A Cobbler, is “a shoemaker who repairs shoes, rather than manufacturing them”
A great shoemaker is as important as a great tailor. The right cobbler can help make those really fabulous, yet heinously uncomfortable shoes, wearable enough to allow you to dance the night away!
Here is what a good shoemaker can do for you and your feet:
1. Stretch – Of course none of us wish to buy shoes that are too tight, but if you end up with a pair that is , indeed too tight, you can get them stretched at a shoemaker. The key is to have them stretched for at least 24-hours. If they are stretched for less, they will go back to the original size.
2. Add rubber soles – thin, leather-soled shoes , are not only incredibly uncomfortable, but they can wear through very quickly. By adding a half sole (from the arch up to the toes), it will extend the life span and make your feet feel more comfortable.
3. Change Heels – you can immediately change the look of a pair of shoes, replacing the heel…you can replace a skinny heel, with a sturdy, chunky heel. You can also replace worn or broken heels. I have 3 pairs of my favorite boots, which have had worn heels, and I have had them each replaced for less than $20 each. Sure beats paying $200+ for an entire new pair of boots or shoes! (Note to file…when replacing heels, best have both replaced, so heels are even).
4. Add padding – to upgrade a shoe’s foot bed, you can upgrade and add a cushioned in sole or pad at the heel to prevent slipping.
5. Take boots in (and out) – you can add a 1/2″ in or out on a boot, so the boot hugs the calf as it was meant to. My favorite pair of boots stretched, and kept falling a few inches down (not the look I was going for), so I went to my cobbler, and he repaired them, and they stay upright!
And how do you find the right shoemaker? Ask around. Ask your friends for referrals. It’s great to go to one in your own neighborhood, but if you have to drive 30 minutes to find a great cobbler, it’s a terrific investment.
I wore a pair of totally fabulous high-heel, 4-inch patent-leather, peep toe pumps to a “gala” at Navy Pier…by the end of the evening, not only were my “dogs barking”…but my eyes were tearing… I was in horrific pain! Of course, I knew better, but opted for fashion over function, which is how I roll…and since I knew I knew what I was getting into, I had no business complaining. I should have remembered my mantra:
Happy Feet make for a Happy Life!
Oh Happy Day! Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts today! Happy shopping!!
Check out my newest venture: www.indiahicks.com/rep/terry
xoxo,
T.
