Do You Look At People's Shoes??

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Yes, I do. Most of our shoes (we're the same size) are a) unisex(!) and b) knackered, but I do have trainers which are mine alone and some girly boots (mostly in ridiculous patterns). Plus a couple of pairs of cheap but almost unworn flat pumps which come out for interviews.

I do polish the leather ones when he's not looking and change the laces when they look untidy - but as long as they aren't caked in filth, everyday stuff is left in its natural state of knackeredness, as there isn't anything you can do to improve the look of shoes that have been glued together until there's more glue than sole.

Errata

Speaking as someone who's been accused of having the national collection of shoes - I'm with the OP's dad on this. If someone's shoes are manky it makes me wonder what else is manky.

Georgiegirl256

I don't make a habit of checking out someone's footwear, but if I do happen to notice them and they are scruffy, then yes it is hard not to judge.

lady1964

I notice people's shoes most of the time, particularly if we're eating in a nice restaurant or whilst I'm at work and their clothes are smart.

I always carefully match my shoes to what I'm wearing and have lots of (too many) shoes. I have some expensive shoes which I really look after so they last and last. I think because I notice shoes, I think everyone else does too. I can't bear seeing the white price sticker on the soles of shoes, I don't know why but I can usually spot them. Like someone else said, if a persons shoes are scruffy, you wonder if they look after the rest of their clothes & undies ��

Tropez

lady1964 wrote: »

Like someone else said, if a persons shoes are scruffy, you wonder if they look after the rest of their clothes & undies ��

Really? So if I put on my battered trainers when I popped to the petrol station, if you noticed them you'd start thinking I hadn't changed my underwear in a month?

During a training seminar a few years back, we were reminded of the story of John Barrier who, as he tells the story, was cashing a cheque in a Washington bank and asked for his parking to be validated. He had walked into the bank in very scruffy clothes, which probably included scruffy shoes. According to him, the teller looked him up and down and refused, citing that they would only do it for customers carrying out transactions and according to her, cashing a cheque didn't count. He asked to see her manager/supervisor, and again, was looked up and down by the manager and told no.

He then emptied his account of more than one million dollars and took it down the road to a different bank. Barrier was a self-made millionairre who had spent the past thirty years in construction and renovation. As a result, he often dressed shabbily.

It's not quite the same if someone is wearing a fancy suit and tatty shoes, but the point is still valid - you really should try not to judge someone based on the state of their clothes as there could be plenty of valid reasons for them to dress the way they do. Some people in suits, for example, might deliberately wear shabby shoes outside of the work place so that they don't muck their better pairs up.

Kaye1

Yep, ours are always cleaned. My Birkenstocks usually get thrown in the washing machine too! Sometimes if we are in a rush, it may be a quick wipe with a baby wipe but usually polished on a Sunday night.


On a slight different note, it is interesting to see the children's shoes at school- my LO's are always wiped/polished. However, her best friend at school only has her shoes cleaned once a term.


I asked her dad thinking she had got it wrong and he said that he cleaned them once a term. (We are good pals, don't think I am the shoe police!) The irony is that they spend a fair amount of Startrite shoes yet don't clean them, so they look like complete rubbish!

meritaten

my OH drives me nuts - he will wear 'dress shoes' with jeans and I have to stop him wearing 'casual shoes' or trainers with Suits! he hasn't much dress sense tbh, and I would never ever let him choose my clothes for me. for gods sake he pairs cream shorts with white Tshirts (but I let him get away with that on holiday). and he wears socks with sandals!!!!!!!!!!!!!


why do I let him? perhaps because I live in leggings, biker boots and as many Tshirts and Cardies as I can pile on because I feel cold all the time. (unless its in the 30sC)

lady1964

Tropez wrote: »

Really? So if I put on my battered trainers when I popped to the petrol station, if you noticed them you'd start thinking I hadn't changed my underwear in a month?

During a training seminar a few years back, we were reminded of the story of John Barrier who, as he tells the story, was cashing a cheque in a Washington bank and asked for his parking to be validated. He had walked into the bank in very scruffy clothes, which probably included scruffy shoes. According to him, the teller looked him up and down and refused, citing that they would only do it for customers carrying out transactions and according to her, cashing a cheque didn't count. He asked to see her manager/supervisor, and again, was looked up and down by the manager and told no.

He then emptied his account of more than one million dollars and took it down the road to a different bank. Barrier was a self-made millionairre who had spent the past thirty years in construction and renovation. As a result, he often dressed shabbily.

It's not quite the same if someone is wearing a fancy suit and tatty shoes, but the point is still valid - you really should try not to judge someone based on the state of their clothes as there could be plenty of valid reasons for them to dress the way they do. Some people in suits, for example, might deliberately wear shabby shoes outside of the work place so that they don't muck their better pairs up.

I didn't think I was being that judgemental but can see that's how it might come across.

What I meant was that if someone looks smart but has really badly looked after shoes on, then yes, I might wonder about the care they take with other clothes.

I often wear old track pants when popping out for petrol or the papers & will put on old trainers, maybe people judge me on that. I do see people walking to work in suits with trainers on, I can work out why they are wearing the trainers and yes, I get your point about shabby shoes but equally, just because a persons opinion differed from mine, I wouldn't think they are being judgemental.

nearlyrich

Leather shoes need cleaning and should be shiny my children were in the ATC as teens and they both know how to get a good shine on. DH wears leather shoes to and polishes them regularly too.

VfM4meplse

I have heard that high street market researchers judge people by their shoes (if they want a middle class response, that is!).

I love going out in v understated (not scruffy) clothes but never cheap shoes!