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208.47.202.254
Not the really expensive high-end shoes, mind you, but definitely far beyond the cost of what average person wears, and even more obvious - far beyond the quantity that can be considered necessary.Here are random thoughts:
- While most of my audio gear was acquired used, that's definitely not the way I'm going with shoes, for obvious - hygienic and aesthetical - reasons. To my surprise, not necessarily the case with other people interested in the same. The idea of buying for $3K something that was originally worth $10K, and which someone already wore on his feet, seems a little nauseating to me.
- The cost of 1 single item is generally not comparable, at least in the price range I set for myself. The most expensive ones I acquired are around $360 (converting from British pounds) - pretty much the price of a used pair of quality interconnects. However, if one is unable to control himself, it can be somewhat compensated by sheer quantity.
- Forums. I do not participate in any of the 2 major ones, but am reading them - helped to avoid obvious junk, and gives an idea on fit and longevity. Of course, there are snobs ("won't touch any glued shoes - they will fall apart in a week"). And of course, there are naysayers who insist that "quality is not necessarily correlated with the price", and "you won't be able to reliably tell apart $200 shoes from $700 ones". Sounds painfully familiar - and, after you had some experience handling 20-30 different pairs, is beyond ridiculous. No wonder these get quickly laughed out of the threads where they pop up.
- despite what I wrote above, the biggest thrill, for me personally, is finding some relative bargain, which "punches above its weight" - just like in audio. Made easier in some cases by liberal return policy of the US-based web outlets selling Italian stuff, and not so great with British ones, where return shipping - an awfully expensive one - is generally on you.
- In short - it's an addiction, just as this one. One thing I sincerely hope for that it'll pass, and the sooner, the better - while the audio (and music) one is most probably forever.
Edits: 06/30/15 06/30/15Follow Ups:
I agree that there is an affinity between the enjoyment of quality audio and the pleasure of good shoes.
If you like British shoes, you might try Matthew Dack, a Canadian company which designs their shoes along traditional lines, and has them made in England. They offer free returns on shoes shipped to the continental USA, and the current exchange rate greatly favors US buyers.
I have no affiliation with the company; based on the one pair I have from Dack, they are much better made than Edmonds, though the British/Canadian sizing is a bit tricky.
Been wearing these since 1965. Eat your heart out !
Okay, so let me try to guess, would the leather, bespoke shoes be comparable to analogue, whereas digital would sorta be glued "pleather" ?
Everyone thinks I'm strange except my friends deep inside the earth
- Analogue + Tubes - bespoke
- Analogue + Solid State - goodyear welted
- Digital + Tubes - blake stitched
- Digital + Solid State - gluedLayered cardboard and "pleather" come into picture, when we're talking MP3 through earbuds.
PS: I assumed it's clear that this was all in good fun - but looks like the twit below doesn't get any jokes at all.
Edits: 07/01/15
These might be the white van equivalent...
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
Any "parallels" that might exist between shoe addiction and audio addiction are vague and general ones. Maybe someone just wanted a happy excuse to talk about feet and shoes all day long?
How many of your clueless, idiotic posts have to be deleted from this thread (without any kind of intervention on my part until now, BTW), before you finally get a message?I mean, we already get that you're cheap beyond reasonable, and obnoxious beyond tolerable - do you have anything else to prove?
Edits: 07/01/15
as someone that wears a size 14-15 depending on the shoe (normal width thank goodness) I am ALWAYS shoe shopping. When I pass a DSW I stop in and I look on their clearance rack. I always have about 3-4 pairs of shoes I haven't worn yet in my closet. If I put myself in a situation where have to buy shoes I will get hosed on price and likely not even find something I like. I buy when the price is right only.
I do have more shoes than my wife...
E
T
Plenty of large-sized ones, too. Made in USA. If you like the style, there's no better value around, by a wide margin.
Of course, you have to be prepared to spend at least $150.
I like Allen Edmonds and have a couple pairs. I used to buy from the Johnston Murphy store in DC too.
E
T
....but I made a pair of gorgeous knockoffs of these designer lace up sandals using leftover IC's and speaker cable. Not too comfy but they sound terrific.
... I'm sure the difference - warmth, for one thing - will be substantial.
Edits: 07/01/15
*
N/T
Although why you would want to collect shoes is beyond me. I have maybe 10-12 pairs and a couple are expensive (> $500, Swiss and Italian made) but the rest are not and purely utilitarian and didn't cost more than $200. I also don't really collect hifi for that matter, usually selling something off before getting something new...although that has slipped a bit in a slow market.
While there certainly is this "collector" and/or "hunting" element, I still haven't gotten over the 10 newly acquired pairs - which makes it probably 16, together with mediocre stuff I had before.
As I said, it'll hopefully pass sooner rather than later - but it surely is fun.
HiFi for me is somewhat different matter, since there, everything that's done has a purpose - better sound quality. With shoes, there's an aspect of just owning some good-looking, finely-crafted object - aspect missing when it comes to HiFi.
I don't know I have some very finely crafted hifi...
Wonder if shoes would be sort of like getting into cars - which unlike stereo equipment can be a bummer in that you drive it around outside and it gets dirty, broken or stolen - all of which happened to me in my "car period" - and is frustrating - not to mention "wear" with shoes
JaroTheWise
And a wonderful addiction, it is!
... The parallel with audio is the one-size-fits-all paradigm is very hit & miss. It works well for some but not others.
Some production English brogues are stylish, but again, nothing beats having shoes made individually for both feet.
If you want to own something truly unique & personal, try bespoke, but you will need to save a few more shekels than the price limit you mention.
Have fun.
Smile
Sox
... a man who can afford a pair of bespoke shoes/boots, and supposedly (that's the keyword) is an audiophile, should be able to afford a pair of amps for his main system that are NOT made in China.Even if he is a semi-retired farmer in Australia. Even if the system has been deleted from his profile.
Am I wrong?
Edits: 06/30/15 06/30/15
Perhaps you could at least post a picture of your shoe closet.
Understandably, you're not one of them.
How about I make you a deal: I'll post them one more time, for you personally - and in exchange, you'll get rid of silly and obnoxious pink cat GIF, for good? Seems pretty fair to me.
Oh, and BTW - pretty big talk for a guy who likes to hint that he's been living pretty much brain-dead for at least last 30 years. Should I post links, corroborating that evidence?
But do post a picture of your shoe closet.
I'm sure it's far more interesting than whatever it is you're listening to anyway.
See the last paragraph of my previous response, for the reasons why.
`
Smile
Sox
I have several pair of shoes but someday would like a hand made fitted pair of cowboy boots.
On the other hand............. My wife is Filipina. Enough said.
Meaning exactly what you said - hand-made, and fitted for you personally.
Yup gettin Me a pair of red Beatle boots when it gets cooler down here
Bill
I went out & got a pair of suede boots after I saw a Beatles music
video about the time that "Rubber Soul" was released !
I wore those boots for years. Thanks for reminding me of that !
But I am into classic razors/shaving.....
Above The Tie Slant S2 open comb razor, Gillette Silver Blue double-edge blade, Stirling shaving soaps, Thater two-band silvertip badger brush, Captain's Choice "Cat O' Nine Tails" aftershave......
Tod - I tried double edge razors, but always cut myself. What's your secret.....
Weber, GSBs, Castle Forbes Lime, TGN 2-band in Ever-Ready handle, Razorock wax. ;)
work boots and NB tennis shoes. One pair of formal shoes, not worn at all for maybe 10 years.
Wife, her extravagance is 2 pair of custom made cowboy boots, several shoes for her work and 1 pair of high heels.
Both of us prefer bare feet.
We are far from fashionable and much further than that from caring about what people put on their feet.
It just is not important.
EDIT:
I forgot that my other cowboy boots that are in the closet were bought for me and custom made, to boot (sorry), out of a expired ostrich by Gene Clark (yep, he) in 1980. Been rebuilt 2 times since 1980 and which I just do not want to discard.
Edits: 06/30/15
My favorite soap for shaving is clear glycerin (or glycerin-based) bar soap. Unscented Neutrogena bars are maybe $200 each at Walmart, and each bar lasts a very long time because a thin film of wet glycerin soap is all that's required (no need to "lather up").
Edits: 06/30/15 06/30/15 07/01/15
nt
Edits: 06/30/15
A topic I can relate to. My daily drivers for the office are my Alden & Allen Edmonds. My favorite pair are my Dalton cordovan boots, very comfortable, durable and easy to keep them looking good.
The thing is, the process of acquiring, trying, returning, and acquiring again, leads you to developing a certain taste. Meaning, you begin to really understand what you like, and what, despite obvious positive things like craftsmanship, value, longevity etc. - not so much.
In my case, it turned out that AE, with majority of their styles that can be best described as "classic" or "timeless", are not really my thing. Turned out, I'm really into fashion-forward, elongated/pointy Italian shape, and a few British shoemakers that are kind of influenced by the same style - namely, Jeffery-West and Barker.
Do they think we're looking at their feet?
For me, there's this "collectionner" element present, which I'm not sure is in the picture for women.Can't consult with my wife on the subject - her idea of satisfying footwear realizes itself at TJ Maxx.
Edits: 06/30/15
nt
Whatever else Imelda was (or was not), she did have some matronly concern for the working class beneath. Her collection of shoes was bought mostly from local Philippine shoemakers more than happy to have her business.
N/T
....don't you know that most women dress to impress OTHER women? They know they have our attention...
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
To clarify all related issues as quickly as possible:
In my case, it's solely to impress MYSELF. Nice shoes really compliment any outfit, and there's this added quirk - which makes it more similar to watches - of simply having some finely crafted object in your possession.
Something more worthy of an asylum than insanity and audio compulsions.
Please do not throw your cigarette butts on the floor. The cockroaches are getting cancer.
DIY and Vintage. :^)
Audio and shoes are just two addictions that are pleasurable and not too damaging to one's life.
Maybe financially if a boundless addiction.
The problem with shoes is the fashion (turn to the right, turn to the left) aspect which really drags the
pursuit into the theatre of the absurd.
Nothing like a good, comfortable pair of shoes though. I'm frequently envious of the rainbow of footwear
women get to choose from, while us men get a very limited selection of the SOS (same old styles).
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
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