Blog by Sumana Harihareswara, Changeset founder
The Apple Cobbler's Children
Hi, reader. I wrote this in 2004 and it's now more than five years old. So it may be very out of date; the world, and I, have changed a lot since I wrote it! I'm keeping this up for historical archive purposes, but the me of today may 100% disagree with what I said then. I rarely edit posts after publishing them, but if I do, I usually leave a note in italics to mark the edit and the reason. If this post is particularly offensive or breaches someone's privacy, please contact me.
My mother taught me frugality in buying shoes -- twenty dollars per pair, tops. However, yesterday I paid fifty dollars for a pair of black flats (work/comedy shoes). I required more than one reassurance from my shopping companion that I had not paid too much.
Why do shoe stores and departments fill their women's shelves with frippery? Ribbons, straps, buckles, and I'm not even going to start with heels. Heels -- argh! OK, I started on heels. Freaking prescriptions for foot pain.
I just want durable, comfortable shoes to wear to work and gigs that will go with lots of outfits, that don't require dead animals for their material, and I don't want to pay more than thirty-five dollars per pair. Unreasonable? Suggestions?
Update, May 10: Leonard's extended family agrees that it's worth it to pay extra for quality.
Also, I forgot to mention yesterday that I also prefer shoes made in countries that have actual labor standards. Man, I'm demanding.
