"Cork & Mindy" from Modcloth.com

[cimorene]

These are quite cute - I love the color and styling, truly - but I would never buy them (regardless how much money I had to spare) because they cost $100 USD. It's not that I wouldn't pay that for shoes. I'd pay it for Doc Martens, Birkenstocks, any leather boots, anything involving expensive materials or construction (like stacked wooden heels), fair trade ethical shoes, or anything with a designer brand (assuming I wanted the designer shoes - usually I don't, but it could happen someday). In terms of sense-making, you're paying for the materials and labor. But the buyer's paying out the nose 10 times what the shoes cost to make sometimes, and I would only do that if the designer is 60 bucks worth of famous. I don't really think that Marimekko or Miu Miu or whoever is worth 60 bucks just for being famous, but, well, brand names are an accepted reality, at least. Random price inflation on a whim? Hardly.

Comments

[viggorlijah]

Hey, what would you recommend for a decent slip on walking shoe? I have had huge luck with Clarks for fitting my feet exactly and being comfortable after getting horrific blisters and bad luck with other brands. I had converse at one point, but the bad bad thing is that I hate wearing socks, so I want walking shoes that I can chuck in the washing machine and wear without socks that look like Keds sort of, and that if my dogs eat, I won't be upset (they ate my two pairs of Clarks, so I am currently wearing black $5 flip-flops, or a pair of really gorgeous italian shoes that were on sale for a couple of hundred, and obviously can't be worn for walking around the neighbourhood. I hide them away from the dogs.)

Sorry that was so long! I just am so baffled over what to get - I hate traditional running shoes because they require socks and are so hot and heavy.

[cimorene]

You can actually chuck Converse in the washing machine - they aren't all that different from Keds, I think, but I'd probably choose Keds if I were you. If dogs are going to be chewing on them you don't want to pay too much, and I kind of prefer my Keds-type ones to my Converse-type ones (and they are definitely my go-to shoe when I just grab something and put it on - I have some slip-on Keds and some lace-up Converse).

Keds are also better than Converse because they don't sort of scream ROCK BAND/ TEENAGER quite as loudly - er, that is, they can substitute for Clarks' more readily. Although if you were going to be actually climbing fences or something I guess Converse have better traction. Real Keds are a bit pricey but fake ones seem to be easy to find nowadays. There's also Vans of course.

Since you live in Singapore, you would probably be better off finding more local knockoffs, but if you want to look at shipping them from the UK, http://www.schuhstore.co.uk/ is the ONE source in the UK whose shipping cost I consider decent and, at £10, if you grab a pair that were already on sale or their store brand, the end cost for you is comparable to buying a pair of sneakers locally (although it does, of course, probably increase your carbon footprint more? IDK though, it's a trade-off, and shopping for shoes in person is so annoying that I tend to think it's worth it).

Examples! I don't know your size so these aren't direct links - if you're browsing the sales it's best to search by size and these are all from the sale section:

these PF Flyers in a couple of colours for £15-20

Fred Perry tennis shoes for £10

Then there is Shuh's in-house brand, and their default style called "Curly". These come in laces or velcro and a bunch of patterns and colors for £10-15, both on sale and newer versions -



http://www.schuhstore.co.uk/item_main_frameset.asp?s_ref=130886&fav_size=0&fav_colour=0&C2_Ref=13&C3_Ref=169&junior=0&dep=&ref=&s_group=0

£20 not on sale in plaid or black or grey suede (:?)

Shuh - Cash, £10

Red or Dead - Santi, £15

Gola Quartz, £10

Ones that aren't on sale:

http://www.schuhstore.co.uk/item_frameset.asp?s_ref=130905&C3_Ref=169&C2_Ref=13&s_group=11

£20


Amazon.com also have lots of shoes which you can sort in 5 billion ways (color, size, brand, price, style) including looking at only the ones available for international shipping and they will estimate the taxes & postage costs for you in that section.

And you can probably find these brands elsewhere too, but I haven't had a lot of luck looking for a big online store that's both in English, and specific to your area of the world.


Skechers Cali comes in a number of Keds-like styles. These are 28USD at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Skechers-Cali-Womens-Refreshments-Skimmer/dp/B000ROGN50/ref=sr_1_233?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1249312555&sr=1-233


More Skechers Cali - ugly but comfortable. http://www.amazon.com/Skechers-Cali-Womens-Sunsets-Chocolate/dp/B000ROIIHG/ref=sr_1_249?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1249312579&sr=1-249 19USD at Amazon


Pony (? never encountered this brand before, but they seem to be Keds & Vans knockoffs in weird prints) http://www.amazon.com/Pony-Classic-Fashion-Sneaker-Leopard/dp/B000WOYFHI/ref=sr_1_255?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1249312579&sr=1-255


Same brand http://www.amazon.com/Pony-Womens-Princess-Fashion-Sneaker/dp/B000WOVIBO/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1249312719&sr=1-22


Kangaroos (I really want some of this brand - lots of bright colors) Bumble, 18USD


Kangaroos Mosquito, 13USD http://www.amazon.com/KangaROOS-Womens-Mosquito-Sneaker-White/dp/B000QF7BUG/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1249312652&sr=1-32

A last brand to mention: Rocket Dog. They do lots of simple canvas sneakers, if you can find them. They sell them through Shuh, above, at least. Tend to have rather youthful and playful teenaged-looking things like icecream buttons sewn on and stuff, but sometimes they are just colorful or patterned.

[cimorene]

You could also consider eBay, but I suspect that shipping to Singapore could be prohibitive.

[viggorlijah]

Thank you! I know where I can buy Sketchers here, so I'm going to that store tomorrow with a list of the brands you mentioned to see what else they have. They're *cute*!