https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:28:27 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055744 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:57:38 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1055744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've had some faux leather that has worn really well, but in general it does seem to breathe less and survive a shorter period than leather. But not always, and sadly it doesn't always correlate with price or brand. I've had some Payless and Kohls shoes that have lasted for years and some expensive shoes that have just fallen apart. *shrug* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055742 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:54:26 +0000 anchie 1055742@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have the worst experience with the faux leather. But it is in area of TMI - stink related </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055696 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:06:22 +0000 Von 1055696@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have not had the best luck with faux shoes, though some faux styles are more acceptable to my feet than others.&nbsp; For example, I bought a pair of woven leather peep toes from Naturalizer last year.&nbsp; Comfy and cute...but while they won on the comfort front, they lost on the durability front as the woven faux leather strips started to break and snap (which ruined the shoes). I have a few pairs of Naturalizers that have fared better though, and they are not so rigid, which means you don't have to expect them to stretch.&nbsp; </p> <p>I have found faux patent leather to be the worst offender as far as foot pain, sweaty feet (more foot TMI), and bad fit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055669 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:43:36 +0000 Wendi1984 1055669@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the advice, y'all. Thistle, I have owned a pair of Clarks in the past, and I have my eye on a couple of pairs now, hoping they'll go on sale.</p> <p>I also have fallen for several pairs of shoes at Boden, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. They will definitely be going on my Christmas wish list. :-)</p> <p>What I am drooling over:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=30191787">http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....d=30191787</a><br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://cdn.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Shoes-Boots/Boots/AZ175-LEO/Womens-Leopard-Chic-Ankle-Boot?cm_mmc=Social-_-Pintrest-_-ProductPinIt-_-AZ175-LEO">http://cdn.bodenusa.com/en-US/.....-Boot?cm_m</a><br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=28042810&amp;parentid=W_SHOES_BOOTS">http://www.urbanoutfitters.com.....HOES_BOOTS</a><br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/shoes-boots/26674028.jsp?cm_mmc=CJ-_-Affiliates-_-rewardStyle-_-11292623&amp;utm_medium=rewardStyle&amp;utm_source=AFFILIATES&amp;utm_content=rewardStyle">http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....s-_-reward</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055658 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:32:52 +0000 DonnaF 1055658@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have EXTREMELY fussy feet.&nbsp; I have had occasional great luck with faux leather and faux suede -- as well as occasional bad luck with pricey (for me anyway) leather shoes.&nbsp; The faux stuff MUST be 100% comfortable, even in the late afternoon, and I suggest wearing such footwear with socks or tights to absorb foot sweat especially since they are warmer than regular shoes.&nbsp; I also do not expect such shoes to last very long or have much padding or support, but the same thing can be said of cheap leather shoes. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055650 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:24:10 +0000 ironkurtin 1055650@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know that Stella McCartney makes high-end faux leather but I have no idea if they are more comfortable or less stinky than my own experience with nonleather shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055640 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:11:35 +0000 Thistle 1055640@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I splurge on shoes. I have tender tootsies and a bad back. Now, that being said, you don't have to buy $300 shoes to get comfort. But this is an area I would sink a big portion of your limited budget. Shoes and outerwear and the two areas I spend the most on.</p> <p>Perhaps you can check out discount places like 6pm.com. Also, check for amazing sales on Amazon. Some of the fabbers here have gotten shoes on Amazon for 60-70% off.</p> <p>I recommend Clarks as a brand. They tend to be reasonably priced to begin with, and you can get them on sale for around $50 or so. Still not cheap, but comfy, comfy shoes.</p> <p>Try this link:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aamazon&amp;keywords=amazon&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382116408#/ref=sr_nr_p_8_2?rh=n%3A672123011%2Ck%3Aclarks%2Cn%3A%21672124011%2Cn%3A679337011%2Cp_8%3A2229054011&amp;bbn=679337011&amp;keywords=clarks&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382116436&amp;rnid=679792011" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9.....82116408#/</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055636 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:08:51 +0000 unfrumped 1055636@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agree re: leather. Not only comfort, but durability--frequently the faux leather will scuff or faux suede rub off and the shoe may look shabby in just a few wears. Leather dye finishes are more durable and&nbsp; will usually respond to protectants and polishing. I will occasionally buy a fabric-based (upper) shoe in order to get a fun pattern and at least these are usually comfortable, if not durable, so aim to get these on sale/discount store.<br />Agree that you don't need to spend $400 but watch for sales, discounted shoe stores. I've had some really good luck at TJMaxx &amp; Marshalls, but also have made some poor choices there with sales goggles, and so have gotten really stern with myself about what I'll buy there. At my store, there are very few real finds, but mostly the designer or brand name on its low-end production items. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055630 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:00:20 +0000 Isabel 1055630@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For dacades, I scrimped on shoes. &nbsp;I liked a variety &nbsp;( ironically, a variety of black and brown, LOL ). &nbsp;Then I discovered comfortable shoes. &nbsp;I also learned what made them comfortable and long wearing : &nbsp;leather. &nbsp;I still get non-leather "fun" shoes at places like Payless every once in a while. But they are made for super comfort nor do they last very long.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055621 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:49:53 +0000 jurocha 1055621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have any complains on faux leather's comfort. And I own faux leather from Pimkie, a rather cheap and youth-oriented brand. </p> <p>That said, I noted that... (Too-much-detail spoiler alert here. Beware! Don't say I didn't warn you first!) foot odor happens more often with faux leather than with true leather. If you rotate your shoes everyday and plan on wearing the faux leather only with socks, no problem. If that's not the case, you might consider either saving some more or going for a different material. Suede tends to be cheaper, looks elegant enough and is, as long as you spray them before the first use with a water repellent product, surprisingly long-lasting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055617 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:39:15 +0000 Wendi1984 1055617@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like I will just save up a little longer and stick with leather. :-)<br />Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055615 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:36:39 +0000 Diana 1055615@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, in my experience faux leather is almost never comfy, regardless of price.&nbsp; It's because it's essentially plastic, so it does not stretch or conform to the foot the way real leather does, and it does not breathe.</p> <p>If you really don't want to wear leather (for example, for ethical reasons) then I would stick to fabric, like canvas, or technical materials, like those used in running shoes, because at least those will breathe.&nbsp; They won't look like leather though.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055611 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:29:50 +0000 kkards 1055611@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i think its partly the material, but also the actual way the shoes are put together. (most athletic shoes are not leather, but they are worn for comfort). i find that shoes are one area that price and quality are often linked (not saying that a $400 shoe is better than a $100 shoe, but i tend to find the difference between a $20 shoe &nbsp;and $100 is HUGE).&nbsp;do you have a marshalls, tj maxx or dsw near? they usually have some great values. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055600 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:20:53 +0000 Amy 1055600@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>From my experience it is...I'm sorry to say. If there's one thing I would budget more for in my wardrobe, it's shoes. I can't stand to have unhappy, uncomfortable feet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/about-leather-v-faux-leather-shoes#post-1055599 Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:19:26 +0000 Wendi1984 1055599@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am doing a lot of online shopping for shoes/boots lately. (Mostly browsing at this point, but I do want to buy a pair soon.) I don't have a very big budget, so I am having trouble figuring out if it's worth it to buy faux leather. My experience with faux leather so far is that it's uncomfortable! Does the comfort level of faux leather vary much; will faux leather from a good brand feel better than faux leather from Target? Or should I save up a little longer and get real leather?</p> <p>I recently bought some cute oxfords at Target; I was eager to try wearing oxfords, but I didn't want to pay $$ until I knew that I'd really wear oxfords. Anyway, for twenty bucks, I got some cute but not very comfortable shoes. I put foam pad at the heel to prevent rubbing, and put in padded insoles. I can definitely wear them to events where I'm not doing a lot of walking, but I'd never wear them to the mall or zoo. Is this typical for faux leather? </p>