Last week I took my trusty old dancing shoes to be reheeled. I don’t know why I’ve been putting it off (actually, I do know why – the price!) but they have been waiting for new heels since one plopped off just before Christmas. They have been out of action ever since, apart from a couple of occasions where I just had to wear them because I had no other comfortable high heels to wear. The result was a worn away stump of a heel and leather that had puckered up and started peeling away. I wish I’d taken a photo of them in their unkempt state because you can’t imagine how bad these shoes had started to look.
But in spite of their grossly abused state, I still loved these shoes. They had done me proud for about 5 or 6 years, are black leather so go with everything and are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever parked my tooties in. After a day’s work and a night’s dancing they were still comfortable on my feet. And you can’t put a price on comfort, can you?!
Well apparently, you can. It’s about £8 for new heels at my local cobblers (maybe a chain like Timpsons would be less? and I remember that as a student I could use my NUS card for a discount at Timpsons, so check that out too if you’re considering a shoe repair). I went for the über-hardwearing heels at a cost of £1 extra because I knew how much wear I get out of these shoes and want them to live on as long as possible.
So I left my beloved shoes (trembling, I imagine) in the hands of a professional cobbler and waltzed off around the shops for half an hour. And when I returned, my lovely little shoes were barely recognisable – not only were they sturdily re-heeled, but the peeling leather had been neatly smoothed and tucked under the heel. Both shoes have had a complete makeover, professionally polished and buffed, and even the puckered chunks in the leather on the heel had somehow been erased. I can honestly say that my shoes looked as good as new. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say better than new; because they were my comfortable shoes, and didn’t need wearing in!
So I handed over my cash with delight and my shoes and I are looking forward to another 5 years together. And even then I bet I could have them refurbished again! Okay, these shoes probably only cost me around £15-20 in the first place (they are only New Look shoes after all) and my shoe repair was around half that price but I think that the cost-per-wear works out pretty good over all the years that I’ve worn them. And now they’ll last many more years to come, as long as I look after them well with a loving polish every so often. So no more blisters for me!
What do you think about repairing and renovating your old shoes? Waste of time and money, or thrifty and frugal?! I’ve love to hear your opinion so please leave me a comment below!
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25 responses
Hi Jalicia, yes it is British pounds 🙂 thanks for reading!
Is you like from the uk or something cause i dont know what that little money sign is but i think its pounds is it pounds
Wow! What a shoe collection! And you really can’t beat a comfortable pair of shoes – its great to hear that you’ve kept your favourite boots going for 10 whole years! x
I’ve got a pair of boots that I’ve been getting reheeled and resoled for 10 years and they’re still going strong…even though they look a bit sad and worn, but they’re sooo comfy.
Actually might be time to have a clear out – I realised I’ve got well over 120 pairs, as I never like to throw a pair out…
awww, you’ll find a replacement soon! Keep an eye on my Tuesday Shoesday posts for inspiration! x
Definitely think its a good idea to repair your fave shoes/boots – i remember having my fave boots reheeled, i loved them so much wore them where ever i went! Sadly dont have them anymore i wasnt the heels that gave up on me, they completely fell apart! Although i still found it hard to part with them and haven’t managed to find another pair quite like them since. 🙁
That’s very true hahaha! I enjoy the word ‘cobblers’ too, it just sounds so nice! x
It’s always nice to here a story about getting shoes rehealed, just to hear the word cobblers, Love it!
But just think if everyone keeped getting there shoes fixed the manufacturers couldn’t ever bring out a retro edition of the shoe!!!
Definitely! Reduce, re-use & recycle! x
That’s great! Another season of wear from your M&S boots will be well worth it, especially if they’re comfy! x
I’ve had a stiletto heel repaired too when I was a student & I could use my NUS card for Timpsons discount! I think the smalled heels on a stiletto might actually be a cheaper repair too! x
I totally agree – otherwise that’ll be another service that shuts down :S
Timpson did a wonderful job re-heeling my trusty M&S brown leather boots. Bought around October time they had seen me through the worst of the winter slush so last month I repaid them for their endurance! Standing happily in my fluffy socks I watched the cobbler set about the task of rejuvenating my fave boots. I opted for the hard wearing heel (for an extra pound) and after a quick polish I happily handed over my cash and stepped out my newly revived boots!
This reminds me of when I wore Stilleto Heel Shoes in the 1960. I had to have them heeled weekly. That was the Fashion we paid the price…
Support the local Cobbler I say 🙂
I think you should repair your shoes rather than throw them away: nothing worse than sending more rubbish to landfill than neccessary, especially when there’s plenty more wear left in these shoes!