How long do your shoes last... from wear & style perspective

cloud9

If I actively wear a particular pair of shoes (lets say once a week), how long are they supposed to last? I know they'd get scuffs, but the heels themselves how long-lasting are they? (let's assume they are of decent quality, not Payless or Cole Haan, typical brands like Naturalizer, Bella Vita, Born, Trotters..) Do you re-heel, or even re-sole your shoes?

For trendier shoes, how long do you keep shoes until they look "off"? 2-3 years? 3-5 years?

15 years ago

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from

Louise

Veteran

I get shoes and boots re heeled and re soled. My main problem is that I wear through the lining (i must have funny shaped little toes) which I think is irepairable. I had boots redone last year I'd had them about 3 years but had only worn them heavily in the previous 12 months. I also wear down the outer edges much quicker that the rest of the sole so had to have them re healed as the outer edge was wearing into the main body of the heel. Kitten heels need re heeling really regularly mine after 6 months of regular wear x

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

When I buy shoes, I budget it with the assumption that I will keep them at least 2 years. Shoes that don't get out to play as much obviously last much longer. After 5 years I seriously consider whether they are still "in"
Thinking about recent purchases... I bought the Clark's Smooch sandals last spring. I probably wore them 1-2 times a week over the summer. They don't look pristine,but they are still in really good shape. I have no doubt I can wear them through next summer.

15 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I wear my ballet flats a LOT. One of my pairs of Me Toos has developed a hole in the side after constant wear for 6+ months. These I will toss soon because I know the hole cannot be fixed.

I have another pair of ballet flats by a Nordstrom brand that I also wear constantly. After about 6 months of heavy use I wore through the insole on these, so I had that replaced. The cobbler just took out the old insole and replaced it with a generic leather one. Good as new! I'll keep these shoes for years and keep "fixing" as needed because they are soooo comforable and I love how they look.

I had some suede boots that I tossed after one winter in Chicago. The salt and slush really hurts shoes!

15 years ago

(website)

Veteran

My work shoes (sneakers) wear out within a year but my 'play' shoes pretty much last until I'm tired of the style or I get a new better pair to replace them. To be fair, I only wear shoes outside of work for probably less than 20 hours any given week. Many of my shoes are a good 5 years old and don't feel 'dated' to me. I buy mostly according to personal taste vs trendier styles so I still love them as much 5 years down the line.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Mine wear down quickly because I walk a lot on concrete. I don't really know how long they last from a quality perspective because I don't generally keep them long enough to find out, but since I don't wear very high quality shoes, it probably wouldn't take long.

However, this year I bought my first real investment shoes (2 pairs of Stuart Weitzman boots--yes I love reminding all of you of that), and I expect they will be my friends for at least a decade, barring any sudden changes in my feet. They are both fairly simple, equestrian styles that won't date (I know some people question the longevity of OTK boots, but I don't see mine dating just because they happen to be a little taller than a standard riding boot).

I do not typically get things re-heeled or re-soled, but until recently I haven't really liked my shoes enough for it to be worth it...sad but true. However, my Star Ling boots which I wore all last winter, are really worn out, so I may get them cleaned and resoled at some point. They are the comfiest boots I own. Like slippers. The only problem with getting shoes fixed up is the time I have to go without them. I'm VERY dependent on my footwear.

15 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Marianna, I had the same thing happen with a pair of Me Too flats. I'm not sure how it happened, but there is a definite hole all the way through the side near the sole in my favorite bronze pair. I need to place an order for a new pair at DSW before they run out!

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm so hard on my shoes, I rarely get more than six months from a fashion shoe, but where I live is so impossibly cobbled and hilly it's unavoidable.

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, most of my shoes last for years, but I haven't gotten any resoled or reheeled. I can't remember the last pair of good shoes I had to replace. Oh, I think I had a pair of Me Toos black flats that only lasted a year, and of course any Target shoes are good for 3 months or less, but beyond that I keep on wearing them. But I have a huge collection so they get rotated a lot.

Sandals, however, whether they are expensive or cheap, casual or for work, only last one year each. I wonder why that is?

15 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Kristen - I think sandals get worn down quicker because they are worn without socks and are outside more, because people spend more time outside when it's sandal weather.

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Good points, Kate! Maybe because it's hotter too and so your feet sweat more and that breaks down the leather faster.

15 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

The more expensive the shoe, the longer I expect to keep them. I typically get shoes to last for 2-3 years. More often I get tired of them versus wearing them out. I also find boots will last around the same time frame. A cheap shoe, I'm lucky if I get the entire season out of them. Sandals, usually 2 years, after that I feel like they need replacement since my feet are bare and sweating directly on the sandal. My current footwear, my cowboy boots are the oldest at 5 years and counting. No resoling yet with them either.

15 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Most of my shoes last 2-3 years. Very rarely I will get them re healed. I am horrible with shoes and many will get scuff marks on their first wear, which is for me the main factor that determines when they get retired. Boots tend to last a bit longer, and I do take good care of them: sprays, rehealing etc.

Some shoes that are worn a lot, 2-3 times a week for 6 months or so, usually get worn out after a year. This happened with my Me Too ballet flats and wedges, which I was luckily able to replace with exact same pairs.

15 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

Most of my shoes last 2-3 years if I wear them heavily, otherwise longer. I get my shoes re-heeled probably once a year. I walk a lot, often on pavement.

15 years ago

Elly

Veteran

Never had anything reheeled. I like shoes with rubber bottoms, which seem to last longer against all the walking I do than the plastic or leather ones, which I quickly grind down on the outside. I have a very small shoe wardrobe an will wear through two or more pair completely in 6 months. I need very supportive and comfy shoes, and when they stop being either I have to toss them. I am not wearing cheap shoes either. The last two pair I had to toss were over 100 bucks--- not cole hanns by any means, but not inexpensive either. Now, dress shoes can last me years and years because I rarely wear them. I usually replace them every two years or so as I find something more comfy. I also have boots that have lasted much, much longer-- 8 years, to be exact.

15 years ago

Laurinda

Veteran

Four-year-old post, brought back by a spammer.

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Um, if I wear them dog walking, about three-four wears before they go in the bag to take to the shoe repair guy. Three months for running-type shoes worn to the bakery and a few dog walks.

I basically have a lot of shoes and don't even wear them every week so I can do a look for at least six months.

10 years ago

lyn67

Veteran

At first I was just so happy to see QueenMum and Kristen commenting again...-then got a bit suspicious, and yes...unfortunately this one is a 4 yrs old thread...

10 years ago

LynneS

Active Member

I'm hard on heels, so I do get them re-heeled. I rotate my "favorites" in and out of wearing, so they last a long time. I buy mostly classic styles, so I don't have to think about whether they're still in style. I've been trying to buy better quality, because I'm more motivated about maintaining them.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Cannot say I've ever reheeled or resoled. I usually take that state as a sign to let them go. I am super conscious of the condition of footwear and just will not wear them when they get worn down. I will polish and glue and clean until they just don't look right anymore. 2 or 3 winters for boots worn outdoors (i.e. salt exposure ) and then they are relegated to casual use. A little longer for pumps and sandals - although it all depends on how much wear they get. Don't you find though that they just look tired after a season or two of wear? All this said, of course I have a stash of boots and shoes that are older than this, but I find I don't really wear them much. I go for the newest and most interesting, every time.

10 years ago

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