college report dealing with shoes - in need of credible source assistance

Hello everybody!

Let me start off by saying it is a pleasure to finally join the community here, as I have always just used the site anonymously without being a member. Also, if there was a better place within these forums to make this post, I apologize. With my first post, I humbly request assistance from the community; allow me to give a synopsis of my situation ...



I am writing an informative speech (for my introductory speech class) on shoes. I am giving my audience a basic foundation of knowledge in what makes a quality shoe [the body of the speech, broken up into construction method, quality of materials, and the detail and effort put into the construction]. The significance of this for my audience is that, in the long run, purchasing an "expensive" pair of shoes of high quality (looks/feels good) would actually save someone money [with the proper care of course], as opposed to continuously having to purchase lousy, cheap pairs (looks/feels bad), and that the only way to reap these benefits is to have the basic foundation of knowledge I am giving them.

Now, here is my dilemma ... I need a credible source to quote proving my above statement, regarding the significance, is correct. This is where I am hoping that the community can help me, and I can be assisted in two different ways:

1.) A link to somewhere that has what I need (for the record I can paraphrase), or

2.) Someone credible here that could give me a few sentence response to quote (for example, in my speech I quote Jcusey and Ron Rider on many subjects). The passage I would be quoting would need to be stated generally, not in a way directly replying to my question.


I would be incredibly grateful for assistance.



Thank you for your time. = D

- some guy [Ockweird]

I doubt such a thing exists, just try common sense or an easier subject which lends itself to your objective.

Maybe something in the Vawsh book

Or Cary Grant, considered by many to be one of the best dressed person of all time. (Up there with Agnelli, JFK, Duke of Windsor, Prince Charles, etc)

http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201304/cary-grant-on-style

How much on should pay depends on how much one has to spend. I'm reminded of a piece of advice my father gave me regarding shoes: it has stood me in good stead whenever my own finances were low. He said it's better to buy one good pair of shoes than four cheap ones. One pair made of fine leather could outlast four inferior pairs, and, if well cared for, would continue to proclaim your good judgment and taste no matter how old they become. The same applies to suits, so permit me to suggest you buy the best you can afford even though it means buying less. Rather like the stock market: it is usually more sensible to buy just one share of blue chip than 150 shares of a one-dollar stock.

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You will not save money by buying more expensive shoes. Doesn't mean you shouldn't buy them though.



unbelragazzo said:

You will not save money by buying more expensive shoes. Doesn't mean you shouldn't buy them though.

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Can't resole the glued shoes. That's the advantage of a welt.

Also, nicer leather is much more resilient than CG leather. Can be "brought back to life" from a rainstorm with the right care.



jrd617 said:

Can't resole the glued shoes. That's the advantage of a welt.

Also, nicer leather is much more resilient than CG leather. Can be "brought back to life" from a rainstorm with the right care.

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I know all this. Doesn't change the fact that your $600 C&Js are not going to be cheaper than $100 Aldos

This probably isn't the best topic for this "informational speech," though.

Like you say, there aren't really any "credible" sources. Unless someone has done scientific testing on a pair of Aldo's vs. AE's.

I'm not even sure it's true that you can't resole glued shoes. In any case, resoling a pair of GY welt shoes costs as much as a new pair of crappy shoes.



unbelragazzo said:

I know all this. Doesn't change the fact that your $600 C&Js are not going to be cheaper than $100 Aldos

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What about a $250 AE "first" from the ShoeBank?



jrd617 said:

What about a $250 AE "first" from the ShoeBank?

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What about a pair of Kenneth Coles on sale for $60?

How about a pair of $14.80 shoes on Alibaba? Direct from the sweatshops of Guangzhou

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2013...s-business-casual-men-s-shoes/1292551261.html



jrd617 said:

How about a pair of $14.80 shoes on Alibaba? Direct from the sweatshops of Guangzhou

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2013...s-business-casual-men-s-shoes/1292551261.html

Click to expand...

Even better! My point is, I'm not sure what exactly the strategy is that would minimize your lifetime expenditures on footwear, but I am confident it does not involve ever purchasing any shoe for over $100.

That said, there are other goals than just minimizing expenditures. But stop kidding yourself that you're saving money by buying expensive shoes.

A single AE vs. an Aldo saves money. I'm using Aldo here because they seem to be very popular. The "default" shoe brand of our time.

You'll have to buy at least another Aldo, while the AE is still going strong.

In any event, I think OP should find a new topic. There's no firm evidence of my claims.

You;re likely to get a C grade