genuinegirly

What is your take on shoes?

Are you focused on utility or fashion?
Perhaps you wear whatever you find in your size.
Perhaps you have a difficult time finding them in your size!
What aobut color? Do you wear brown shoes with a black belt or handbag and not flinch?
Have you ever felt an overwhelming affinity for a certain shoe?
What thoughts pass through your mind as you purchase a pair of shoes?
Maybe you gave up on wearing shoes - I want to hear about that, too.

Have you ever fallen in love with a pair of shoes madly enough that you paid half of your monthly income for the privelage of wearing them around your bedroom or to a single night of clubbing?

So, TFP - let's hear your perspective, and your experiences. Tell us about your shoes.

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My take:

I really do love shoes.
When I shop for shoes, it's an intense process.
I fall in love with a shoe based on its style.
Next comes a glance at its price.
If I can afford it, it becomes an integral part of my life for the next few months.
Quality is the furthest thing from my mind when I shop for shoes because I will likely tire of the style by the time they wear thin.


I wear a set of shoes until they are no longer comfortable, or until they show considerable wear. I walk a lot, and often the shoes wear out in 2-3 months. I have one pair of shoes that has lasted two years so far, which is quite remarkable considering what I have put them through.

I love wearing a different shoe style for brown tones and one for black tones. I love having colorful shoes, too, that will brighten an outfit and my day.

I spent three months searching for the perfect shoe to wear with my wedding dress. I was not satisfied with anything until I randomly came across a pair as I was searching for a textbook on Amazon. They walked into my life unexpectedly, and I snatched them up that day. They were the perfect pair for the occasion. It wasn't until later that I realized I paid $9.00 for them. I had been looking at so many shoes - some that were more expensive than my wedding dress, and just wasn't happy with the styles. Maybe I have cheap taste - I'd rather think that I was lucky.

I rarely have trouble finding shoes in my size - 6.5 is a fairly standard women's size.

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

Amaras

I totally don't get the shoe fetish.
I like mine utilitarian. My SO loves her shoes. All of my exes did too.
Amaras hesitates...
Maybe it's a lady thing?
Guys, wanna prove me wrong?

__________________
Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state.
-Noam Chomsky
Love is a verb, not a noun.
-My Mom
The function of genius is to furnish cretins with ideas twenty years later.
-Louis Aragon, "La Porte-plume," Traite du style, 1928

genuinegirly

Exactly why I didn't post this in the Ladies Lounge. Thanks for your input!

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"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

snowy

I'm pretty sure there are some male shoe lovers here on TFP.

I like shoes. I like comfy shoes that look nice. My feet have to look cute in shoes. I have a weird idea of what makes my foot look cute.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

ngdawg

I used to love shoes and would go to a local shoe outlet every payday.
I have a LOT of shoes but I'd venture to guess I wear less than half of them.
I can't wear high heels, never could. Back in the 70's clunky heels were the style, so those were ok, but spikes, never and even high wedged shoes are impossible for me to walk in.
I'd say my favorites are a pair of ankle lace-up boots that are now over 8 years old. I bought them at a shoe outlet in Reading; they're Easy Spirits, look like construction boots and a steal at $19.99-original price was something like $130. They're finally falling apart, so I have to find suitable replacements.
Other than those, I love my Rocket Dog Ug knockoffs. They're like slippers!
I seem to own a lot of Easy Spirits and Skechers, but that's not on purpose, just the way it works out when I shop for shoes. I'm very picky about how they need to feel-I did a lot of buying and discarding when I worked retail because my feet would be killing me by the end of a shift.

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Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

rmarshall

I have 3 pairs of sneakers, 1 with steel toes for work. Two pairs have one shoe a little darker in colour because I spilled motor oil on them, or stepped in oil or something. I have two pairs of black dress shoes. I have two or three pairs of sandals. One pair of motorcycle boots. I usually don't spend more than $60 on a pair. My CSA approved steel toe work shoes were $99 at Zellers. My boots were maybe $150. I wear them until they fall apart or start leaking!

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"Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege" Irish proverb

inBOIL

I prefer stylish shoes, but I must have comfortable shoes. I've chosen ugly shoes over styles I like just because the ugly ones were a little more comfortable. Shoes that are uncomfortable get more irritating as I wear them, whereas the opposite is true for shoes that I find ugly.

__________________
And you believe Bush and the liberals and divorced parents and gays and blacks and the Christian right and fossil fuels and Xbox are all to blame, meanwhile you yourselves create an ad where your kid hits you in the head with a baseball and you don't understand the message that the problem is you.

RangerJoe

I love shoes, but I can't afford them. The shoes I wear to work barely stay together... they literally clap when I walk. I just don't have the money to replace mine. My son's needs before my own!


The shoes in this picture:


I absolutely ADORE the style. They are too small for me and I never wear them, but I got them for 2 dollars at Value World. I couldn't pass up on getting a style I love so much for so cheap.

jewels

I answered the poll as to my preference, style. Love love love shoes. I still have a dozen or so that I know I'll never wear but refuse to part with.

I have an advanced case of plantar fasciitis that has me screaming in pain if I wear a pair of shoes that looks good and is comfortable. I used to wear one of several pair of custom orthotics with shoes, but this wasn't helping any, so through trial and error and several doctors, I've finally found that one basic style works best for me.

They pretty much have to be not very attractive in order for me to wear them. It took some years for me to get over the idea of stylish pretty shoes, and now my comfort is all that matters to me.

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

Vigilante

I like shoes that don't slip when I climb a log. They also have to be a wide, such as 13W nike. I like a solid arch because I tend to use the hard plastic as a grip on brick edges and such. Needless to say, my shoes don't usually last very long. I like Doc Martens boots (that's as fashionable as I get) but sometimes they really kill my arch.

I have some dress shoes for interviews, maybe 3 pair, and 3 pairs I really wear. I have some sandals that, surprisingly, have lasted me 10 years, including several summers working in the rice fields. They don't make 'em like they used to LOL. So let's see I have, say, 8 pairs of shoes for whatever.

My wife has about 30. She even just hauled a 30 gallon trash bag off to goodwill FULL of shoes. They are everywhere. It's pure chaos. I want to die. If they don't kill me first.

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We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-Winston Churchill

little_tippler

I. love. shoes.

But, I can't afford the ones I reeeeally want.

Also, I have very sensitive feet. This makes it so that my first thought when getting shoes is "ok, that's cheap, but I'm sure it'll kill my feet".

Then, assuming it's a brand I've used before and I know most of the shoes by that brand are comfortable on my feet, I'll look at style. I love sexy shoes. If I can get away with it (comfort-wise, and if it's practical for every day use), I'll buy them. The more striking (but in good taste!), the better.

I love heels but they do bad things to my back. I wear them regardless. So, I voted that I prefer fashionable shoes. Though in my every day life, currently, that is not what I'm wearing. Some days I say to hell with comfort and wear my coolest shoes. The way I feel makes up for the discomfort.

An amazing pair of shoes can do wonders for my confidence. The right pair instantly makes me feel sexy, like I have the longest legs in the world!

I love shoes

I have never spent silly money on shoes though...so far! I expect that to happen soon heh.

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

abaya

I'm not really into shoes... I buy based on overall utility and whether or not it's a "classic" style that I don't have to worry about matching/going out of fashion, since I don't really pay attention to those things. E.g. Tall, black leather boots go well with a lot of things and are always in style, so I stick with those. I wear one pair out until they're totally dead, then buy the exact same pair again.

The only shoes that I splash out on, and take a REALLY LONG TIME to decide on, are my hiking boots, running shoes, ski boots, rock-climbing shoes, etc. Shoes that are good for something, basically... that have very specific uses, and have to fit me perfectly to do what they're meant to do. I don't really care what they look like (though I tend to like darker colors, for less cleaning pain), as long as they are functional and do their job for me.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

Bear Cub

Alright, for a guy, I do have a retarded quantity of shoes.

I have several pairs of work boots. I'm in the construction industry and steel toes are required any time you're on site.

I own a lot of sneakers. Comfort is a top priority.

But for me, color matching is the kicker. I color coordinate any time I care about going out. I then split it into two categories, shorts or pants.

If I'm wearing pants, I've got a lot of narrower shoes, because I can't stand when pants crumple up around a sneaker that's too wide, and I have midget legs, so it can happen more than one may think. So I've got a couple different pairs for this, mostly Adidas.

If its shorts, then I've got a couple pairs of skate shoes. Hawk, Airwalk, etc.

I also have two dedicated pairs of shoes for working out, and three pairs that I use for the office, two black, one brown.

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Living in the United Socialist States of America.

SabrinaFair

I'm a style-over-utility kind of gal, but my personal style isn't necessarily the latest from (or knockoff of) Manolo Blahnik. My own style tends to be a bit more classic, and I really don't get into colorful shoes, unless they're really special. (I do adore my wine-colored slingbacks and my red patent-leather peep toes) I can't afford the brands I REALLY like, but I find what's most "me" in my price range (hello, sales!) and incorporate that into my wardrobe.

Heels don't really bother me like they do a lot of people. I can walk just fine in a high-heeled shoe, and I don't have a lot of resulting pain. So that's not really a major consideration for me. The only "downside", if you want to call it that, is that I'm right around 6'0" in most heels. But then, I like being tall. :-)

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"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
-Desiderata

anti fishstick

i have way too many shoes. I don't even wear but maybe 2 of them regularly.. i miss my doc marten boots.. i like shoes that are my 'style' but also comfortable to wear. i'm not into high heels or dress up shoes so much.

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And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
~Anais Nin

CandleInTheDark

I think shoes say a lot of the person wearing them. The right pair of shoes will make or break your outfit for the day. Most guys see shoes only as functional, but miss the fact that style is a function in itself.

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Where there is doubt there is freedom.

laconic1

Well I do like nice shoes but comfort is also important. A few years back when I was working as a mechanic I went to buy some Red Wing boots. Most of the boots they had were butt ugly, but they had one pair that looked pretty good. Only problem was to get it in my size it would have to be special ordered and was three weeks out. All the others in my size were in stock. I ordered the cool looking ones. To tide me over I bought a pair of $15 Payless work shoes. I have never been in so much pain in my life! After three days with the pain getting worse each day I tossed the Payless shoes and just wore sneakers to work for two weeks.

Now I work in an office and have to wear fairly dressy shoes, but not full blown dress shoes. One of the things I look for are shoes that are quiet when walking on a hard surface. I can't stand hearing every step I take.

CinnamonGirl

I like shoes, but not to the extent a lot of women do. I'm not into the expensive "designer" shoes at all... most of my shoe shopping is done at Payless or DSW.

I do like certain styles, though... the more "funky" types of sneakers, for example. I love boots with chunky heels.

Oh, wait... I do like Doc Martins, which definitely qualify as "expensive." I lost my navy blue pair in a move, but I'm hoping to get a pair for Christmas.

Above all, shoes must be comfortable. If I love how they look, but if they hurt my feet, back in the box they go. That doesn't mean they have to be practical, though-- heels don't bother me, unless they're really spiky. I have a bit of a fetish for "stripper boots." You know, the ones that are vinyl, thigh high, and have huge heels? Love those. Of course, not for everyday wear, though

__________________
"...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."


"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

Jozrael

I wear shoes for comfort and utility. I could care less if they were psychedelic orange or purple and how that matches this 'outfit' you claim I'm wearing. It's just clothes =o.

<-- standard guy in this respect.

m0rpheus

I have one pair of running shoes, one pair of winter boots, one pair of dress shoes, and one pair of work boots. My shoes need a defined purpose and they have them. As far as fashion goes, I've been wearing Converse All-stars for years, they are/were (?) in fashion but I've been wearing them forever and when they fall out of style again I'll still be wearing them because I like them.

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"it never got weird enough for me." - Hunter S. Thompson

CinnamonGirl

Converse All-stars will always be cool.

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"...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."


"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

abaya

Yes, precisely.

I don't know why gender is so tied up with shoe preferences... or maybe I'm just one of the few tomboys here, I don't know.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

CinnamonGirl

hmmm... I started to say "nuh uh!" But... I suppose in regards to shoes, I'm less of a tomboy. Although, I would like to point out that about 80% of my shoes are sneakers, cleats, or hiking boots.

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"...for though she was ordinary, she possessed health, wit, courage, charm, and cheerfulness. But because she was not beautiful, no one ever seemed to notice these other qualities, which is so often the way of the world."


"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

MSD

I have flat feet and bad ankles, so shoes have to fit just right or mold to my feet as they break in. They also can't be ugly -- I refuse to buy ugly shoes.

World's King

At last count I had a little over 200 pairs of shoes.


Does that answer your question?

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

noodle

Where's Shesus on this one?

I need both style and utility.
I wear flips most of the time and have my four standard pairs of shoes in the car.
I have really high arches, which also makes the top of my foot higher than normal, crappy ankles, narrow heels, wider balls of the feet.
Which makes it a bitch to find shoes that are comfy and look nice.
So I wear them until they fall apart.
Some day, I'll buy two pairs of the ones I really like so when the old ones fall apart, I have replacements.
I love Nurture sandals lately.
I can't wear skinny heels or a lot of the "designer shoes" because they don't fit.
But I'm also a fashion-retard when it comes to shoes a lot of the time.
And I'm okay with that.

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Manic_Skafe

They're called sneakers 'round these parts and I'm all about them.

So much so that I just got a $115 pair tonight.

But I usually wear a pair of black vans classics everyday. Most comfortable shoe ever.

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"Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian

Prince

I own two pairs of shoes. One pair of tennis shoes, and one pair of dress shoes. This practice has served me well for 3 decades and will continue to do so. I have no interest in shoes beyond their comfort. I hate buying them, and I never pay any attention to what other people wear. I don't care to see if my shoes "go" with what else I have on. I can wear black socks with my white tennis shoes and not give a shit.

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Who is John Galt?

abaya

Me too, I have an "athletic" calf, I've been told (my calves are too fat for narrow, tall boots) and fat feet (or "wide," as they say). My most comfy shoes are my river-rafting Chacos, which are wide and bulge appropriately when my feet get hot.
Yay for fashion-retards!!

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

genuinegirly

Wow! Look at all these different perspectives on shoes! Thanks for the responses, everyone. It's great to see a mix of opinions from men and women. Sounds like some of the men are more into shoes than many of the women. Like you Bear Cub, World's King and Manic Skafe.
Noodle & Abaya, I think I'd die if I had that much trouble finding something comfortable.
Candle In the Dark, I like your thoughts.
Luciferase, are you a logger, or just an avid hiker? I have a couple of pairs of shoes that can handle logs, but I wouldn't base all of my shoe decisions on such criteria.
Morpheus, my sister has been wearing converse all-stars for years. Now her sons wear them, too.
laconic1, my dad wore nothing but red wings when I was growing up. He always found the most tasteful styles - I even went shopping with him a few times. It doesn't look like they make the styles he wore anymore.
CinnamonGirl, SabrinaFair, and NGDawg, you have some awesome-souding shoes.
RangerJoe, those shoes are cute. Winter doesn't seem a fun time for you and your son to be without decent shoes

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

Meditrina

I voted for "other" because my shoes are not utility shoes but they are not what I would consider fashionable. They are somewhere in between. I like my shoes to be practical and comfortable. Does that make them utility shoes? Some of my shoes are not my typical shoe, the heel is a bit higher, some are sandals. I like to be able to wear them with many outfits. I don't wear brown shoes with black pants, and I don't wear black shoes with brown pants, but my handbag remains the same (I only have one).

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"Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles." ~Alex Karras

roachboy

i like skater shoes. i think i have a style. but maybe that's an illusion.

how do you know when you have a style?

seriously.

i like stylish shoes on stylish ladies. everything about them. really.

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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

Fotzlid

I have 2 pairs of New Balance cross trainers, one for work and one for home.
I also have one pair of hiking boots and one pair of winter boots.
Oh, and a pair of Crocs for playing ball with the dog in the yard (they hose off nicely).

When shopping for shoes, I generally wait until Target or some such store has a buy one get the second half off sale. I will not pay big money for a pair of shoes.

Shoes aren't a big priority for me.

Charlatan

I love shoes. If I had lots of money I would be like King and have hundreds of pairs.

For years, I mostly wore my Roots Boots (kind of Canadian Doc Martens without the overtones).

Currently I have a pair of dress Docs (pointer toe than the classic style, I love the soles) that I wear to work just about every day. I love my casual shoes... I have a pair of Steve Maddens that I just can't give up eventhough the soles have seen better days.

I have my eye on a new pair of Converse. Thinking of wearing more suits and I need something to go with the suit.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

hunbun0704

shoes. I heart shoes. Shoes don't care about the size of your thighs. They always fit.

__________________
I'm not expecting to grow flowers in the desert,
But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime..
- Big Country

RangerJoe

Genuine, don't worry about my son! I always make sure that if I can't afford something he absolutely needs, I ask my mom for help and she's always more than happy to!

Grasshopper Green

I love shoes, but most shoes don't love me. I have wide feet and bunions (thanks mom!), so I can not wear heels or sandals with straps across the widest part of my foot. I have to buy shoes geared towards wide feet, otherwise my feet stretch the shoe out and they look awful. Like abaya, I also have thick calf muscles that make boots that go much higher than my ankle impossible. Despite my limitation in the shoe department, I won't buy cheap or ugly shoes. Cheap shoes generally cause me pain and pricier shoes are well worth it. I pretty much stick to Skechers because they fit my feet the best of any brand I've tried. Over the summer I bought a pair of Keen sandals for outdoor activities and I will probably buy another pair of Keens in the future.

__________________
"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

new man

Shoes, part of the clothes that make the man.

Brooks sneakers, performance not style.
Old sneakers become lawnmowing shoes.
8 year old Merrell hiking boots, brown leather. Classic smooth leather styling, heavier than modern nylon boots, but very comfortable and good wear.
Loafers, brown suede, when I need to slip something on with or without socks, or step out for a moment, or I don't care how I look.
Black Ecco work shoes, toe cap, rubber sole. Not very stylish, but I can shine them up, not square toed and look ok with slacks or suit.
Cordovan colored loafers by Bostonian. Not the most comfortable shoes, but can wear them all day. For blue slacks.
Black Bostonians with toe cap and smooth leather. Shines very well, very trim shoe. Remember, the plainer and shinier, the more formal the shoe.
Tevas, for the few days a year at the beach.
Ski boots, for skiing.
Snowboard boots, for snowboarding.

I think style is important, and I think the comfort of a well-made shoe is too important to be cheap on. I would really like to someday be able to get a couple of pair of handmade dress shoes. I heard they last for many seasons and are very comfortable. I hope I never wear Converse Chucks, and flip flops tell others "you are not important enough for me to dress nicely for." Same thing with baseball caps, but that is another story. The point is, wear shoes that are appropriate for the outfit. If you have Seinfeld's money, no one is going to criticize you for your pretend style of sneakers and blazers. People are crazy, the rich are eccentric.

abaya

I have found that tall leather boots that have a little elastic panel on the side, are what work for my "athletic calves." I've been wearing the same style of Nine West boots for that reason, for several pairs now... they've held up quite nicely, and are the only ones I could find that would fit my leg.Keens, I love 'em!!! They're a little pricey, but oh-so-practical, and work with a lot of outfits. Mine are not sandals, just closed-toed walkers, and I've had them for 3-4 years now and will finally have to replace them (probably with another similar pair). Yes for toe bumpers, too!

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

nomcat

Utility over style for me... I'm hard on my shoes and it really pisses me off when they give out long before they should! Caterpillar sneakers are my favourite shoes ever... each pair I've had has lasted over 3 years. And they fit my feet JUST right.

I have 6 pairs of shoes...
Black dress
Saucony running
Caterpillar sneakers x 2 pairs
661 skate
Converse Allstars

Oh and 2 pairs of motorcycle boots.