Quality shoes for women

bbshriver · Sep 3, 2014

Hi Ladies!

Something that comes up from time to time between my wife and I. I tend to like spending a lot of $ ($100-300) on a pair of quality shoes that I expect to last a lifetime, look great and be comfortable. Allen Edmonds is my "go to" for USA made, recraftable, and comfort, but I also have some Italian made dress shoes, and some Indian made Johnston and Murphy. Of course boots are another topic.

My wife however will go for the $20 shoes at the generic shoe shops in the mall, that usually wear out in less than a year, are visibly poorly made (plastic/vinyl not leather) and I suspect not terribly comfortable. I'll comment on this and get the retort "well there's no Allen Edmonds for women's shoes". But surely there is something like "Allen Edmonds for women"? I know there's plenty of very expensive women's shoes (Prada, et al), but I'm not sure if they're really better made and more durable or just more fashionable.

So is there a brand of women's shoe that could be compared to Allen Edmonds? She's a 3rd grade teacher, so on her feet most of the day. At ~5'2" she likes a bit of a heel, but no crazy stillettos or anything... Just a good looking conservative, comfortable and durable shoe, something like a 2" heel probably.

Suggestions?

LizzieMaine · Sep 3, 2014

There are very, very few well-made womens' shoes, at least the kind affordable by the average woman -- there's bespoke European shoes, but nobody in the real world wears such things.

This wasn't always true. Red Cross, Selby, and Enna Jettick were companies that made high-quality non-extreme-styled women's shoes up until the sixties or seventies, but once the "designer" fad hit, they went belly up. The Boys From Marketing have sold the idea that we're all dithering little style-obsessed fools who wouldn't wear a pair of shoes long enough to wear it out no matter how shabbily-made it is, and that's the philosophy modern manufacturers follow today.

The last American company making quality women's shoes was Clinic, which produced footwear for nurses, waitresses, housewives, and other women who were on their feet all day. They shut down last year, and that's the ballgame.

bbshriver · Sep 3, 2014

Rather unfortunate.. I hope Allen Edmonds is around for some time to come. This didn't occur to me until just now, what about Brooks Brothers? I know some of their men's shoes are top notch, made by Allen Edmonds and/or Peale (UK)
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Low-S...var_WF00330_Color=BLCK&contentpos=7&cgid=0378

Expensive, but if they're quality and comfortable... Basically in the same ballpark as AE.

sheeplady · Sep 3, 2014

The only shoes I have found in stores around me that are decent are Clarks.

They are made in China, but they will last several years as dress shoes if properly taken care of. But they are not a workhorse. They are comfortable (I also taught) and repairable.

Womens shoes are sort of like flying nowadays: you can pick a better airline or pay more and get a marginally better flight, but in the end you still have to go through security to get on the plane. It's kind of like picking the best of the worst.

Babydoll · Sep 3, 2014

What about Remix shoes? Several options in a medium height heel.

http://www.remixvintageshoes.com/2030spumps.html

Nora · Sep 7, 2014

The only shoes I own that I can imagine lasting that long is the hiking boots my brother grew out of. I'm on my second pair of leather Winter boots lined with lambswool that has started losing their soles, shedding in the lining, and generally wearing out. That's only on the second year, and those cost me at least 300$.

Of course, here in Norway we have the 25% tax on everything you consume, but still...

Rockapin-up · Sep 8, 2014

Did a search and found this website, although I can't vouch for comfort or durability. They do have some conservative classic looks.
http://johansen.usmadeshoes.com/collections/johansen?page=6

bbshriver · Sep 8, 2014

That's an interesting site... supplier for the military so you'd think they'd be decent quality, and prices are not out of line with dept stores..

CaramelSmoothie · Sep 9, 2014

My favorite brands are Anthropologie, J. Crew, Chie Mihara, Indigo by Clark. Chie Mihara is the most expensive of the bunch but are soooo cute!

AvavanBlythe · Oct 3, 2014

I'm glad I stumbled onto this thread. I have a pair of go-to shoes, but in a year or so I know they'll need replaced. I'd sooner have a color/style for the basic situations. I'm not one to have a closet full of shoes. -chuckles- It can be tempting...

Just to make a suggestion for heel height and general pain: I've found that Insolia inserts do a great job re-distributing the weight. They're not cushions, but make it so that your weight is distributed as close as possible to when you're wearing flats. In medium height heels, I've lasted for quite a few hours.

scarletgrenadine · Oct 4, 2014

I find it extremely difficult to locate well-made shoes. I have often bought shoes in the $100-200 range that lasted less than a year before utterly falling apart. I don't wear the same pair of shoes every day either. I've also bought $300 shoes. They don't last any longer. Shoes for women tend to be delicate and they get scratched all over by pavement if they have heels. I can't tell you how many times $100-ish dollar leather heels worn once or twice have been ruined by a hole in the pavement.

I don't ever really wear the Payless type shoes because I'm prone to blisters if I wear anything made of a synthetic. So it's not as if I only buy cheap fashion shoes. It's just that the more expensive ones are rarely meant to last any longer. I also have trouble finding styles I like for anything I can afford, as cheaper shoes always have more ugly gewgaws and less elegant styling. I love Chie Mihara shoes, for example, but they are out of my budget right now at $300+ per pair. I also have no idea if they would last any longer.

Mme Dariaux · Oct 4, 2014

Dear scarletgrenadine, have you taken your shoes to a shoe repairer? It's not that good shoes never break but they can be repaired, unlike low-quality shoes which can only be tossed in the rubbish. Women's shoes are usually glued, not sewn like good men's shoes, so they won't last as long, but still at five years is a reasonable request. I have some Chie Mihara shoes and am happy to report that even the first pair, bought in 2007 and worn ever spring and autumn is still in good condition (although resoled a few times and taken to shoe repairer every autumn before putting away).

scarletgrenadine · Oct 6, 2014

I have tried to take my shoes in for repairs. Most recently, I had a pair of heels purchased for about $100 at Nordstrom Rack that had a scuff mark on the heel where the leather tore a bit from being scratched against uneven paving. The man at the repair store said he could put a new heel on, but he informed me that my shoes would not look nice afterward. I had only worn them two or three times. Every time I bring shoes in, they actually discourage me from having them fixed, and I am not bringing in shoes with awful damage. I've started to feel insecure about it, as they are always so condescending to me.

I have a pair of barely-worn Hasbeens where the staples of the ankle strap pulled out. I've asked my husband to bring them to the repair shop instead so I won't get talked down to.

I'm glad to hear the report about the Mihara shoes lasting. I will certainly consider them next time I can spend a little on shoes.

Mme Dariaux · Oct 6, 2014

Oh, I sympathise with your troublesome experiences with shoe repairers. For whatever reason, there is a strong tendency for shoe repairers to be slightly hostile towards their customers. I am especially annoyed at the shoe repairers who see fit to judge on my behalf whether some operation is monetarily worth doing it. I'd much prefer they just state what it costs, and let me decide if I want to invest in it or not (of course, I do appreciate if they tell me some operation is not worth doing, because the shoe won't last long anyway, or the effect of said operation will fade in a day - this is shoe repairer expertise and not making decision on the customer's behalf). But finally, I found a shoe repair place where the service is pleasant, the repairers are skilled, but honest to tell me if something is impossible, and they have a special affinity for vintage shoes. And they explain quite thoroughly what they are going to do to my shoe, if the operaton is any more complex than replacing heel tips, so I have actually learned a lot from them. Now that I'm reminded of the trouble I had locating a shoe repair place which I like, perhaps I should gift "my shoes boys" with chocolate or something...

I apologize for steering this discussion to another track, but on the other hand (leg?), quality shoes and shoe repairers are definitely connected.

ps. I'm afraid leather-covered heels which have been scuffed can't be repaired completely unnoticeably, they are safer to wear indoors only. They are in much danger from pavement stones and metal grills. But still, a skilled repairer can smooth and glue the scuff "flaps" back in place and so the shoes remain usable if not perfect.

BettyMaraschino · Oct 6, 2014

scarletgrenadine said:
I have a pair of barely-worn Hasbeens where the staples of the ankle strap pulled out. I've asked my husband to bring them to the repair shop instead so I won't get talked down to. .

Swedish Hasbeens? I got a pair last summer, wore them twice and didnt notice the leather on the ankle strap had started to tear. (this is twice for maybe 30min a time, mainly sitting on a bus.) I only noticed this summer when I got them out of storage. Hasbeens refers me to the place I bought them from, and the place I bought them from refers me back to Hasbeens. This really upset me, definetly would never purchace them again. £60 sandles and I got two short wears out of them. shoe repairer cant do much at all. Ive had to get the Mr to pull out the stapels and remove the ankle strap just so I can wear them as mules around the house. (which of course, he is yet to do

)
sorry that went a wee bit off course there.

Ill be keeping a close eye on this thread and saving my pennies for some really decent quality shoes. oh and of course waiting for said companies to have a sale!

mactire · Nov 7, 2014

BettyMaraschino said:
Ill be keeping a close eye on this thread and saving my pennies for some really decent quality shoes. oh and of course waiting for said companies to have a sale!

You're in the right spot as being in the UK you can get to Northampton which is the centre of welted shoe production and many of the ?British shoemakers have ladies collections:

Grenson

http://www.grenson.co.uk/en_gb/shop?cat=15&limit=all

Crockett & Jones

http://www.crockettandjones.com/news/index/new-ladies-collection-from-crockett-and-jones

Loake's

http://www.loake.co.uk/byrange/ladies.html

Church's

http://www.church-footwear.com/en/IE/man#!/en/IE/woman/classic-collection

Barker

http://www.barker-shoes.co.uk/shop/collections/ladies-collection

Peter Bullock
http://www.englishshoemakers.co.uk/ladies-shoes

Cheaney

http://cheaney.co.uk/ladies-shoes/21/ladies

Suffolk Shoes

http://www.suffolkshoes.co.uk/products.php

A list of bespoke makers in the UK

http://www.shoemakers.org.uk/default.asp

A Spanish maker

Carmina

http://www.carminashoemaker.com/woman.html

BettyMaraschino · Nov 7, 2014

mactire said:
You're in the right spot as being in the UK you can get to Northampton which is the centre of welted shoe production and many of the ?

Oh deary me, you dont know the impact of that info hahaha. Twice a year we got to Northmpton for the Psychobilly weekender (Bedlam Breakout).
This now means saving up lots of extra pennies and buying shoes, and Mr being upset at how much Ill be spending on said shoes!

At least I have until March to save up the extra

Been stalking Loakes in our local department store. Far too tempting!

mactire · Nov 7, 2014

BettyMaraschino said:
Oh deary me, you dont know the impact of that info hahaha. Twice a year we got to Northmpton for the Psychobilly weekender (Bedlam Breakout).

That's quite alright duckie, you can get me back with an intro to a few dolls looking for a tweed geezer ;-)

Whats more important is that if you do the tour of the factory shops in Northampton you can buy seconds/imperfects for about £99 as well as samples etc. The seconds in my view are quite slight and you wouldn't see the difference at all. If you're up there AA Crack & Son is possibly the largest leather warehouse in the UK and has a sample room where you can get leather hides from old runs etc. as well http://www.aacrack.co.uk/catalogue.asp?page=home Well worth a look if you were up there especially for bespoke work.

GigiL · Mar 6, 2017

"Michael" shoes by Paraboot, beautifully hand crafted in France of thick, full grain leather. These are the shoes I'll be living in from now thru December ( Just kidding. Sort of.)View media item 1286

Paraboot "Michael" shoes

GigiL
Mar 6, 2017

GigiL · Mar 6, 2017

I'm selling a pair of Chie Mihara leather boots which I've never worn (just put them on for pictures), in a size US 6M / EU 35,5. Made in Spain. They can be worn over or under the knee. Sorry, I no longer have the box for them.View media item 1299 View media item 1298 View media item 1297

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