To sole protect or not to sole protect?

[vivalagiselle]

I sole protect my "dancing" shoes (the ones I wear out to the club or a night out on the town) once they get ruined. It's dark, no one can tell and they take a beating. I do think it's tacky though so I never would wear them during the day. I keep my work/special occassion louboutins with no protector on it as I wear them to select events.

 

[sleewiley]

I don’t know what to do I am so torn! I just bought my first pair of CL- the Dorififa boot and I am just so torn. They aren’t exactly high, so I don’t think I need the grips, but I do want to keep them nice. Am I being ridiculous? They haven’t even left the box cause I’ve been so anxious about ruining the bottoms!

 

[vivalagiselle]

I don’t know what to do I am so torn! I just bought my first pair of CL- the Dorififa boot and I am just so torn. They aren’t exactly high, so I don’t think I need the grips, but I do want to keep them nice. Am I being ridiculous? They haven’t even left the box cause I’ve been so anxious about ruining the bottoms!

NOT AT ALL! I know the feeling!! I say wear them until they get worn out then put the sole protectors on.

 

[cadillacclaire]

I finally caved and got my black Follies half-soled. I really didn't want to, but I wear them a LOT, and the pointy toes were getting seriously worn down, almost all the way through the leather sole. I'm also a proponent of wear them for a while, then get them protected.

 

[Tuwong]

PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT

 

[Strep2031]

I cant wrap my head around vibram or fake red protectors....... but i just love that i can buy these protectors www.shoetsy.ca . i cant really describe the difference but its not an adhesive like those other kinds that have ruined heels. It's a super clear anti slip and they stayed on even after walking in the rain by accident.. i just wanted to try and see what would happen when i removed them and I'm not kidding.. i couldve used one finger...

i like them because there not as aggressive as vibrams.. and when you lift your shoes you cannot tell that its the protector thats dirty and not the actual shoe. but i was most shocked that the rocks didn't even tear the product.

I can't ever sell my pre worn soles because the sole is so badly damaged. so I put these on so that they wear out...eventually and not at the end of the month and i can sell them for a lot more than I've done in the past. In case thats what you guys are looking for.. www.shoetsy.ca and they give mad discounts too. I hope this helps any of you CL ladies

Hi. Do you have a pic that you could show us with the protector on your shoe?

 

[Strep2031]

I didn't leave any loubs at the boyfriends house, but my ferragamos are here and they were getting destroyed and it's been about 6 months since they stopped getting destroyed. Seriously my protectors are still on and they've stopped the scuffing on my heels and soles. They even go on well on my destroyed soles... thats another reason why i bought these compared to others that need to go on clean.

Hope the pics were clear! These are satin Ferragamos.. and they cant be cleaned so when i got them ruined i wanted to protect them so they don't get too damaged until i figured out how to clean satin. The heel protectors are like semi matte so i tried hard to find a reflection. They're amazing. you just apply and check on them to make sure theyre not torn from a grate. It's been 6 months and worth the money! The soles were soo damaged if i didn't put these sole protectors they'd be in the garbage.. but they wouldn't be because they;re so special id keep them in the closet for memories.

This is a CL post so i refrained from posting too much ferragamos.

Maralag Thank You for posting a pic. I am debating if I will cover mine or wait to put the vibram on after much wear. But at least you presented another option to use to protect the soles

 

[LKBennettlover]

I cant wrap my head around vibram or fake red protectors....... but i just love that i can buy these protectors www.shoetsy.ca . i cant really describe the difference but its not an adhesive like those other kinds that have ruined heels. It's a super clear anti slip and they stayed on even after walking in the rain by accident.. i just wanted to try and see what would happen when i removed them and I'm not kidding.. i couldve used one finger...

i like them because there not as aggressive as vibrams.. and when you lift your shoes you cannot tell that its the protector thats dirty and not the actual shoe. but i was most shocked that the rocks didn't even tear the product.

I can't ever sell my pre worn soles because the sole is so badly damaged. so I put these on so that they wear out...eventually and not at the end of the month and i can sell them for a lot more than I've done in the past. In case thats what you guys are looking for.. www.shoetsy.ca and they give mad discounts too. I hope this helps any of you CL ladies

This looks like it might be a good alternative to vibram. How are they for real world wear and walking in real life?
Thanks, Louise x

 

[_sunshine_]

Is this your business Maralag? Like are you the business owner?

 

[Muave]

i guess I'm on the other end of the spectrum but I am so anal about protecting the red soles This thread has been helpful on tips on how to protect them, thank you ladies! But, I am only OK with protecting the soles with CLEAR or RED protectors. Don't understand how some can put the ugly black or grey ones on

 

[kittenslingerie]

I like to do red vibrams once they start wearing down usually after 4-5 wears to extend the life of my favs and for the nonslip factor of vibrates. Otherwise the wearing down doesn't bother me at all nor do well done vibrates by a good cobbler.

 

[WhimsicalEndeavors]

I don't put protective soles on mine. I really like the look of the worn bottoms in contrast to the red and generally avoid walking anywhere in them where I would feel nervous about slipping. My SO also makes sure to keep an eye on me anytime I wear heels to make sure nothing happens to me haha.

 

[MahaM]

I appreciate this thread because I just bought my first pair and decided not to protect the sole, and it's starting to show wear just from walking around on my wood floors ... so it makes me feel better about that decision

Me too, I just got my pair and decided not to protect them !

 

[Dany_37]

People say that about designer shoes a lot “protect your investment” but designer shoes are not an investment. You don’t buy shoes with the idea that they will increase in value over time...basically we buy them because they are beautiful, sexy, well made and make our legs look amazing! It’s very rare that you are going to be able to sell a used shoe for more than what you paid unless the shoe is really rare and to me that’s considered price gauging. But yes, you want to protect something you spend a great deal of money on because you want to wear them a long time, so I guess some consider that the “return benefit” or the “investment”...but protecting the bottom of a shoe is not really preservation as the bottom of the shoe is expected to have wear...even Louboutin’s! Take care of the part of the shoe that will be seen...but if you want to do so, that’s fine and absolutely no problem but just try to enjoy the shoe and don’t worry so much about the bottom of the shoe...they are made to be worn. What good is a shoe just sitting in a box because you want to protect the bottom?!? No one is really going to see the bottom part of the shoe that you walk on anyway so with that I say...Happy shopping Loubie Lovers!!
From a Finance Major!

 

[Strep2031]

People say that about designer shoes a lot “protect your investment” but designer shoes are not an investment. You don’t buy shoes with the idea that they will increase in value over time...basically we buy them because they are beautiful, sexy, well made and make our legs look amazing! It’s very rare that you are going to be able to sell a used shoe for more than what you paid unless the shoe is really rare and to me that’s considered price gauging. But yes, you want to protect something you spend a great deal of money on because you want to wear them a long time, so I guess some consider that the “return benefit” or the “investment”...but protecting the bottom of a shoe is not really preservation as the bottom of the shoe is expected to have wear...even Louboutin’s! Take care of the part of the shoe that will be seen...but if you want to do so, that’s fine and absolutely no problem but just try to enjoy the shoe and don’t worry so much about the bottom of the shoe...they are made to be worn. What good is a shoe just sitting in a box because you want to protect the bottom?!? No one is really going to see the bottom part of the shoe that you walk on anyway so with that I say...Happy shopping Loubie Lovers!!
From a Finance Major!

Good post! My view is a little different, I agree with the term "protect your investment" but not from the angle of resale as you suggested. I am not the norm when it comes to the term "shoe collection". I have very few pairs so when I "invest" or put a lot of money into an item I want the item to last a very long time, meaning years to come. So protecting a delicate soled shoe as Louboutins is a must for me because the wear to leather bottom shoes is horrible and overtime will ruin to the point where its impossible to be repaired. And take care of the rest of the shoe as you stated. If I can get years of wear out of a shoe while keeping in great condition, yes I have protected my investment and dont need to keep spending thousands of dollars on items that will just pile up or feel the need to sale.