Ready for another round
Sorry for confronting you with the soles of my shoes. Just #keepingitreal, you know, because I wear my stuff and I wanted to post a reminder that although I frequently write about purchasing clothes, shoes etc, I also take very good care of the things that I own. Nothing gets discarded unless it’s absolutely worn out. You can fix a lot more than you may think and many simple things, like having your heels replaced for instance, can expand the longevity of your wardrobe.
I was happy to receive two pairs of boots back from the cobbler last week. I always procrastinate the visit because I feel lost without my go-to shoes (I’m so dramatic) and I can never get home in time on weekdays to pick them up. The cobbler was impressed with the quality of my shoes and I must say, I am as well. The Aeyde boots have been on heavy rotation ever since I got them and are holding up nicely.
My Isabel Marant Deyissa boots originally have a leather sole so I had an extra protective sole added and I plan on wearing them more often now that I won’t have to mind the rain or snow. The rubber sole looks a bit bulky in the picture but is actually nicely in line with the original sole. My Aeyde boots are a different story. These have been worn countless of times so in addition to new heels I also had rubber toe taps added (remember, I wrote about the awful paving at my local train station that ruins the tips of your shoes?)

I know that the internet and many cobblers as well, are constantly debating whether or not you should add protective rubber soles to your leather shoes. In my opinion it all depends on the circumstances. Where you live and what the weather conditions are like, how often you will wear them etc. Many a shoe lover will claim you should wear your shoes the way they are made. I get that. But in my case, leather soles and Dutch weather are a terrible combination. Not to mention that leather soles can be very slippery. I wear my shoes regularly and want to enjoy them as long as possible. So this solution works for me.
So to end this blogpost, please don’t think this blog is all about purchasing new things. Yes, I do buy new clothing, accessories etc., make collages around possible purchases and I love to write about it to keep things in perspective for myself. But for the most part, I get much more pleasure from the wardrobe that I currently have and will put in the extra effort to make sure that I can enjoy everything as long as possible. For instance, I would rather fix the Aeyde boots than buy a different replacement pair. Because they make me happy every time I wear them.
What do you do to ensure longevity of your wardrobe?
Heb je toevallig ervaring met het leer zelf te laten oplappen? Mijn AllSaints laarsjes zijn helemaal grijs geworden en schoenpoets geeft maar heel even effect :'(
Nee, helaas. Je kunt het een keer navragen bij de schoenmaker? Ik ben altijd verbaasd over wat ze allemaal kunnen. Misschien verven?
I always put rubber soles on new shoes. I have a pair of Repettos ready to go to the cobbler to be rubber-ed! The last time I brought a pair of Isabel Marant boots (the Datsy ones – the crazy disco boots) the elderly cobbler commented on how well made they were also! he insisted on keeping the dustbags to keep them safe until I collected them, cute!
Oh wow, those Datsy boots are amazing. Did you get the silver ones? I feel like such a nerd when I take my shoes to the cobbler in their dustbags haha. But they get me, so it’s all good.
I was surprised when I bought my Repettos last year and they came with a rubber sole. I was expecting leather but whatever, saves me the money 😉
Yes the silver Datsy with the lower heel! I just got my Repetto Camilles on eBay secondhand and they only have a leather sole unfortunately!
I did the same thing to my Deyissa boots when I bought them, maybe I’m due to resole them though haha. I feel the same like you, I have so many items that I need to either bring to the cobbler or tailor but don’t want to part with them even for a few days. They need to be readily available when I want to wear them hahaha. This reminds me to bring some stuff to the dry cleaner!
LOL thanks for the reminder. I need to do the same with a few coats. Dry cleaning is pretty expensive but I always keep in mind that in the end, it’s cheaper than buying a new coat. I should probably wait until spring really sets in so I won’t miss them.
I feel the same way, if you buy things you love you should take care of them so they last. Weekly my husband and I sit down together and take care of our shoes ( in the winter when it is loads of snow we don’t do it as often, since the snow is very kind to the shoes). And I take them to the cobbler when necessary. Also in my wool blazers that needs dry cleaning I use these kind of ”pantyliners for the armpits” to make them last longer between cleanings.
Hihi,
Sovannary reccomended that I read your blog and I’ve been slowly catching up on all of your entries. 🙂
I’m in full agreement about fixing/taking care of things that we own. I finally have my little list of trusted dry-cleaners (who happened to be eco-friendly, was a nice surprise), cobbler, and tailors (luckily a friend and a local address ) here in Paris to make sure that my stuff holds up over time.
I also try to buy clothes that I know that I REALLY like, i.e am I willing to spend 20-30 extra euros to have a sole added on, for it to get dry-cleaned or for it get tailored into a different silhouette later on? If I can’t justify those regular expenses, I don’t buy it. This keeps my shopping budget from going out of a control.
Great post (and blog!) and I look forward to reading future posts!
@ Taler 🙂
I like that you add an emphasis on maintaining and loving your wardrobe. Surprisingly to me “new “things get old quickly but when it’s well worn and broken in and adored, the item has more character and it’s more personalized. There is more to speak of it.
I also own the Deyissa but still have the original leather soles. Slipped and fell a couple of times actually in the rain and I’m still debating what to so about it. The French cobbler somehow always recommend that if repairing outsole, it’s going to be replaced with something closed to the original so my thoughts are still up in the air…
Great post!
Hello!
Well I do the same. I usually add extra soles when I feel my shoes need better protection (for instance after two years of wearing them) except for Repettos though. I have a little trick for them. When I buy a new pair, a wear them everyday for a week and then I add extra soles. Trust me, they last for years!
I do the same thing with my shoes, and in fact, have two pairs of much loved shoes that I need to take to the cobbler to have the heels replaced. For me, it’s about trying to extend the life of what I have – I just recently took one of my favourite skirts to the tailor to have a zipper replaced as it broke on me, and after a good soak (it was starting to yellow), it is looking like new again. So much more rewarding to take care of those pieces you love. Also, great to hear that you’ve had such a good experience with your Aeyde and Marant boots. They’re two brands I’ve been looking at for leather boots as I start to map up what I might add to my wardrobe for autumn/winter 🙂