To make any decent shoe last that long or longer, choose the following strategy:
- Buy two pair on sale 2 black or 1 black, 1 brown. Make sure they fit correctly.
- Buy 2 pair of shoe trees, preferably cedar. Can sometimes be found at estate sales or thrift stores.
- When you remove the shoes, untie them and gently remove by gripping the heel. Immediately insert shoe trees.
- Wipe off any dirt with a damp rag after every wearing, or at least once a week.
- Never wear the same shoes two days in a row. Let them rest.
- Get a shoeshine kit and learn how to use it via You Tube if necessary. Don't buy cheap polish. The good stuff lasts a very long time.
- Watch for worn heels, replace when they show some, but not a lot of wear. Ditto for soles, whIch generally last longer than heels and cost more to replace.
- Find a good shoe repair and always be super-cool to them. Seriously, they are skilled tradespeople who deserve more respect than they often get.
-Replace or repair shoelaces if/when the iglets (the plastic sleeve at the end of the lace) fail. Better still, watch at dollar stores, estate sales and the like to keep a stock of the correct replacement laces on hand.
Check back with me in ten years or so and tell me how your shoes are still going strong. I'll wait.