topic Re: Lack of shoe stores in Community Chat

Lack of shoe stores

Shorty2U — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:03:52 GMT

Here's my mini rant for the weekend. lol..This weekend I am sitting here looking for shoes for my sons wedding online and thinking where have all the shoe stores gone? Are there many? I think not, not around here, I count ONE "that has just shoes".. And I miss them,

I happen to take a 10 wide shoe (my entire life). Have fun finding dressy shoes that do not have a 3 to 6 inch heel.. Others are not dressy enough.

(on the other hand MEN ie my dear husband found a pair of amazing dress shoes for his new navy blue suit in no time! Not fair lol)

So anyway, I FINALLY found a pair of sparkly gold sandals online, (daughter and me love them) with a slight 1/2 inch heel that I may order. (I will sleep on it).

I went to a store in another town 30 minutes away (that sells all kinds of clothing and shoes etc) to get my outfit and I tried to match my outfit with shoes, well they had zero wide "dressy" shoes in MY size! Why not?

So I have been googling and moogling for 3 days. lol. I could get some shoes at Davids Bridal online but the ones I like are like 79. Why pay that for one day? I will never wear them again! So I think i found a pair for 59, still a lot for one day IMO for shoes that will sit in my closet! lol.

AND I will probably take sneakers or slippers with to change into after all the hooplas over at the wedding, because I know these glittery sandals are going to bother my back after so many hours because I "usually" LIVE in sneakers and boots! (oh and sandals in Summer or go walks!)

So yep i miss shoe stores where they fitted you, and had all kinds and sizes of shoes available! lol.

After i get these shoes, the search moves on to a clutch handbag in gold. Hopefully I can find one at Charming Charlies to match my shoes!

End rant on shoe stores. I think i will order the ones I found online, I hope they fit OK I would "rather" have tried them on at a SHOE STORE..lol...

Re: Lack of shoe stores

makena — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:02:30 GMT

We have a DSW in our mall. Pretty much covers everything.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

Kachina624 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:14:12 GMT

@Shorty2U. As with other consumer goods, shoe stores are declining because people shop online. I've managed to find dozens of "comfort shoes" on Zulily. I frequently see wide widths there in size 10W, even size 10.5. I wear a size 11B, which aren't all that common either. I've found way more than I need.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

Nataliesgramma — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:29:36 GMT

I kind of agree with OP....I remember when Malls were popping up all over. You would have at least 3 shoe stores in one.....plus the major stores....all with Shoe Depts with HELP. You could make a trip with a shoe style in mind and probably find it in your size.....

Now I buy most of my shoes online....

Re: Lack of shoe stores

gidgetgh — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 11:50:47 GMT

Try Zappos. They carry gazillions of shoes and you can search by size, style, color, etc.

Free shipping and free returns I believe.

And, to be really honest, I don't know that you're going to find anything nice for less than the $59 you found.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

chiclet — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 12:12:36 GMT

I agree. It is hard to find much of anything except maybe tops anymore at stores. I just ordered a pair of clarks on amazon. They actually fit. I just hate going from store to store and being disappointed.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

OKPrincess — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 12:28:36 GMT

I like to try on shoes and hesitate to order them unless I’m familiar with that style. Locally we have DSW, Payless, Famous Footwear, JCP, Dillard’s. Hopefully you will find something for the day without breaking the bank. Good luck.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

goldensrbest — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 13:52:01 GMT

There is a reason, we shop on line ,stores are closing.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

Caaareful Shopper — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 14:00:12 GMT

DSW is my #1 place for shoes in person since I have two of them near me. Then, when I know and trust a brand, I shop online and have been very successful.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

kaydee50 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 14:39:40 GMT

I used to like DSW but the last time I went there prices were maybe $10-$15 less than the regular price, not a real "discount" to me. I can do better at Macy's or Marshall's.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

151949 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 15:04:28 GMT

We have shoe stores where I live. I never buy shoes without trying them on.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

PinkyPetunia — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 15:14:46 GMT

For special occasion shoes you will probably have to order them online. Payless has some that aren' that expensive.

My son got married 8 years ago and I ordered my shoes from Shoes dot com. I only wore them once.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

chrystaltree — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 15:20:29 GMT

The only true shoe store I've seen in years is DSW and I suppose that works if you wear a 7M but I also wear a 10W and I've never had any luck at all there. Occasionally there will be an ugly old brown comfort shoe in a 10W. My friend and I would go into the one near work just laugh at what they had...or didn't have in her 9W and my 10W. However, I do perfectly well...perhaps too well with shoes. I'm a shoe fanatic. I buy shoes online here at QVC, I shop at Easy Spirit, I shop at Maryland Square, I shop at Naturalizer. I have no trouble at all finding exactly what I want in terms of style and heel height. If I'm looking for something particular like when I bought my MOB shoes, I did have comparison shop at all my favorite sites and I did buy two pairs of the sandal I loved in a 10W and and 9.5W to try on, knowing I would send one back. At 57, I do indeed remember shoe stores and trying on shoes was nice but I wouldn't give that up for what I have now because the down side of shoe stores was there just wasn't much variety or choice....not for W widths and not for size 10's. The cute shoes that were on display were only for M girls.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

Desertdi — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 18:31:01 GMT

There are a number of FAMOUS shoe stores reasonably near me, and they carry "name" brands............

Re: Lack of shoe stores

patbz — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 20:47:49 GMT

I wear a 7m and usually buy online (zappos, Amazon). There isn't a shoe store within three hours of where I live. Btw, I'm old enough to remember shoe X-Ray machines (thank God money was right or I'd obsess about cancer risk).

Re: Lack of shoe stores

viva923 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 22:03:24 GMT

the only shoe store I have in my area that sells my style of walking shoe is Olympia. Foot wear. They sell my walking Nike foot wear that give me the ankle support I need. I tried so many shoe stores, they are the only ones that gvie me what I want, good support and good shoe to do 2 miles a day. Which is what I walk daily.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

lulu1 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 22:53:13 GMT

@Shorty2U

For the most part, Mom and Pop shoe stores are a thing of the past. As malls have closed, so have "brand" shoe stores. Department stores, as well as discount stores, still have large shoe departments. There are numerous large warehouse type shoe stores.

I cannot say I know what it's like to find shoes in an unusual size. One thing I do know is, once I could wear inexpensive shoes. I wore uncomfortable shoes if they were cute or matched an outfit. As I've aged I find while comfort is most important, it does not mean I must give up style.

I have numerous physical limitations but find for a price I can always find a comfortable and stylish shoe. I used to take my shoes off half way through an event, now I arrive home with my shoes still on.

You've planned this wedding a long time. Do not scrimp on your shoes. A low heel, neutral or metallic pump or sandal never goes out of style. Who knows, you may be able to wear the same shoe to your granddaughters' weddings.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

Marienkaefer2 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 23:05:12 GMT

If you live near a bigger mall, you can go to one of the department stores, like Macy's or Nordy's.

Have you ever tried Footsmart or Maryland Square?

They carry all kinds of shoes. I've gotten mainly athletic type footwear or sandals from them, but I know they carry shoes for all occasions.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

ALRATIBA — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 23:15:32 GMT

We have a DSW less than a mile (within walking distance). Aerosoles also has a shop nearby.

JCP sells brand name shoes as does Macy's ... and there's always Saks Fifth Avenue. Their shoe department is so big it has its own zip code.

"If you think that it would be hard to expand a store that's already large enough to have its own zip code, you’re wrong. The Saks Fifth Avenue shoe salon, appropriately named 10022-SHOE, will be adding another 10,000-square-feet to its already massive sprawl.

"The addition will draw new brands to the eighth-floor shoe boutique, including R29 faves like Carven, Jason Wu, Joseph Altuzarra, Pierre Hardy, Proenza Schouler, and Rachel Comey. Excuse us while we pick our jaws up from the floor — “excited” doesn’t even begin to describe how we feel about this."

refinery29.com/saks-shoe-department

One of my neighbors shops the Saks shoe sales. She has some really jazzy shoes and boots. I haven't been there .... yet!

I haven't been in TJMaxx in years ... but I think they sell shoes. As does Burlington.

Re: Lack of shoe stores

Shorty2U — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:18:40 GMT

Thank you all. A DSW is an hour from here (near my daughter who lives near everything in suburbia. lol).

We went today to Boscovs (40 minutes from here, roughly).

I found wedge sandals that match the outfit and a clutch that's pretty darn close to the (glittery top parts of the outfit) and close to the sandals. Hard to explain but DH and I think it all looks good. BUT I saved the receipts in case, and I am going to ask my daughter when she comes by next week just to make sure it looks good. (I'm not really great as a fashion ista..lol). I live in a lot of jeans! lol.

Anyway, my shoes were on sale cheap and the clutch 30% off so that was pretty good. They even had clutches for 9.99 and they were nice (but mostly silver and I couldn't get silver with what I'm wearing).

Oh and the topper of all is, I got in a regular 10 dressy sandal (and did not need wide) That's a first! And the sandals are pretty comfy (which surprised me for dressy shoes!)