Do You Look At People's Shoes??

DSmiffy

My Dad always said "You can get the measure of a person by looking at their shoes" In other words, are they clean and well maintained or dirty and shoddy?
They are wise words I have lived by and I remember him making us stand by the kitchen door on a Sunday night polishing our shoes for school, no other kids in our class did, this was in the late 70's, early 80's.

This weekend I was trying to instill this virtue into our Son, who started a new job today, while he gave me the "yeah whatever" eye roll.

While we were in the supermarket on Friday evening, a very glamorous young lady was in front of us in the queue, designer handbag, beautiful skirt suit, full make up, perfectly coiffed hair, looked like she had left her job at the office. I looked down to see a lovely paid of red stiletto shoes, the heels were down to just a nail sticking out of the bottom and the leather covering was peeled backwards up the heel a good inch all the way around. Not just an accident that had happened that day but months of neglect, the whole image was completely ruined. When we came out, she drove past us in a sparkling brand new car.
Now I can understand if someone was so hard up they couldn't afford the shoe polish, but obviously this wasn't the case for this lady. Such a shame, one whole image smashed.
Does anyone else check out people's shoes??

PasturesNew

Not as a rule, but I've heard you can spot well off people by their shoes. One night I was in a shabby, cheap, local, bar and this chap who looked like a throwback from the 70s was dancing on the grubby carpet in a drunken manner.

He looked like some old has-been rock star ...and drunk .... then I saw his shoes. Unbelievably smart and shiny. Immaculate shoes - rest of him a mess. The sort of outfit that usually terminates in old/grubby, worn/torn plimsolls.

Come chucking out time I saw him picked up in a top of the range chauffeur driven Porsche.

So there might be something in it.

Tropez

I can't say I do.

I don't really find the state of a person's shoes to be that important. Sure, if you have to attend meetings with clients it is probably the right time to roll out the polished, professional shoes but if I'm just going to the shops, I'll happily put on a pair of battered trainers because they're comfortable.

Same applies when I'm just going to the office - we have a fairly relaxed dress code anyway and it isn't unknown for even the senior managers to show up in polo shirts, jeans and trainers when there's nothing important on their schedules.

In that young lady's case, it's quite possible she's been at work and had to wear some nicer shoes, and then chosen to wear something that is more comfortable to her on the way home but I wouldn't have noticed her shoes anyway.

engineer_amy

i do look at people's shoes most of the time, not really to judge, but more because I just love buying shoes! I don't really look at the condition, just a passing glance to see how they fit in with the entire outfit.


I have on occasion while interviewing for new employees, looked at their shoes, as part of their overall appearance, but it has never ended up being a deciding factor in whether to hire them.


I have a couple of pairs of old faithfuls, that are very comfortable to run around all day in work, and the backs and the heels do tend to get very scuffed from resting on the floor mats of the car while driving. I do try to keep them tidy and have a little pot of heel paint to cover scuffs, but yes there are times when I have worn them out and forgotten to tidy up. But its a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, there are more important things to worry about.

Hermia

I don't really look at shoes. I think the only time I would judge shoes is if someone turned up for a job interview or a posh date in dirty old trainers.

I used to live in the country where people just lived in old walking boots. I now live in a city were lots of people walk to work and everyone seems to wear old shoes and then change at the office.

My shoes do look scruffy some of the time. I have foot problems so have to buy expensive shoes and cannot afford to replace them that often.

Lunar_Eclipse

Yes totally.

If I was to judge a person's appearance by one thing, it would be a close call between their shoes and (facial) hair, in terms of cleanliness. I'm staggered by how many smart and well groomed people I see in suits, men especially, who have scuffed, unpolished and very worn shoes. Totally ruins the whole outfit!

Last week one of my relatives posted a photo on Facebook enroute to a job interview. He's only 18 and was wearing his first, newly bought suit ... with (black) trainers! I felt it was too mean to dampen all the 'very smart' comments with my worry about how the trainers might cost him a job offer. Hubble works in a bank in London; there is no way he would be offered a job there wearing trainers.

amistupid

I was in the Army and never feel properly dressed until I've cleaned and polished my shoes. I always buy good quality footwear and because I look after them, they last for years, I think it's false economy to buy cheap shoes.

Lunar_Eclipse

Hermia wrote: »

I don't really look at shoes. I think the only time I would judge shoes is if someone turned up for a job interview or a posh date in dirty old trainers.

How timely, just commented on this (though they were clean, probably new trainers ... but still trainers!)

InsideInsurance

Hermia wrote: »

I have foot problems so have to buy expensive shoes and cannot afford to replace them that often.

In my experience its the expensive shoes that dont need replacing often as they actually last well, particularly guys shoes. Of course dont mistake fashion brands making things expensive with actually good quality shoes that will be expensive due to the materials and work that goes into them.

Despite being a guy I frequently have comments about my shoes from others (including other guys) but none of my shoes are under 3 years old and the oldest is nearly 6 years old (which is the point I switched to expensive shoes).

rachiibell

I often do the opposite! I love dresses and very rarely wear trousers but this can lead to looking a bit overdressed if paired with heels so I put on my trusty vans. I also wear trainers on nights out because where's the fun in looking nice if you can't dance :rotfl:

Jagraf

I don't mind newly dirty shoes, but I hate heels that have gone white, or not re heeled.