Too many people think it’s expensive to dress well. This just couldn’t be further from the truth. To prove that fact I’ll be showing you a pair of dress shoes I recently found at my local thrift store.
Since we at A Step Above Style value your time (and because you already know why you’re here) we’ll jump right in.
Let’s begin.
Vintage Quality
It has long been said that things made “back in the day” were just made better.
That definitely seems to be the case for these shoes. Below are a pair of Johnston & Murphy Aristocraft loafers in lizard skin.
Although not pictured here, the soles appear to be the original soles they were manufactured with. The pair I found at the store still had its soles in great condition.
As someone who is a shoe enthusiast and shoe shiner I was able to examine these and see if they would be worth purchasing.
The leather was definitely dry, the edges of the sole were discolored, and there was slight fraying on some of the stitching.
But the shoe overall was in decent condition. Although I can’t fix everything as a shoe shiner, this shoe was within my skill set so I bought it.
In my estimation, $16 for a pair of lizard skin loafers from a company well-known for their shoes was too good of a deal to pass up.
If it didn’t work out, I’d be minus $16. About the price of lunch plus a tip.
But if I was able to restore them I’d have a pair of shoes that would look great, and serve me well for years to come.
And since they were so cheap, my Cost Per Wear would be extremely low to begin with.
For those that don’t know, Cost Per Wear is equal to the cost of the item divided by the number of times you wear it.
The Finished Result
I’ll allow you to judge for yourself how they came out.
It was a pleasure bringing these shoes back to life. The deep brown tones of the skin were just under the surface of dust, dirt, and grime.
After tidying up the shoe overall, I was left with a pair of shoes that I couldn’t wait to wear.
Conclusion
Hopefully this post has shown you there may be some treasures waiting to be found at your local thrift store.
At A Step Above Style we have at least two Golden Rules. The first is :
“Never break your budget to go shopping”.
And the second is very similar :
“It’s better to have money, than
look like you have money “.
Until next time, yall have a good one.
- Blog Bites – Send the Invitation Instead of Waiting To Be InvitedYou would enjoy seeing your friends more often. You want deeper relationships. You may even feel disappointed that nobody has planned anything recently. But have you sent an invitation? It is easy to wait for someone else to make the first move. Being invited reassures us that we are remembered, wanted, and included. The problem…
- Why Adult Friendships Drift—and How To Strengthen Them AgainThere may not have been an argument. Nobody announced that the friendship was ending. The calls simply became less frequent. Plans were postponed. Messages took longer to answer. Eventually, someone who once knew the details of your everyday life became a person you mainly remembered through old photographs and occasional social media updates. Adult friendships…
- Gifts, Gratitude, and Clutter: How To Give and Receive More ThoughtfullyA gift enters your home with good intentions. Someone saw an object, thought about you, spent money, and presented it with care. You may appreciate the gesture. You may love the person. You may also have no use for the gift. That creates an uncomfortable conflict. Keeping it feels burdensome, but releasing it feels ungrateful….
- Blog Bites – A Clear Counter Should Still Be UsefulMinimalist kitchens are often shown with completely empty counters. No toaster. No coffee maker. No cooking utensils. No evidence that anyone recently prepared a meal. The space may look peaceful, but a kitchen is not a display room. It is a working part of the home. Clearing the counter should make cooking, cleaning, and daily…
- Minimalism in a Shared Home: What To Do When Other People Do Not Want LessYou decide that your home contains too much. You want clearer surfaces, fewer duplicates, and rooms that are easier to maintain. Then you remember that you do not live alone. Your spouse enjoys collecting books. Your children want to keep every toy. Your roommate does not consider the crowded kitchen a problem. You may be…
Leave a Reply