One of my guiltiest pleasures…

I love cheap shoes. The pair pictured left are from last Spring and were maybe $10 from Old Navy. The funny thing is that I get more compliments on these $10 shoes than any other pair in my wardrobe. They’re flimsy, they offer zero support of any kind, and they’d probably disintegrate if water touched them. But the pattern is really cute, they’re not horribly uncomfortable and I just love them. I really wish I had gotten a second pair for when these fall apart.

I picked up these cheetah print flats from Target for $13 over the weekend. They’re just as unsupportive and cheaply made as the Old Navy flats.  Sometimes I just say “whatever” and accept that my $13 shoes probably won’t last for years and years. They’re cute, fit well for a cheap shoe and I quite like them. They come in a bunch of colors and patterns, too.

Cheap shoes are not a guilty pleasure because I think you have to spend a ton of money on shoes. They’re a guilty pleasure because I know they’re totally impractical! The thing about cheap shoes is that you have to be realistic and highly selective about wearing them. If you have any kind of foot, knee, leg, hip, or back issues, wearing unsupportive shoes will make it worse. And if you do any amount of walking in cheap shoes, you’ll live to regret it.

This is why I suggest reserving the cheap shoes for when you’ll be doing a lot of sitting. In other words, don’t wear the flatest flats in the world to go on a walking tour of Paris and then cry about how your back hurts. You’re kind of asking for it. I have a pair of super supportive New Balance sneakers for when I’ll be on my feet or walking a lot.

Another thing to be mindful of is that cheap high heels are generally a lot more uncomfortable than well made, sturdy high heels. A good heel requires quality craftmenship and you’re not really going to get that from $15 pumps from Payless. If you’re going to be doing anything other than sitting and looking cute, invest in a decent quality heel. They’ll last longer and your back will thank you for it.

Comments

[Angela S.]

They're also a guilty pleasure because buying things which you know won't last contributes to the waste stream, both in manufacturing and disposal. The landfills of this country are chock-full of Old Navy's detritus.

Please understand that I say this with a full understanding of your love of cheap shoes. Because I wear a "non-standard" shoe, when I see something that fits I tend to snap it up, regardless of how badly it's made or how impractical it is. It's a constant struggle with my consumerist nature. I'm eternally grateful that fat chicks (teenagers in particular) can now snap up the same cheesy, trendy fashions as anyone else--I just can't help feeling that the pendulum has swung a bit *too* far in that direction. When I get a pair of flats from Walmart which last, literally, 10 wearings? It's too much. I'd rather that I spent $30 instead of $10 and at least had them last the whole summer...

[Angela S.]

Clarification: I meant non-standard shoe SIZE. I do have fairly standard-issue feet. :)

[Marieke]

SO TRUE. I am so with you on this. In fact, I was thinking about writing a post today about how I do this and buy insoles to improve the walk-ability of cheap flats. Thanks for the inspiration!
Check it out: http://miquette.typepad.com/shopwhatnot/2009/07/customizing-flats.html

[juliette]

I love inexpensive shoes as well, but have always avoided Target and Old Navy shoes because of the lack of support that you describe. Thanks for the later post that describes different insoles that will help with that problem.
Ihave great shoe luck at ROSS in downtown SF. Ross' selection varies GREATLY by store, but it's work a look - they often have larger sizes (I saw some Franco Sarto Wedges for $24.99 about a week ago in size 12 that I considered, even though I wear 9.5) and the prices are much better than retail. Recent finds - all of which were available in size 10 and some in 11: Yellow Mary Jane naturalizers/$20, cream patent leather Bandolino flats with grosgrain bow/$18, gold 9west ballet flats/$20, taupy-pink Schechers/$20, red patent AK loafers/$24.
I love shoes...........