Shoes aren’t like vacuum cleaners or children, you can’t just put them in the closet when you’re done with them; they need special attention in order to be their best. For the fat-footed girl whose firm understanding of the ground sometimes leads to a painful situation in re: the little piggies, this is doubly true.
So here, from my closet to yours, are the indispensable tools that will make your Pradas less painful.
Shoe stretchers are like martinis, you can never have too many. I have two for heels and two for flats. The ones for heels are especially nice, with two you can pop these bad boys in a pair of pumps before for work in the morning and they’ll be prêt-à-party by the time you get home. Use with Shoe Stretcher Spray and they’ll work wonders.
Footpetals Stiletto Survival Kit
The Swiss Army knife of DIY shoe-doctoring, these are far and away the best cushions and pads I’ve ever used. A little spendy, but in my experience each kit usually pads two or three pairs of shoes. Besides, a flawless shoe is just an expensive paperweight unless you can actually wear them.
Sure, the short ones work, but sometimes –especially for us tall gals– it’s a looong way down. These stop mashed-in heels just as well and are much more fun.
Most high-end shoes come with dusters already but at less than two dollars each from Amazon, there is no reason you shouldn’t have a bag for each pair of shoes. It keeps your pretties protected and take up less room than boxes.
So there you have it, those are the tricks to the trade. If you have any hints or tips to make your heels less horrific, let me know!
If only there were shoe trees that could make shoes stretch so that my insanely high arches fit into them.
My feet are short, wide, and ridiculously high-arched. I walk on cubes.
Ah well.
Comment by Twistie — August 27, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
I LOOOOOOOOOVE stretchers. I grew up watching my wonderfully classy grandmother using them and have never forgotten the lesson.
Comment by Never teh Bride — August 27, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
I’d like to point out another use for the long-handled shoe horn: Substitute riding crop for the less-organized dommes who have misplaced theirs, or for the DIYer on a budget. So versatile!
Comment by MissB — August 27, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
No shoe lover should be without a suede cleaner bar and brush… designed to clean spots and revive the nap on suede, silk and nubuk leather. anytime you have a small scuff, or little imperfection on your lovely suede shoe’s or boots, all you have to do is rub it with the stone (it’s soft and works like an eraser), then brush the suede back into place until the mark is gone! These really do work wonderfully! I am a bit of suede shoe fetishist… and they are not too expensive 10 -15$!!!! Too Good!
Comment by supersam — August 29, 2007 @ 4:05 am
My Benjamin Adams wedding shoes were the first pair I’ve ever bought that came with a duster. And I loved it! However, I didn’t use it to store the shoes–we used it to hold the lightbulb that my husband smashed during the ceremony. Mazel Tov! I know, not what it was intended for, but special none the less (I had forgotten to get a bag for the purpose, and used what was at hand.) And I think you can read the “Benjamin Adams” embroidery in some of the wedding pictures…
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