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One huge success and one massive failure

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Not needing any advice just sharing. I’m on my third pair of Skechers since 2010. The 2010 ones have been machine washed since were used for gardening, and are now going in the “clothing bin”. The 2019 ones have been machine washed and demoted to gardening after 340 wears. The new June 2024 ones are almost identical to the 2019 ones and had their 11th wear today! They fit me so well, are really comfortable and I like how they are all black, no white soles. I think they look nice with my casual pants for non-work days for granddaughter care or casual weekends. (Pic 1, new on left, old on right.)
The failure is some 2017 Django and Juliette (Australian brand) tall boots. They are leather and I paid $270NZ for them. I got them because I had had my favourite tall black boots (Minx, NZ brand) since 2011 and when I had fallen once by slipping on a friend’s scarf two buttons on one of those had got a bit scratched. Although I feel now no-one but me would notice that. Pic 2, scratched buttons.
So I wore the new ones enthusiastically for a year or two but I had had to have the calf stretched a bit, and they were never quite as comfy as the old ones. They had only had 10 wears when I sort of “went off” tall boots maybe 2019? I don’t know why, maybe because I don’t wear dresses much?
So this year I pulled them out to wear with a woollen winter dress to a dinner out. And the back thinner leather is all pulled away! I think it looks awful!
Pics 3-5 pulled away bits. Pic 6 of the boots in general with the nice rose design.
I will put them in a “clothing bin” also.
The 2011 ones will stay. 66 wears and still good.
I feel 11 wears of $270 boots a very poor return Did I make it happen by getting them stretched or by leaving them unworn for too long?

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Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

Joy

Veteran

Good for you: Wear what you love. If they lose your love, replace them with something that will make you smile.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Jenni, first of all, it's clear those Skechers are the perfect casual shoe for you -- I'd be tempted to buy a second pair to hold in reserve! I did that last year with my knit oxfords when they went on sale and am I ever glad I did. My first pair have also been through the washer multiple times and they still come out white, but the silver on the leather tongues is a bit worse for wear, so I have demoted them to slightly more casual situations like walks/ bike rides and I wear the newer pair for slightly less casual situations. The first pair have not had 340 wears by any means but I wore them at least 50 times in one summer, because I wore them in preference to all my other shoes and sandals.

As to the boots -- I love the buttoned ones and you might be able to fix the scratched parts (which are not that obvious) with a Sharpie or similar.

The other ones -- where the leather cracked and pulled away -- that is dreadful! And does seem rather extreme for boots that only had 11 wears. However, leather does need some babying to ensure it does not dry out, etc. (Having said that, if that were the problem, wouldn't your other leather boots and shoes be showing the same effect???) I guess it *could* be partly the result of the stretching but I have not heard of that happening before and it seems quite odd. Truthfully the way it has worn makes it look more like faux leather than real leather -- I've had faux leather crack and peel like this, but never real leather.

Re going "off" tall boots -- they do trend and then wane and if you are not wearing as many dresses and skirts or skinny pants that you tuck in, you have less need of them. I own 3 pair of tall boots, the newest one purchased in 2017 and the others dating back to 2014 or so, and I rarely wear any of them any more, but I am not letting any of them go, either. I keep them in a holding zone. Tall boots are so expensive and so hard to fit, and they don't date terribly quickly if they are classic styles. I figure I have these and may yet start favouring them again at some point.

Sal

Veteran

That's super annoying.... not much to do but be frustrated. I would keep wearing the scratched ones.

The Skechers are perfect - glad you updated.

I have had two fails this year - some second hand boots that were just too hard to get on and off, and also too tight. Stunning boots - but suited to a very low volume foot. And a pair of trousers that had about 40 wears that split at work - in an irretrievable way!!!

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Marlies

I agree with Sue with het observation "Truthfully the way it has worn makes it look more like faux leather than real leather". Your button ones look lovely, even with the scratches.

bella

(website)

Veteran

That's very disappointing. You'd expect more than 11 wears from a pair of spendy leather boots.
I wonder if the scratches on the buttons cannot be fixed with a Sharpie?

Star

Veteran

Jenni I also have only seen faux leather boots peel this way. Your first pair are still totally wearable imo, maybe a bit of buffing of the buttons will help.

Suntiger

Too bad about the boots The design is beautiful! Unfortunately cost doesn't always equal longevity :/
My mom swears by her Sketchers for walking! If they made black with gumsoles, I'd try them too.

Dee

Veteran

Sadly, it looks like we can’t win them all with the way some products are manufactured these days, and yes 11 wears for pricey boots is very disappointing for sure.
Glad the Skechers have worked out well, I’d be tempted to duplicate them while you can. I love the button boots and the scratched buttons are hardly noticeable, I’d keep wearing them.

RobinF

Veteran

That is very disappointing about the new boots. I agree it looks like faux leather to me - at least that back part. I don't think the buttons look bad on the other boots. Maybe black nail polish would fix it?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Suz said!

Sorry about those cute buttoned boots, Jenni. That sucks

Glad the Sketchers are winners though!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you all for the commiseration on the boots. I do wonder now if I only thought they were leather. The rose patterned part is very thick and maybe I just assumed they were. I can’t remember if they were stated as such in store.
I don’t think I will be buying more tall boots anyway as I am still “off” them. Thank you Suz for the thoughts on that. I never tucked skinny jeans into them so it was with dresses or the tunic/leggings combination that I wore them. I will still wear the button boots occasionally as they are still good and I don’t feel the scratched buttons are that bad. I could also try a Sharpie.
I’m just not very good psychologically about what I see as a waste of money even though I understand intellectually about “sunk cost”. I will just get rid of the rose boots and forget the whole thing, and enjoy my Skechers!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh and Sal I’m sorry about your two fails for the year. Those boots of yours looked very attractive.

Ket

Veteran

Love your Skechers! Those are truly great on-the-go shoes!! I agree with Suz to buy another reserve pair.

And then… those boots :’( what a true true bummer, especially for the cost. I would try to fix the old pair with buttons. But the rose boots I would say bye and move on <3

kkards

Veteran

Wow super disappointing about the boots. I would agree that they should have held up better than that.
On the other hand big yay for the sneakers

Sal

Veteran

Jenni - the boots were new (to me) in 2024 - the trousers were purchased new in 2020 so had about 3.5 years of wear. But I think expensive (from memory $380!!) work trousers should last more than 40 wears. The seat had basically worn out. They weren't a real workhorse - I saved them for dressy occasions.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, that peeling leather is disappointing! That happens with faux leather and bonded leather — bonded leather is made from scrap leather, kind of like the particleboard of leather. This is really common on inexpensive leather furniture. They get to call it “leather” but the longevity is nowhere near the real thing.

Good reliable casual shoes are worth duplicating! Good work.

I bet you could touch up those buttons with a paint pen or a sharpie.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well Suz said it all. Leather needs conditioning but that separation looks extreme. The buttons are not that noticeable, but it seems they could be doctored a bit. Great about the sneakers!

avicennia

Veteran

I hear you on the scratches — it would bother me too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Janet said is super interesting. I didn't know that. Useful info for the future!

Runcarla

Veteran

“I’m just not very good psychologically about what I see as a waste of money.”

I feel that way when I see merchandise that is so bad I can’t envision anyone taking it home.

During my search for fisherman’s sandals, I ordered a pair from Zara. They were so heavy, with a hard, inflexible sole, and stiff leather straps. I couldn’t imagine anyone actually wearing them - ever. It was disturbing to think about the waste of making such a bad product. I’m still haunted by the experience!

Staysfit

Veteran

The hardest wardrobe item for me to predict are shoes. High price point does not equate with quality. They may feel and look great when I try them on in a store, and even after I wear them for a while at home. Once I put some miles into them, or wear them to a party where I’m dancing, the story may quickly change. They may wear out oddly, or pinch in an unexpected way. I remove anything that doesn’t feel right or looks worn, and I would also be bothered by scratched buttons on my own shoes but strangely not by yours !