How to Make Your Favourite Shoes Last a Little Longer

In addition to being totally-on-top-of-it, hard-working and fun, our intern Lainee has the most phenomenal taste in shoes. Everyday, she comes in with the amazingly chic boots, heels and flats and everyday, I drool over them. When she turned up in the office earlier this week wearing the most perfect tan and black loafers, I had to stop her in the hallway and ask her about her fantastic shoe collection! Turns out that before interning with us at Glamour, Lainee interned at Christian Louboutin. While she spent some serious QT in the Louboutin sample closet organizing all the latest sandals, wedges, boots and more, she also often worked at their sample sales where she was able to score some great deals on some fab finds. (Lucky, lucky girl!)

I asked her if she'd picked up any shoe tips from working at the storied house of Louboutin, and she said yes and started counting off her favorite shoe secrets. I of course had to share them with all of you because Lainee's tricks will help make your fave shoes (whether they're Loubs or fun, $5 mall store finds) last a little longer.


Organize by heel height. Lainee keeps all of her flats within reach, because that's what she wears more often. She stacks her higher heels and bigger platforms up higher since they're only usually worn for nights out. And by having everything so well organized, it prevents shoes from piling up--and denting, scratching or rubbing against each other.
Photograph your shoes. Take a picture of each pair you own and tape it to the outside of the clear shoe box (which, by the way, you can get at the Container Store). This helps you find your shoes easily and if you store them like this, they'll last forever.



Have a reliable shoe repairman. Lainee's favorite is Arty's here in NYC. What's so special about them? They can actually re-sole your shoes in black, tan, brown and even Louboutin red.

Start your look from the shoes up. Lainee always starts her look each day with her shoes, then bases her outfit around them. By swapping out one pair for another each day, it's a good way to make the most of the shoes you own.

For big shoe savings, re-sole your shoes. To extend the life of that extra-special, save-and-dream-about-for-months pair of shoes, try getting them re-soled before you wear them. Yes, it seems silly to shell out a few more bucks on top of a big splurge, but it'll be worth it in the end since it can make your shoes last an extra year--or four! And, before you think of chucking that old faithful pair of heels, check the bottoms; maybe a little heel replacement or re-sole can save your faves.