I feel that shoe thrifting is a touchy subject. People are often hesitant – or downright grossed out – at the thought of buying used shoes. But I believe there is a lot of potential out there so today I’m offering up tips and thoughts on Thrifting Kicks.
Above are 3 pairs of shoes I thrifted this spring. A pair of Converse high tops (5$), brogues from Browns (3$) and some Zara brogues (I can’t remember the price, under 10$). Other footwear I have thrifted: a pair of Sorel winter boots (worn here), several pairs of cowboy boots (like these), black Nine West leather boots (worn here) and my old moccasins (worn here), among others. Hmmm obviously I have a thing for boots…
p.s. Holy trip down memory lane looking through my old style blog! So many hair styles…
So I’ve rounded up some tips and tricks from some of the best thrift store shoppers I know. I hope this helps convince you to give second-hand shoes a shot. This doesn’t mean you should pick up the first pair of hideous shoes that fit you and are priced at 2$. Nor does it mean you should pick up an amazing pair that does not fit you just because you really want them. (Trust me, i’ve tried, threatening and wishful thinking won’t make them fit any better). Take your time and come home with something(s) that you will be happy to wear and feel comfortable in. I always try to keep a mental inventory of items I have been needing/wanting so I can easily decide if they have a place in my closet. Because really, do I need a 5th pair of moccasins? (debatable)
Ignore the sole. When it comes to thrifting shoes, look at the potential. Gross inside? No problem. Worn out soles/heels? No problem. For the cost of thrifted shoes ($3-$9 from experience, sometimes more for boots) a quick trip to your (LOCAL) cobbler is well worth the money. Generally, the soles and/or heels and the interior can be fixed for about $15 at most, within a one-day turnover. I have transformed the funkiest of shoes into glorious, comfortable, clean footwear for little to no additional money. Plus you get the added feel-good benefit of supporting a small, local business!
Look at all of the shoes. This is a great rule for thrifting in general, as most items don’t get properly returned to their ‘place’ after someone has looked at them. Often times even the staff is unsure of an item’s proper placement within a thrift store (beachwear in lingerie, size discrepancies, gender, etc). This is why it pays to look in all the size ranges- just in case. This means it is super important that you also know your size in MEN’S shoes. Some of my more killer boots have been thrifted from the boy’s (you will more than likely have better luck there anyway, as most men have larger feet than you). This will further pay off as vintage sizing is different from today’s- especially in the shoe department. Feet were narrower, so you may also find properly fitting shoes in the larger size ranges.
WANT MORE ZOE? (who wouldn’t?)
Check out Haiku Ambulance. She has killer style – like wearing suspenders and a belt or naming her hair after a duck’s ass.
This is the scene: I wear my newly thrifted GUESS flats to work, and a co-worker compliments them. I tell her they came from the Salvation Army, and she responds with something like “Oh, I thrift shop, but I just can’t do shoes.” A variation on that conversation has happened to me many times over. For some reason, people who don’t thrift, and even people who do have trouble thrifting shoes. I’m not one of those people, and I’ll tell you why.
When I first started thrifting for shoes, I was admittedly a little squeamish as well. My change of heart happened, though, when I thought back to the days of sharing shoes with my roommates, friends, cousins, and sisters. If we were all heading out for the night, and I spotted a pair of flats that worked with my outfit better than my own, I wouldn’t hesitate to wear those shoes. So, I basically told myself to get over stranger danger and start thrifting for shoes.
When I thrift shoes, I apply all the same rules I would for thrifting any other item: Is the item in good condition? Is it gross? Is it a quality label? In many ways, thrifting shoes is even easier than thrifting other items, because their wear and tear is much more obvious. I also have to give a little credit to the thrift store I shop at: they wouldn’t stock shoes in yucky condition. They know they wouldn’t sell, and I know nobody wants my old runners from that one summer I tried to jog.
Of the many pairs I’ve purchased over the years, many of them still had their “new shoe” stickers, and are no more pre-worn than if I had purchased them retail. If they weren’t brand new, all it takes is a thorough glance at the sole and tread to appraise their condition. I’ve scored some great vintage kicks this way.
I want more people to thrift. I want you to thrift. But if you still can’t get over your sense of stranger danger, I won’t pressure you to hard.
More shoes for me!