FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

Why is it so hard to find a pair of shoes that are comfortable and that look nice? Part of it is because I am not fond of shoe shopping to begin with. Fit is always a problem. My foot is not overly wide, and I never purchase a wide width, though I have noticed lately that many of the available shoes that are halfway decent looking are seemingly narrow in comparison to the same brand shoe's older styles. Finding styles that I like are also increasingly difficult. Many of the available shoes that might fit are just not to my liking. I do not care for many of the fancy fabrics or colors, and while I like basic, so must most other people, because it seems as if the most basic shoes are also the most expensive. In addition, the cheapest shoes, though often plain in style, are seemingly made to last for a wearing or two only. If you happen to live anywhere there is moisture, they immediately fall apart.

I once purchased a simple pair of flats. They were about as basic as they come, in a smooth leather like fabric, with a toe that was curved, but not too curved as to be pointy (I do not care for pointy toed shoes), and I figured they would last me for at least a season. The second time I wore them, I stepped off our walkway into the grass which was damp with a morning dew. I did this to check a bird feeder that is in our yard. By that evening, the sole of the shoe was coming off. I returned the shoes a few days later and the sales person asked me pointedly if I had gotten them wet. I replied that no, I had not. I then recanted when I thought about it for a second, and said that I did step into the grass when it was a bit wet from the dew. She said that was all it would take. They were known to fall apart if they got wet. Why would someone sell a shoe meant for everyday wear, that would fall apart that quickly when wet I will never understand.

While I know some people love shopping for shoes, I have never been one that is always looking for their next pair to acquire. I am more of the type that buys a pair and wears the same pair until it wears out. I do have a pair for dress, one for casual, athletic shoes, and a pair of hiking boots for the times during the year that our driveway looks more like a river than a place to park a vehicle, and the occasional jaunt in the woods with the dogs. I also have a pair of boots for the months that our walkway and driveway is buried under the snow. I expect each pair to last me at least a season if not longer. The boots for example should last me two or even three winters, as I do not wear them everyday.

This year, I think I am going to try shopping for my shoes on the Internet, even though I once said that I would never buy shoes that way due to the sizing. However, many online stores now offer detailed guidelines for fit, have generous return policies, and reasonable shipping. In addition, I figure it cannot be any worse than trying to find a pair locally that both fits and does not melt when wet!