Some time ago I had something of a saga trying to find a new pair of shoes. I’m a size 12, which admittedly puts me into the less mainstream size. I was looking for a particular type of shoe though; these were for work, and I like something plain yet sturdy. I always look for something quite plain, rounded, and black.
I looked high and low, and didn’t really find much. I ended up going all the way over to Milton Keynes to get a pair in the Barrats there. It’s now about six months later, and I’m looking for a new pair!
The heels seem to have gone on this pair, and it’s not something I think could be repaired. I’ve been having another little scout about, and it has occurred to me that there is a great disparity between shoe retailers. Broadly speaking, there’s two types:
- Expensive and niche. They’ll last, but they cost a damn fortune.
- High Street retailers selling VERY cheap, mass-produced shoes that last about a month.
I’m not being snobby about the High Street retailers. Their shoes are made to a price, and unfortunately, £20 doesn’t get you much in the way of quality these days. I had a look at some in ShoeZone and found they were just badly made, and really didn’t look like they’d last for very long at all. Brantano show some on their website I like the look of, only they don’t have them in store! They had a pair of Clarks shoes, although the soles on them were abysmal – I could see myself falling over pretty quickly, especially in ice.
I’m toying with the notion of something more in a trainer instead. If they’re black, it’d probably be OK. I might go have another look today; if I can really be bothered, that is.