The Cabal just lost Doc Marten

September 20, 2012 5:09 PM

I've been noticing basically the same question posted repeatedly on AskMe, "Please recommend some comfy walking shoes for me."

It's come up so often, I figured either the search functions just weren't working as they should or (more likely, because pb is always on top of things) my memory was playing tricks on me.

So I did a search myself. Just typing in "shoe", I easily found 7 posts from people looking for comfy walking shoes in the last month alone. (I'm not talking about just shoe posts in general. There have been, incredibly, 21 total shoe posts this month.)

I can't remember ever seeing a flood of questions on the same exact topic without a precipitating event. For example, I expect to see lots of "What do I get this person?" around Christmas, or "What costume do I wear?" for Halloween.

But why are so many "comfy walking shoes" questions popping up this month? Naturally, my first thought was that the Cabal has a foot fetish, but we all know I'll never penetrate their security, so can anyone else shed light on why else this might be happening? Is it just because Doc Martens doesn't sell shoes any more that everyone is panicking?
___
If you are interested, and because I have way too much time on my hands, here's a summary of shoe posts in the last 30 days, organized by request type:

Comfy Walking Shoes?

• Comfy walking shoes as durable as Doc Martens? today
• Shoes to replace Danskos September 9
• Comfortable slip-on walking shoes September 5th
• Comfy walking sandals now that Doc Martens no longer makes shoes Aug 28
• Women's comfy slip-on walking shoe August 24th
• Comfortable women's shoes for urban walking August 19
• Comfy shoes for women (athletic or casual) August 19

My shoes are broken!

• Can I resole these shoes? September 18
• Shoe repair in Dallas September 15

Boots

• Boots like Frye but high-arched September 19
• Brown wide-calf boots September 14
• DIY boots September 6
• Head-turning fall shoes or boots August 18
• Rain boots August 19

Ankle boots

• Should I exercise with tendonitis, ankle boot, etc? September 19
• Exercise while wearing ankle boot for injury Sept 6

Must. Have. THESE. Shoes.

• Boots from the Sartorialist September 17
• Men's Nucky Tompson Wingtip shoes August 8

Miscellaneous Snowflake Shoe Needs

• Flat shoes for gothic wear September 8
• How to walk quietly in kitten heels September 6
• How to polish orange Doc Martens? September 3

posted by misha to MetaFilter-Related at 5:09 PM (269 comments total)

Also no one can get to sleep, apparently.
posted by The Whelk at 5:13 PM on September 20, 2012 [31 favorites]

I've been noticing (and mildly irritated by) the same thing. I guess we're all on a lifelong quest for work appropriate, cute, and super comfortable shoes. I know I am. And I do not believe they really exist.
posted by crabintheocean at 5:17 PM on September 20, 2012 [9 favorites]

Also no one can get to sleep, apparently.

Maybe these two things are related.
posted by Elly Vortex at 5:24 PM on September 20, 2012 [4 favorites]

All the insomnia questions are getting frustrating, yeah. I just wanna be like OH MY GOD JUST GET DRUNK AND WANK TIL YOU PASS OUT but I am trying this new thing where I am actually helpful so. ¯\(°_o)/¯
posted by elizardbits at 5:25 PM on September 20, 2012 [155 favorites]

I just wanna be like OH MY GOD JUST GET DRUNK AND WANK TIL YOU PASS OUT but I am trying this new thing where I am actually helpful so. ¯\(°_o)/¯

In what part of this are you not being helpful?
posted by Aizkolari at 5:27 PM on September 20, 2012 [18 favorites]

You should absolutely positively add these posts to the "WearMe" section of the wiki that I have completely failed to maintain.
posted by donnagirl at 5:28 PM on September 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

Now do a breakdown of personal relationship questions!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 5:29 PM on September 20, 2012 [7 favorites]

I felt like I had recommended Keens a lot lately. I am terrified to follow those links and see how many times I have done so.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:32 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

I was just about to post a shoe question. Maybe I will wait a bit.
posted by Area Man at 5:32 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

But....but....the snowflakes! Won't anybody think of the snowflakes?

*waves arms, feigns fainting*
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:33 PM on September 20, 2012 [4 favorites]

I have noticed these since I have just started wearing regular footwear this week though I still have to wear clunky boots or an ankle brace. They taunt me.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:34 PM on September 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

I actually wanted to buy comfortable walking shoes in the past month or so, and I ordered a pair of Keen Sienna MJs on the recommendation of old (or I guess not so old? I think I looked at at least the August ones) AskMes.

My only guess is that it's back-to-school time and we might have lots of academics and grad students who are thinking about how best to get around campus?
posted by Snarl Furillo at 5:37 PM on September 20, 2012

Zappos blue*


I assume they have other colours. There are other shoe retailers. This is not a recommendation. There is no shoe cabal.
posted by arcticseal at 5:40 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Well, dang. I'd thought about posting my own shoe question at some point with my own snowflakiness (women's size 12.5) but now I'd be all self-conscious.
posted by booksherpa at 5:40 PM on September 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

My freakish Morton's toe renders all of those shoe questions useless, but so as not to further offend, I will wait a while before posting my very own snowflakey shoe question.
posted by headnsouth at 5:42 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

"You know, it's so long since I actually remember going to sleep instead of passing out. How did we do it?"
posted by The Whelk at 5:46 PM on September 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

My freakish Morton's toe renders all of those shoe questions useless, but so as not to further offend, I will wait a while before posting my very own snowflakey shoe question.
posted by headnsouth at 8:42 PM on September 20 [+] [!]

Holy Hanna, there's a name for that?! I have that!! I have it!! Me! Morton's Toe!! Woohoo!!

I feel like such a foot snowflake now.

it's very very slight, the second toes beat out my big toe by a smidgen...
posted by Skygazer at 5:56 PM on September 20, 2012 [6 favorites]

Jessamyn inadvertantly brings up a good point.

In the Northeast, we've been feeling the transition from summer to fall these past couple weeks. I actually wore non-Toms sneakers for the first time since March or April, today.

Shoe shopping is in the air, or if it's not, it's people pulling last winter's shoes out of the closet and realizing they're not comfortable/don't meet their needs/out of style/whatever.
posted by Sara C. at 6:01 PM on September 20, 2012 [6 favorites]

But why are so many "comfy walking shoes" questions popping up this month?

Because the askers already have comfortable walking sandals, and with the weather turning, they need shoes. Also, the answer is always Keens (probably even for those with Morton's or other variant toes).
posted by Wordwoman at 6:01 PM on September 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

I've noticed this before with other topics, where related questions come in waves. My assumption, based on nothing more than pulling an idea out of my ass, is that it's largely from people seeing a question and being reminded that they have a similar question they've been meaning to ask, plus a smidgen of confirmation bias in that there are so many questions all the time that it is inevitable that some are related.
posted by Forktine at 6:02 PM on September 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

The Whelk: "You know, it's so long since I actually remember going to sleep instead of passing out. How did we do it?"

Our parents or guardians would make us go to sleep at a reasonable hour?

Also, late night eatings gonna fuck up the sleep schedule real fast. Sticking to early morning, afternoon, and evening meals (and no late night snacks), helps a lot in balancing your body's sleep and energy clock.

I call getting completely out of whack and passing out later and later spinning the clock.
posted by Skygazer at 6:03 PM on September 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

One my of questions is listed there! I'm actually really sad about throwing my shoes away, and sometimes you just need a bunch of people to tell you how ridiculous your question/problem/dilemma is to actually do the thing you really need to do. Isn't that the real reason why half the questions on AskMe are asked? No?
posted by two lights above the sea at 6:03 PM on September 20, 2012

My freakish Morton's toe

I was SO hoping that link went to some horribly mutated toe pic.
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 6:05 PM on September 20, 2012 [8 favorites]

booksherpa: Well, dang. I'd thought about posting my own shoe question at some point with my own snowflakiness (women's size 12.5) but now I'd be all self-conscious.

I am 99 percent sure that the answer to this question is Nordstrom Rack.
posted by purpleclover at 6:09 PM on September 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

Me too.

Or that it was the magical explanation for why my left foot has gotten all weird over the last couple years.
posted by Sara C. at 6:11 PM on September 20, 2012

That was meant for SweetTeaAndABiscuit.
posted by Sara C. at 6:12 PM on September 20, 2012

I have blisters this evening. Could that be going around?
posted by Area Man at 6:23 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

My second toe is half an inch longer-- why is that "greek foot"?
posted by jamjam at 6:26 PM on September 20, 2012

From Wikipedia:

" In statuary and shoe fitting, it has been called the Greek foot (as opposed to the Egyptian foot, where the great toe is longer). It was an idealized form in Greek sculpture, and this persisted as an aesthetic standard through Roman and Renaissance periods and later (the Statue of Liberty has toes of this proportion)"
posted by Sara C. at 6:29 PM on September 20, 2012 [12 favorites]

Shit, I was literally just about to post a question about shoes. For my husband. I will look through these instead and see if my question is answered.
posted by KathrynT at 6:29 PM on September 20, 2012

jamjam I have had these freakish toes my whole life and outside of that picture, I have never heard of "greek foot." It was the best clip art of Morton's toe that I could find & link to on its own (sorry SweetTeaAndABiscuit, but the only way my own feet will ever appear on the internet is with toe tags after they've been donated to science).
posted by headnsouth at 6:32 PM on September 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

Ha! It is NOT. Or rather, there is a similar question from seven years ago, but things change rapidly enough that I don't trust recommendations from seven years ago. But now I feel self-conscious asking this perfectly cromulent question.
posted by KathrynT at 6:32 PM on September 20, 2012

And if the question has cute/stylish/professional as a requirement, or really anything other than 'comfy', the answer will never ever ever be Keens. It's a shoe! It's a sandal! I can ford a river in them! I can read the NYT on Sundays on the lawn in front of the co-op in them! I can walk my husky in the woods, then wash my Subaru in them! I can browse REI and spend too much money on camping gear I'm never going to use in them!

Keens are the shoe equivalent of mom jeans or sweatpants. Down with Keens!

Phew, I've been wanting to let that out for a while, but was trying to keep my unhelpful complaints off of the green, as per the rules.

Just say no...to Keens.
posted by greta simone at 6:32 PM on September 20, 2012 [57 favorites]

Shit, I was literally just about to post a question about shoes. For my husband. I will look through these instead and see if my question is answered.

PEER PRESSURE
posted by two lights above the sea at 6:35 PM on September 20, 2012

I like you--I just don't like your shoes.
posted by greta simone at 6:37 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

KathrynT, ask your question!

Shoe companies change management and ownership and lasts and factories all the time, so old Asks aren't necessarily relevant.

Different people have different shoe needs. If someone wants clogs for their high arches and someone else wants workboots for narrow feet, those are not dupes, either.

You might as well say that relationship questions are dupes, because the answer is going to be either "DTMFA" or "chill out, it's not a big deal," or "get couples therapy," or "just ask the person on a date already," or "yeah, your partner is probably cheating."
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:40 PM on September 20, 2012 [4 favorites]

And if the question has cute/stylish/professional as a requirement, or really anything other than 'comfy', the answer will never ever ever be Keens.

QFT. Thanks, greta simone, for finally speaking truth to Keens' plastic-molded toe power.

I asked a comfy shoe question of my own a while back and people kept suggesting Keens and I was all "omg I am a professional woman with a real job in a city, I cannot wear Keens!"

I mean, hiking, sure. But I'm not a professional nature guide.
posted by Sara C. at 6:51 PM on September 20, 2012 [10 favorites]

Ugh. I can't sleep, either. I'm either too cold or too hot or too cold from being sweaty from being too hot.

And yeah, I've been favoriting a lot of those shoe posts—I'm coming off of a summer spent wearing flip-flops and sweaty-funky Keen hiking sandals with Bermudas, and now that it's pants time again, I'm realizing that most of my old "nice" shoes now have peeling soles, aren't comfy enough for my standing desk, don't work with the pants that fit me right now, and/or are too tall/warm for the beginning of fall. Keep the recommendations coming!
posted by limeonaire at 7:05 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

I haven't read all the shoe questions, but when I saw your list I immediately thought something along the lines of what Sara C said. It's the time of year. In my experience it's pretty easy to find comfy cute summer sandals, as well as late fall/winter boots. But for the periods in between, there's an odd gap. You can wear flats, but many people don't find them sturdy enough for lots of walking. And soon they'll be almost too summery. If it was the 90s we could all wear chunky oxfords again, but thankfully the 90s are over. But that means we're left with a choice of weird,
ugly shoes until it's boot weather
again. I dont blame people for asking, but i think there is no answer. I've given this way too much
thought.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 7:05 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

I just wanna be like OH MY GOD JUST GET DRUNK AND WANK TIL YOU PASS OUT

Alcohol sometimes has the opposite effect. You pass out from drink, but then wake up when the buzz passes because alcohol is a depressant so you perk up when you get over it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:09 PM on September 20, 2012 [6 favorites]

I agree that for a lot of Northern Hemisphere type people, it's just shoe shopping time. I wore my favorite Doc Martens the other day for the first time since probably April, and it felt so weird to have heavy leather shoes on. And when you go back to your winter shoes after a long absence, you really notice if they are tired out, uncomfortable, worn looking - and so taking stock in early fall, you realize your shoe needs all at once.
posted by Miko at 7:15 PM on September 20, 2012

I think in a more wide angle lens sort of way the complaints with finding good shoes might boil down to how much the quality of the manufacture has just plummeted on footwear, thanks to places like Payless, DSW (although with some searching I've found decent boots there, but it. is. not. easy...) and Walmart and whatnot everyone is trying to produce cheaper and cheaper semi-disposable footwear.

I've come to the point that except for sneakers and jogging footwear, I totally won't buy any Chinese made footwear, and I know that sounds extreme, but spending for USA made, or European or even Indian made shoes has been a decent strategy. I tend to love my boots and wear the heck out of them and get them re-soled and re-heeled and, knock on wood, it's been a good way to go.The other thing is I've gotten to know some of the high-quality inserts you can get at sports stores. Like these Spenco things. There're other high-quality makers of those things but the names escape me right now, they're usually all grouped together. They're a good investment in foothealth.

Protip: Take out the inserts that come with cheap-o shoes and replace them with the good inserts that have proper arch support.
posted by Skygazer at 7:18 PM on September 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

PS: I've also had good luck with removing the arch supports from sneakers and replacing them with the HQ Spenco's.

One last thing: If your putting serious mileage on your running shoes you need to replace them every month or so, serious...they degrade fast if you're pounding concrete with them. I really like the relatively cheap old-school Saucony's for that.
posted by Skygazer at 7:23 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hey, my question is up there! I asked about the Doc Marten sandal substitutes in late August (and was overjoyed when essexjan pointed out that Amazon still had DM sandals); in my case the timing was simply due to the fact that the sandals I had been wearing finally broke, and I really really REALLY don't like shoe shopping in an actual stores.

I might not have thought to post a question about it here if it weren't for the fact that my partner had previously gotten some really helpful answers in her 'comfy slip-on walking shoe' question; so as Forktine suggested, I would imagine that at least some of this is people being influenced by seeing other people's shoe questions ...
posted by DingoMutt at 7:29 PM on September 20, 2012

Purpleclover, Zappos too, but not a lot, and not generally cheap AND cute AND feminine in one package. There's no shortage of unisex shoes out there (men's 11, represent!) but sometimes a girl wants girly shoes. I swear, I need to befriend some drag queens.

And yes, shoe questions because of time of year. I know I've had to make the flip-flop/sandal to closed shoe transition. I wonder if there's a rash of sandal questions in May?
posted by booksherpa at 7:30 PM on September 20, 2012

Huh, I need to remember to use askme for a shoe question next week. Thanks for this post!
posted by curious nu at 7:31 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Booksherpa, have you been to Nordstrom Rack lately? Last time I was there I actually said out loud to my brother, "Every shoe here above size 10 is secretly meant for drag queens, right?"

Also, I will defend my recent Keens recommendation TO THE DEATH. Although that will probably not be necessary. Don't wear them to work. But you can wear them with casual skirts. Better than TOMS, anyway.
posted by purpleclover at 7:34 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Dr. Marten no longer makes shoes? This seems wrong. Hmmmmmm. Also, I like shoe questions and am not ashamed to say I always read them. Bring me your poor, your tired, your callused talons, yearning to be (scent) free, etc. and so forth. Good times!
posted by but no cigar at 7:36 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

If it was the 90s we could all wear chunky oxfords again, but thankfully the 90s are over.

Au contraire, ma soeur.

Oxfords have been making a comeback over the last couple of years, and right now is probably their moment.

That said, they're more "elegant menswear-inspired oxfords" and less "chunky oxfords". More Janelle Monae. Less Elaine Benis.

Right now, I'm digging these. I can't afford them, but I've seen knockoffs in a few stores. I think something like this would be especially nice with a summer dress and a sweater.
posted by Sara C. at 7:36 PM on September 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

I wore my favorite Doc Martens the other day

Oh god.

My Doc Martens.

Where are they.
posted by Sara C. at 7:37 PM on September 20, 2012

Doc Martens doesn't sell shoes anymore? I guess that explains why they haven't made a comeback along with the mid-nineties throwback thing going on right now - I was wondering about that.
posted by lunasol at 7:40 PM on September 20, 2012

Can I use duct tape on my boat shoes? My little toes stick out.

I don't want to buy new ones because they are so...icky, and they just don't feel right.
posted by mule98J at 7:43 PM on September 20, 2012

Oooo, Sara C., those are some cyoot oxfords! I already got my fall pair of oxfords though, so maybe next year.
And I have three pairs of docs from high school still, size 9, if you can't find yours.
posted by greta simone at 7:47 PM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Purpleclover, not in a while. The closest one is an hour away and involves hideous traffic. But the next shopping date with my sister, I will check them out.
posted by booksherpa at 7:57 PM on September 20, 2012

Yes, Doc Martens still sells shoes. Come ON, people.

Not only are the classic ten-eye boots making a comeback, but they've opened a shop in Manhattan.

They seem to be trying to branch out into all different kinds of shoes -- which I'm guessing is the uproar, since rather than just churning out the comfy yet outdated 90's models, they're radically shaking up the styles they offer.

Which means that if your former approach to comfy shoes was just replacing this fucking hideous shit every five years, you might find that they don't make your trusty old favorites anymore. Instead, they are doing ballet flats and desert boots and all manner of new-fangled frivolity. Which I happen to think is a good thing, because it means they can stay current and keep making my trusty 1460s forever on the backs of whatever wedgey nonsense other people are buying. Also, their new stuff actually looks pretty cool.

Also, I really wish I had another pair of these. Those were my JAM circa 1997.
posted by Sara C. at 8:08 PM on September 20, 2012 [7 favorites]

This question is a dupe. See Travel overkill?, August 9, 2012; Duplicate posts on Ask Metafilter?, March 27, 2012; Such thing as too many?, March 19, 2012...

See also: Frequently Asked of Metafilter, on the MetaFilter Wiki. As jessamyn wrote, "Don't forget the creepy puppet! His name is Joshua."

I still like to read about shoes that people like and suggest, because I want some nice new shoes.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:12 PM on September 20, 2012 [6 favorites]

Alcohol sometimes has the opposite effect. You pass out from drink, but then wake up when the buzz passes because alcohol is a depressant so you perk up when you get over it.

YOU might perk up. I wake up in terror on the bathroom floor at five am convinced I haven't cashed out and begin looking frantically for my debit card.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 8:13 PM on September 20, 2012 [5 favorites]

You might as well say that relationship questions are dupes, because the answer is going to be either "DTMFA" or "chill out, it's not a big deal," or "get couples therapy," or "just ask the person on a date already," or "yeah, your partner is probably cheating."

"Have you considered an open relationship toed shoe?"
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:53 PM on September 20, 2012 [7 favorites]

Booksherpa, have you been to Nordstrom Rack lately? Last time I was there I actually said out loud to my brother, "Every shoe here above size 10 is secretly meant for drag queens, right?"

It's sad for us big feeted women who lack dash. If I wore gold lamé strappy platform wedge sandals with my old achewood shirts and yoga pants I'd just look more like a fool than normally.
posted by winna at 9:05 PM on September 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

Your list is probably even longer because I asked a TARDIS footwear question that's not on there...but legitimately, I wanted enough time to order and test out insanely (comfy) blue shoes before having to pay for expensive shipping in October!

I would agree that questions beget questions, whether it's to dump the the motherfreaking pasta with snails you left in a hot car for ten hours or to eat your...wait, no, other way around. But also, women's low-midrange walking shoes, kind of the worst. And availability is very seasonal and tied to fashion. I also think that shoes are one of those things many people never really think about, especially in terms of comfort or ergonomics. So when a question comes up, it leads to even more introspection than usual, and it's a lot easier than casting the same introspective eye on your wardrobe than on your partner or friends or work life.
posted by jetlagaddict at 9:09 PM on September 20, 2012

Sweet FSM don't scare me with a title like that. Old-school Docs with their original last are the only shoes that comfortably fit my weird bunion-y wide hobbit feets and if they ever stopped production I would go into creepy hoarder mode and eventually suffocate to death under a pile of boots procured from used clothing stores and ebay while the cat eats my toes.
posted by zennish at 9:45 PM on September 20, 2012 [5 favorites]

Metafilter: OH MY GOD JUST GET DRUNK AND WANK TIL YOU PASS OUT
posted by vrakatar at 10:33 PM on September 20, 2012 [6 favorites]

All the insomnia questions are getting frustrating, yeah. I just wanna be like OH MY GOD JUST GET DRUNK AND WANK TIL YOU PASS OUT

I feel like this would be a helpful answer for a wide range of questions, actually: much of relationship filter, dealing with work stress, "I'm bored and can't think what to read next", my inlaws are visiting and I hate them...
posted by Infinite Jest at 12:14 AM on September 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

I don't know where you got the idea Doc Martens doesn't sell shoes any more. I bought a pair just the other day and there seemed to be no shortage.
posted by Decani at 12:14 AM on September 21, 2012

Seven weekends left until US election day, lots of walking left to do!

(though thankfully not by me)
posted by slidell at 12:54 AM on September 21, 2012

* Left to be done... but not by me. Grammatically speaking.
posted by slidell at 12:57 AM on September 21, 2012

Every pair (2) of Keens I have owned have fallen apart in the first year. I use them for gardening now but will never buy another pair.
posted by terrapin at 2:25 AM on September 21, 2012

Sara C, I went for brogues a while ago (did not know they were called 'Oxfords' in the US) and they straddle that smart/walkability divide nicely. Because I have large feet I like my Clarks ones, but I wish these came in my size.

Creepers seem to be in fashion this autumn. They remind me of being 17 and wondering if I should become a goth, so I will pass on those. They look comfy, though, and they would probably make me six foot tall.
posted by mippy at 3:31 AM on September 21, 2012

I just started working again (teacher) and decided to make walking a certain distance home part of my daily exercise/lifestyle. But I am doing it in worn out old shoes while wearing Danskos at work. All of that to boringly say, September might be a time of 'new starts', just like there will probably be a lot of weight loss/gym membership posts in January.

I noticed the sleep ones too. My solution is just to bore yourself silly and turn in early. /doesn't work with baby probably.
posted by bquarters at 3:41 AM on September 21, 2012

I have been following the shoe questions with interest, because I have shoe issues. I do a lot of walking, and need shoes that won't hurt my feet after half an hour fast walking. But I have style goddammit. They must also look good. Unfortunately my style gets the better of me - I go out to buy some nice walking shoes, and every time end up with sexy black shiny high heeled footwear that is great for going to a club, but work not so much. I went to get some docs, thinking I could find a cute and comfortable boot, but do I get anything sensible? no
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:42 AM on September 21, 2012

Jesus, I just about lost my shit and had a panic attack when I read this wild misinformation about Doc Martens no longer selling shoes.

A quick google and crisis averted, but dayum, why you gotta SAY things like that?

1460 and 1461 4eva!
posted by exlotuseater at 3:53 AM on September 21, 2012

This is the time of year people buy new shoes for two reasons:

1) It goes back to when we were kids - we would get new shoes at the end of August or the beginning of September. They had to be good looking and practical, as they were our school shoes. So, when people are thinking they need a new pair of comfortable and presentable shoes, now is generally the time.

2) New models generally hit the shelves in the middle of August to accommodate the changing of the seasons (a friend says summer is almost over when the thighboots migrate back to Aldo.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:37 AM on September 21, 2012

Creepers seem to be in fashion this autumn.

As a Jew, I rarely get the overpowering urge to cross myself in fear and yet here we are.
posted by griphus at 5:15 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Also I finally bought a pair of Fryes. It took two years, the tops are a little wide and the heels are a little low, but I am looking forward to buying leather boots around 2025.
posted by griphus at 5:17 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Nobody has brought up Snowflake Shoes yet. Such a shame.
posted by Juso No Thankyou at 5:26 AM on September 21, 2012

Now I am picturing a creeper hopping around minecraft in gold lamé platform heel sandals. Brrrr!
posted by winna at 5:28 AM on September 21, 2012

The questions are a sign that we are approaching a shoe event horizon.
posted by JanetLand at 5:29 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Right - I've needed to replace my sneakers and get some boots anyway, but thanks to this thread I have decided that I shall be taking care of that particular errand after work today. I don't know whether to thank you for the motivation or curse you for prompting me to spend money.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:38 AM on September 21, 2012

Au contraire, ma soeur.

Oxfords have been making a comeback over the last couple of years, and right now is probably their moment.

Noooo!

I predict a spate of AskMes like, "I just bought new Oxfords and realized I have nothing to wear with them. Unfortunately I got rid of my High School wardrobe of flowered baby doll dresses, poet shirts, Gap Reverse Fit jeans and baggy blazers. Do I need to buy all new clothes now?"
posted by DestinationUnknown at 5:38 AM on September 21, 2012 [11 favorites]

See, when I was in high school, neon green and orange Kappa trainers were in fashion. Thank christ and my eyes that trainers with school uniform were banned.
posted by mippy at 5:47 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Speaking of flowered babydoll dresses; I'd like to find a pair of pointy toed Doc Martens like Bridget Fonda wore in Singles. I got rid of mine in 1995 and I've been kind of sad about it ever since.
posted by elsietheeel at 5:51 AM on September 21, 2012

I wish Docs were comfy for me, but I've never had a pair that didn't beat my feet to hell. My most comfy footwear are my Ariat cowboy boots and Merrell barefoot shoes.
posted by rtha at 6:18 AM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

Also, the answer is always Keens (probably even for those with Morton's or other variant toes).

Call me when they make something in a 9EE.
posted by Karmakaze at 6:18 AM on September 21, 2012

Call me when they make something in a 9EE.

Piffle - try finding a 9AA. Narrow width feet are like the bastard stepchildren of the shoe world.

(I once freaked out the entire staff of a Capezio's when I went there in search of tap shoes for my acting class. The clerk I talked to blurted out "they're double A?" when I first approached him, loud enough for everyone to overhear, and the whole time I was trying them on every other clerk found excuses to wander by and look at my feet.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:43 AM on September 21, 2012

...holy crap it just occurred to me I need some brown oxfords.
posted by The Whelk at 6:53 AM on September 21, 2012

EmpressCallipygos: " Piffle - try finding a 9AA. Narrow width feet are like the bastard stepchildren of the shoe world."

Out of curiosity, is it only a limited number of brands that offer that size? I ask because in the opposite direction (I wear a 15EEEE) there are a lot of brands I can't wear, because the sizes they offer cut off at 12 or 13. Over the years I've sort of settled into 3 or 4 brands I like and wear all the time (hello, New Balance, Hush Puppies, etc.,) but overall it's kinda frustrating.
posted by zarq at 6:54 AM on September 21, 2012

Out of curiosity, is it only a limited number of brands that offer that size?

It must be. Especially if you're on a budget. I'm not sure, as all I remember is a seemingly endless parade of going into shoestores and asking if they had any width other than just regular, and they'd proudly say "Yes, we have wide." And then I'd just sigh and thank them and leave.

It's more the width part than the nine part. Skinny feet don't register on lots of people's radars for some reason. It's gotten better - I think I'm more like a single-A now, as I've gotten older -- but I still sometimes have shoes slip right off my heel in the back when I'm mid-stride and it makes me stumble. I've taken to making a couple of practice sprints up and down the aisles when trying on shoes to see if they'll stay on. (Fortunately, here in New York, all you have to do is make a joke when people look at you funny that you want to see how they'll hold up to running to catch a bus; they get it.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:07 AM on September 21, 2012

I'd like to find a pair of pointy toed Doc Martens

I thought she was wearing creepers?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:20 AM on September 21, 2012

EmpressCallipygos: "It's more the width part than the nine part. Skinny feet don't register on lots of people's radars for some reason. It's gotten better - I think I'm more like a single-A now, as I've gotten older -- but I still sometimes have shoes slip right off my heel in the back when I'm mid-stride and it makes me stumble. I"

Ouch. If I wear shoes that don't fit well width-wise they either tend to rub my ankles raw (if too wide) or make walking painful over time (too narrow.)

Don't know if this will be helpful to you, but I've found Joe's New Balance Outlet has my size and is pretty inexpensive. A quick search shows they also carry some Womens' 9AA. (but not 9A?) I've been happy with sneakers ordered from there -- but I had previously owned the same model, so I knew it would fit well.
posted by zarq at 7:28 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

We are pretty good at answering the shoe questions, but if someone could just tell me where my missing sock matches are, I would be forever indebted. I have already checked behind the couch, in the vent line to the dryer and under the bed. I am looking for a green one in particular. My lucky socks!
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:52 AM on September 21, 2012

Thanks Zarq - I was actually speaking more of a past problem, though. My feet have spread out some in the past 20 years since I was a wee slip of a lass and I've had better luck. (Usually it's more so the budget that stops me from finding shoes these days.)

I also just really, really hate shoe shopping because when I was a kid and we went school shoe shopping they never had my size and even when they did my mother wanted to test them out in like 28 different ways and there was always something about it that didn't fit and it took forever and I always was like god just let me get out of here because this is taking forever and nothing fits and this is so boring.... Yeah.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:58 AM on September 21, 2012

"I just bought new Oxfords and realized I have nothing to wear with them. Unfortunately I got rid of my High School wardrobe of flowered baby doll dresses, poet shirts, Gap Reverse Fit jeans and baggy blazers. Do I need to buy all new clothes now?"

Yes. Hie thee to Urban Outfitters.

Just kidding! You don't need to buy all new clothes to wear with oxfords. They go with everything. Well maybe not boot-cut jeans, but everything else.
posted by Sara C. at 7:59 AM on September 21, 2012

I have already checked behind the couch, in the vent line to the dryer and under the bed.

If you have a front-loader washing machine, check in the door seal. My wife has taken to putting all of the socks in a lingerie bag - we don't loose as many, and it makes matching and folding them a breeze.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:20 AM on September 21, 2012

Dangit. And I was going to post a question about what sort of shoes I should get for my insomniac baby. (Only half-kidding.)
posted by stowaway at 8:27 AM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

Well. Coincidentally (?) I just started looking for new shoes about an hour before I saw this question. I live in Portland, and have worn Birkenstocks every day this summer, but as the rain is about to return, I need rain-friendly shoes! Was sorta thinking about making a question about it but I have two other questions I need to ask and I can't ask another question until 3pm today so I guess I will just have to mine the pre-existing threads.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:59 AM on September 21, 2012

I just want to know what brands of socks won't wear holes in the toes after only two wearings.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:00 AM on September 21, 2012

Okay, so this is me, being completely out of touch as a Southerner, then! I can, and do, wear sandals into Novemberish at least. And start wearing them again in April or so.

For those of you cursing me right now, on the downside I have no golden/russet/sienna Fall foliage or fairytale snow-draped Winter treetops to look forward to, either. When it is just cold enough to justify wearing boots (you Northerners will laugh, because "cold" for me is anything in the 60s), I have to go tunneling through my closet to find one of the only two pairs I own. This makes me sad because I do love me some sexy boots (with stockings! Or leather! Or both!).

Also, I apologize for inducing cardiac arrest with the Doc Martens line. I honestly thought they had stopped selling shoes because of that August 28th question, but I guess they just stopped making that kind of shoe?
Confession: I have never owned a pair of Doc Martens. I am feeling very self-conscious about this now and feel like I should go out and buy several pairs to compensate. Maybe I should post an AskMe about it! ;)

Serious follow-up question for this Meta: Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many". Surely, this thread proves them wrong!
posted by misha at 9:02 AM on September 21, 2012

I have fifteen pairs of shoes and four pairs of boots (hiking, engineer, snow, combat) and some down booties. I have one of those wall-hangy shoe holder things that holds ten pair and then there are five pair by the door and boots are in the closet. If I get a new pair, one pair goes out. I have about five pairs of shoes (clogs, crocs, keens, slip-on sneaker things, flip-flops) that I wear about 90% of the time there's not weather that dictates my shoe choices. I go barefoot at home.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:11 AM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

Skygazer: I've also had good luck with removing the arch supports from sneakers and replacing them with the HQ Spenco's.

Do you have any more thoughts on these? Their website does not seem to be helping me much. I mean maybe these are just not going to be helpful for my feet (high arches so I need support for them or I get a lot of pain; I also need cushioning for the heel and ball) but maybe.

Hmm.
posted by mountmccabe at 9:13 AM on September 21, 2012

I have my running shoes (which I wear most of the time), my concert shoes (ugly but comfy), the shearling boots I bought at costco recently, hiking boots, and one pair of cheap sparkly gold flats. All my other shoes are too small, thanks to me going from a 7.5 to a 9 between my two pregnancies. I need to buy a pair of cute rugged flats that are good in rainy weather, that I can wear with socks, that I can run after my kids in but that look like they would be worn by someone who does more than squint at herself dully in the mirror and say "That'll do."
posted by KathrynT at 9:17 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I just want to know what brands of socks won't wear holes in the toes after only two wearings.
Are your toenails as short as possible? That helps save socks from toe holes.

For me, it's always heel holes, due to my major dead skin sandpapery heels.

Maybe we both need pedicures. I've never had one, maybe I should ask a pedicure question. There hasn't been a spate of those yet, I hope.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:17 AM on September 21, 2012

Oh! and my tevas, which are my summer shoes. So, six pairs of shoes.
posted by KathrynT at 9:18 AM on September 21, 2012

Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many".

My boyfriend once made it through ten minutes of a conversation of But which pair of little black shoes?? I was having with a friend before fleeing. I have, conservatively, 12 pairs of black shoes. You can extrapolate that out to the more exciting branches of the shoe tree....but on the plus side, whether it's a business casual garden party (no heels!) or a hike through rocky-but-arid terrain at least I'm prepared...

But I also have never understood why multiple pairs of shoes were such an imposition. Unless they're exploding out of multiple closets and impaling members of the family, is there something about shoes that offends the male eye?
posted by jetlagaddict at 9:19 AM on September 21, 2012 [4 favorites]

JohnnyGunn, Erma Bombeck said that missing socks went to Jesus. She was right about a lot of stuff so you should ask Our Lord why the hell he's stealing all our socks.

I think I have 10 or 11 pairs of shoes and boots, but I'm not home right now so I've probably forgotten something.
posted by rtha at 9:19 AM on September 21, 2012

I often feel I have "too many" but then I realize it's less than most women I work with, and also less than one could reasonably say I "need," because there are categories of shoe types I don't have and "should." I hate this kind of thinking because honestly, who needs a million shoes, but in reality in my industry I just have to deal with certain dress expectations.

Right now I have

3 - tall boots - 1 black & one brown which are office appropriate and one pair of 1970s Frye shitkickers which I love but are not for office wear
3 - pairs 'evening' type heels, 1 black and 1 spectator high heel and 1 black patent lowish heel, for things like opening events
3 - pairs loafers, one Mary Jane (the Docs), one EZ spirit, one Duck brand, for general walking/office wear
1- pair serious crazy snow boots
2 - pairs flats for office type wear, 1 black 1 brown
2 - pairs sneakers, 1 for running and one crappy Keds that need replacing
2 - pairs brown leather sandals, one more casual, one nicer
1 - pair Keens
various rotation of summer $1.99 flipflops, probably 2 pairs at any given time, but they cycle fast

Including the flip flops, that's 19 pair. But what I don't have and wish I did are a pair of good, leather hiking boots, and a pair of lighter street hikers, as well as a few more options of office shoes. I end up wearing the loafers/flats selection almost every weekday unless it's snowy or icy when the boots come out more, and they get boring.

Around the house I wear sheepskin slippers which are sooooo warm.
posted by Miko at 9:21 AM on September 21, 2012

Oh, and I have a pair of wellingtons for rain, forgot that.
posted by Miko at 9:21 AM on September 21, 2012

Maybe we both need pedicures. I've never had one, maybe I should ask a pedicure question.

The answer to your pedicure question is yes. Definitely get a pedicure. I am not a frou-frou girly-girl, I get haircuts at the place with the Tuesday discounts and I don't own a single pair of heels. But pedicures are not about fluff, they are about taking care of your feet (and by extension, your soul). Ask around and get recommendations--around here, the best pedicures with the most durable polish can be found in a little storefront, not a fancy salon.
posted by headnsouth at 9:26 AM on September 21, 2012 [5 favorites]

I came to pedicures very late, am also not a fancy lady, and they were shrouded in mystery for me. I agree with headnsouth - they are a very good thing to do. Worthwhile, good for you, not weird. Go for it.
posted by Miko at 9:29 AM on September 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

The other answers to the pedicure question are:
- About $30, plus $6 in cash for a tip
- Essie Ballet Slippers or a similar pale pink
- Bring flip-flops for after
- Don't shave your legs immediately before
- Decline the razor; I'm nor totally sure what that's for, but no.
posted by purpleclover at 9:35 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm sure I have 30 pairs of shoes, not counting flip-flops and such. I have six, yes six pairs of Dansko sandals and three pairs of Ariat clogs. If I'd known they would discontinue the Ariats I like best, I would have bought two or three pairs as backup. Two of my pairs of Danskos are duplicates bought because they were about to be discontinued.
posted by BibiRose at 9:44 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many".

I'm scared to count, but I estimate about 20. Maybe 21, with the Sanita pair I bought a couple of weeks ago. Heh.

My husband doesn't mind my shoe obsession, but he does mind my handbag obsession. I have way more than 20 of those, although I have been thinking of finding a way to sell some.
posted by DrGirlfriend at 9:50 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

16 pairs:
2 - flip-flops
1 - converse sneakers
1 - red ballet flats
1 - black dress-up heels
1 - comfortable work oxfords
1 - Frye boots (work appropriate)

I should get rid of:
1 - sandals that are hard to buckle
1 - uncomfortable work loafers
1 - comfortable work loafers that fell apart in 3 months, but I spent so much so I can't bear to throw out (damn you, Merrill)
1 - Keen sandals that I haven't worn in years, I swear, but are good for hiking in jungle areas (which I've done three times in my life)

Shoes for hobbies / weather:
1 - hiking boots
1 - snow boots
1 - motorcycle boots
2 - running sneakers
1 - trail running sneakers
posted by valeries at 10:12 AM on September 21, 2012

God, my feet hurt!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 10:17 AM on September 21, 2012

- Decline the razor; I'm not totally sure what that's for, but no.

The razor is for carving off thing calluses that are so thick they'd take a long time to remove via filing. I always say no because the calluses on my feet are there for a reason - they grew because that's where I'm walking. If someone carved them off, then I'd only have to grow them again. The rasp or pumice are plenty good enough.
posted by Karmakaze at 10:25 AM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

np: Thing Calluses - Decline the Razor
posted by Joseph Gurl at 10:31 AM on September 21, 2012

Re: the razor during a pedicure - they do way more harm than good. If I go to a salon and they try to use it, I decline and usually don't return. Enough places (that I have frequented, at least) have stopped using it that I figure if someone is still offering it, they're a little behind the times.

If you haven't had a pedicure, do it. It feels really good and your feet will thank you. That goes for guys, too. I almost always see a guy walk in for one when I'm getting one, and recently I saw several during the hour or so I was there.
posted by DrGirlfriend at 10:33 AM on September 21, 2012

Y'all Keens-haters do understand that they make more than just sandals, right? If none of these are work appropriate, then I apparently am never work appropriate. I guess maybe if you work in a place where only heels are appropriate...I would get fired from that job so fast.
posted by hydropsyche at 10:34 AM on September 21, 2012

Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many".


I have 5 pairs. Knee high black leather stiletto boots with 3-inch heels, strappy 6-inch black stilettos, old tennis shoes, and a pair of ugly Keens. Oh, and these, which I'm trying to sell/consign because I adore them but don't have room for them considering I'd only wear them a couple of times a year.
posted by the young rope-rider at 10:39 AM on September 21, 2012

Sorry hydropsyche, those all look like casual street shoes to me due to the clunkiness, though obviously not all workplaces require businesswear. Comfy "work" flats do exist, but they have to have a sleek, polished design. Clarks makes some good examples.

I do love my Keens, but not at the office.
posted by susanvance at 10:54 AM on September 21, 2012

I didn't think I had a lot, but just did a quick inventory in my head, and came up with 19 pairs that I know of, and I may be forgetting a few.

Despite that, I pretty much wear the same shoes every day. In the summer it's Birkenstocks. Last winter it was Danskos, but this year I'm looking for something less wobbly, so I was very grateful for the "replace my Danskos with something less wobbly" question a couple weeks back.

I really need to get rid of some of the shoes I never wear anymore. Most of them are just old and worn, or otherwise not work-appropriate, or just do not go with any clothes I own. Flip-flops for the hot tub and running shoes for workouts can stay, but other stuff (the Docs with the holes in them, the Danskos with the cracked sole, the heels I bought for a job interview 5 years ago and haven't worn since) can totally go.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 10:55 AM on September 21, 2012

I ordered the Micro-pedi (AS SEEN ON TV!) and it's awesome!! I'm a Southern girl, flip flops (although not white ones) till thanksgiving as well and this thing keeps you smooth between pedis... I'm really pleased with it....
posted by pearlybob at 10:57 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

"Piffle - try finding a 9AA. Narrow width feet are like the bastard stepchildren of the shoe world."

For the most part, this is why I wear a 9A. Because finding a 9AA would just reduce me to tears.

As for the shoe counts...wifi in the closet for the win. And this should be way more fun than the other things I need to think about today.

• pink cowgirl boots (gift) these don't fit, but I wear them to watch the rodeo and to dance in country bars. I'm such a bad country swing dancer that my shoe fit should probably be better. but really, pink boots. I will wear them until they fall apart. Then I will get a pair that fits.
• brown boots with heels that need gouges repaired. ($8 on clearance) size 8.5 I'm not dying to wear them because of the fit
• black pumps (size 8/15)
• Pink Born sandal heels with ruffles on the toes (size 40.5) - I wear these shoes as often as I can pretend they go with an outfit. They are fun. but not comfortable
• Born black flat sandals super wide, but flat and open backed, so who cares.
• Nina formal low pumps (size 8.5) bought them for a gala
• Super cute peep toe sling backs, black with white polka dots (8.5 excruciating to wear, the back rubs, the fabric is awful, the angle is wrong. but my word, they are cute.)
• Black Camper sneakers, my valentine gift this year. Fit is ok.
• Brown pumps from Bandolino
• Maroon pumps from axcess
• Grey Oxfords from Banana Republic (8.5, deeply discounted, they fit remarkably well with super thick socks. Soles are perfect for swing dancing)
• 2 pairs of Naturalizer peep toe pumps in 8.5, also very painful to wear. uppers are very stiff, heels far far faaaaar too wide. Toes rub on the tops from also being too wide. One black one brown
• Flat Andrew Geller black, size 8.5. Too short, but they don't flap off my heels and smack the floor when I walk. Also, pretty cute.

The 9ACollection

• Purple talbot's peep toe flats birthday gift last year (uncomfortable, stiff uppers and toes too wide) a weird shade of purple that it's impossible to match with anything anyway.
• Stuart Weitzman - a lovely nude faux snakeskin 4.5" pair, fabulousbrand new at Salvation Army for $8, I'm not even kidding. I don't wear these often because I will be very sad when they expire.
• stuart Weitzman black and tortoise low heel slingback pair, sexy sexy sexy librarian/spy shoes but they are not comfortable GIFT
• Ros Hommerson - black suede and snake looking peep toe pumps. Very comfortable. Too formal for anything I do.
• Silver 9West d'orsay sandals. Too wide all around. But super cute.
• Hush Puppies sonnets (gift for my birthday) Very comfortable, on the cute side of business casual
• Sanzio brown leather booties - comfortable enough Christmas gift last year
• New Balance sneakers that are 2 years old. these were awesome when new
• Naturalizers brown wedges with stitching, amazingly comfortable,
• Haviana Slims flip flops only pair of flip flops I've been able to tolerate.
• Dansko professional clogs - like a recent asker, I constantly feel like I'm about to topple over sideways in these damn things. Best part of being recently fired from a kitchen job is not worrying all the time that I'm going to break my neck in my non-skid shoes.
• Clark's brown walking shoes, from the Artisan line. Oh my god I love these shoes with a passion. They are only appropriate for the most casual of activities, and really only with jeans. But I love them. Though they are quite worn. Scored these for $30 or so on Amazon.
• Hush Puppies suede flat mary janes. Thought these were comfortable when I first bought them, but they are not holding up past 20 minutes of wear. Another Amazon super good deal.

tl;didn't count: 26 pairs of shoes, 10 of them are comfortable enough, very comfortable, or fabulous.

I have much to be thankful for. I was 28 years old before I really knew and understood that I could own shoes that fit me even remotely well. So to have 10 pairs now that do is actually something I owe to metafilter. From this question in April 2010. Now that I know my shoe size, I tell my family specifically which pairs I want (via amazon wish list) and they send me....completely different shoes bought on clearance and unreturnable. But that still seems like progress to me! (This actually reminds me of this growing up poor post from the blue back in January. I'm so afraid of not having any shoes that I hang onto shoes that are just wrong for my feet.
posted by bilabial at 11:04 AM on September 21, 2012

Oh. I also wanted to say that I love helping other people find shoes online. Like, I could make a hobby of it. Because ya'll don't (usually) have feet as weird as mine. And because shoes are awesome and I get to feel like I'm living vicariously through you, since you are actually buying shoes, and I am not.

So if you ever need shoe hunting help, drop me a line and I'll poke around on the intertoobz for you. For me, it's still kind of overwhelming and I live in fear of needing more shoes, but for you, I will search.
posted by bilabial at 11:10 AM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

I get hassled about the number of shoes I have, but I don't think I actually have that many. I'm a wide wide width (I was a EEE as a kid) and cling to the few pairs of shoes I have managed to acquire. And sadly, the cheapie shoes from places like Avenue will fit, I can only wear them for a short time or with socks because they will wear holes in my feet in a matter of hours. I need to suck it up and buy good-quality shoes that fit, but the two don't seem to go together.

So I currently have:

-2 pairs of the same great, high-end running shoe, which my step-mother-in-law takes me out to buy every Thanksgiving for the past several years. I wear a hole in the side almost immediately, but they fit really well.
-1 pair black boots with a chunky heel.
-1 pair wedge mary janes from Softwalk in navy blue. They are super comfortable but well past their expiration date (they lasted me a good five years) and I need to just buy them again.
-1 pair black flats which are great for most of the day but sometime around three-thirty must be removed
-2 pairs Crocs flipflops, which are realistically the shoe I live in the most
-1 pair Uggs boots in brown - they're they motorcycle style. Look great with jeans.
-1 pair wedge strappy sandlals from Avenue, which I can only wear for about an hour
-1 pair flats from Avenue, which are very cute but which torture my feet if I don't wear thick socks with them

I am currently shopping for a pair of shoes to go with three different dresses, as well as a pair of brown boots, so if anybody knows of some cute, wide wide width, versatile shoes I could wear to work, point me in their direction. Or I'll be forced to post a Metafilter question.
posted by PussKillian at 11:16 AM on September 21, 2012

By comparison, I have hardly any:

tall rubber boots - for mud and rain
hiking boots - for hiking
motorcycle boots - for motorcycling
Clarks desert boots - hardly used and which I don't like and will sell to anyone who wants them
running shoes - not for running anymore
converse 1 stars - for being a cool old person (I assume it's working)
Danskos - oh so comfy and indestructible
knockoff Birkenstocks - not as good as the real thing
Target flip-flops - falling apart after one summer
cleated cycling shoes - which I can't use without falling over
Docs - that look like old man work boots and are awesome

So my shoes go up to eleven. I can't believe I actually got off the couch to do inventory.
posted by scratch at 11:23 AM on September 21, 2012

For posterity...

All the insomnia questions are getting frustrating, yeah. I just wanna be like OH MY GOD JUST GET DRUNK AND WANK TIL YOU PASS OUT but I am trying this new thing where I am actually helpful so. ¯\(°_o)/¯
posted by elizardbits at 8:25 PM on September 20 [69 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
posted by The Michael The at 11:28 AM on September 21, 2012

I sort of feel like you're all boasting about your matter-of-fact efficiency. I'm way out beyond the BibiRose end of things: I have heeled and flat versions of black and brown tall boots, for instance; tall but slouchy red Born boots, Ariat cowboy boots, black and brown ankle-height lace-up boots, black and brown shortish harness boots (fake Fryes from Target), black buckle Docs, various ballet-ish flats (olive, black'n'tan, burgundy, black with cute cut-outs(made by Birkenstock in a moment of rare frivolity), black and brown moderately presentable Teva sandals, multiple pairs of running shoes bought out of fear of discontinuation, some fantastic Fluevog wedges I hardly ever wear, a spiky strappy pair of going-out shoes that is secretly Ros Hommerson and actually reasonably comfortable, black and red heeled t-straps (a bit like character shoes), various flipflops, and the green Sanita clogs I wear by default. And that's just putting a quick list together off the top of my head. I'm sure I'll going "D'oh" all day wondering how I forgot those.

Most of them, incidentally, came from ebay for under $35.
posted by tangerine at 11:36 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

2 pairs running shoes
3 pairs actual riding-a-horse boots
3 pairs of fashion boots
1 pair snow boots
3 pairs of casual walking shoes (all bought this past month, including the pair I bought based on my recent shoe askme, because of the change in seasons and the realization that I didn't have any non-sneaker shoes between sandals and boots)
5 pairs of sandals (4 comfortable/casual, one with a 2" heel that can dress up a bit more)
5 pairs slippers, if we're counting those, which we probably should because I wear them more than I do real shoes.

It wouldn't hurt me to have 1 more pair of slightly dressier flats/pumps and 1 pair of sport sandals
posted by drlith at 11:41 AM on September 21, 2012

Oh, if I could afford to, I would have so many shoes. And only shoes that fit and flatter. In all colors, but most especially red.

There is nothing especially efficient about my current collection of shoes, but my dream collection is wild. I see a pinterest board brewing, in fact....
posted by bilabial at 11:43 AM on September 21, 2012

Oh, tangerine. Red, slouchy Borns? Be, still, my heart. I buy nice boots on ebay for cheap, too. I hope we don't bid against each other. I have more shoes/boots than I need. I am now wearing a cute pair of green Naturalistas short boots that I bought over the summer and have been waiting for suitable weather to wear. I had to wrestle them away from my daughter this morning, though. Between myself and daughters we have amassed an army of shoes and boots. And we wear the same size. It's kind of frightening.
posted by readery at 11:46 AM on September 21, 2012

I feel that the Keens/Clarks divide may be age-related. Discuss.
posted by purpleclover at 11:47 AM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Decline the razor; I'm nor totally sure what that's for, but no.

Oh man, that was my favorite part of the pedicure, when they got out the cheese slicer and cut all that gross stuff off. Unfortunately, they are no longer allowed to use that in NC (at least that's what I heard). Now they use this thing that looks like a micro-plane and it tickles like crazy. I'm always partly fascinated and mostly terribly grossed out by all the stuff that comes off.

I agree that getting pedicures aren't just for foofy girls (or boys). They keep your toenails and feet in good condition and that's a Very Good Thing.
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 12:08 PM on September 21, 2012

Shoes! I love shoes! And I live within an easy drive of the Zappos Outlet in Louisville, which is as close to heaven as I'm ever going to get.

I'm not going to count all of my shoes because they're in two different closets on two different floors of the house but I'd guess I have about 30 pairs? Maybe more. The best ones are the red patent leather high-heeled, round-toe Mary-Jane-ish ones. I love them so. I have many, many pairs of black heels/flats/boots, and one pair of Doc Martens from the 90s.

And hot pink Wellie boots. Those are fun.
posted by cooker girl at 12:16 PM on September 21, 2012

OMG, I forgot the three pairs of sleek and highly presentable Ariat clogs, and three Birk/Tatami sandals, and the flat red suede MJs from Simple. Plus the fake fur-trimmed laceup black suede boots I left at my cousin's place in Asheville, the tan Kork-Ease wedges, the clumpy-heeled Born MJs in crackly brown leather, and the stretchy Zemgear cloven-hoof ninja shoes that are cheap and super comfortable but have worn almost all the way through after only two months of dogwalking.

I moved last summer, so this is after the obligatory Goodwill purge.
posted by tangerine at 12:20 PM on September 21, 2012

Zappos Outlet in Louisville...

Wait. There is...in person? You can go to there?

No.
posted by bilabial at 12:23 PM on September 21, 2012 [4 favorites]

I have three pairs of shoes. One pair of work shoes, shoelace type. One pair of crocs for summer. One pair of trainers for the rare occasions I run. I don't think I've ever noticed a shoe question on Ask - I must have shoe blindness.
posted by paduasoy at 12:35 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

FWIW, and before this thread goes all shoe fetishist with lists of owned shoes (Zzzz....) this thread on the blue from last year has a lot of good advice and links to well made (USA) Industrial, Engineer, Tanker, Motorcycle, Punk Rockin', military-typein' leather boots that will last forever, keep your feet happy, healthy and in one piece (again inserts, like the Spenco's stuff, I linked above, are worth their weight in gold if your feet are hurty..dudes...) and look great forever, with a little care and the annual re-heeling and/or re-soling. Keep shoe cobblers in business and do that btw.

Say no to crap cheap disposable shoes.

Also, it goes into the debate of whether or not you should steel-toe or not, steel-toe.

That is the question.
posted by Skygazer at 12:38 PM on September 21, 2012

I have 26 pairs, as far as I can tell. 23 in this pic, another pair of flip flops that I'm wearing, a pair of wedge thongs in the back of the car, and some Spirit gum boots in the mud room. Currently ticked off because I can find my Beans suede shoes and can't remember if I threw them out due to the cat peeing on them or salt damage or evil shoe elves took them when I was sleeping.

BTW, those blue & lavender Mucks were half price. Apparently you can get kids' boots in adult sizes. The adult size was $130 and the kids' size was $65. Good up to -40 or something but cool enough on the feet that they can be worn in mud season too. Er, rain season.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 12:40 PM on September 21, 2012

I own a pair of tuxedo golf shoes.

They are surprisingly effective on icy sidewalks.
posted by The Whelk at 12:50 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I honestly thought they had stopped selling shoes because of that August 28th question, but I guess they just stopped making that kind of shoe?

If you read the thread, the controversy is that, sometime in the last decade or so, they stopped manufacturing all of their shoes in Britain. They now have outsourced production to China, except for a specific Made In Britain line which costs more. So people were complaining about how it's just not the same, because now you pay $200 for your British-made boots instead of the $100 you used to pay 15 years ago or the $120 you pay for the Chinese ones. Which are clearly inferior, because duh.

(FWIW I have Chinese Docs and they're fine. But whatever.)

On the linked Keens. Look, I don't want to be a jerk about it, but all but one or two pairs of those shoes are hideous.

Shoe inventory:

black satin pumps I have not found an excuse to wear yet.
black patent leather heels I wore once and then swore never again. need to get rid of them.

red leather worishorfer sandals
two pairs flip flops
grey canvas Toms.
a pair of ballet-flat shaped crocs that are good for days when it threatens to rain. purple.

black Doc Marten 1460s.
black knee-length leather riding boots.
brown leather boots from Camper. mid-calf.

blue suede onitsuka tigre sneakers.
caramel colored oxford wing tips.

wellies for serious rain beyond the abilities of the abovementioned crocs.

So, thirteen pairs?

The sad thing is that I don't even like many of these shoes. The only pair I have that I actually enjoy, for this time of year, are the worishorfers. The only pair I'm actually excited about are the satin pumps I can't find an excuse to wear. I'm psyched to be getting back into my docs and that pair of oxfords, but neither is in superb shape.
posted by Sara C. at 1:05 PM on September 21, 2012

I have fifteen pairs of shoes and four pairs of boots (hiking, engineer, snow, combat) and some down booties. I have one of those wall-hangy shoe holder things that holds ten pair and then there are five pair by the door and boots are in the closet. If I get a new pair, one pair goes out. I have about five pairs of shoes (clogs, crocs, keens, slip-on sneaker things, flip-flops) that I wear about 90% of the time there's not weather that dictates my shoe choices. I go barefoot at home.

Holy gods.

My shoes are a pair of sneakers, a pair of sandals, a pair of snowboots, and two pairs of dress shoes. And except for the sneakers, which I had to replace because my puppy thought they were snacks, they're all 6 or 7 years old. Because I hate shoes with a mad passion and only wear them when forced to do so.
posted by MissySedai at 1:15 PM on September 21, 2012

I feel that the Keens/Clarks divide may be age-related. Discuss.

It's possible, but I doubt it. I own and wear both Keens and Clarks, but with a few rare exceptions, I wouldn't wear Keens in an office setting. Keens are much too casual and often ugly (and I say this as somebody who likes 'em). Clarks aren't super exciting, but they're comfy and office-appropriate. I'm in my late 20's, so which side of the age-divide does that put me?
posted by Diagonalize at 1:16 PM on September 21, 2012

I work in an office, and if I were to wear Keens I would become one of the best-dressed people there. Depends on your office, basically.

The shoe-porn lists are cracking me up. I have like two pairs at home, and probably six or seven different pairs of specialized work boots in my office. My partner, however, has a whole closet worth of shoes, some of which even I have noticed as cute and sexy.
posted by Forktine at 1:32 PM on September 21, 2012

I'd say the Keens/Clarks divide is more casual vs. classic, or west coast vs. east coast, or something. Keens just have this "pleat front khakis and a fleece" kind of aesthetic to me. I don't want to call them "mom shoes", and I don't think it's specifically a generational thing, they're just not what I like, at all. Too many colors. Too clunky. Too much novelty styling.

FWIW, Clarks has some stinkers too, and usually for the same reasons (though at least they keep the colors neutral and don't have the reek of Performance Footwear about them).
posted by Sara C. at 1:34 PM on September 21, 2012

I totally favorited this:

It's a shoe! It's a sandal! I can ford a river in them! I can read the NYT on Sundays on the lawn in front of the co-op in them! I can walk my husky in the woods, then wash my Subaru in them! I can browse REI and spend too much money on camping gear I'm never going to use in them!

not because I hate Keens, but because it made me snort coffee out my nose. This remark, I resemble it.

I suspect that the Keen/Clarks divide is geographical and not age-based, although I'm waaaaaay to lazy to click on people's profiles to find out. Like Crocs, Keens are a shoe line that I would have considered totally inappropriate for most "appearing out in public" activities when I was still living on the east coast, but in Colorado they appear to be totally acceptable footwear for all occasions and certainly not unprofessional. (I rarely see Danskos out here, though, which were highly popular among my sensible-shoe-wearing colleagues in DC.)
posted by iminurmefi at 1:39 PM on September 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

but in Colorado they appear to be totally acceptable footwear for all occasions and certainly not unprofessional.

(quietly adds to the list of places that will pay, pay dearly)
posted by The Whelk at 1:41 PM on September 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

I can't say this for Keens (despite my general dislike of them they're not all that noticeable), but I always know I'm in unknown territory when I get off the plane and everyone is wearing Crocs on purpose as if they are just regular shoes.

Meanwhile I feel like a tool wearing my pretending-to-be-flats pair on rainy days for practical purposes.
posted by Sara C. at 1:43 PM on September 21, 2012

Holy gods.

I went back and checked: slippers, shoes I wore to a wedding, two hand me down pairs of Campers, big clunky heels, sno-clogs, ratty clogs, shoes I wore to a funeral (black flats) and slip on somethingorothers that I can wear with fancy pants. And one empty slot. My sister is one of those fifty pairs of shoes people and I think I got some of my "I have to have the right pair for the right event" feeling from her, just like I have fifteen different kinds of screwdrivers and ten rolls of tape.

I like Keens just fine (they're pretty normal out here, I wash my Subaru in them) but they're what I was wearing when I got the avulsion fracture of my fibula so I am willing to accept that they may be evil whether I like them or not. Also I moved to Vermont partly so I could be someplace where no one gave a shit what I wore, so this is working out for me just fine.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:44 PM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

I have the polar opposite problem than a woman's 9AA - I take a men's 9EEEEEE (6E). Nevertheless, I've managed to acquire 7 pairs.

- Two pair waterproof leather biz-casual shoes, one each brown and black, for work and socializing.
- One beat up old pair of the former in black for chores and kicking around.
- One pair of low-top slip-on Converse clones in blue canvas for athletic or other active pursuits.
- One pair black waterproof work boots for snow and/or hiking.
- One pair of black Chelsea boots for dressy occasions.
- One pair of tall, black leather engineer boots commissioned from a real cordwainer for... recreational purposes.
posted by Slap*Happy at 1:44 PM on September 21, 2012

I forgot to mention that I own running shoes.

They are mizunos, I think, and more importantly Not Pink.

I forgot about them because I never wear them because I never actually run.
posted by Sara C. at 1:47 PM on September 21, 2012

I've got a bunch of shoes, but they're all pretty specialized and I don't really have too much overlap between uses. I have: Doc Martens Gibsons, Doc Martens 8-eye boots, a pair of cleats, a pair of running shoes, Keen sandals, hiking boots, snow boots, a "business casual" pair of dressy shoes, a more formal pair of dressy shoes, Ugg slippers, and Aquasox; so that makes 11, and I'm a guy. The Gibsons, Aquasox, cleats, snow boots and dressy shoes are all 10+ years old; the Uggs are close to that. The only shoes I replace with any regularity are the Doc boots, the sandals, and the business casuals, since they're all what I generally wear just doing everyday stuff.

I love the Keens for just doing regular stuff (walking the dog, going to the store, etc.) and wear them enough that I have the most ridiculous tanline on my feet you've ever seen. My feet look like zebras.
posted by LionIndex at 1:49 PM on September 21, 2012

dainty is smarter, feel better dressed
posted by The Whelk at 1:52 PM on September 21, 2012

I have an unreasonable fondness for threads like this. I am pretty sure Jessamyn has me beat in the shoe wars, but let's go count:

Shoes I wear regularly:

- 2 pairs of athletic-shoe-esque Fivefingers, one new, one trashed
- 2 pairs of casual-shoe-esque Fivefingers, one low, one ankle-boot
- A trashed-to-hell pair of Nike Frees that I really ought to toss
- A new pair of moccasins intended to replace the Frees in the "too lazy to get properly dressed" category

Shoes I almost never wear:

- A pair of big black stompy buckley boots
- A pair of ordinary brown workboots
- A pair of converse-ish skate shoes, grey
- A pair of black women's strappy sandals that no one currently in my life has the leverage to force me to wear
- A pair of handmade leather.... things suitable for Ren Faire. Because if I'm going to wear a jerkin and slops, I better not be wearing Nikes.

Switching to barefoot-style shoes is really the cause of the excess. I can't quite bring myself to get rid of all my old shoes, but they feel terrible and my knees howl when I wear them.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:56 PM on September 21, 2012

Jessamyn: I like Keens just fine (they're pretty normal out here, I wash my Subaru in them)...

I'm pretty sure that sentence just gave some demographics marketing person a big thrill. It gave me a big laugh actually, and I say that with the idea that if I get a car, Subaru would be like my number 1 or 2 choice of a make, because Subaru's are pretty much indestructible genius cars. Almost nothing will stop them. Nothing.
posted by Skygazer at 2:01 PM on September 21, 2012

I should mention that I wear my Keens with socks because otherwise they give me blisters. Luckily, no one looks at my feet.
posted by the young rope-rider at 2:02 PM on September 21, 2012

But do you have a Subaru??
posted by Skygazer at 2:03 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Guilty as charged. I looked at the previous questions, but the answers didn't address my specific questions, which were brand specific and city-specific.

also - why this week? Just as someone said above: it's gotten cold in northern North America, I can't wear my sandals anymore and I realised that my old winter shoes leak and give me blisters when I walk fast. I'm going shoe shopping this week.
posted by jb at 2:14 PM on September 21, 2012

I felt sorry for myself because I had 52 shoes, but then I met a man who had 52 feet.
posted by Zed at 2:15 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Shoe count. I own a lot, but I wear them out quickly too. My feet seem to sweat more than normal and cheaper shoes look like shit quick even if I let them dry out between wearings and often just get plain old WORN OUT. Also I love shoes. And bargain hunting for shoes. This is going to be long:

1. These (in grey), which I spent over a year looking for. I wanted "perfect boots" for under two hundred dollars and love them so much.
2. A pair of red el naturalista calf-high boots that I bought while looking for the perfect boots. They were not them. They're okay, but kinda schlumpy looking and they squeak when I walk. Harumph.
3. A pair of target plastic motorcycle boots. Actually the second pair like this that I bought; the first I lost while on vacation. Good all-weather boots.
4. A pair of leather calf-high black boots from a jcrew reseller than I've had for several years. For some reason I bought them a whole size too big. But they're good with thick boot socks in the winter.
5. A pair of black lace-up frye boots that I bought to cosplay the 11th Doctor. Easily the comfiest boots that I own
6. Sorel rainboots which are SO awesome looking but kind of slippery on wet floors so I wear them with caution (I actually gave myself a black eye while wearing them because I fell in a slippery bathroom. Whoops).
7. Wool plaid converse outsider hiking boots. The best shoes.
8. Five year old black, red, and white onitsuka tigers, which are really worn out because I wore them every day while walking to work in Florida but they're my only sneakers right now.
9. These. Comfy!
10. A pair of spring green flats I bought at some weird Korean beauty supply store years ago.
11. Saddle-shoe style black and white high heels bought for five bucks at a thrift store which I hardly ever wear, but they're my only heels
12. A pair of brown leather hush puppy mary janes that I bought for four bucks at a thrift store
13. Rainbow-strapped flip flops that I bought in NYC when I broke the strap on another pair of shoes during BEA
14. A pair of better teva sandals I bought when the aforementioned drug store flip flops gave me a hellish blister
15. Some white leather sandals that look like something out of flash gordon that I bought when my mom was in town because we felt it necessary to go shoe shopping god knows why
16. Plastic two-tone brown saddle shoes, which I think of as my "Nucky Thompson" shoes. I should get rid of these because they came too small despite the fact that I ordered half a size up but they're my NUCKY THOMPSON shoes so I can't (plus I got them on sale for twenty bucks and no returns). They're okay for errands but not if I need to walk any real distance.
17. Bright purple huraches, six dollar thrift store find.
18. Rubber garden clogs
19. A pair of sanuks I got from TJ maxxx for cheap and then looked up what they retail for and was grossed out.
20. A pair of Chinese maryjanes I have for cold feet days to wear in the house
21. two pairs crappy slippers my mother bought me for various christmasses

I would probably have fewer if I stopped buying cheap shoes from thrift stores and such but I like having lots of options. I also have about a dozen pair of cheap eyeglasses.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:17 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I have two pairs of active-duty shoes, my Doc Martens sandals (again, thanks AskMe! So happy to know that there are still at least a few pairs of non-absurd DM sandals available for purchase), and a pair of black Sketcher sneakers for cool weather. I guess I'll need to get a pair of snow boots later on this year; regardless, I am so ridiculously happy to be able to work from home and not need to worry about owning fancier footwear. I am not a proud or fashionable person. Also, I hate shoe shopping.

Slippers, however, are another story entirely. Those I buy compulsively in cold climates; off the top of my head I think I currently have seven pairs, and we're only just now getting into colder weather. I don't think it's possible to have too many things that help you achieve Maximum Coziness ...
posted by DingoMutt at 2:23 PM on September 21, 2012

I've got a hoard of work shoes under my desk at work. (about 6-7 heels in various heights and colors)

At home I store the shoes that aren't work appropriate- probably about 12 pairs including boots, flats, sneakers, strappy evening heels, flipflops and other odds and ends. I usually have 3 pairs of shoes I wear to and from the office based on weather (topsiders or clarks sandals in the summer, dark sneakers or boots in the winter).

The worst part is having to head to the office on a weekend to pick up a pair of shoes I need for an outfit.

So I a professional woman in NYC, own about 18 pairs of shoes (lets round that up to 20 if you include my slippers). I'm probably on the low end judging by my fellow office workers's shoe collections under their desks.
posted by larthegreat at 2:26 PM on September 21, 2012

Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many".

I have fewer pairs of shoes than my husband. But (like I said in my question), I'm a shoe monogamist and generally only wear one pair of shoes almost every day. Not including sandals or boots, I currently have three pairs of shoes (everyday, dress and a pair for dancing - the sole has worn through, but they are awesome dancing shoes).
posted by jb at 2:26 PM on September 21, 2012

Like Crocs, Keens are a shoe line that I would have considered totally inappropriate for most "appearing out in public" activities

They make dress Crocs now. My mother adores them.
posted by jb at 2:28 PM on September 21, 2012

From a die-hard Docs wearer for mumble-mumble something years, there hasn't really been a difference in real 'quality' between the Chinese-made and British-made boots. Some of their newer more fashion-y models are top-grain leather instead of full-grain, but the stitching and welting are still top notch, so far as I can tell. And putting full-grain leather on all their more trendy styles would drive up their costs so much they wouldn't be able to compete with other flash-fashion places. Their classic 14-hole boots, work boots and other old styles are still full-grain, I think.

One glaring difference is their newer sole formulation - I can get my grungy old Docs with the solid old sole resoled and fixed at the cobblers, but the newer Docs with the transparent orange sole he can't readily fix, and it seems like it wears down faster than the solid ones. So there's that, which seems less of a 'made in China' problem than a 'cutting costs' problem. No idea if their 'made in UK' line use the old soles or the new ones.

Also, I have about 14 pairs of shoes, six or seven pair of which are Docs, all in different stages of wear and resolings so apparently I am well on my way to dying underneath them in an ultimately humiliating yet hilarious fashion as stated above.

rest of the shoes consist of running shoes, a single pair of Blundstones, riding boots, rock climbing shoes with holes in and one single lonely pair of pumps that get hauled out for weddings and the like. BASES: COVERED
posted by zennish at 2:34 PM on September 21, 2012

I actually had a white pair of docs I bought for my wedding that were Chinese-made and they were super uncomfortable. They just would not break in, no matter what I did. They were pretty much the most uncomfortable shoes ever. Disappointing after a decade of loving their boots.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:40 PM on September 21, 2012

I am on Team Clarks, but I am old enough to be the mum of most of the other Team Clarks folks in the thread. Keens are comfortable but they look like hamburger buns on your feet to me.

I have 60+ pair of shoes. But some of them are more than 20 years old. To be fair to me, I used to do work that required a wardrobe of dress pumps and now I don't, but I kept them in case I needed them because it is not simple to find good dress pumps in 9 1/2 C.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:51 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I had to get Clarks because they where the only respectable looking shoe in the first store I ran into because my previous shoes just literally came apart after being exposed to rough Austrian cobblestones.
posted by The Whelk at 2:59 PM on September 21, 2012

So Clarks has a trendier line called Indigo which is super comfortable (by my standards anyway) while still being cool (again my standards). I always get compliments on them and then I give everyone the "They are really Clarks!" revelation lecture.
posted by sweetkid at 3:04 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Unaligned vis-a-vis Keens v. Clarks. I have neither, though I've seen Clarks I liked.

Oh man, I forgot the hiking boots.
posted by tangerine at 3:05 PM on September 21, 2012

hm

- 5x regular trainers I switch between fairly often
- 3x of those derpy nike rift thingys that i really only wear when going downstairs to do the laundry or climbing around the house doing cleaning stuff
- 1x winter boots
- 6x summer muley sandals
- 5x summer strappy sandals
- 2x black winter heels
- 3x tall platform boots
- 2x lower heeled boots
- 3x what can only be referred to as HOOKER SHOES basically
- 1x dark red patent leather stilettos with metal heels
- one lonely flip flop whose partner may have been lost when I moved
- ice skates

Also I gave away about a dozen pairs of shoes/boots when I moved. And there's at least two pairs of trainers in my office.
posted by elizardbits at 3:10 PM on September 21, 2012

- 1x dark red patent leather stilettos with metal heels

Wait, what are the HOOKER shoes like, then?
posted by purpleclover at 3:15 PM on September 21, 2012 [7 favorites]

They have a goldfish in the heel.
posted by The Whelk at 3:27 PM on September 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

this is not a beastie boys video
posted by elizardbits at 3:34 PM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

Then why am I destroying a scale model replica of downtiwn Tokyo?
posted by The Whelk at 3:35 PM on September 21, 2012 [8 favorites]

because it's friday night
posted by elizardbits at 3:44 PM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

EmpressCallipygos: "I've taken to making a couple of practice sprints up and down the aisles when trying on shoes to see if they'll stay on. (Fortunately, here in New York, all you have to do is make a joke when people look at you funny that you want to see how they'll hold up to running to catch a bus; they get it.)"

I want you to know that I thought about you when I ran for the bus this morning in my Fluevogs.
posted by gingerbeer at 3:44 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I like Keens and I like Clarks and I'm over 40. I wish I could afford Clarks more easily, I'd own more.
posted by Miko at 3:45 PM on September 21, 2012

Is this the thread where I brag that I've owned the same pair of Doc Martin's since 1998? (Sara C. we're shoe sisters!) I wore them every day for almost 10 years, until I got a job and my boss literally said "please don't wear... those shoes..." while looking at my feet.* I've had them resoled three times, and I still love them more than any other shoes I've laid eyes on since. They are comfortable, classic, ass-kicking, beautifully made shoes.

* I think this was because they weren't ever polished, and they really looked like a dog had spent a few days giving them a once-over with his sharp smelly teeth.
posted by k8lin at 3:52 PM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

I dunno, maybe 30 pairs? Most of them are heels I can't wear in my current work location (hospital), mostly because I can't run fast enough in them to put someone into a protective hold if I had to, but also because we can't wear open-toed or peep-toe shoes, sandals, stilettos, slingbacks, or mules. Also I bought most of them on the sale rack at Filene's Basement or DSW. Someday I'll get a job where I can wear them all.

My regular rotation right now includes 12-year-old Coach 2" heeled loafers, some Anne Klein flexible-sole heeled Mary Janes with a square toe that I adore, black ballet flats, flipflops for casual wear, and a couple of pairs of Privos for walking around on the weekends. (Privos are also a Clark's brand.)

Also also, the Clarks y'all get in the UK are far cuter than the ones we get in the US. Ours tend toward the "comfort shoe" end of the spectrum, but the ones I've seen that were purchased in the UK are freakin' cute.
posted by catlet at 4:36 PM on September 21, 2012

Female, but not that into shoes. My wardrobe is even sadder than my shoe roster.

2 identical pairs of Sperry Top-siders, brown
1 incredibly worn out pair of Sperry Top-siders that I can't bear to trash, brown
1 pair of Chaco flip flops, plain black
1 pair Adidas Gazelle, orange (for when I'm feeling unorthodox, but they hurt my toes)
1 pair Brooks running shoes
1 pair hiking boots
1 pair old man slippers

The only shoes I don't have but would like to get are boots, since I live in Portland and I guess it rains here sometimes and stuff, from what I've been told.

While I'm here, can anyone explain to me WHY so many women's athletic/outdoor type shoes are such terrible colors? I don't want baby blue or purple or fuchsia, and I know I can't be the only one.
posted by easy, lucky, free at 5:02 PM on September 21, 2012

Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many".

My list is kind of sad:

-My daily shoes are a pair of Bobby Webers (with the purple sole)
-1 pair of Crocs for work (I generally hate Crocs but they are pretty much the only durable, comfortable, slip resistant, non leather option out there for restaurant workers)
-Various types of Kung Fu shoes for Wing Chun
-Two pairs of slip on Vans
-1 pair of Sorel snow boots (I've only worn them once)
-1 pair of running shoes
-A pair of black sequin Converse
-And a handful of other shoes that are for when I need to dress up and those hardly ever get worn.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:13 PM on September 21, 2012

So thanks to this thread I now have a pair of black dress boots, some new athletic shoes (which I needed to replace some old ones) and an actual pair of Sperry Topsiders becuase they turned out to have good arch support.

I wasn't planning on buying three pairs of shoes, I swear.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:40 PM on September 21, 2012 [4 favorites]

That's okay empress, I accidentally a new pair of black oxfords after reading this thread cause I noticed I didn't have any black dress shoes that weren't slightly terrifying leather boots.
posted by The Whelk at 5:50 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

jessamyn: "I have noticed these since I have just started wearing regular footwear this week though I still have to wear clunky boots or an ankle brace. They taunt me."

If your clunky boots or ankle brace taunt you for more than four hours, consult your physician.
posted by Splunge at 5:58 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

I have:
- six pairs of running shoes in various stages of dilapidation
- three pairs of ruggedized mary janes
- three pairs of ruggedized ballet flats
- one pair of black oxfords
- one pair of black clogs
- one pair of riding boots
- three pairs of strappy flat sandals of various hues
- two pairs of brown oxfords
- one pair of black lady dress shoes

I can't wear heels because any heel at all makes me six feet tall, so my shoe collection is dowdy business.

I do need new running shoes, though. They wear out for running in three months, and then I just wear the ruins to wander the countryside.
posted by winna at 5:58 PM on September 21, 2012

I am so not posting how many shoes I have. I will tell you that there are, under the coffee table now:

- Merrells barefoot shoes
- red leather flat sandals
- red Fluevog Malibran mary janes.

That's about as close to a representative sample as you're likely to get.
posted by gingerbeer at 6:46 PM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

Then why am I destroying a scale model replica of downtiwn Tokyo?

RECREATIONAL. PURPOSES.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:30 PM on September 21, 2012

Sorry. Wanking. Passed out. What'd I miOH MY GOD IT'S 2012
posted by obiwanwasabi at 7:41 PM on September 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

This is where I cheer for the tropics: I have (only) nine pairs!

Three pairs of flip-flops,
one pair of Birkenstocks (sadly a size big),
a pair of running shoes,
a pair of cheap canvas shoes with holes in it,
a pair of black flats which I never ever wear,
a pair of black heels (totally too old for me, but for choir, and their 2" heel is THE MOST EXCITING THING but i will never wear them again) and
a pair of Tretorn sneakers (on MeFi's recommendation).
posted by undue influence at 8:13 PM on September 21, 2012

If I'm not barefoot I'm uncomfortable. As a shoe hater I kinda find vivo shoes kind of tolerable.
posted by Packed Lunch at 8:37 PM on September 21, 2012

I noticed I didn't have any black dress shoes that weren't slightly terrifying leather boots.

And thus was the Whelk's seekrit identity as Gene Simmons revealed.
posted by elizardbits at 9:05 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

How do those barefoot shoes handle for people with high arches?
posted by winna at 9:06 PM on September 21, 2012

They are expressly designed to provide no support, only at most a little cushioning. I found that my feet are much happier when allowed to do whatever weird-ass thing they want to, but ymmv.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 9:16 PM on September 21, 2012

After a period of adjustment, my feet have never been more comfortable in minimal soled shoes. I didn't even know how much I liked them until I was forced to wear shoes for Kung Fu with soles that were so thin that your feet could actually feel the ground. I would basically live in my shoes that I use for class but they have basically zero traction (which is also why I don't wear them at work). The best compromise I have found that didn't cost an arm and a leg were the Bobby Weber shoes I linked to up thread. They are actually styled from Kung Fu slippers and have less of a sole than the pictures would have you believe. Most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 9:40 PM on September 21, 2012

I can't wear heels because any heel at all makes me six feet tall

I consider that a feature, not a bug, myself.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:42 PM on September 21, 2012 [3 favorites]

Well, if we're doing the listy thing...
1 pair of black New Balance sneakers (I want new ones. In pretty colors. I'm not hopeful)
1 pair of black Merrill men's loafers (for work, they're really pretty unisex)
1 pair of brown Merrill men's loafers (see above)
1 pair of cheap black flip flops
1 pair of cheap brown flip flops
1 pair of white Bass strappy sandals
1 pair of black boots from Avenue that I've worn maybe 3 times
1 pair of water shoes
1 pair of hiking boots
2 pairs of Converse sneakers, one in olive, one in purple (because I've always wanted them, but they are hella uncomfortable after a few hours)

11 pairs is actually more than I thought I had. I possess not one pair of shoes that I can wear with a skirt or dress in cooler weather. Well, the boots I suppose. Sigh.

I am not a shoe girl. I am an earring girl. If I listed my earrings I'd have to break it down in some fashion to reasonably fit in one comment. I probably have 11 *categories* of earrings.

and don't ask me about my scarves....
posted by booksherpa at 9:44 PM on September 21, 2012

The majority of my shoes have come from Ross. This is not a great thing, as their dress shoes can look decent for a while, but the "leather" creases poorly and looks as cheap as they are. But I might shelve this whole "professional" thing for a while.

Any way, I also got a pair of Men's Skechers Gunnar Tucson Zip Up Ankle Boots, and I have no idea how/when to wear them. I saw them and thought "badass, boots in my size for $30!"

But I am no bad ass. I prefer wearing sandals (Clarks Unstructured Un.Bow, which are comfortable, but the limited side openings mean that little rocks sneak in and don't easily fall out), and I've become so lazy that flip-flops are my go-to footwear.

So, how the heck do wear ankle-tall boots with a side zipper and snap? I prefer wearing shorts and t-shirts, for goodness sake.

I'm beginning to feel this should be an AskMe question, but there are too many shoe questions any way, right? That's what this thread was all about.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:53 PM on September 21, 2012

I hope metafilter doesn't fall apart over shoes.
posted by Packed Lunch at 10:00 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

in the grim future of metafilter there is only shoes
posted by The Whelk at 10:26 PM on September 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Snowshoe p0rn.

Retro Snowshoe pr0n.

Hot live action German snowshoe pr0n.
posted by Skygazer at 11:49 PM on September 21, 2012

I CAN HAZ SNOWSHOE CATZ.

/Catfilter
posted by Skygazer at 11:52 PM on September 21, 2012 [2 favorites]

I just randomly walked into a shop and spent way more than I'd budgeted for a cute pair of shoes. Apparently I'm regressing as I age.
posted by infini at 2:30 AM on September 22, 2012

I own 41 pairs of shoes, including some serious winter boots. I'm not listing them, but my excuses are that I sold shoes for many years, and I've owned some of these since I was a teenager. And that was a while ago.

That said, some of them are shoes I no longer need to own. Anyone want a pair of size 37 grey-blue suede Birkenstocks? I am no longer a person who wears Birkenstocks, so these are in almost perfect shape, despite being 15 years old. That's why I can't bring myself to give them to the goodwill. But I really, really should.
posted by dizziest at 7:17 AM on September 22, 2012

Snowshoe p0rn.

Those are just snowshoes. Do snowshoes count as shoes? I have some of those as well. Also I forgot my sneakers because they are in the car.

dizziest: actually maybe. I am a Birkenstock wearer and my last ones finally just dissolved into a pile of assorted leather and cork bits. I seem to recall that's my size but the chart says otherwise. Drop me a MeMail?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:28 AM on September 22, 2012

Metafilter is many things but mostly it's a swap meet.
posted by The Whelk at 7:33 AM on September 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

2 pairs traditional Toms: grey and Persian blue
1 pair Toms Wedges: black
1 pair Target ballet flats: grey
2 pairs Bearpaw 10 inch shearling boots: grey and tan
1 pair knee-high boots with a buckle: brown
3 pairs Skechers mary jane wedges: black, brown, khaki
1 pair plain Target pumps: black
1 pair not-Danskos: black
2 pairs sneakers: grey, white
Untold numbers of old navy flip flops: all colors.
posted by RainyJay at 7:38 AM on September 22, 2012

and don't ask me about my scarves....

I have at least 35 scarves, many of them decorative silky types. But I most often rotate between various colored pima scarves because they are soft and snuggly and not itchy.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:47 AM on September 22, 2012

I think my punishment in the afterlife will be entail being slowly suffocated under all the ties I've owned.
posted by The Whelk at 7:54 AM on September 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Zappos Outlet in Louisville...

Wait. There is...in person? You can go to there?

No.

Yes. In person. It's HUGE and the prices are mind-blowing. The last time I went I got three pairs of heels, a pair of Merrills, and a pair of high-heeled boots....for $73.

It's GLORIOUS.
posted by cooker girl at 7:54 AM on September 22, 2012

winna I do the 6' tall thing as soon as there's a heel too! Unfortunately that even includes 1" heels, so I just waltz around southern France being Tall American Woman a lot of the time and enjoy helping out people with stuff on the top racks in supermarkets and cute scarves that taunt people on high shelves in clothes shops.

- 2 pairs brown knee-high boots, in 1" and 2" heels. Knee-highs are regular fare on French women in winter months, which is great because they're so much fun to wear.
- 2 pairs black knee-high boots, also 1" and 2" heels. Had them for years.
- 2 pairs calf-high brown boots: these which I adore and also the lace-ups in this pic
- 1 pair black Rieker ankle boots
- 1 pair brown leather ankle boots (what, I love boots)
- 1 pair cheap-n-simple black rubber boots for the days of the year when there are flash floods around our offices
- 2 pairs black pumps in different styles (most of my pumps and flats are either Hush Puppies or Esprit)
- 2 pairs brown pumps in different styles
- 2 pairs brown leather flats, one with a decorative buckle, the other with a cute ankle strap
- 1 pair grey leather flats
- 1 pair black leather flats
- 2 pairs strappy sandals, black and brown, several years old yet still look great, made by a French brand
- 1 pair comfy yet stylish (here) brown leather sandal wedges, two thick straps
- 1 pair sky blue fabric wedge espadrilles
- 1 pair burgundy leather Mary Jane clogs
- Burgundy ankle boots
- 4 pairs of Birkenstocks. One pair is from when I was a teenager in Oregon, some 20 years ago. (ack) These are a godsend in our humid summers.
- 4 pairs running shoes (for walking, can't run due to bad knees) in purple, pink, dark blue, and beige. Some I've had for years and could get rid of but beat-up trainers can be useful occasionally.
- 1 pair black and purple Tevas
- 1 pair Salomon hiking shoes
- Mavic Chasm mtb shoes that were like getting a brand new bike, so much they changed the feel of riding. I ♥ them.
- and around the house, purple Crocs for cooler months, and a new pair of espadrilles every summer (we can get locally-French-made ones for like 6 euros)

erm that's more than 30 pairs. And here I was thinking I was reasonable. -.-;
posted by fraula at 8:10 AM on September 22, 2012

winna I do the 6' tall thing as soon as there's a heel too! Unfortunately that even includes 1" heels, so I just waltz around southern France being Tall American Woman a lot of the time and enjoy helping out people with stuff on the top racks in supermarkets and cute scarves that taunt people on high shelves in clothes shops.

I love being helpy with the top shelves it makes me feel like a super heroine! I can't stand heels because here in the southern US everyone is fairly short, so even at my non-beheeled 5'10" I tend to be among the tallest people everywhere I go.

There is one guy at the gym that is honestly so much taller than me it's startling - my head doesn't even reach his shoulder. Every time he uses a machine next to me my brain shrieks 'good Christ he's a giant!' the whole time. I hope the young man plays basketball or water polo or something- it seems like that much extra height should be useful there.

I'm not quite tall enough as a woman to give people that reaction, but it's close enough that I want to avoid it.
posted by winna at 8:39 AM on September 22, 2012

I'm not going to list mine but ladies, I am enjoying the shoe porn. Also wishing I lived somewhere that I could try on Fleuvogs.
posted by immlass at 8:42 AM on September 22, 2012

and don't ask me about my scarves....

Not only do I have a whole range of decorative "I'll use this instead of a necklace" scarves and big shawl-type wraps, but I knit. I've got you beat for scarves.

My shoe collection is actually pretty reasonably-sized because I'm particular about the fit and because I'm morally opposed to spending more than $60 for a pair of shoes. But sometimes I still get lucky - I have a pair of boots that I got for practically free when one of my neighbors was putting them out with the trash because the zipper was busted on one of them. They were EXACTLY my size, so I snapped them up, brought them to a cobbler and spent about twenty bucks fixing the zipper, and presto - new boots.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:21 AM on September 22, 2012

I was at a gathering this past week and a male performer was taking about all the clothing (and shoes) he had and his need for lots and lots of closet space, "more than what the average women would need" he said. I lifted a leg into the air, pointing to my clunky boots and said, "one pair of combat boots. Military issue. Wear 'em 'til they fall apart then get a new pair. They never go out of style and are cheap as dirt."
posted by squeak at 9:33 AM on September 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is good, after a couple low end sneakers that I noticed breaking down and discouraging me from walking I realize I need to spring for walking shoes. Thanks for the research.
posted by sammyo at 11:13 AM on September 22, 2012

and don't ask me about my scarves....

I have acquired a sizable selection of scarves, and except for the winter ones that serve a practical purpose, I never wear them. I try ... I drape them around this way and that, try them with this top and that one, and they always look just wrong.
posted by headnsouth at 11:36 AM on September 22, 2012

headnsouth, you have you seen this?
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 12:10 PM on September 22, 2012 [4 favorites]

My Comm Director and I share a slight obsession with Fluevog shoes, and we were both at a work event earlier this year and were introduced to one of the guests, who is a MEMBER OF THE FLUEVOG FAMILY. I swear we both went into fangirl ditziness. She (the Fluevog) was there for her actual work, and married into the family, but still! She has at least two styles of shoes named after her! She's a Fluevog! We learned all sorts of interesting things about the Fluevogs, who sound like lovely, if very eccentric, people.
posted by gingerbeer at 12:41 PM on September 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thanks ThatCanadianGirl, I think I've figured out the problem: my scarves resemble the scarves in that video, and my technique resembles the technique in that video, but sadly I resemble this scarf-wearer more than the scarf-wearer in that video.
posted by headnsouth at 12:48 PM on September 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

That's a really entertaining video, ThatCanadianGirl. The behind the scenes making of page was interesting.
posted by ceribus peribus at 12:59 PM on September 22, 2012

Dr Martens recently released canvas shoes and desert boots. They called them the Nixon and the Reagan. I'm just saying: they've sold out. (Almost literally.)
posted by anotherpanacea at 2:10 PM on September 22, 2012

I can't believe I missed this thread. All I have to say is 67. Yes.
(Includes 7 pairs of sneakers/running shoes even though I haven't stepped in a gym or run in 10 plus years).
posted by ramix at 2:14 PM on September 22, 2012

So MeTa is now the kinda party where we go to chat about stuff related to areas we've tried hard to exhaust in AskMe?

(sticks dick in mashed potatoes)
posted by Joseph Gurl at 2:26 PM on September 22, 2012

I got that A Dirty Book reference, Joseph Gurl. National Lampoon. They had dolphins, too.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 2:59 PM on September 22, 2012

42 pairs of shoes, 7 of which are flip-flops, 3 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of wafflestompers (if you're from the Pacific Northwest, you know what I mean), one pair of never-worn pumps, 1 pair of Birkies, several pairs of cheap flats from Target/K-Mart, one pair of cork wedges with ribbons that I wore one time to my daughter's wedding and 8 pairs of Crocs, in various styles, that I wear pretty much all the time now.
posted by Lynsey at 3:02 PM on September 22, 2012

Dr Marten was a fucking Nazi. They can't exactly "sell out".

(Well, he was in the German army, anyway. But still. Not exactly the right side of that particular war.)
posted by Sara C. at 3:14 PM on September 22, 2012

Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many".

I have, at minimum, 40-some pairs of shoes. I'm away from my closet right now so I can't check (and I honestly don't remember all of them). That number includes flips flops and things, but also way at least two dozen pairs of different colored (Mustard! Turquoise! Bright Orange! Kelly Green!) heels of varying height that I do not wear nearly as often as I would like to.
posted by thivaia at 3:22 PM on September 22, 2012

Has anyone mentioned Primo Levi in this thread? I ask because there's that bit either in If This is a Man or The Truce where he falls in with this guy from Smyrna or somewhere who totally disparages him for not prioritising comfortable footwear. Because if you're going to walk several thousand miles home from a concentration camp via an almost laughably circuitous route you're going to need some good shoes. I loved that bit because it was as if everyday necessities had somehow transcended the holocaust. So more shoe questions please.
posted by tigrefacile at 3:33 PM on September 22, 2012

(I'm male, but I like this kind of thing:)

A couple pairs of slip-on Vans in various states of disrepair, a pair of Feiyue sneakers, END sticky-rubber flip-flops, Vivobarefoot trail running shoes, several pairs of Patagonia shoes which barely pass as business casual, a pair of H.S. Trask driving moccasins which ditto, Birkenstock clogs, rubber work boots.

Are Quoddy shoes worth the money? Because I daydream about buying 'em sometimes.
posted by box at 4:33 PM on September 22, 2012

never heard of Quoddy before (checks site)

Huh, that is ...surprisingly reasonable for made to measure shoes.
posted by The Whelk at 4:34 PM on September 22, 2012

It's still sandal weather in the PNW. We win!
posted by deborah at 5:00 PM on September 22, 2012

Now that this thread has everyone thinking about shoes will it lead to more shoe questions on the green?
posted by Area Man at 5:05 PM on September 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

There have been at least three new ones since this thread started.
posted by mountmccabe at 5:18 PM on September 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

It's like rain on your wedding day.
posted by Area Man at 5:23 PM on September 22, 2012 [3 favorites]

Q: You like shoes? You are a person who likes the shoe talk that we are currently engaged in?
A: Yes! I am! I like shoes!
Q: You like shoes! In fact, you are a person who likes shoes as much as Imelda Marcos likes shoes!
A: YES I LIKE SHOPPING FOR SHOES AS IF IT WERE MY PROFESSION!! TELL ME MORE ABOUT IT
Q: YOU ENJOY THIS TALK YOU SHOE SHOPPING PERSON etc.
posted by drlith at 6:06 PM on September 22, 2012 [5 favorites]

Just say no...to Keens.

Yes! Or any of the other hideous shoes frequently recommended in shoe threads. A woman who wants a break from heels is not going to wear some clunky Dansko thing, all right?
posted by ablazingsaddle at 6:09 PM on September 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ugh, now I am shoe-shopping too. Thoughts about these Frye Carson Ballet flats?
posted by purpleclover at 7:16 PM on September 22, 2012

A pal who I usually trust about stuff like this has a, like, love-of-her-life relationship with Frye. I'd say give 'em a try.
posted by box at 8:20 PM on September 22, 2012

Serious follow-up question for this Meta: Women of Metafilter, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I get a lot of flack from the men in my household because I have "too many". Surely, this thread proves them wrong!

I'm a man, but I recently had a crisis when I realized that I had six pairs of shoes.* For years, I had three (sneakers, black shoes, boots), and before that I had two(black shoes and sneakers), so suddenly having double that was weird and made me feel like I was giving in to the worst excesses of middle class existence. I got over it though and would even be open to buying new shoes.

I did however score a recent victory in getting my wife to throw away some shoes that she never wore and were falling apart, so the total number of shoes in my house is down, which is nice, because even though I've never been impaled by any, shoes are clutter and there's no reason to keep useless or mostly useless clutter in your house if you can help it.

*Brown oxfords, black oxfords, two pairs of sneakers (I need to trash one of these, but I can't decide which), boat shoes, and boots.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 8:31 PM on September 22, 2012

Huh, that is ...surprisingly reasonable for made to measure shoes.

Once you crawl under the barbed wire and into into the DMZ of odd sizes, the price unexpectedly skyrockets, in my experience.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:41 PM on September 22, 2012

I just asked Elder Monster how many pairs of shoes he owns, and the answer was 30. I...think he might not be mine, because my ultimate goal is to never need the cursed things again.
posted by MissySedai at 9:31 PM on September 22, 2012

Once you crawl under the barbed wire and into into the DMZ of odd sizes, the price unexpectedly skyrockets, in my experience.

Yeah I didn't look very hard, I've got the size 12, totally flat hobbit feet, finding vintage shoes is almost impossible.

Which reminds me I need an early 40s set of dress shoes for something. Maybe I'll hit up AskMe.
posted by The Whelk at 9:34 PM on September 22, 2012

for something

for something AWESOME
posted by elizardbits at 10:00 PM on September 22, 2012

hush you
posted by The Whelk at 10:04 PM on September 22, 2012

Let's have a cheer for us with freaky Morton's toe - huzzah!
posted by gomichild at 10:26 PM on September 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

These look like comfy shoes btw.
posted by gomichild at 10:35 PM on September 22, 2012

The Statue of Liberty has Morton's Toe!!

F--k YES!

USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!!
posted by Skygazer at 11:57 PM on September 22, 2012

The statue of liberty totally looks like Jeremy Renner
posted by The Whelk at 12:08 AM on September 23, 2012

Jeremy Renner has Morton's Toe?
posted by Skygazer at 12:24 AM on September 23, 2012

Oh crap! I have a Morton's toe.
posted by Packed Lunch at 12:40 AM on September 23, 2012 [2 favorites]

Jeremy Renner has two facial expressions: delighted puggle and constipated puggle.
posted by elizardbits at 7:07 AM on September 23, 2012 [3 favorites]

I was honestly just about to ask my own question about most comfortable boots for walking because I just moved back to the city and walk all the time and coincidentally need new boots as my old ones are suitable for a more in-and-out-of-cars existence, but can't handle the pressures of the urban environment without making my soul/soles cry.

But now I won't because I'm afraid that if I do, I'll be roped into some vast and sordid conspiracy.
posted by sonika at 9:51 AM on September 23, 2012

Jeremy Renner has two facial expressions: delighted puggle and constipated puggle.

The Puggle Ultimatum.
posted by Skygazer at 10:50 AM on September 23, 2012

I need these for reasons
posted by the young rope-rider at 10:59 AM on September 23, 2012

those reasons are bad reasons and you should reconsider them
posted by elizardbits at 11:34 AM on September 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

I can;t unsee it
posted by The Whelk at 11:35 AM on September 23, 2012

that is not a puggle, hdu.
posted by elizardbits at 11:36 AM on September 23, 2012

Hose and Drogue Unit?
posted by The Whelk at 11:38 AM on September 23, 2012

those reasons are bad reasons and you should reconsider them

you have horrible taste in beautiful flower rhinestone platform sandals

HTH
posted by the young rope-rider at 11:51 AM on September 23, 2012

i seem to recall certain bad decisions made by you the last time we went shoe shopping okay

i am just saying
posted by elizardbits at 11:57 AM on September 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

is that why there where all those helicopters and EMTs around Saks a week ago?
posted by The Whelk at 12:01 PM on September 23, 2012

my attorney has advised my subaru and I not to comment at this time.
posted by the young rope-rider at 12:13 PM on September 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

Surrealism is right between pointillism and poincare.
posted by infini at 12:36 PM on September 23, 2012

Why no, i never learnt how to add an accent grave using this keyboard.
posted by infini at 12:37 PM on September 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

The fall equinox has brought with it numerous requests for boots.
posted by scratch at 12:54 PM on September 23, 2012

meanwhile going to an Equinox in the fall means getting new gym shoes.
posted by The Whelk at 1:00 PM on September 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

Morton's Toe fried toes chicken toe dinner.
posted by Skygazer at 3:00 AM on September 24, 2012

You fuckers made me buy shoes
posted by The Whelk at 5:45 PM on October 4, 2012

It's OK, I've bought two pairs since this thread was posted.

Both are suede. What was I thinking?
posted by Sara C. at 6:26 PM on October 4, 2012