How To: Protect Your Shoes (Rubber Soles)

Awhile back, Candid Cool suggested that I get my "investment" (aka shoes) rubber-soled. I wasn't sure what that meant and my post to ask for tips didn't yield many results. I got a suggestion for a place where I could ship my babies, but I wanted to take them somewhere local. After some more research, here's what I found:

Getting your shoes rubber-soled will help them last longer and in some cases, look nicer (from the bottom, of course). When a shoe peddler rubber-soles your shoes, they'll apply a thin layer of sole material to the bottom of your shoe to prevent the original shoe part from getting scuffed or wearing down. I hear getting your shoes rubber-soled is good for all shoes with pretty bottoms or bottoms made of leather, but it's really up to you. Anywho, once you're ready to have your shoes soled (and you know 100% sure that you won't return them), ask the shop where you bought your shoes if they have an in-house shoe peddler or repairman. If they don't, ask where they tell their customers to take their shoes for repair. I got my shoes at Neiman Marcus and they told me to take mine to the place at Belk's. Wherever your shop is directing their customers to will, most likely (and hopefully), be used to taking care of the type of shoes you bought. Ask the repair person if they can rubber-sole your shoes. If they seem too confused, then this may not be the place for you, but a place that handles lots of Neiman's shoes should know what they're doing. Ask to see the soles they'll be putting on and also be sure to ask if they can shave down the sides so they don't show too much. Unless you ask them to, the soles should only cover the part of the shoe that touches the ground (not the arch). Here's what they should look like when they're done:


Shoes can be expensive so be sure to take care of your investment!