Longevity of Ballet Flats/Loafers - Is there a secret I am missing?

Emily

I love wearing ballet flats and have seen a few cute pairs lately that I would like to make my own, but regardless of price I seem to trash flats within a season of regular wear. The heels and toes get all scuffed up or they get smelly. (I have had some success with insoles/low cut socks on the stink front)

I currently have one pair of black loafers that I wear a fair bit to work but they are terribly dull. I am tempted to splurge on something more exciting, but don't want to spend too much on shoes I'm going to trash in a few months...

So if you have a sec, tell me...
How long do you expect your flats to last?
Are there any brands that hold up particularly well?
How do you keep your ballet flats in good shape?

13 years ago

Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from karymk

rachylou

Veteran

I have to walk my dog every day. I expect flats to last no more than 3 months. I don't spend money on them. HOWEVER... a good pair of Italian flats with hard, thick leather soles - they will last a year and you can resole them.

Socks are pretty much essential to avoid smelly shoes. I've found those half socks that just cover the front part of the foot are actually enough sock.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I've had the same experience with cheap flats. They were little more than fabric covered cardboard. Comfy, but they didn't hold up for even a year.

I'm now enjoying a pair of Me Too flats that are made like good, sturdy regular shoes (not like a slipper). They have a little 1/4 inch heel and a durable sole (not rubber). If you see flats hung up for sale on hangers, pass them by. You need shoes that come in a box! I hope you find some really great ones. My other pairs are Boutique Nordstrom and one that I glued suede insoles into so I can't read the brand. Sorry!

13 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I think ballet flats tend to do that because typically they have no structure and no sole to speak of--it's like wearing a sock. So they basically grind away and your foot distorts them and so on. At least, that's my theory. "Loafers" may come in a greater spectrum so I would say it depends. I had some "hard leather"--you know, the kind that can take a good wax polish--loafers with leather soles, maybe solid 1/2-3/4 " heel, and they lasted for years (re-heeled). I have several pairs of Clark's or LifeStride type slip-on shoes, probably not considered a loafer in the real sense, that last for several years--they have structure and thicker soles. So probably the more delicate and unstructured the shoe, the faster they will wear out.

13 years ago

Emily

Veteran

rachylou - I haven't tried the socks for the front of your foot, I'll give that a shot!

claire - I will keep an eye out for Me Too, thanks for the tip! I do buy better flats - in boxes, haha - brand wise in the past few years I've tried Nine West, Aldo, Naturalizer, and Jessica (sears brand), always in leather.

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Loafers I think depend on the brand and the type of shoe. Wen I think of loafers, I think of shoes that have a similar vibe to my DHs. So those, yes, they can last a couple of years.

Ballet flats depend. If you get ballet flats that are more like shoes than slippers, yes they can last longer. But if you wear them without socks, the odor can be an issue. Depends on how much your feet perspire.

One thing I have heard to help with the odor is to rub some baby powder on your feet before you wear the shoes.

13 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I expect more if I pay more. However, how often I wear them (daily? several times a week? a few times a month?) really determines longevity. Quality can be pretty significant too. If I wear them often, as in more days than not, then I don't expect them to last much longer than a year even if they are good quality ($100 or more). However, even at the $100 price point, I think the quality varies greatly and I get better wear with some than others.
Naturalizer and Aerosoles are trashed in no time. Nine West last a little longer, but not more than a season.

I think Franco Sarto have been the best moderately priced ones for me. I have a favorite pair of Franco Sartos (pewter patent ballet flats from NAS a few years back) that are several years old and still look great. I have another favorite pair of Faconnable ones (over $200) that I wore into the ground--as in going on more than five years--and they still look good. Not great, but very good. I just bought a pair of Madewell ones that look like they'll survive a year.

Leather soles make a huge difference, but they are typically limited to more expensive shoes and you absolutely have to invest in getting a Vibram or similar sole cover put on them by a cobbler before you wear them anywhere wet. However, cheap calculated over a short life isn't nearly as cheap as expensive ones with a sole cover divided over a very long life. My Faconnable ones were the most expensive of the bunch to buy, but with a five plus year life as a favorite, the cost per wear is nothing compared to the cost per wear for my under $100 Naturalizers that were trashed in a season.

Totally with you on the sock liners (I especially love the super low cut ones they sell at Macy's). Oh, and I am seriously not joking about this, if you spray your feet with spray on deodorant, it is amazing how it helps with the stink factor. All leather construction (leather outer, leather liner and leather sole) makes a huge difference in stink too, since leather does not pick up odors the same as synthetics. If I have a pair of flats that stink and I look at them, they inevitably have a synthetic liner.

13 years ago

deb

Veteran

I wear balet flats all of the time and I have some that I purchased five years ago. My criteria is the same as any other shoe. Good soles, leather lining, and stylish. I do rotate them and polish them regularly but have some I only wear at home. Once they become past their prime, they become garden shoes. The garden shoes I have even thrown in the washer. The leather survived just fine, as did the suede ones. I have two pair that just finished their second year as garden shoes and are ready for next year.

13 years ago

Charmian

Veteran

I think the other ladies have you sorted on the odor front

As for the longevity of the soles: I've only had two pairs of ballet flats in my life, and because I don't buy many I let myself "splurge" a little on both pairs. Both pairs have rubber outsoles and tiny little rubber heels. I haven't worn through the outsoles yet (almost 2 years of weekly use, so ~100 wears?), but it's getting close on one of them. For the heels, however, when they wear down I take the shoes to cobblers for replacement; about ~$10. If you need a visual, the outsole looks a bit like these (these are not my shoes, though!). As "k can shop" says, you can also get a vibram sole to protect the rest of the outsole.

Regarding the scuffing: I was lucky to start with nicer-quality leather, but I also clean and condition my shoes as-needed, and glue down small scuffs before they become big scuffs.

13 years ago

Charmian

Veteran

Oh yeah! Deb is spot-on with the part about rotating your wears -- shoes need to dry out if you want to prevent odors!

And to answer your other question: my two flats are from French Sole NY and Stuart Weitzman (they're Angie's shoes, and I saved forever for them!).

13 years ago

Veteran

I have had very good luck with ballet flats from Aldo. They last years for me, with fairly frequent wear. I do not have an extensive shoe wardrobe, so they get used regularly.

13 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

There are only two things I would add; one is that leather stretches when you wear it - so it needs time to go back into shape. that's why it is a good idea not to wear the same shoe everyday - you may find x2 pairs last more than twice as long. The other is if you protect leather shoes - with polish or spray before wearing them they won't scuff as much. Please ignore if you do all this already.

13 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

My Borns have lasted me for about 3 years of pretty heavy use (I wear them on the ward); and they have been resoled twice.

I think I need new ones now

13 years ago

Anonymous

I have many pairs of flats. I wear them all the time and expect them to last at least three years. As others have said I never wear them more than two days in a row, letting them air out and dry out in between. Most of the time I wear them with bare feet but I usually pop in a drugstore insole for comfort.
All my flats are leather and MeToo, Dr. Scholl's and Clark's are favorite brands.
My parents taught me to polish brand-new shoes before ever wearing them. sometimes I use mink oil or a waterproof spray too.

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think that some people are just harder on their shoes than others, no matter what -- even taking into account all these good bits of advice, you may be tougher on your shoes than some. In which case, rotating them more often might be key.

13 years ago

Eliza

Veteran

Hi- New member here. I agree that many flats are easily worn out, as are expensive leather-soled shoes. In my climate, with cold, wet winters, I have found that taking my favorite leather-soled shoes to the shoemaker to have a very inconspicuous rubber sole added reduces wear and prevents slipping. It is hard enough to find the right pair in the first place, and adding the soles when new really extends the life. Good luck.

13 years ago

Emily

Veteran

Here is what I've gathered...

What to look for:
-Leather outsoles and inside liners
-Substantial soles
-Some trusted brands are: Franco Sarto, Stuart Weitzman, Me Too, Clarks, Dr. Scholls, Born, Aldo, French Sole NY, Faconnable,

Care Tips:
-Consider having vibram/rubber soles added
-Socks or Toe Covers are a good idea, as are insoles
-Baby powder and spray deoderant on your feet can help prevent smelly shoes
-Don't wear leather flats more than two days in a row; let them dry and air out between wearings
-Protect and maintain leather with spray/polish

Thanks everybody for all the great answers

13 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Oh yeah, I should add that I have insoles put into my shoes too; and I definitely would protect them if they were gonna be outdoors shoes

13 years ago

Anonymous

I have had this same problem with scuffing my flats! I do a lot of walking, frequently on uneven pavement. Two tips I have found to prolong their lifespan are:

- a slightly higher sole keeps the soft leather a little further above the ground and helps prevent scuffs.

- toe and heel caps in something sturdier than soft leather (patent leather, fabric, etc) help protect the most scuff-prone areas.

Hope this helps!

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Emily, I just wanted to thank you for asking this question. While I do many of the things mentioned already, and am still plain hard on my shoes (what Suz said), it's good to see there are still more things I could be doing---and most importantly for me, to have a realistic idea of how long shoes can be expected to last. I realize now I've had unfair expectations in many cases (and not just the off-the-hanger ballet flats that Claire mentioned!) and it's not just me and bad luck!

Hope we both manage to walk longer in our favourite shoes! :o)

13 years ago

Emily

Veteran

ManidipaM, glad you got some good stuff out of this thread! I just had a new pair of flats fitted with protective soles, and I sprayed them with protective spray... looking forward to seeing how well they wear

13 years ago

chelsey

Member

WATERPROOFER! Always waterproof the INSIDE of your shoes. I worked at a shoe store 3 years ago during college, and that was a wonderful secret we told our customers. I've tried it myself, and I always waterproof my husband's shoes too (sometimes both inside and outside).
This works by protecting and sealing your shoe away from water (sweat) and help last a flat longer (especially if you protect inside and outside of shoe).
Hope this helps, I know it's been a long time. but this is a great tip to just know for all shoes!

10 years ago

Anonymous

Ah, an old thread, but nice tip, Chelsey.

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

That *is* a good tip

10 years ago

Glory

Veteran

I have a pair from Baretraps that seem to be holding up really well. I just bought a second pair from Geox at Townshoes, although Softmoc also has them. They seem really well made.

10 years ago

darla

Active Member

I love ballet flats and wear them ALL the time in the summer. I am not able to wear heels anymore due to some foot issues and I have a very narrow foot so the ballet style just works for me. I don't spend a ton on my shoes, but no they don't last all that long. When a pair works for me, I typically grab a couple of the same one.

I hate to admit it, but crocs has a couple of ballet styles that I love and work well for me. I HATE their infamous clogs, but have been pleasantly surprised to enjoy wearing a couple of the flats they offer. So far they have lasted me a few seasons!

10 years ago

karymk

Veteran

Emily my flats last because I don't think I am hard on shoes as a general rule. If I love a pair and don't want to toss them when they get gross I just have them resoled and polished up. I have some flats that are ten years old that I just can't bear to part with. I have a pair of Michael Kors black flats with a round toe and little round silver studs on the toe cap. I have taken those on Europe trips and walked miles in them with just a little suede foot petal under the ball of my foot. My Chanel ballets are good enough to wear all day doing errands or wearing to work, but not really for touring.

The most uncomfortable flats I have were ones I bought too small thinking they would stretch. Now I'd rather buy larger and use an insert under the ball of the foot for comfort and a better fit.

10 years ago

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