Having one good-quality pair of shoes is better than several low quality ones |
When we were little, ours shoes were Buster Brown good leather shoes, often older sibling’s hand-me-downs, either made in Italy or Spain —the cradle of high quality shoe-molds.
Buster Brown Classic Shoes |
Three pairs were the most we ever had: black school uniform shoes, brown for daily wear and white or patent leather for Sunday. We knew we had to take care of our shoes, cleaning them weekly; often mending heels and soles. Nowadays, with the mammoth variety of footwear from around the globe, we sacrifice quality for style and quantity, hurting our feet in the process. It stands true for both men and women shoes, a classic well-chosen pair will compliment any outfit; while cheap looking ones will bring it down. High quality doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive; also, resale stores often have great gently own shoes at a fraction of the original price.
I learned how to buy good quality shoes, from the head of purchasing of an exclusive department store in Florida. Here are some of her tips:
- Have your feet measured by a shoe sales professional, every other year, to confirm size and width
Lined with leather or other natural material |
- A fine pair of shoes is made out of good, soft leather, lined with leather or other natural materials
Make sure shoe is sewn to sole |
- Make sure shoe is sewn to sole, most shoes are glued and can’t be resoled
Look for small close stitches, not careless like these ones |
- Look for small close stitches, not long or careless
- Look for arch support in closed shoes
- Wear only leather shoes that hug your feet, neither tight nor lose; a good pair of shoes should fit like a glove, allowing comfortable foot motion
- A good quality leather shoe can be stretched with shoe trees to improve fit
- Synthetic shoes won’t let feet breath, breeding fungus
- Foot ache means shoes are hurting your feet; with permanent damage in children
- Clean shoes before storing them (dust shoe and sole), and place absorbent shoe trees to keep in shape
Full grain leather with minimal treatment make best quality shoes, lasting a long time if maintained properly. Most shoes are made with corrected leather, sanded down to fix imperfections, and treated with artificial coat and sealant. Shoes look good but can easily damage. Read label to see what kind of leather you are purchasing.