how to tell if a shoe is expensive

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by hoodleehoo

They say powerful business people look at your shoes first.

There are many powerful business people who are nice.


- B

 

[glenjay]

Your question introduces somewhat of a fallacy, specifically "post hoc ergo propter hoc".

Powerful business people (and others that appreciate shoes), do not look at shoes to see if they are expensive, they look at them to see if they are shoes of good quality and well cared for.

So the question would be how do you tell a quality shoe from a cheap shoe.

1) Quality leather seems thicker and richer than cheap leather (and holds a better shine)
2) The waist of the shoe will typically be narrower on a higher quality shoe to fit the foot better.
3) The heel counter of the shoe will have more shape the fit the foot better.
4) Leather sole (typically thicker means better, but not always). English style is thicker soles, and Italian style is thinner soles, in general.
5) Leather stacked heel

Shoes should be polished and repaired as needed. The rubber insert on the heel cap should be replace before it becomes worn down to the leather. The term "well heeled" comes from the days when shoes were handed down from older to younger child until the shoes were worn out. If you could afford new shoes, or afford to resole and replace the heel cap of your old shoes, you were considered well heeled.

 

[Ich_Dien]

Whether they have a metal bar across them reading 'REACTION'.

 

[a-rock]

Originally Posted by Ich_Dien

Whether they have a metal bar across them reading 'REACTION'.

 

[emakris]

I have seen some pretty expensive cheap shoes. The last one was a pair of Gucci boots at Harrods - it retailed for almost 600 quid and it looked the part but construction was very poor indeed; even the sole had been glued on. The salesperson was adamant about that.

Therefore, I don't see how one could possibly answer the question if one considers that a pair of ready-to-wear Edward Green costs about the same as the aforementioned Gucci. Or indeed, that a pair of Crocket & Jones or RTW G.Cleverly is almost half that price.

The "powerful business people" probably look at how clean and tasteful the shoes are rather than how expensive they look.

 

[Shikar]

Originally Posted by fritzl

the gemming factor.

Originally Posted by Manton

The easiest way to tell is to look at the price tag.
Both my replies in this thread have been used. Regards.

 

[JoyDiffusion]

At first glance, I thought the title said, "How to tell if she is expensive." I thought I had wandered into the social life sub-forum and this was an article about dating/marriage.

 

[brandall10]

I guess this is different across different industries - but being an engineer in the medical devices world, the VPs around here who make more in stock options than salary still tend to wear crap shoes w/ ill fitting suits. I think this only matters if you work on wall street (for the US folk that is).

 

[glenjay]

Originally Posted by JoyDiffusion

At first glance, I thought the title said, "How to tell if she is expensive." I thought I had wandered into the social life sub-forum and this was an article about dating/marriage.

Just look at the soles of her shoes. If they are red, she is expensive.

 

[SpooPoker]

Expensive?

 

[acidboy]

Originally Posted by kcc

Devotees of any hobby develop a keen eye for quality. Most horologist can detect franken watches at several meters.

while that may be true, frankenshoes are pretty pricey

 

[SpooPoker]

Originally Posted by acidboy

while that may be true, frankenshoes are pretty pricey


Oh, those Berlutis are just.... hmm. wow.

 

[oaw01]

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

Expensive?

Sweet as hell. Where can I get a pair? It would look good with my 4 button Sean John suit.

 

[Insight]

I think you are approaching this wrong. Powerful people tend to look at shoes, but not in terms of price. They are looking for things like appropriate shoes, and if the shoes are polished/shined/maintained. The term "well-heeled" comes from wealthy people being associated with shoes that have minimal visible wear (with the heels usually wearing first). Tacky, scuffed, expensive shoes that belong in the club will get you no points in the business world.

Edit - glenjay got to the well-heeled thing before me.

 

[spcl-k]

isn't the squarer the toe, the more expensive it is?