Shoes....

Bit of an od question this.. and i'm not turning into a woman before anyone asks...

I'm looking at getting a new pair of shoes but i'm fed up of spending £80-100 every 6 months as i always seem to kill them as i use them everyday for work and they always appear to fall apart (inners especially)...

Can anyone suggest some shoes that will last? I was thinking of getting a set of Church's...

Thanks

Craig.

P.s.... I've not got any makeup on today..

6 months? What the hell do you do?

Get some DMs, or maybe a Segway.

what do you do for work and what type of shoes

Get your shoes from tkmax, a tenner every 6months is far more acceptable

Lol. i walk to work 30 mins and walk home and then around the office.. (work in an office in london)

Nothing out of the normal.. But they never seem to last.. they always break up.

I normally get shoes from different places - next/river island/clarkes/ a few places in london that i can't pronounce the name.. just thought i'd try and spend some real money on a ncie pair and see if they last better....

Patrick Cox, or pop into Saville Row and explain your problem and I'm sure someone there will recommend a quality cobbler.

Bit of an od question this.. and i'm not turning into a woman before anyone asks...

 

I'm looking at getting a new pair of shoes but i'm fed up of spending £80-100 every 6 months as i always seem to kill them as i use them everyday for work and they always appear to fall apart (inners especially)...

 

Can anyone suggest some shoes that will last? I was thinking of getting a set of Church's...

 

Thanks

 

Craig.

 

P.s.... I've not got any makeup on today..

I had the same problem, working in finance I need to wear decent good looking shoes for my job. Here is how I solved it;

1) Buy wooden shoe trees - very important they are wooden. After each day you take your shoes off use them. They absorb the moisture from your days use. You'll need more than 1 set. And besides that they keep the shape of your shoes perfect.

2) Buy more than 1 pair of shoes - I have about 6-7. Why? Because its the moisture which kills shoes very very quickly. V. similar to suits actually, which is why you shouldn't wear the same suit/shoes on 2 consecutive days. I'd say even do 2 day break or longer between usage.

3) Leather doesn't last in wet weather. Have rubber based shoes and leather based. Alternate accordingly to the weather forecast.

4) I have a special pricey pair designed specifically for rain. They are 100% rain proof and breathable (meaning feet won't get sweaty), with a goretex inner lining. I use these when I know for sure its going to rain.

5) Use shoe horns to put on your shoes, these keep the shape of the heel part sturdy which will in time affect the wear of the shoe.

6) Polish your shoes weekly if you can regardless if it still looks clean. You'll be amazed how clean they'll look after 1 year.

7) Lastly get new soles put on by a shoe mender BEFORE it gets to the stage you can feel the ground beneath your toes. Some people even advise to put an additional sole on after a weeks use to maintain the original - I think that's overkill.

8) Replace worn heals as they lose their shape - again it will affect the way you walk and thus the wear.

There are more tips I could give but I am too lazy and my phone is ringing. Hope this has been helpful.

O and get decent pairs of shoes from the outset - where are you getting your shoes from incidentally?

Lol. i walk to work 30 mins and walk home and then around the office.. (work in an office in london)

 

Nothing out of the normal.. But they never seem to last.. they always break up.

 

I normally get shoes from different places - next/river island/clarkes/ a few places in london that i can't pronounce the name.. just thought i'd try and spend some real money on a ncie pair and see if they last better....

Perhaps have a separate pair of walking shoes to your office shoes?

DMs FTW.

7) Lastly get new soles put on by a shoe mender BEFORE it gets to the stage you can feel the ground beneath your toes.

Cobblers.

Cobblers.

lol.

Thought you were calling my advice cobblers there

Re-reading your post, next/river island would be a big no-no in my opinion.

I have also found there to be next to no long term difference between clarkes and expensive brands like loakes other than the look of the shoe/style in all honesty. I learnt this through years of expensive shoe buying.

However buying from established reputable shoe shops who specialise in shoes is important. Go in clarkes/churches/jones the bootmaker then go to next/riverisland and you'll see immediately the difference in soles/sturdiness and feel. M&S are a surprising dark horse who make very good shoes by the way.

From what you said about the inners going, I'd say shoe trees would be a v.good investment. If you get the pricey loake ones they are made from cedar wood and smell absolutely fantastic. Your shoes will smell lovely I assure you. They aren't cheap but these will last a very long time (smell doesn't unfortunately).

I would recommend Jones the Bootmaker, Bally or Russell and Bromley... proper decent shoes that don't fall apart

Actually.. I've had some from Next that have lasted quite well too

I wear Vans and my MacTools steel toecaps for work.... Last me just fine

My god, aren't you all in touch with your feminine sides...

Honestly, one of the perks of being a bloke is that you can confidently wear dirty, smelly shoes. Man up!

Has anyone tried MBT shoes for any considerable period?

My god, aren't you all in touch with your feminine sides...

 

Honestly, one of the perks of being a bloke is that you can confidently wear dirty, smelly shoes. Man up!

Try pulling girls in the city with beat up shoes and tell me how you get on .

It's one of the first things a 'lady' notices - a nice pair of shoes and a nice watch can be devilishly attractive to lure pretty women.

Try pulling girls in the city with beat up shoes and tell me how you get on .

 

It's one of the first things a 'lady' notices - a nice pair of shoes and a nice watch can be devilishly attractive to lure "gold digging" women.

btw I like Charlotte's idea best, the hour a day walking will be killing the smart shoes I'd have thought? Either leave the shoes at work and change into them or if that's a no no then just get a mens shoulder bag (or whatever is trendy/acceptable!) and change before you go into the office.

Try pulling girls in the city with beat up shoes and tell me how you get on .

 

It's one of the first things a 'lady' notices - a nice pair of shoes and a nice watch can be devilishly attractive to lure pretty women.

I'm married, my wife makes me wear shagged shoes for that very reason....

I'm married, my wife makes me wear shagged shoes for that very reason....

lol.

Most women not just gold diggers (Scooter ) on first meeting men inevitably look at your shoes at one point. Look out for this next time you are introduced to a lady, or when a girl is checking you out at a bar or whatever.

Women judge you by your shoes whether you like it, notice it or not.

So scooby_doo_do, with that said, make it a good pair you buy

 

Women judge you by your shoes whether you like it, notice it or not.

 

yeah I know what you mean, I work in an office and us guys are seriously out numbered and i've been 'educated' in the way ladies scan everyone not just the men..........I amount of times they've said to me......."oh did you see her/his blah blah" (it's usually a colour combo, sheerness or an apparent fashion mistake problem!) and i'm like er no what about it........they could be wearing pink wellies and i think it would take me a while to notice and even then I wouldn't give a crap and certainly wouldn't think to chat to everyone else about it to see if they agreed

Nice shoes... want to.....

I know exactly how you feel Scooter. I only learnt girls are this fussy from past girlfriends and girls at work too.

Got some shoes from Topman recently, very good quality shoe.

Though as as mentioned by Aero, you should get a couple or if you can a few shoes and alternate between them. I also work in the city (bet not far from Aero) and I just tend to change my shoes around.

Though when I was walking a lot I use to wear dark simple trainers that wrap around my feet, no one noticed I'd wear them and were brilliant for long distance walking & every day use. As soon as I was in the office I'd just change into the office shoes!

Though where I am now, I not in a client building so everyone is more relaxed. I now tend to take my shoes off and sit & walk around the office in my brightly coloured socks

WTF? dude just go down the cheapo shoe shop and spend a tenner every six months lol

Just drive to work, you pauper.

Some very good advice from Supra_aero here...

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showpost.php?p=2860007&postcount=7

I'm a fan of Crockett and Jones myself....

http://www.crockettandjones.co.uk/

I have nine pairs altogether, which sounds excessive when you say it quick, but broken down it kind of makes sense.

1 pair black best....leather throughout

1 pair black ....leather uppers / rubber soled.

1 pair brown best....leather throughout

1 pair brown ....leather uppers / rubber soled.

1 pair brown best....suede uppers / leather soled

1 pair brown....suede uppers / rubber soled

3 pairs brown...leather throughout to alternate above.

As you should never wear leather shoes two consecutive days, it really makes sense to have at least two or three pairs...long term it will save you money. If you buy welted soles, you can get them repaired as good as new for a fraction of the original price....if you let them dry out for a day or so after wearing them, use shoe trees and decent polish, theres no reason why they wont last you a lifetime.