BUYING QUALITY SHOES

It is election time in the United States and candidates and their supporters are trying to find fault with their opponents. One criticism of Republican Presidential Candidate and United States Senator John McCain is that he wears Ferragamo shoes with a retail price over $500.
The point of McCain’s critics is that he is so wealthy that he is out of touch with typical Americans. However, it may be more economical to pay much more for a good pair of shoes than to spend smaller sums repeatedly for lower quality footwear. That is because, with proper care, a good pair of shoes can last a lifetime.
What makes Ferragamo shoes so expensive? The factors include the fact that they are handmade and that they carry a certain mystique. The company has long made shoes and handbags for celebrities such as Joan Crawford, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Andy Warhol, Princess Diana, and Margaret Thatcher. However, those celebrities were first drawn to Ferragamo shoes for a reason other than their mystique.
Salvatore Ferragamo was known for his inventions related to footwear, and innovative designs and materials. While his early shoes were pleasing to the eye, they were not always comfortable. Ferragamo studied anatomy at the University of Southern California in order to solve the problem of combining esthetics and comfort.
Salvatore Ferragamo founded the company that bears his name in 1928 and by 1938 was able to afford a palace in Florence, Italy. That palace now houses the company’s flagship store and museum. Because Ferragamo shoes are still handmade, production is limited to 3-4 million per year.
While you may not be ready to spend $500 on a single pair of shoes, you can take a few steps to make sure you get the best shoes for your money. You should examine the sole to ensure it is firmly attached – whether through gluing, stitching, or both – to the shoe. Check the shoes for bits of glue, a good sign that a pair of shoes is not high quality.
High quality shoes are fully lined, with leather being the best lining material for absorbing moisture. Suede shoes are easily stained and should be sprayed with a protectant. Anything attached to the shoes (E.g., buckles and decorations.) should be securely attached and reinforced.
While a higher price does not guarantee better shoes, a low retail price for shoes almost certainly indicates a lack of quality. You only have one pair of feet, so why not provide them with the best?

High quality dress shoes should have leather heels, although they sometimes have a layer of rubber or nylon on the back edges. High heels for women are usually fabricated from plastic and covered with leather. As a general rule, the more expensive the shoes, the better plastic the heels from which the heels are made.