Shop Smart – How To Always Buy The Right Shoes

#3 – Distinguish between poor, mediocre and high quality shoes

Like a good pair of jeans, a great pair of shoes will stand the test of time in your shoe closet. Essentially you want your shoes to be the perfect mix between ‘great looks’ and ‘comfort’.

There are a few things to help you shop smart for shoes. Take a closer look at the following points:

First there is the leather. Luxury brands use mostly soft, breathable nappa or calf leather whereas many low quality brands use simply treated cow or even pig leather. Be very wary of fast fashion brands whose shoes and sandals use PU leather, which is Synthetic Leather. Sure, it’s made to look and feel like genuine leather but it is less durable, not breathable and often does not keep its shape long if used often.

High quality shoes often carry high quality hardware that’s real metal and stamped such as premium zippers by YKK. These open and close easily and last longer whereas cheaper alternatives get stuck more easily.

A stiffener is most often used in the back of the heel of high quality sandals to make sure they keep their shape.

The stitching of high quality footwear is much finer than that of cheaper versions, where a loose stitch or even glue can make them fall apart after one season. Perfect stitching is a good indicator that shoes are built to last.

Some of these elements might not be visible at first, but it’s worth investigating the material mix and the construction of the shoe and where they are made. Italy and France often stand for high quality of handcrafted production.

Last but not least – pay attention to the shoebox. Packaging is an extension of the product and will give you some important clues about the product itself.