an old pair of Coach wedges. Shoes are the only thing in my wardrobe that I will go to truly insane lengths to repair or salvage. I think there is something psychological about it. Our feet are powerful…moving us through the world, helping us carry out the choices we’ve made, discovering, exploring, running from danger, connecting us tangibly to the earth with each step…it’s a uniquely symbolic part of the body. I think we get attached to shoes for that reason.
“Shoes are the only thing in my wardrobe that I will go to truly insane lengths to repair or salvage. I think there is something psychological about it.” I think it is the idea of waste and spending money! And disappointment. We don’t want to be disappointed with a bad fit on something we dropped moolah on.
Buy quick heel tips to keep in your purse if this happens. Always check for dry rot - it can spread into your other shoes and ruins the integrity of the shoe. The owner of my favorite vintage store in Palm Springs (and a walking 60s & 70s vintage encyclopedia) has a great video on this https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLQasV13/
This post is making me feel less guilty for spending a pretty penny this week on a pair of handmade English loafers. Which btw the quality is like astounding and far better than any big “fashion house” and yet at least half the price. Searching out “smaller” heritage brands is really the way to go for quality.
From a bloke's perspective, this was a fascinating read! Been ages since I copped a pair of shoes for cheap but I do recall a pair of tassel loafers from Russell and Bromley I snagged on sale (50%) but also half a size too small and gave me pretty severe blisters after my failed attempts at persevering in them. I've been a lot more discerning with my footwear purchases since.
My husband once bought a beautiful pair of Armani loafers on sale and I picked him from an event having worn them, he arrived at the car almost in tears with the pain of the blisters on his heels. His one and only time wearing shoes that gave him blisters, years later he is still traumatised by it! 😆 He is happy to pay full price for great, comfortable shoes (RM Williams are his faves) and then wear them for years and years and years and years! But then again men's shoes don't tend to move so quickly through trend cycles, they are ALWAYS flat and, unlike my feet having carried me through 3 pregnancies and fluctuated wildly, stay the same size! Fantastic, hilarious and desperately relatable read Liana, am sending this on to my nearest and dearest!!
Armani loafers, too! What a shame. You're on the money about men's shoes moving far slower through the trend cycles and always being flat, I didn't actually consider that aspect!😄
Speaking of investments, the price of luxury items is so eye watering now, it's at the point now where I think one has missed the boat if they didn't invest in a pair of shoes, let's say, a number of years back. So the RM Williams were wise decision on your husband's part.
“Wow, I wish I had an affiliate link to that" made me laugh and "toe condoms" killllled me. Secondhand designer shoes all the way. They are pre-broken in. Sometimes the previous owner even handled the Vibrams! Expensive shoes may hurt too, but at least they have some resale value.
My cobbler is all about the real talk. He will straight up say "the cost to repair these is more than they are worth." I've given up the cheapies for the most part due to his tough love!
Girl, Manolos hurt too. Even sensible Prada pumps after awhile. We may have lost the evolutionary ability to wear them after Covid. If you can get a mule to stay securely on while walking, my sun hat is off to you
That is true. I have a pair of loafers that have skinned the backs of my ankles…it’s like 10th degree rug burns
Yup! I’ve had to give up wearing my Prada loafers - they’re so heavy and inflexible that they’ve damaged my feet and now I’ve got a podiatrist bill to pay.
If I could tell my Younger Self three things it would be to skip husband #2 completely, to not take that one job in 2011 that we really thought we wanted, and to NEVER wear cheap shoes that hurt our feet. Because now I'm 51 and have non-stop ankle problems. I got rid of that husband and that job, but the bad ankles are apparently forever. I don't know what I'm going to when cute flats are no longer a thing.
skip husband #2 completely :-) There's always one we should probably have passed on.
I am late to reply but wow Juliet…words to live by!
Even expensive shoes that hurt! My biggest regret is trying to squeeze my feet into small shoes and ending up with bunions :(.
Same! Ballet and fashion, and now protruding bunions…the kind teenagers stare at on the subway as I attempt this mule. Oh I wish I wore my reeboks
I just got a pair of vintage Manolo Blahnik mules like the ones you talked about and I’m impressed by the quality. (They were $120 at the Real Real, roughly the cost of your up-leveled $35 shoes. I think The Real Real cannot possibly be profitable.) but I also haven’t walked that far in them. I’ve done some ill advised things with epoxy resin to an old pair of Coach wedges. Shoes are the only thing in my wardrobe that I will go to truly insane lengths to repair or salvage. I think there is something psychological about it. Our feet are powerful…moving us through the world, helping us carry out the choices we’ve made, discovering, exploring, running from danger, connecting us tangibly to the earth with each step…it’s a uniquely symbolic part of the body. I think we get attached to shoes for that reason.
“Shoes are the only thing in my wardrobe that I will go to truly insane lengths to repair or salvage. I think there is something psychological about it.” I think it is the idea of waste and spending money! And disappointment. We don’t want to be disappointed with a bad fit on something we dropped moolah on.
Buy quick heel tips to keep in your purse if this happens. Always check for dry rot - it can spread into your other shoes and ruins the integrity of the shoe. The owner of my favorite vintage store in Palm Springs (and a walking 60s & 70s vintage encyclopedia) has a great video on this https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLQasV13/
Dry rot…the 11 plague
Ohh this sounds dangerous to even click on 😂 “dry rot”
This post is making me feel less guilty for spending a pretty penny this week on a pair of handmade English loafers. Which btw the quality is like astounding and far better than any big “fashion house” and yet at least half the price. Searching out “smaller” heritage brands is really the way to go for quality.
From a bloke's perspective, this was a fascinating read! Been ages since I copped a pair of shoes for cheap but I do recall a pair of tassel loafers from Russell and Bromley I snagged on sale (50%) but also half a size too small and gave me pretty severe blisters after my failed attempts at persevering in them. I've been a lot more discerning with my footwear purchases since.
My husband once bought a beautiful pair of Armani loafers on sale and I picked him from an event having worn them, he arrived at the car almost in tears with the pain of the blisters on his heels. His one and only time wearing shoes that gave him blisters, years later he is still traumatised by it! 😆 He is happy to pay full price for great, comfortable shoes (RM Williams are his faves) and then wear them for years and years and years and years! But then again men's shoes don't tend to move so quickly through trend cycles, they are ALWAYS flat and, unlike my feet having carried me through 3 pregnancies and fluctuated wildly, stay the same size! Fantastic, hilarious and desperately relatable read Liana, am sending this on to my nearest and dearest!!
Thank you! This was a fun one. Also something that just crossed my mind…Ubers because of the inability to walk in uncomfortable shoes!
Armani loafers, too! What a shame. You're on the money about men's shoes moving far slower through the trend cycles and always being flat, I didn't actually consider that aspect!😄
Speaking of investments, the price of luxury items is so eye watering now, it's at the point now where I think one has missed the boat if they didn't invest in a pair of shoes, let's say, a number of years back. So the RM Williams were wise decision on your husband's part.
This reminds the old joke: “How are your new shoes? —— Good for sitting in them!”
Lol I like that
cheers, I like your writing 🩵 The one on Taxi Book is my fav.
Thank you! More deep dives (and bunions) to come....<3
“Wow, I wish I had an affiliate link to that" made me laugh and "toe condoms" killllled me. Secondhand designer shoes all the way. They are pre-broken in. Sometimes the previous owner even handled the Vibrams! Expensive shoes may hurt too, but at least they have some resale value.
My cobbler is all about the real talk. He will straight up say "the cost to repair these is more than they are worth." I've given up the cheapies for the most part due to his tough love!
The sole is the gateway to the soul!