Do you scuff your shoes? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you scuff your shoes?

Sihaya

Veteran

As my shoes have gotten fancier over the years, I'm noticing that some get more scuffed during driving. I'm curious if any of you have separate shoes that you wear only for driving and then change into your "real" shoes when you arrive your destination. If you do, are there any "low maintenance" ways in which you do this and remember to do this? I"m loathe to add one more thing to my morning rush-out-the-door-like-my-hair's-on-fire routine. Thanks.

Dressing

32 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Lordy, no...but that's one reason I'm staying away from patent leather...too afraid of scuffing...will be interested in other responses!

ETA I have to also say that because I recognized how mental I am about scuffing, I tend to look for shoes and boots that either have a lot of tailored detail to hide scuffing, or are already "distressed" in some way. I have not been 100% successful in all my shoe purchases, but it's in the back of my mind. No way could I change into driving shoes. My one exception is a pair of tall heels that are dangerous to drive in!

Barbara

Veteran

Sihaya, to prevent any scuffing while driving, I have plush floor mats on the driver's side in ALL of my cars. My husband even custom made a mat for my convertible. No scuffing, ever!

Barbara

Veteran

mpj, I LOVE patent leather but I'm very careful when walking around campus. Cobblestones and concrete are rough on ALL leather shoes and boots. I do have some permanent cures for minor scuffs, if anyone wants to know.

Queen Mum

Veteran

would it be too much of a pain to keep a pair of easy slip on shoes in your car?

Sihaya

Veteran

I think I might just have to do that - keep easy slip on's in the car. Problem is I need my slip on's on other occasions too. I might just have to spring for a cheap pair that resides in the car permanently.

Barbara - will you loan out your husband to make a car mat for me I would love to hear your solutions for minor scuffs.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I totally scuff my shoes - at the heel while driving. Another reason I don't like to drive :0(

I don't swap out my shoes though. I guess I don't drive enough for that but it sounds like a good idea. My Mum used to keep driving shoes in the car.

tarzy

Veteran

I'm a scuffer! Driving, walking, probably even sleeping. Might be because I'm slightly clumsy - I can trip on a flat surface while wearing flats. I don't worry about it, though. Every once in a while I polish, but otherwise ... it's just life!

Louise

Veteran

I hate scuffing my heels when driving especially in new shoes. Guess I need to get some of those shoes where the rubber extends up the back x

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I scuff all the time! I only change my shoes when driving when they are very tall and uncomfortable to wear while driving.

Hilariously though, it's my NON-driving foot that gets uncomfortable when I am in tall heels; my leg is so extended and long with them I can't quite fit it under the wheel like usual. LOL!

Maya

Veteran

I scuff my shoes all the time. How can I not when I'm pounding concrete for hours a day? It doesn't bother me at all, actually. Part of living in the big city.

Scarlet

Veteran

A relative of mine, who always looked impeccable, kept driving shoes in her car to avoid scuffing her heels and kept a second pair of shoes in the garage to avoid tracking dirt into the house. I just don't have that much energy.

Katja

(website)

I used to just take my shoes off in the car (put them in the passenger seat) and drive in stocking feet. Is that not an option?

<PSA>
By the way, I feel compelled to remind everyone NOT to leave anything (shoes, purses, books, whatever) in the foot well of the driver's seat while driving. It's too easy for something to shift under the brake or the accelerator and cause you to be unable to brake or to accelerate without meaning to.
</PSA>

Jonesy

Veteran

Mine do get scuffed, but it doesn't really bother me that much. I will occasionally polish them, but otherwise I don't worry about it.

Beth

Veteran

I rarely scuff my shoes when driving, even thought I have a manual transmission.

I do scuff them when walking. I don't notice it at the time, but my shoes occasionally have marks on the inside of the heels:(

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I do I usually have the same problem from driving and now replaced my rubber floor mat with a carpet one - need to see if it makes a difference.
My worst case of scuffing however was not in the car. I bought these Privo casual flats in grey-olive color and they scuffed horribly just from stumbling my foot - to the raw leather! That was awful! I tried to find a shoe polish in this color but it was impossible. I ended up dyeing them taupe color so I can at least find a polish for them. That was very dissapointing1

NK

(website)

I'm not much of a scuffer when I drive either, but I think that's mainly because my legs are so short, I just got used to driving with just the tip of my toes, and noticed I rarely rest my heel on the floor of my car.

I'd say a pair of driving mocs are in order.

MNsara

Veteran

I do tend to scuff my right heel It's worse in the winter when my shoes bring salty snow/slush into the car and it lives on the floor mat.

I have just considered leaving a pair of driving mocs in the car (otherwise I will forget to take them along), but wonder how my fussy feet will handle being put into a pair of cold shoes (and they can be seriously cold. . . )

Sihaya

Veteran

Thank you - sounds like scuffing is a common problem from both driving and walking. And I do a LOT of both of them. I will keep a pair of shoes in my car (great point though Sara about them being cold in the winter). Maybe when it's very cold, I'll place the driving shoes right by the door so I remember them on the way out the door. Katja, thanks for the PSA, that's a very good reminder. That even if I drive in stocking feet, to move my shoes to some other part of the car. Scuffing didn't used to both me as much but now I have some pairs that cost a lot. In addition to driving shoes, guess I'll polish them. I rarely do that. Thank you everyone.

Elly

Veteran

Beware that in some states it is illegal to drive in stocking feet or in certain types of shoes (in Colorado it is illegal to drive in flip flops). Not that you would probably ever be ticketed for it, but I do have a friend who was in an accident and was ticketed for driving barefoot. In the case of an accident I wouldn't want to have to exit my car barefoot. I also know someone that broke a foot driving in flip flops because they were slammed hard into the brake pedal.

I never have a problem with scuffing in the car. Perhaps it is because I drive an SUV and my foot sits more upright in relation to the pedals. I always rest only the heel of my shoe on the floor. In heels I use the bottom as a pivot point. I have no problem driving in heels (up to 5 inches) this way. I can't generally drive in flat slip ons though unless they have some sort of strap or fit tight. They seem to get dislodged.

Sihaya

Veteran

Wow Elly, I had NO idea. I wonder why it's illegal to drive in flip flops. I think I would use a pair of slip on clog like shoes to drive in and keep in my car.

Louise

Veteran

I came across this this morning http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11387195

Sihaya

Veteran

Wow Louise - thanks for this. What an eye opener. That's it, I'm keeping a pair of slip on trainers in my car. This has convinced me!

Scarlet

Veteran

I never felt comfortable driving in stilettos, but that video convinced me not to do it. I don't wear wedges or platforms, so that is not an issue.

Kari

Veteran

Yes, unfortunately. Patent leather shoes aren't actually so bad. It's more the shoes that are lightly colored with matte leather backs that become irreversably scuffed and stained. I have carpet floor mats and they really don't make much of a difference to me. The darker matte leather shoes aren't too bad after I rub them down with a leather weatherproofing/conditioning cream.

Also, I'm very clumsy and tend to scuff the toes of my shoes when I trip, be it over loose brick or carpet.

Barbara

Veteran

Sihaya, my cures for scuffs are pretty simple: Most scuffs can be covered with matching cream polish and buffed out. I have permanent markers (Sharpies) in different colors to fill in small scuffs on colored leather, and then polish with a clear high-quality cream polish or clear nail polish if the shoes are patent leather. I've even used model paint to touch up scuffs on metallic sandals! Just make sure it matches and use a TINY bit on a toothpick and fill in the scuff. Allow to dry overnight and cover with a thin coat of clear nail polish. For best results, always apply any marker or paint in a VERY thin layer.. Wear thin latex gloves when working with any paint or chemical. For more serious scuffs, seek out the best cobbler (shoe repair expert) you can find. Hope this helps!

Scarlet

Veteran

Barbara, do you do car paint scratches too?

Barbara

Veteran

ha ha Scarlet! Actually, I have touched up a few rock nicks on my Alfa Romeo convertible. But I leave the serious stuff to my husband and son, who are auto experts. It's rare to find engineers who actually enjoy working with their hands AND their brains!

Anonymous

I've done it before (scuffed my shoes/heels) whilst driving and at times I was in tears seeing the damage, especially on my new shoes so eventually I decided to keep a pair of old(er) flats in the car just for driving. However... there were few times when I was in a hurry and forgot to change and then... I would almost panic whilst driving, sort of "OMG, I have my good/new shoes on" when it would be too dangerous to reach for my "driving shoes" so I would just kick them off (one at the time and yes, there were times when you could see a shoe flying in the air inside the car :)) and drove bare-foot (for some strange reason though I had to always adjust the seat afterward :().

LeahJanes

I don't drive any more, but when did I just drove barefoot. I am a a bad shoe scuffer and I find it hard to drive in heels.

It's a common misconception that driving barefoot is illegal.
From Wikipedia:
"Another common myth is that it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while barefoot. Some people speculate that, because you use your feet while driving, there's more room for error and your feet could slip off of the pedals, resulting in an accident.[62] In fact, in all 50 states and territories in the United States, as well as in Canada, and in the United Kingdom, it is perfectly legal to drive barefoot."

link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot (it's in the myths and misconceptions section)

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