Special tortures.

[hannah]

In trying to find a new pair of closed-toed sandals that use a buckle instead of Velcro, I'm learning that's basically a product no longer being made. I'm also learning shoe websites don't like people searching for things like closed-toed, or the clasp mechanism. Sometimes what I want is classified as a sandal, sometimes a shoe. And this isn't even getting into considering things like heel height, and heel narrowness.

It's especially demoralizing to find there's very little made in the way of women's shoes with buckles these days. Something nice to wear to work and meeting up with friends that helps me feel like I'm a grown-up and costs less than $400 doesn't seem like it should be giving me such a headache, but then, it's shoe shopping. Nothing's at all pleasant about that. These seem promising, and I may risk buying sight unseen to avoid going into a physical shoe store.

Comments

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I find that capitalism increasingly unsells itself, as useful products are no longer being made. I can find 20 variations of the same damn product and not one of them will be sturdy or safe, or they all have some obvious flaw intended for planned obsolescence.

There's a reason I often shop in Amish territory. They have no patience for that nonsense. If I buy something from them, it works and it keeps working.

[lilacsigil]

Yeah, I do not recommend the velcro, I have had mary jane style shoes with it and it's a real failure point.

[gramarye1971]

This Dansko shoe has been a lifesaver for me as a close-toed shoe that still has some sandal elements but also buckles: https://dansko.com/products/sam-black-soft-full-grain. Dansko shoes are not cheap but I have literally hiked mountains in these shoes.