I work in a professional environment and I wear heels daily. I am SO frustrated lately with the poor quality of shoes I keep getting. I will order a pair of nine west shoes for $80 and within 6 months they're scuffed, look terrible and are starting to show wear. I just purchased a pair of $70 Jessica Simpson shoes from a dept store. Within one week the heel broke. And I can tell the other heel is about to go. This seems to happen whenever I buy shoes in this price range, and I have purchased in this price range for years now. I am tempted to go up to better quality/higher priced shoes, but I am not sure which pairs are actually worth it. I wouldn't mind paying $200-$300 for a pair of heels I will wear almost daily for a long time, as in my experience you get what you pay for. LK Bennett runs about $350 per pair. Worth it? Any other suggestions?
To answer some questions - I wear flats in and out of work, so the only place these heels hit the ground are in my office area, and I sit behind a desk most of the day. God knows where they get the scuffs, but I am sure I have worn them out to dinner before, as they are quite universal. And I do have some pairs I alternate, but, for example my tan heels, they go with EVERYTHING and I ony have two pair. So, I will alternate bw the two and they will each last about 6 months and then they look ready to be replaced or something has broken or fallen off of them. I have tons of other colors of pumps but I have to wear a specific outfit, and I am not a fan of black.
These are my favorite for every day wear:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr?keyword=clarks+for+women&...
They are comfortable and have held up well for me. The only issue I have had is with the little rubber stopper on the heel coming loose on one pair after about a year, but that is a quick and easy fix. They tend to be pretty conservative, but these are work shoes after all, not date shoes :)
When I first read your title I totally thought you meant breastpumps (probably b/c there's been like 3 other BF questions today) lol. Now THAT I could help you with lol...shoes, not so much. Good Luck!
I am wondering HOW you are wearing them, is it every day? Do you not have at least two or three pair that you alternate? Also, are you driving in them or commuting in them by foot (i.e. pounding the pavement/public transit?)
High heels/pumps, especially the under $100 variety, are not built for long periods of walking or standing, they are made to look pretty and will hold up fairly well if you do a lot of sitting, or walking very short distances on carpet. Driving in them will mess them up, the heels will get scuffed and you can weaken or break a heel.
You need some quality leather flats for your commute, switch into the heels right before you walk into your office.
Real leather is softer and more durable than vinyl, so always opt for that. Back when I was a working girl I spent about $75 on a decent pair of shoes and usually got a good two years or so out of them (but I always had a few different pair to alternate, and I didn't commute in them.) If I was working today I would probably be looking in the $200 range.
I buy my shoes at places like Kohl's and TJ Maxx. Usually no more than $40 a pair (well except that one pair from Talbots that was $140...). Anyway...I can usually get a couple of years out of each pair. I rotate through a few pairs at a time and keep them in the office. I wear sneakers, sandals or boots in and out of the office and only put my dress shoes on when I'm at my desk.
I think you should go cheaper, buy more pairs and expect less wear from your shoes - why on earth would you want to wear the same shoes every day and for a long time? I'd rather have 4 pairs of $50 shoes than one pair that's $200, which wouldn't go with every outfit and would bore me to death. I think that most pumps are designed for that kind of wear and aren't made to be worn daily for months or years on end.
If you want some totally comfortable shoes you have to try out AGL-they are really really well made shoes and will last forever if you take care of them. They are extremely expensive but so worth it. I would always hear people rave about them and thought they had to be exaggerating but no, they are THAT good. You may think they are a little conservative and even a bit matronly but rest assured that many stylish younger women love these. They are a truly classic look.
link:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr?keyword=AGL&origin=keywo...
To get six months out of any pair of shoes you wear daily is great. That being said, I used to wear Nordstrom brand pumps. This was 15 years ago when I had to wear pumps to work everyday, but they were reasonably priced and very comfortable.
I'm of the belief that a $100 pair of shoes is exponentially better than a $30 pair of shoes, but $350 per pair? They better give a hell of a foot rub at ghe same time to spend that kind of money!
Office work isn't usually "hard" on shoes, so maybe it's the commute, heel scuffs from driving, etc.
Why not carry your shoes in & put them on once you get to the office?
Scuffs can be polished. It's worth paying a reputable shoe repair place to keep good shoes polished and free if scuffs, but the broken heel? I'd be returning those puppies, worn already or not!
For what it's worth, when I have to look for shoes, I look online at Zappos.com first. One reason is because I have narrow feet and can't usually find well-fitting shoes in a department store. But another reason is that the the consumer reviews are very helpful. Those reviews have helped me make up my mind many, many times. When there's trouble with a brand or a particular shoe, you're going to see it in writing. There are also positive comments, often detailed. It's worth taking a look at.
Cole Haan - expensive....
Salvador Feragammo - expensive but professional shoes...great Italian quality
Aerosoles - not expensive - but I've not had a problem with shoddy quality.
If you lived here - I would take you to my girlfriend's consignment shop and you could look at the awesome selection of shoes she has!!!
I have found that Naturalizer is my friend. They are no longer your G.'s shoes. They even have HEELS! They are expensive but my feet are worth it. Now that I have had my second foot surgery, no longer am I a fashion guinea pig. Its 75% comfort and 25% fashion nowadays for me.
I swear by Franco Sarto (about $40 at TJMaxx) and Liz Claiborne. I could not fathom paying more than $50 for a pair of shoes. But that's just me.
My favorite most long lasting and comfortable shoes/boots/heels are all Coach. They last for years and years and Coach will fix them if they break or sometimes replace with a current style. But they are pricey. I only buy them when on sale, a lot of times they will send you 25% off coupons if you buy something online, or at the outlet. Not sure if you have Dilliards department stores up there but if so, they usually have a good selection. I ask the salesmen to call me when they go on sale. Also I just bought a pair of Coach boots on ebay 1/2 price.
Ann Taylor also has some good shoes but they are way too expensive for what they are in my mind. So if they are running 50% off sale, I buy but if not, I pass.
The other brand i have had great luck with at Dilliards is BCBG. The shoes are trendy, last long and are reasonably priced. Good luck
I have never paid more than $40 for a pair of shoes and I have had some of my shoes for well over 5 years. Some pairs over 10 and yes they are a little worn they are still fine to wear.
The fact that your shoes do not last more than 6 months tells me something is wrong with either the way you walk in them or the fit. I wish I were close enough to you to go shoe shopping with you.
So a few questions:
Do you wear the same shoes everyday? If so you shouldn't. You should leave at least 1 day between wearings 2 is better. The shoes need time to dry out between wearings. The sweat from your feet will break down the leather and can cause athlete's foot as the bacteria from the sweat builds up over time.
Do you wear down either the inside or outside of of your shoes faster than the other? If so, go to a podiatrist and see if he/she can make an insert so you walk properly. Or wear a lower heel shoe.
You can wear flat pumps or ballet flats with slacks or even some skirts. I love the look of ballet flats but I can never find a pair of them that fit my feet. My arches are too high and my heels too narrow.
Maybe pumps are not the shoe for your feet. I can't wear most pumps because I can never get a good fit. Sling back pumps or mules fit my feet better.
You may also need to do exercises to strenghten your ankles. Here are a few easy ones. In your bare or stocking feet, stand with toes pointing to the front go up on and down toes 10 times, turn toes in go up and down 10 times, with toes turned out go up and down 10 times. Also do ankle rotations clockwise and anti-clockwise at least 10 times. While sitting with legs up stretch toes down toward floor and up toward knees. The more often you do these the stronger your ankles will become and the easier it will be to walk correctly in high heels.
I buy most if not all of my shoes at DSW and off the clearance racks.
Good luck, I hope this helps.
When I was in retail, I worked/walked on a slate floor 5 days a week at least 9 hours a day..
When I purchased a new pair of heels, I took them straight to the shoe repair and had heel protectors placed on them and good quality heel tips. Once the shoes started to wear, I would consider new soles...this really helped my shes look better and last longer.. I am a fast and hard walker...
I wore expensive heels.... But I also owned at least 4 pairs that I switched out each season..black, brown, red.. And usually a fashion color....remember, I was in retail, so I also got a discount....
I see lots of great brands at DSW..... But heels are not made to be worn 5 days a week for 6 months straight.... That is almost a 1000 hours..that your total body weight is being carried by 2 little heels....
Make sure you purchase leather shoes,, with not too skinny of a heel.. And as others have said.. Only wear them while working.. Not driving or walking long distances outside.. Get shoe bags to carry or store them at work..
