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High heeled mistakes?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi all, confession time. The purchase of these various heels spans 2010-2014. Since then I've done better in terms of common sense, purchasing only the high shaft boots with a moderate heel which have now been worn and are OK, maybe more stable being a bootie (shown worn in pic 1). I have a black and white winter two-tone not shown, comfortable enough and also worn by DD 1 which will stay, and a pink high heeled summer sandal worn for weddings which may stay, stable and quite comfy. There are a few mid heels not shown which are sometimes worn and may stay. The rest, I have tried on here. Interesting exercise. Some are better than others comfort wise and I think yes, they can be worn and may stay. 2 pairs are so uncomfortable I won't wear them, idiot that I am to be seduced by colour or style. I won't tell you yet which those are. Interested in which you think look good on me. The winter ones of course would not have bare feet and/or pulled up leggings as here, but those just worn today and easy to adjust.
So, these:
Pics 2/3 red patent 2010 worn 4 times. Cost ?$90.
Pics 4/5 grey/green patent 2012 worn 4 times. Cost ?$80
Pics 6/7 black suede/pewter Audley London 2014, worn twice. Cost $100
Pics 8/9 leather "Paddlapop pumps" 2010, ?$80, worn 6 times. These are keepers as the most dainty and worn for certain vintagey occasions also. Was pleased with the comfort just now.
Pics 10/11 2013 cobalt vintage bought on Etsy and shipped from Maryland! I suspect 80s era, brand says "Woodward and Lothrop", made in Spain. Cost $50 worn 3 times keeping for occasional wear or vintage.
Pics 12-13 2012 orange cork platform wedges bought for 1970s fantasy cost $28 worn 3 times.
Pics 14-15 2013 high red raffia rope heels also for 1970s fantasy worn once cost $16.
Pics 16-17 2014 high purple Skin brand sandals seen in a fashion magazine then on major sale $44 worn once.
Thank you for being my confessional on these 8 pairs!!
ETA: 2 missing side views added

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Dressing

32 replies

Latest reply was from

DonnaF

Veteran

All cute! The orange sandals and the purple sandals both look 1/2 size too long for you so they may be a tripping hazard. I think you have mentioned a pair of red shoes that are too high for you. Are they 14/15?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yes.Well remembered! In an early post, I couldn't chuck them out... I loved Minimalist's idea from this thread https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....y-personas where she equated them to part of the heroine's wardrobe from Burn Notice which I had to Google as we don't have that series here. They've sat forlornly in their box since. DD 1 aged 26 really likes them but can't wear them either. She thinks they could go on display in my new bedroom in the house we've just started building! She thinks at $ 16 they're not a bad ornament...

Laura G

Veteran

Lots of cute shoes there, and the red patent Mary Janes are TDF. The only ones I see an issue with are:

12/13 orange look unstable
14/15 too high for human feet
16/17 too big for you and also not your best look

Anonymous

I agree with LauraG. A fall or broken ankle or hip just is not worth wearing anything too high or unstable, no matter how cute they look. I am not loving the look of 4/5 on you. I'm not sure what it is.

kellygirl

Veteran

Agreeing with Laura! My least fave are the orange wedges. They don't look as flattering on the whole. I think the red are just too high and the purple, while gorgeous, look too big. The others are all fab!

bridgie

Veteran

Another strike against 12/13, the orange wedge. I know you are wearing black with all these shoes and I don't blame you. It would be a lot of bother to have to change pants for every pair of shoes you are wearing.

With that said, if you wore a printed dress or skirt. or even a printed blouse with that color in it and a solid bottom and call the color coral rather than orange, to my eye would work better. However, if you do wear them with black now is the season to do so.

You do have a fabulous collection of shoes and you have put a lot of thought into the selection of each pair.

Laura G

Veteran

Bridgie, I agree with you about 4/5. It doesn't have quite the same delicate (for lack of a better word) feel as Jenni's other shoes do.

rachylou

Veteran

I like the medium-height, 'wider' heels on you best. I don't like the spikier heels. I find you... more modern...

Bijou

Veteran

The purple sandals do not look like a good fit to me. I would be surprised if these are comfortable. They have a high heel, look a bit long and don't seem to fit your toes comfortably. However, what a gorgeous colour they are. I too have fallen prey to pretty but too high shoes. I have definitely learnt my lesson, I have kept a couple of high heels (just in case I need to wear them) and also to remind myself NOT to buy any more high heels again because I just don't like wearing them.

Liz A.

Veteran

I like 1-9. Would let the rest go if not being worn or uncomfortable.

JAileen

Veteran

The ones I like: 4, 6, 8, 10. The others look either uncomfortable, too tall, or ill fitting.

Dianna

Veteran

I agree with Laura G and others. The purple sandals specially look very uncomfortable.

skylurker

Veteran

I think #16-17 don’t fit.
For the others : it’s down to your personal preferences and comfort level.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Heh. This while I'm trying to talk JAileen into taking a chance on the most comfortable looking shoes ever. There must be a word for that. Two-faced? Hypocritical? Schizophrenic?

Thanks for the eye-candy. Depending on wearability, I think you should keep the first four pairs. All are timeless and seem to suit your style. I might also put the fifth into a holding zone for their vintage provenance.

I won't comment on the fit, but the purple sandals are gorgeous. Maybe not quite your style? As for the cork wedge/rope heel styles, I know you could rock that look and there will be comfortable versions out there. I'm thinking Swedish Hasbeen.

I really should sit down and write that guide to choosing and wearing heels so I can link to it at moments like this.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I knew there would be great wisdom here from you all! The very worst are the purple sandals. I don't know why I tricked myself into thinking they would be OK, they are 37 Euro and I wear 36. DD 2 said they were the coolest shoes I had ever bought and last time I wanted to cull them she said no. Her feet are a little bigger than mine, I think Euro 38. So the plan is there, I will say to her, if you want them take them away otherwise they go. $44 wasted but it could be worse. Never again will I fall for a colour like that and trick myself.
Second worst are the red rope sandals. They may become a $16 ornament in our new home. I will never wear them.
Third worst are the orange cork platforms. We are coming into summer and I do have some orange tops. They are more comfortable and I'll see if I may wear once or twice, out to dinner say, as part of a 70s inspired outfit. If not they can go too, at the end of summer.
I'm intrigued by Joy and LauraG not liking the look of 4/5. Looking at the pics I think I may agree! Maybe the crossed ankle straps are not flattering? They were also not very comfortable and maybe should go. I'm going to sleep now, will see how sleeping on it feels.

Anonymous

Sigh. I am going to take another approach to this post. I see two things. One, the title suggesting you know in your heart that these shoes are not your most comfortable option. Two, the number of wears. If I had a pair of shoes that received only 4 wears since 2010, they would not be in my closet in 2017.

Based on this post, all would be in the donate box. I need to soften this by saying I can't wear uncomfortable shoes. I only own one pair of heels that will likely be donated if they are not worn during the 2017-2018 Winter Season. I have no desire to ever purchase another pair of heels ..... ever. So my eye may be more jaded then the rest of the Forum.

krishnidoux

Veteran

You are so right to keep 8-9, they look very nice on you. Keep if they are comfortable enough to be more than a 2 hr shoe.

Shoes are such a difficult thing, since they're usually super expensive and, besides from making or breaking an outfit, they also often set the style tone for what you are wearing. Then there's the whol comfort issue.

These all look like they are in pristine condition, You should be able to get some $ back by selling them (consignment or online).

kkards

Veteran

i made my notes before reading thru the comments, so i see now that you've made a decision regarding some of shoes....but for what it's worth here are my thoughts.
#1 the boots...i think these look great. and if they are comfortable keep.
#2 red maryjanes--these look to big. are you walking out of them?
#4 black crossovers...are the crossovers to tight? hard to tell from the pictures, but look like they could be uncomfortable across the top
#6 black/silver pumps...not sure about these...is the pitch of the heel off?
#8 black maryjanes....FAB...fit looks great
#10 purple pumps..also like the fit here...look good
#12 organge sandal...too big
#14 red sandal...wow, these are high...IMO that says it all
#16 purple sandal...too big

Anonymous

I'm with Sterling. I don't believe shoes date well to begin with, unless they are true classics (loafers , stilettos, espadrilles etc) , so I also come to this what that viewpoint. That said, if hanging on to some of these is the goal - I side with JAileen in picking 4,6,8,and 10.

viva

Veteran

Congratulations, Jenni, on coming clean! hahaha! I know both how good and how bad that can feel. I'm not going to suggest anything about the many pairs of shoes you posted because I think you know. Your title ("mistakes") suggests a lot -- even if they are not all mistakes. And also, look how happy you are in picture number 1! Yes, those boots look like a great purchase. They look like they feel as terrific as they look. So congrats on those too.

In exchange for your confession, here is one of my own. I bought these Kate Spade shoes while shopping with a friend in the late spring. They seemed to tick all the boxes - perfect heel, beautiful color with my skin, uber feminine which I thought would be a nice offset for my tomboy look, etc. But SUPER expensive. But I bought them anyway. Since buying them, I have worn them exactly once (in six months) and after two hours I had to take them off because of severe pain. They are by far my worst purchase of the year (probably 2-3 years) and I'd give anything to have this money back again.

Shoes really can be seductive.

I say, just be rid of the bad ones - meaning, the ones that hurt. No one needs pain they can avoid. I just listed my mistake on ebay, in fact.

LaPed

Veteran

I think I'm on Team Sterling on this one! Uncomfortable shoes have no place in my closet.

Putting that aside, I agree with JAileen's assessment that 4,6,8,10 are the best-looking, and perhaps the most versatile. But they're all dark. Maybe purge the rest and add to your shopping list: one pair of light- or bright-coloured wearable low-to-mid-height heels. I like shoes in fun colours too. It's only recently that I've come around to the necessity of dark neutral shoes.

PS the booties look great and you look happy in them!

Anonymous

I'm sorry, Viva. Shoes really are that damn seductive. I'm sure most of us, including myself, have that same exact story in our history. The facts might change, but the story itself remains constant.

delurked

Veteran

Been there, donated that. I stand with Sterling (per usual). Also agree the purple are an easy move along pair. The others look fine on your foot and/or cute to me, but none would be comfortable enough for me to wear any longer. YMMV.

If it were me, I'd release myself from a cost per wear noose and consider a comfort per wear instead. If needed, keep two or three pair max to tide over dressier emergencies. Then consider what else is in your closet that you do or would substitute. And then think ahead to what you'd like to wear for dressier shoes and buy and wear one at a time to see if that indeed works.

ETA - orange pair looks too big, and it seems like you should focus first on one comfortable black/neutral and one comfortable red/orange.

Laura G

Veteran

Sterling is right. If you're not wearing them, there's your answer. I'm sorry to hear you're a size 36 because I was going to offer to take those red Mary Janes off your hands!

karen13

Veteran

late to the convo, but I agree with those who say get rid of anything uncomfortable, once you have tryied stretching, etc. The orange and purple sandals look too big. I struggle with open toes for this reason. I am trying not to buy any sandals that aren't wide width - it seems to help me here.

I quite like the looks of 4and 8. I prefer the more delicate straps to 6 and 10.

I am envious of your ability to wear heels. ( laughing because autocorrect just made that "hells"!).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

#16/17 are ill-fitting. So pass those on for sure.

Jenni, I have ZERO tolerance for uncomfortable shoes. I vote get rid of heels that you can no longer walk in. Full stop.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks to all. Special thanks to Approprio and Kkards. Certainly purple sandals and red rope soles are out. Likely green/grey patent also. And orange wedges likely by end of summer. That's half of them.
I know you are right Sterling. The 2 pairs I wear for vintage looks will stay to make those looks, they fit the best. The final two will be on notice with yours and Angie's words ringing in my head. Anyway with 4 pairs gone it makes room for more! (Carefully chosen and much flatter!)

Anonymous

Carefully chosen, of course.

I am in the midst of a major closet purge. I am going through my wardrobe on an item by item basis. I purged four pair of shoes last weekend. I got rid of all the shoes that were worn/dated, yet I had been keeping in "case I need them for some undefined circumstance." It was hard. I had to put them in the purge pile and then I literally had to leave the house to drive them to the Goodwill so that I could stop second guessing myself. I had to quiet the voices in my head. Now gone, I feel only relief.

And Delurked is right. I am ignoring cost per wear all together during this purge. If the item is not working for me, regardless of the cost per wear, I am purging.

Laura G

Veteran

You can think of it as ignoring cost per wear, or you can think of it as using the information it gives you. A high cost per wear after several years indicates a purchasing mistake.

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