MetaChat - Shoe Shopping.

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

25 September 2007

Shoe Shopping. Do you have any tips for getting good shoes, fer cheap?→[More:]For years I've bought junky shoes that don't cost much, but I'm getting too old for that. I like presentable but funky/interesting shoes like those made by Ariat, Bjorn, Doc Marten, Fluevog, and Dansko. Does anyone have tips for finding those from a discounter or such? Or recommendations for other companies to look at? It's fall/winter shoe shopping time and I'd like to invest in one or two good pairs, but not at full price. Thanks.

post by: Miko at: 10:13 | 25 comments

I love DSW. Not sure if they have all those brands, but they do go reasonably high-end.

posted by occhiblu 25 September | 10:21

Fluevog has periodic sales on its website and zappos.com has all of those brands. I find that endless.com has the best prices, but it does not get fluevogs. Which makes me sad.

posted by crush-onastick 25 September | 10:25

Zappos is pretty cool.

You should check out Keen brand shoes. They make flip-flops and sandals, but I recently got a pair of shoes from them and I love 'em. They're lightweight, the sole is durable, and the last seems made for my feet. Of course these things are all particularly personal, as feet are all different.

I got mine at a brick'n'mortar shop, maybe EMS or Paragon Sports in NYC, but I'm sure you can find'em online too, prolly cheaper.

posted by Hugh Janus 25 September | 10:35

Sierra Trading Post might be worth checking out--I don't think they ever get Fluevogs, but they get some-if-not-all of those other brands.

I also like Keens.

posted by box 25 September | 10:36

Are you anywhere near a Nordstrom Rack? Their shoe department is huge (it's bigger than shoe departments in many mainstream department stores), they get lots of high-end brands, and the prices are excellent - plus they have lots of "Take an extra X% off shoes with such-and-such color tag" deals. Last year, I got these red boots I'd been drooling over for about a third of the original price.

I'll second DSW too. I know I've seen Bjorn and Doc Martens there, among other higher-end brands.

posted by sisterhavana 25 September | 10:51

I'll third DSW. I can also find Simple, Bjorn, Ecco, etc. at places like Marshalls and TJ Maxx.

I'm a Zappos freak. Most of the time they are full price or slightly discounted. To me, it's better to bit the bullet and buy a pair of Bjorns or Danskos at Zappos if you can't find what you want. At least the shipping is free and the selection rocks.

I bought shoes at Zappos last night. Not very comfy, but they're cute. The black ones are a classic, so I don't mind paying for them.

posted by LoriFLA 25 September | 11:49

OK, confess. How do you manage to find shoes that fit without trying them on? What am I doing wrong, cause I have to try on lots of shoes just to find ones that fit. The only brand that I know fits me consistently is ECCO....
Yes, I know my foot isn't "average". Is that the key?

posted by mightshould 25 September | 12:06

DSW is great. And if you know exactly what you're looking for, there's always ebay. Just search for pairs that are NIB (new in box).

posted by jrossi4r 25 September | 12:33

Thirding Keen's and Zappos. Keen's are the only shoes I wear anymore.

posted by doctor_negative 25 September | 12:35

OK, confess. How do you manage to find shoes that fit without trying them on?

This is the beauty of Zappos. Free overnight shipping and a liberal return policy (with free shipping, of course). So as long as you don't mind fronting the cost of the shoes, it's pretty easy to order a few pairs just to try on. The last time I ordered from them, I bought 4 pairs and returned 3 of them.

posted by mullacc 25 September | 12:43

mullacc: endless.com is the same way and I think you have a whole year to return (unworn) anything that doesn't fit.

posted by crush-onastick 25 September | 12:52

So as long as you don't mind fronting the cost of the shoes, it's pretty easy to order a few pairs just to try on. The last time I ordered from them, I bought 4 pairs and returned 3 of them.

I've always ordered one pair, then sent it back and ordered another. mullacc, you're a genius. Or I'm an idiot. Maybe both.

posted by box 25 September | 12:55

OK, confess. How do you manage to find shoes that fit without trying them on?

I've never had a big problem with shoe fit. Almost all shoes in my size seem to fit fine. I guess I'm lucky that way.

posted by Miko 25 September | 14:12

I don't usually bother to try shoes on, I've never had a pair of 13s not fit me. But then I only buy two pairs of NB running shoes and a pair of Tevas each year. And I have one pair of black shoes and one pair of brown shoes that I replace every five years or so.

posted by octothorpe 25 September | 15:22

I love how New Balance shoes feel. I don't like the big N on the side of the shoe, but they're so comfy.

I never have to try on either. I'm a perfect 9.5. I used to be a perfect 9. Pregnancy made the feet grow.

posted by LoriFLA 25 September | 15:46

Nordstrom rack is your friend! Oh and sometimes Ross and Marshalls have good name brand shoes for ridiculously cheap prices too!

posted by ramix 25 September | 15:48

The big "N" is easy to remove with a stitch-puller from most New Balance shoes (thoughthey've increasingly been using hot glue, which makes the trademark harder to pull off); the the shoes always look better without the "N."

Seriously, I do this to my shoes.

posted by Hugh Janus 25 September | 15:50

Do you guys run in your NBs? I use them for running, but the more serious runners look down on my choice. I'm all "Hey, they're 34.99."

posted by Miko 25 September | 16:10

I find NBs suitable for walking and kicking around in, light hikes, that sort of thing. I favor Brooks for running; they make a shoe that can withstand a 205 lb. pounding.

Those who sneer at others' choices in shoes may be buying shoes for themselves based on looks or price, not function. Too bad for them. If your shoe fits, wear it.

posted by Hugh Janus 25 September | 16:27

Zappos is really excellent.

posted by theora55 25 September | 16:48

I hear people rave about Ross Dress For Less quite a bit. Unfortunately, there isn't a store anywhere near where I live, or even the places where I travel fairly frequently.

posted by sisterhavana 25 September | 16:56

I'll try that with the NB shoes if the N is stitched on. Great idea Hugh.

Miko, I do run in my NB. Adidas also, but I've been using the NB lately. They're quite flashy and comfy too. I bought them at Zappos.

posted by LoriFLA 25 September | 19:15

'nother vote for zappos & keens.

*toodles over to DSW since I haven't been yet...*

posted by chewatadistance 25 September | 19:43

Miko, I have some damn nice shoes from all the brands you mentioned, I'm the definitive miser, and I get them for a relative pittance from various sources on eBay (new) as well as Sierra Trading Post.

Like you, I'm pretty easy to fit. I don't think I've had to return a pair more than once ever.

posted by tangerine 25 September | 21:24

I gotta give a shout to eBay. If you go to a shoe store and try on several different shoe styles for a particular brand to find the standard size for you, you can order new or gently used shoes on eBay for a great price. I bought 5 pair of shoes this past winter. I paid less than $100 for all, including shipping. I would suggest double-checking the shipping charge. I got a "great deal" on a pair of shoes just to find out that the S&H was $20, making the shoes not such a great deal. And almost all of the shoes I bought were Born. They fit me so well that I hate other brands now.

posted by Cinnamon 27 September | 01:44

← "I teach filmmaking in Vienna, || The BF sent flowers to me at work! →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN