Are expensive shoes worth it?

[Anonymous]

I have bought shoes from discount stores and the salon shoes section at Nordstrom...and I seem to find that all brands, regardless of cost, fall apart. The bottom parts of heels fall off of EVERY shoe I buy, so I end up having to spend money to repair it, and even expensive boots last me 2 or 3 years at most.

I was thinking about this as I was debating between two pairs of boots - one that was $100 and one that was $300. I went with the cheaper ones -- the styles were virtually identical -- because I just didn't know what the extra $200 got me.

Would love to hear if I'm wrong on this...

[Anonymous]

Do you wear the same shoes every day, or do you you mix it up. That will make a difference. I have lots of expensive shoes that I've had for years and they are nowhere near falling apart.

[Anonymous]

the expensive brands I buy last forever. I might have to take a pair in to repair the heel now and then, but they last. I don't wear the same shoes day in and day out, so that helps.

I did buy a cheap pair of boots - very cute - for about $80 or $90 on sale, and they've lasted surprisingly long - two years. But they're falling apart now.

[Anonymous]

Not to me. I just posted an unrelated thread about stubbing my pointy-toed shoes - I seem to ruin shoes by wearing them so it wouldn't matter if they started off expensive or cheap.

[Anonymous]

my expensive shoes last much much longer.

[Anonymous]

it's psychological. maybe there's a difference in quality, but more likely, the difference is minimal, especially if you're comparing the same kinds of materials. cheap pair of shoes with real leather v. expensive pair of shoes with real leather - huge difference in longevity? don't think so.

[Anonymous]

For me, the biggest difference between my expensive and not-so-expensive shoes is comfort. The cheaper ones are made of lesser quality leather that doesn't give as much. A soft, high-quality leather seems to almost mold to your foot. Granted, there are plenty of exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Ditto PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's psychological. maybe there's a difference in quality, but more likely, the difference is minimal, especially if you're comparing the same kinds of materials. cheap pair of shoes with real leather v. expensive pair of shoes with real leather - huge difference in longevity? don't think so.

I don't think it's psychological. However, a $700 pair of shoes can only be so much better than a $100 pair of shoes, but a $100 pair of shoes is likely to be much better quality and be more comfortable than a $25 pair of shoes.

[Anonymous]

In general I find that expensive shoes ($200 and up) hold up better than inexpensive shoes. But I am talking about shoes like Bruno Magli and Ferragamo, not Louboutin or Tods. They are also much more comfortable for me, which is important because I do a lot of traveling for work so am walking a lot. When I get cheap shoes they tend to stretch out quickly and rarely last more than a season. When you get up to the Louboutin level I think you are buying style for the extra $. Quality is probably not better than the $300 shoes.

[Anonymous]

I don't now - I splurged and spent 300 on a pair of shoes to wear to a wedding and they were torture devices. I planned on having them be an "investment" and now they are at the Goodwill.

[Anonymous]

i do think the $100+ vs. $50 make a difference in comfort (more arch support/cushioning) which i have decided is important. never went to $200+ for shoes so no idea.

[Anonymous]

The Burberry shoes I have really last well. The Jimmy Choos not so much. Those are the only expensive brands in which I have a few pair to compare to feel like I could make a statement about the brand. For cheaper shoes that seem to last, I've had good luck with Joan & David.

As for comfort, I think it just depends on luck. Everyone's feet are shaped a bit differently, so what's comfortable to one person might not be on another. For instance,, I seem to fall right between two sizes in Cole Haan. So their shoes are never comfortable for me, although a lot of people swear by them.

To help your shoes last longer, wear them as little as possible outdoors, esp on sidewalks. I keep ballet flats in my bag and change out. It not only protects the heel from wearing down, which isn't a big deal but gets expensive to replace repeatedly, but it also keeps the back of the heel from being torn up by sidewalk grates, which can't really be fixed well. Also, you can have them put pads on the bottom front of the shoe to help that part from wearing down.

[Anonymous]

I splurge on some shoes, but won't splurge if it's not something I think I'll wear a lot. A $400 pair of Frye boots will last 10-20 years, and still be comfortable. An $100 pair? No way.

[Anonymous]

I bought a pair of Stuart Weitzman heels in 2000 and they still look and feel amazing. They are beginning to look a bit dated so I'm going to retire them but the money was totally worth it.