tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7624366457485259262024-03-05T17:29:03.226-05:00Trashed and Abused ShoesAdventures with trashed and abused women's footwearTrashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-6867662132542861552014-11-04T16:19:00.001-05:002014-11-04T16:19:22.246-05:00I haven't lost you?Wow. Will I hurt your feelings if I admit to having forgotten about this blog (and, by direct connection, all of you loyal readers)? I know I made some promises to get back to posting a little more than a year ago. I wasn't able to make it happen. Life got in the way, and that's really all I care to say about it. For what it's worth, I'm sorry if anyone out there was counting on me only to be let down.<br />
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Rest assured my interest in trashed and abused women's shoes hasn't waned. Not one bit. My passion is still as strong as it ever was, even if I haven't been sharing it here. As I got myself back into the eBay scene this afternoon, I decided to check out this long-neglected/forgotten blog to see if it was still live... still being read... and hopefully not overrun with spam comments. Sure enough, it's pretty much exactly as I left it, albeit with some inspiring comments that got me thinking... shit, I really start posting again! So I will. It might take me a little while to get some really good new material but I think I can make it work now whereas I wasn't able to make it work a year ago.<br />
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In the meantime, I figured I'd share something with you, thanks to a comment made by one of you about Keds. YouTube has become one of my favorite sources for keeping my passion alive, and I'm always on the lookout for videos of women walking in shoes with broken heels. If you search for candid shoeplay, you might be impressed with what you find. The things women do to their shoes when they're not aware anyone is looking? Priceless. Also priceless? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP-cZKdQrZQ&list=UU_bD_AYcRBLFJu4W5-qpntA" target="_blank">This video.</a><br />
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Actually, there are a lot of videos, just like this one. If you're a fan of Keds and/or Adidas sneakers, you'll be on Cloud Nine, or something like that. This YouTube user used to have an even more impressive collection of videos but at some point in the last year or so, they all disappeared and were replaced with new ones. Of particular interest to me was a pair of the most beat-down, destroyed Keds you'd ever hope to see. The videos of those shoes are gone but these are almost as good.<br />
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It's a miracle those things are holding together, isn't it? Each time I watch one of the videos, I'm fully expecting the shoes to completely fall apart, unable to hold themselves together for another tortured moment. Whoever designed/made these shoes should be impressed by the quality of their own craft. It's as if they could give a pair of beefy Doc Martens a run for their money. Now, there is something a bit strange about these videos, especially going by what I once knew. The shoes aren't always being worn by a woman, or at least I'm pretty sure of that. I think the boyfriend posts the videos and sometimes he's the one featured in the videos, squeezing his feet (which must be pretty small) into the poor Keds. Maybe that doesn't matter much to you. After all, I posted videos of myself wearing high heels! Just a word of warning though, depending on how you decide to be, um, inspired by all of this.<br />
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Anyway, keep your eyes on the blog for something new.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-13969787862786820252013-09-04T15:12:00.000-04:002013-09-04T15:12:37.948-04:00Two YouTube FindsLike I said, I'd be back on September 4th. Oh, wait, was that the 29th? Can you forgive me for having misled you one more time? Have mercy! It was summer, and you know how hard it is to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment out of the summer months when there's so much in life that manages to get in the way. Of course, it's now fall, which is my favorite season, but I'll at least have more time to dedicate to the blog. I have some fantastic new additions to my collection and I'll be highlighting them soon. In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLYgHY-RTFU&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXLYgHY-RTFU&has_verified=1" target="_blank">this video on YouTube.</a> You may be asked if it's okay to display "inappropriate content", although I can promise you there's nothing at all inappropriate with what you're about to see.<br />
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SuperHeroDoll seems to created one hell of a shrine to her feet. The majority of her uploads focus on her (admittedly adorable) feet in socks, but there are a few videos highlighting her shoes. The sandals are advertised as being for sale but don't get your hopes up, as they've already been sold. Too bad, as I would have gladly plunked down the $50 she was asking had I known at the time. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of chunky sandals, but there's something mesmerizing about the way SuperHeroDoll works the elastic straps, ferociously daring the material to break apart.<br />
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Another YouTube user, chilflamorris, punishes a pair of white slingbacks in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHYZ0fuzYLg" target="_blank">this upload.</a> Granted, I'm much more interested in shoes destroyed through natural wear and tear, but the way she's able to have both shoes tear each other apart in front of the camera is fascinating.<br />
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More to come.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-23366477279266411292013-07-19T16:00:00.000-04:002013-07-19T16:00:15.552-04:00Blog Returns on July 29th!Well, unless I get the urge to post something before then. But I assure you this will be the last time you read about the blog returning without it actually happening.<br />
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As I said in previous posts, life sometimes has a way of, um, getting in the way. Hobbies tend to fall by the wayside and unfortunately this particular hobby of mine wasn't something that fit into my limited free time. The good news is, I'm going to pick up where I left off and hit the ground running. We'll finally see Lou's girlfriend's shoes get the beatdown they've been needing since I received them. My large-sized Ellies and Pleasers will be subjected to abuse their designers surely never intended. Then there's my collection, which is going to continue to grow. Lately I've been taking an interest in flip flops and sandals. Is that because it's summer and eBay is flooded with those kinds of items for sale? Or because it's sometimes relatively easy for me to squeeze my big feet into flip flops and sandals that should be way too small but happen to work because of a minimum of straps?<br />
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Keep following. I swear it'll be worth your patience.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-82557701688047764232013-06-28T15:30:00.001-04:002013-06-28T15:30:25.290-04:00I'm here... I swear.I know I promised a return to the blog, and I also know that was a long time ago. I'm still here, just got buried by life for a while. Don't worry, the blog will return and I hope all of you loyal readers will continue to follow!Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-2797624730482009012013-04-02T13:37:00.003-04:002013-04-02T13:37:30.735-04:00Blog UpdateIt's been a while, but I assure you I'm still here. As is sometimes the case, life got in the way and I had to step back to take care of some things, including my job that pays the bills. It didn't help that my house was subjected to massive upheaval as the furniture on the main floor had to be moved into the garage so the floors could be refinished, which effectively shut down the majority of my photo shoot locations as well as the garage that's become something of a dungeon for shoe abuse. Everything is finally back to normal and with work being less hectic, posts will resume very soon. Thanks for being patient!Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-7660963884556490402013-03-21T18:33:00.000-04:002013-03-21T18:33:14.435-04:00Hot, So Hot... Pink, That Is<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ordering shoes online is a very simple and satisfying process... that is, until you find out that you need your shoes in a different size, at which point the exchange becomes tedious and time-consuming. One of my first purchases for my own feet was a pair of Pleaser Dream 420 pumps (the 420 part is important because Pleaser has a line of Dream pumps, and they're not all the same) and since I was having a hard time with a pair of size 16s, figured I'd have to go with size 17s. That ended up being a mistake, as they were way too large, leading me to believe I really am a size 16 and I just had some bad luck with one pair. Between waiting for the pair of shoes to be returned to the seller, the time it took to process the return and bill me for shipping for the new pair and allowing the USPS to do its thing with the new pair, at least a month had passed. Of course, all will be forgotten if the new pair fits.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu5jIB750pyXb2eWWEi8nWAdhcYkOZKMJfWPWwLbZcm0azWgvR9Y6JuV1mHT4glXRcz-f_9hVeDCDGmi7Ew-VRUDJ0ptMk5Eih6KXbqDaUr0e2qlf0GA4k6c6R84ffDW5ZjCyKe7bggGh/s1600/IMG_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu5jIB750pyXb2eWWEi8nWAdhcYkOZKMJfWPWwLbZcm0azWgvR9Y6JuV1mHT4glXRcz-f_9hVeDCDGmi7Ew-VRUDJ0ptMk5Eih6KXbqDaUr0e2qlf0GA4k6c6R84ffDW5ZjCyKe7bggGh/s320/IMG_0435.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I was a little disappointed when my <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/another-pair-for-my-feet-to-embrace.html" target="_blank">Pleaser Vanity T-strap pumps arrived</a> because the attention to packaging detail was lacking. That particular style of shoe must be an anomaly because my Dream pumps arrived as expected, wrapped in black cloth bags surrounding a larger one for storage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqESmUz7C1kMPkLZY1d30AYOykNLM2p5qHwugR4qJdqKlHyf5KvKVGeNkWHrqt2jpCUYw9fIvksWT6M9qrxf5XpcJLK8NJewIyYaTQk59eWGppw37qZwgtZAYwOKVVtu28vo60p4vBrUlC/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqESmUz7C1kMPkLZY1d30AYOykNLM2p5qHwugR4qJdqKlHyf5KvKVGeNkWHrqt2jpCUYw9fIvksWT6M9qrxf5XpcJLK8NJewIyYaTQk59eWGppw37qZwgtZAYwOKVVtu28vo60p4vBrUlC/s320/IMG_0436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Even better, the shoes fit. They're still a little loose but I don't think a size 15 would be comfortable. And! They're hot pink, which is good because my other four pairs are red and black. I'm thinking I need one or two more pairs, maybe something in a metallic? In the meantime, I have many shoes I plan to destroy with the 4" heels on these, which are tall and sharp enough to cause lots of suffering, but likely not tall and sharp enough to be unbearable. Stay tuned.<br /><br />
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<br />Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-27402760784078766932013-03-14T18:50:00.002-04:002013-03-14T18:50:43.899-04:00Lou's Girlfriend's Shoes: Part One (Hello, Red Flats)Since coming over from Europe, <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/03/lous-shoes-introduction.html" target="_blank">Lou's girlfriend's shoes</a> have been a bit neglected. As soon as the weather improves, they'll be taking a difficult hike in the woods courtesy of a friend of mine with a voracious desire to be very abusive to the shoes on her feet. In the meantime, I thought I'd send the red flats a greeting with my <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/another-pair-for-my-feet-to-embrace.html" target="_blank">Pleaser T-strap pumps.</a><br />
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As promised, <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/03/high-heels-mathematics.html" target="_blank">the information found here</a> will give you a little insight as to what's going on. I didn't measure the heels of my Pleasers but the top pieces are very small, somewhere between 3/16" and 1/4" of an inch. There are times in the video when I am putting nearly all of my 300 pounds onto the heels of my shoes, meaning the pressure being generated is somewhere in the 10,000 PSI range without any motion whatsoever. That means the number is going to swell as I lift my foot off the floor and stomp back down on it. What abuse Lou's girlfriend's shoes are being forced to endure! Good thing they held up with only a few scratches, although the road only gets more difficult from now on... figuratively <i>and </i>literally.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-82115585832389594852013-03-14T18:42:00.000-04:002013-03-14T18:42:22.511-04:00High Heels & MathematicsMathematics can explain a lot of things, but did you ever think someone would apply such logic and reasoning to the wearing of high heels? Well, someone did, and <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_spike_high_stiletto_heels_damage_floors_and_the_real_math_and_Mojo" target="_blank">you can read about it here.</a><br />
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As I find myself using my Ellie and Pleaser shoes to inflict damage upon some of the helpless victims in my collection, understanding a bit about what's going on didn't seem like a bad idea. You can anticipate me referencing this page a lot in the future!Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-54491616345445117002013-03-14T10:03:00.000-04:002013-03-14T18:57:25.385-04:00My Collection: City Sneaks Canvas Sneakers<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsYx_nD97at4cjgMNUygJV0mwMy6NmCrrzn6q2sN3gaaVih8Ik7Mn4ZqWPT93tUSICLdUsjMvKGGJyZgJ1pMfu78QLDCTMCVXC512rUhD-WTmf-AlXkpKjBXqKBaEBUhCl-0rMSnhe728/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsYx_nD97at4cjgMNUygJV0mwMy6NmCrrzn6q2sN3gaaVih8Ik7Mn4ZqWPT93tUSICLdUsjMvKGGJyZgJ1pMfu78QLDCTMCVXC512rUhD-WTmf-AlXkpKjBXqKBaEBUhCl-0rMSnhe728/s320/IMG_0421.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
One of my ultimate quests is to find a terribly trashed and abused pair of Keds to add to my collection. The thing is, pairs like that don't become available very often and when they do, the bidding spirals out of control faster than a drunk on an icy curve. I had a few pairs in the past that I foolishly disposed of when I got rid of my previous collections, and I have a feeling I'll live to regret those decisions for a very long time. However, this pair of black City Sneaks wasn't a bad find, and I certainly didn't pay for them as if they were actual Keds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtyk799gmu2wJ0jMn1ezsoOFfi-JIc1bFvEYqD4DXIc_rWITgci_X6tjpMmJM9NrKZbYfCxva8xGu5ijsHirlUJlC0GbJCVhWrTWVOTQwfBM_FH6yr8MK2rfTzt0ZzlzLvlETgHizC6c4/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtyk799gmu2wJ0jMn1ezsoOFfi-JIc1bFvEYqD4DXIc_rWITgci_X6tjpMmJM9NrKZbYfCxva8xGu5ijsHirlUJlC0GbJCVhWrTWVOTQwfBM_FH6yr8MK2rfTzt0ZzlzLvlETgHizC6c4/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Keds were very popular in the late 80's and early 90's, although I'm sure they were popular way before I began paying attention when I was in junior high. The fad seemed to lead to an endless number of companies selling Keds-style sneakers. Some were obviously cheap knock-offs while others were very close to the real things. An ex girlfriend of mine had a pair made by Hanes and asides from the iconic blue Keds rectangle having been replaced by a pink Hanes one, I'd have never known the difference. These City Sneaks aren't Keds doppelgangers but they're close enough for me, especially in their condition.<br />
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Surprisingly, there isn't much to see inside, although the lack of visual candy is helped by an overabundance of canvas sneaker odor. Some of you will surely know what I'm talking about, and those that don't will just have to find out for themselves because it can't be put into words. The lining that covers the rigid plastic counters is usually ripped, torn and worn away on sneakers exhibiting this much trashing and abuse but is perfectly intact on both of these shoes. At least the insole is faded and stained, almost to the point where it's difficult to read the City Sneaks name in small, lowercase font.<br />
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Fortunately, a little treasure-hunting reveals a hidden gem. By lifting up the loose insole of the right sneaker, a hole on the outsole is revealed (yes, I could have shown you photographs of the bottoms of the City Sneaks instead, but how would that have been any fun?) As is almost always the case, the right shoe is a lot more worn than the left, which has outsoles worn dangerously thin but without any holes.<br />
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The canvas uppers display every kind of wear you could ever hope to find. The black material is faded and stained and, on the right sneaker, is ripped where the foot flexes. Right now the lining is hanging on just enough to keep this from being a full-fledged hole, but I'm sure another few weeks of hard use would cause it to give way.<br />
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The eyelets for the laces on the left shoe are just beginning to separate from the canvas uppers...<br />
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...but they'll have to speed things up if they want to catch the ones on the right shoe because a few are completely gone. In fact, they appear to have been gone a while since they're nowhere to be found. The laces definitely aren't original so the loose eyelets likely got tossed along with the original laces, and new ones were put on using the now-naked holes.<br />
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The bottoms of the shoes show City Sneaks' most obvious departure from Keds convention. Instead of a gum rubber outsole, these sneakers have ones with a few shallow grooves and appear to have been covered in a fuzzy material that's barely visible only near the centers where the least amount of the wearer's weight was pounding them into the ground.<br />
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The hole on the heel area of the right shoe is the result of them being worn so much that the once-robust outsoles were worn paper-thin. These sneakers weren't far away from being worn to the point where they would have been completely useless. In fact, I'm not sure how the wearer got by with using them in this condition. A hole this large would surely make it impossible to wear these in any kind of wet weather so either they were planned to be used only on dry days or it didn't matter if the wearer's feet got an accidental bath.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLdoxM_GTj1UA-mxdl8oGWSy4UWojxrtmTQpC7r6Hq6u7N2CoHiypVVJtRhbXFf6FlvCQJMoi2qIN3l0UOS48NIBWTSgIk5BWbNKH4AY3H9BwVQYcvEXa-rUg76fWjwOU-fZrZIoh-BPe/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLdoxM_GTj1UA-mxdl8oGWSy4UWojxrtmTQpC7r6Hq6u7N2CoHiypVVJtRhbXFf6FlvCQJMoi2qIN3l0UOS48NIBWTSgIk5BWbNKH4AY3H9BwVQYcvEXa-rUg76fWjwOU-fZrZIoh-BPe/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Even the fronts of the outsoles are starting to grow small holes, as this area has been worn paper-thin as well. Women seem to be reckless with these kinds of canvas shoes, which is a blessing and a curse. Trashed and abused examples are wonderful to have, but women don't often give up sneakers like these and when they do, they're usually under the impression they're so far gone that the only place for them is the trash. If they only knew what guys like me would pay to get them. Ladies, are you listening?Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-13525317504252417852013-03-11T12:40:00.000-04:002013-03-14T10:03:41.259-04:00My Collection: Classiques PumpsI'll kick off the work week with a beautiful example of office pumps. If you're like me and looking to add trashed and abused shoes to your collection, you often can't go wrong with office pumps. You'll have to make some sacrifices- they're usually fairly plain and the heels aren't insanely high, but they're usually a hell of a lot more worn out than fancy pumps that were slipped on for the occasional date, fancy dinner or formal event. That's because office pumps are sometimes worn on a daily basis over a period of years, racking up miles over the course of countless long days. Some pumps are visited by the feet. Office pumps are often lived in, such as these.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueoYaYueB_A7dFyVzjxksq5nNFxxeEOUm18dYKh49QZm6m1srhBgOx9Rw4CEzr-qK4sPOabfA6I9kCZRD_CVPYEotNu85iZNS32YYDTQWfHtDo1B4FiXYTEB7ROI_ojeGQDtBHtmHdxQQ/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueoYaYueB_A7dFyVzjxksq5nNFxxeEOUm18dYKh49QZm6m1srhBgOx9Rw4CEzr-qK4sPOabfA6I9kCZRD_CVPYEotNu85iZNS32YYDTQWfHtDo1B4FiXYTEB7ROI_ojeGQDtBHtmHdxQQ/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a pair of 7M Classiques. Despite the French-sounding name, the logo tag on the insole proudly states these are a product of Italy. As is the case with other pumps in my collection, the height of the heel isn't really low or high, but for the sake of simplifying things I'll list these as high heels. Some of these photos were taken with the flash on my camera turned on and that gives them a white-ish appearance but they're actually bone. I'm sure that made them go well with pretty much everything in the wearer's closet.<br />
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The leather uppers (yes, this time I know it's real leather because everything is leather, even the outsoles) are very wrinkled and misshapen, particularly around the areas where the shoes flex. I'm willing to bet a lot of those wear-related defects disappear when there are two feet inside of them, and I'm thinking these will be one of those pairs I make sure get on my friend's feet for a photo session in the not-too-distant future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ6yIjM3kEA0ln5eZp8zpWziygQ6v745S0Jwx0enfET5K35Ak2PfkQgEl59BCNLa5SM5AmDtxnW5f_fxymlif89HxiuQCiCWLj2vixGcpIvW1QOfpPexB2Y_nojYAeN2y9RPj-sxcDb7U/s1600/IMG_0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ6yIjM3kEA0ln5eZp8zpWziygQ6v745S0Jwx0enfET5K35Ak2PfkQgEl59BCNLa5SM5AmDtxnW5f_fxymlif89HxiuQCiCWLj2vixGcpIvW1QOfpPexB2Y_nojYAeN2y9RPj-sxcDb7U/s320/IMG_0405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
A closer inspection of the leather upper reveals a mess of little cracks, which is usually a sign of aging. I have no idea how old these shoes are but I wouldn't be shocked if they've been around fifteen or twenty years. They don't look like anything that's been sold since at least the start of the new millennium, although a reader of this blog much more in tune with fashion trends would be better equipped to prove me right or wrong.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-66l9rhUoLBUxMY_ORHQr2IFJMmRf5ISxMys3tbZErkcs3P_TsrBeWyblCMUAa0qj7X0fdInHbR9LKjmapq1SVhVkzTb7ktIuriR7evazma4H7K1nFzzZVooV5T9UQi1VZJYROzOQUGd/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-66l9rhUoLBUxMY_ORHQr2IFJMmRf5ISxMys3tbZErkcs3P_TsrBeWyblCMUAa0qj7X0fdInHbR9LKjmapq1SVhVkzTb7ktIuriR7evazma4H7K1nFzzZVooV5T9UQi1VZJYROzOQUGd/s320/IMG_0406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The pumps stink... which, of course, is a wonderful thing. They're a few feet from me as I type this and their delicious aroma is making their presence known. In fact, they smell a lot like the shoes I used to buy from the thrift store, so I'm wondering if the seller duped me into thinking these were her pumps, or if that smell is common to older shoes. I guess it doesn't matter because with this kind of trashing and abuse, I'm happy to have them in my collection. Here you can see the color having been rubbed off the lining in some spots as well as a great amount of wear having been inflicted on the insole, which is beginning to work its way loose.<br />
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It's fun to think about what a pair of shoes goes through over the course of time, starting out life being stored in a box so as not to risk them getting damaged to ending up as a disposable item. At what point does the wearer go from avoiding puddles to walking right through them? Gently removing them from her feet at the end of the day to kicking them off into a corner upon walking in the door?<br />
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The wearer of these pumps kept them on from the moment she left in the morning until the time she got home. The back of the right shoe is seriously scuffed, meaning it came in contact with the floor mat in the car as she drove to and from the office. This area on the back of the left shoe is perfectly intact.<br />
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I love the way leather outsoles wear over time. The material seems to fray a bit, making it a little soft and fuzzy. Leather outsoles also seem to stain very easily, leading them to appear a lot more worn than they actually are. These are just starting to feel a little thin in the areas under the balls of the feet, but are still in great shape.<br />
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The top pieces are worn very evenly, indicating the wearer of these shoes knew how to walk in them.<br />
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Only upon looking at them from the sides is it obvious how long these shoes had been in someone's service, as the top pieces likely started out about twice as thick as they are now. Regardless, these pumps were worn hard as one of someone's "go to"pairs but held up well in the face of everything thrown at them. I'll be on the lookout for more just like these.<br />
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Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-33690755552451449282013-03-08T15:23:00.002-05:002013-03-08T15:23:51.812-05:00Two Good YouTube FindsDon't worry, this blog isn't going to turn into a place where I regurgitate stuff I find elsewhere on the internet, but every once in a while my interest in this hobby leads me to some stuff I feel the need to share.<br />
<br />First up is a short video of some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VHx6uVoDQ4" target="_blank">tall platform heels.</a> It's so short, you could very well miss it if you blink. I'll admit to not being the biggest fan of platforms (the ridiculously thick outsoles don't do anything for me) but the pair featured in this clip is definitely one I'd love to have in my collection. The shoes look as though they were subjected to some intentional abuse and in this case I'm okay with that because of the way the heels are bending all over the place. Mesmerizing!<br />
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Second is a video only a little longer than the first (so again, don't blink) but equally fascinating. This guy's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcWH3kMpxnw" target="_blank">girlfriend's worn slingbacks</a> have the most downright impressive sweat stains I've ever seen on a pair of shoes. From the looks of things, her feet create a pool of sweat on a daily basis. I can only dream of what it would be like to shove my nose inside the pumps for a sniff or two.<br />
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Stay tuned this weekend for some more posts. There's so much in my collection I haven't shared... yet.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-6190333775023328952013-03-08T10:30:00.000-05:002013-03-08T10:31:24.652-05:00Connie Celebrates No More: Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a generally unsatisfying week as far as this hobby goes, as I've barely had any alone time to enjoy my collection. It was also a slow week when it comes to additions to my collection, highlighted only by the arrival of two pairs of pumps. One pair was purchased because the trashing and abuse I could see in the photos led me to believe it would make a fine addition to my collection and the other was purchased because it looked as though it would make for a nice target for destruction. Note to sellers: combining shipping costs for multiple purchases leads to, um, more purchases.</div>
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The high-heeled pumps pictured here are the ones purchased so I could end their shiny little lives. They are made by Connie and are apparently part of the company's "Celebrates"line of shoes. I'm not sure where that causes them to fall in the Connie universe, all I know is that it's quite cumbersome as it rolls off the tongue. Wouldn't Connie Celebrations make more sense than Connie Celebrates? Celebrates what? The destruction of her shoes? Okay, I'm down with that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJgXYvm3Omapm6QGJI5gmxTuTcZgq8lg8P5IrdLxm3l_ValEfViHZrozUf7V8E996d48DP2yvu3dyJQJaW05g1WvWGdn5fr8JWa98BGkTpQaihyphenhyphennQ43fLQQYfl3P0UKRLQR0VSn9VbxaP/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJgXYvm3Omapm6QGJI5gmxTuTcZgq8lg8P5IrdLxm3l_ValEfViHZrozUf7V8E996d48DP2yvu3dyJQJaW05g1WvWGdn5fr8JWa98BGkTpQaihyphenhyphennQ43fLQQYfl3P0UKRLQR0VSn9VbxaP/s320/IMG_0386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Once again, I enlisted the help of <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/two-pairs-of-pleasers-for-my-pleasure.html" target="_blank">my Pleaser Mary Janes</a>. Of all the shoes in my collection that were purchased for the enjoyment of my feet, they're the ones with the sturdiest heels. Maybe one day I'll get destructive with the shoes with the higher heels but right now I'm sticking with what I'm most confident wearing. Size 8 Connies, meet size 16 Pleasers. Poor adorable things.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipzXLPrJi6TkbKjwiNGZmxdrmgH6xTUPc_lRxAFmDBvYNlyqKNZc36vM0Z90bLE-Xv8PHC49_IjrGxEoeOCpQUaGz7gkA2ZbPZLpW7qmWRarHMgtbD116Ej8eG_C7HBSmUsgxbjJqpPqu/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipzXLPrJi6TkbKjwiNGZmxdrmgH6xTUPc_lRxAFmDBvYNlyqKNZc36vM0Z90bLE-Xv8PHC49_IjrGxEoeOCpQUaGz7gkA2ZbPZLpW7qmWRarHMgtbD116Ej8eG_C7HBSmUsgxbjJqpPqu/s320/IMG_0387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
When I <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/destroying-moda-sandals_14.html" target="_blank">destroyed my Moda sandals</a>, my favorite moment was when I put all of my weight on the heels of my shoes and used them to collapse the shanks of their victims. Since then, I've purchased a few pairs of shoes with lower heels, hoping to be able to recreate that moment. The Connies taught me that I have to keep things modest. In this photo it appears that the heel of my Pleaser is going to bend the silver pump in half but I discovered that there is no way to stabilize a pump so that it remains upright under the weight of a heel. After this photo was taken, the little Connie fell to either side as the heel dragged along the foam-padded insole but failed to cause any structural damage. From now on I need shoes with low, blocky heels because at least they remain stable and upright as I stand on them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgVqEzBFRq1bU5G_FOVsoD4j8ih5meJGeu3xWNrOwtE42wxQsOR8N6Jvgl2vUCM4Wc4o5s_B0jq0OcNMSuHawtlWBLZw-30sojucR2wBpV3bXfkCLTd_JkYDE9JvMZuZtwH3mC29rDBpS/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgVqEzBFRq1bU5G_FOVsoD4j8ih5meJGeu3xWNrOwtE42wxQsOR8N6Jvgl2vUCM4Wc4o5s_B0jq0OcNMSuHawtlWBLZw-30sojucR2wBpV3bXfkCLTd_JkYDE9JvMZuZtwH3mC29rDBpS/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Since the insole was already working its way loose long before I bought the pumps, I tried peeling it back so that the top piece of my Pleaser's heel wouldn't be subjected to such a slippery surface. The end result was ultimately the same since the sharp curvature of the shank was too much and the heel still slid down, unable to remain in one spot long enough to break the shoe. Frustrated by my lack of destructive success, I threw the Connie down on the cold, hard garage floor and stomped, kicked and dragged the life out of it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNLQG6zwMeBZqPt85cb_wp1ckN3KkJRLtDA8OrWrkIki-Bf8zCIvhcpkpqin0sWaa0k04QTWMi3O96zPv1dpPYQsI98h0AZ6Yv60t_hP7T4gPa19QI2ddFMlQEHiV_kQ0pOxyBUqEBgf_/s1600/IMG_0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNLQG6zwMeBZqPt85cb_wp1ckN3KkJRLtDA8OrWrkIki-Bf8zCIvhcpkpqin0sWaa0k04QTWMi3O96zPv1dpPYQsI98h0AZ6Yv60t_hP7T4gPa19QI2ddFMlQEHiV_kQ0pOxyBUqEBgf_/s320/IMG_0390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Did I go too far? I'm thinking it's a possibility as I'm starting to get concerned about the long-term health and well-being of my Pleasers. The heels absorbed a massive amount of abuse with serious damage to the top pieces and even the leather covering them. As I walked back in the house, my Mary Janes felt a little wobbly and sloppy. An inspection revealed the heels still very tightly attached, so is it my imagination or are is the abuse only evident when my 300 pound body is walking in them? Time will tell.<br />
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As for the Connies... well, I concentrated all of my anger on the right shoe. The left one is completely intact right now and surely happy it's not looking like this one. The stomping by the Pleasers resulted in the bending of the metal strip that forms the shape of the shank, which in turn has the heel bent under the shoe.<br />
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Part of the reason one of my Pleaser's top pieces is in such dismal shape is because I dragged the Connie along the course concrete floor of the garage. This created deep scratches on the rubber outsole as well as a hole in the upper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyEIugHOu8aUl7eWB8pWy5hyw0Xqf6vm07dRIRnSj4y3SrS8_6g-dL1hwaTnjD70Pc7mm1IsTjw_JJnFqVXGP7r7stgzoT6SbNeyYu-6br4B8SB9q3wVl5ShQLQ80ppzmXQQb6odxUuv5/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyEIugHOu8aUl7eWB8pWy5hyw0Xqf6vm07dRIRnSj4y3SrS8_6g-dL1hwaTnjD70Pc7mm1IsTjw_JJnFqVXGP7r7stgzoT6SbNeyYu-6br4B8SB9q3wVl5ShQLQ80ppzmXQQb6odxUuv5/s320/IMG_0395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The stress inflicted on the shoe during the dragging session caused the upper to tear away from the outsole. Whatever was left of the already-worn top piece shattered into many pieces, exposing the metal nail in the center of the heel that proved to be the only part of the shoe to survive the rampage completely intact. The flash I used for this photo blacked out the background, allowing a good look at the part of the pump that suffered the most damage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNsjEOd1KSt6UTB-U1F0c5AogE3qkTPJr1SPuZZZ1jjk3eyuQqLz8303fcP8pjMZHWs5WxcaEbltd7lC5Um7Bu8onhuG1YPmQoKzOiD2m-HAW5_fpbx7mGschYqCpw6aGzyapKdbeqI7g/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNsjEOd1KSt6UTB-U1F0c5AogE3qkTPJr1SPuZZZ1jjk3eyuQqLz8303fcP8pjMZHWs5WxcaEbltd7lC5Um7Bu8onhuG1YPmQoKzOiD2m-HAW5_fpbx7mGschYqCpw6aGzyapKdbeqI7g/s320/IMG_0399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
With the insole peeled back, the shoe's new holes can be seen along with the cracking of the shank near the base of the heel. This particular pair of pumps doesn't appear to have been all that expensive, although I suppose all pumps are made this way? (I'll have to tear apart a few more to be certain.) The shank is made of an extremely rigid compressed paper-like material, which I assume is sufficient because of the metal strip between it and the outsole, and the heel is attached with a couple of nails.<br />
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One down, one to go. It won't be long before I take on the self-imposed challenge of making the left shoe look worse than the right. To be continued...<br />
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Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-63435522849431002832013-03-08T09:16:00.002-05:002013-03-08T15:12:30.368-05:00Looking DownMost women are used to a guy's eyes gravitating to points north on their body. What would women think if they knew that my eyes are programmed to look down (in addition to north because, after all, I'm a normal guy once you get past this peculiar interest of mine)?<br />
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I can't help myself, as much as I've tried in the past to keep my interest in a woman's shoes from taking control. Of course I make it a point to be as discreet as possible, but I'm not sure if I'm always successful. I can only hope. At least looking down has provided me with lots of visuals, lots of insight and lots of stories throughout the years.<br />
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It was when I worked part-time at a local grocery store that I really began paying attention to what women wore on their feet. Over time I discovered there were some customers that I really enjoyed seeing walk up and down the aisles. Three stand out in my mind- all middle-aged, and all with an affinity for Keds and Keds-style sneakers. One (who, for some reason, stands out in my mind as having always been pregnant despite the fact that I only ever saw her with one of two kids) had feet that would cause the uppers to bulge severely on the sides of her feet- something that those kinds of sneakers didn't seem designed to prevent all that well. Another had sneakers that always had holes on the sides, and regardless of the pair she was wearing they were always in the exact same spots. If I was working on the sales floor, I'd always make it a point to start blocking a lower shelf in their vicinity so I could be closer to their feet as they walked by (yes, I never forgot my retail terminology, despite now having been out of the business for close to a decade.)<br />
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However, there was one woman that still stands out in my mind for a number of reasons. First, she was the mother of a good friend of mine throughout my school years, all the way up to a few years following high school graduation. Second, she was divorced but clearly had money, which made it amusing that she wore the most trashed, abused and plain disgusting Keds you can ever imagine being used as serious articles of clothing. They weren't falling apart like those featured in one of my favorite YouTube videos (see below) but they were stretched out, scratched and faded beyond belief. What possessed a mature woman with money to leave her house in such lousy sneakers when she likely had a closet full of more presentable options? Third, she always seemed to bestow upon me an unreasonable amount of attention, often stopping me for half hour-long conversations that would have left my boss fuming had I not been such a good employee. I can recall a talk about not knowing how to cook leading to her begging me to come over to be taught how to prepare a meal, another about going for a ride in her new car and even one where she boasted about the virtues of younger men. Had she not been the mother of my friend, I probably wouldn't have ignored her flirtatious overtures.<br />
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Speaking of trashed and abused Keds, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDfd5-klcOs" target="_blank">check out this YouTube video.</a> It starts out with some nice footage of the wearer playing with her pumps in the snow but then heats up when she tosses a rotten old pair of the things to the ground and tramples the living hell out of them, even going as far as to shove the pumps she's wearing into the Keds. The fact that the uppers are ripped and torn to the point of barely being able to hold themselves together makes the sneakers appear to shudder in either pain, fear or both. There's no telling what I'd pay for a pair of Keds like that if they came my way.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-57311409572202929492013-03-04T16:40:00.002-05:002013-03-04T16:41:34.685-05:00My Collection: Ballet Flats of an Unknown Brand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4Q7OY89M4KAGGC2F36UBGNZpn5Phs-xuPQgL4jbWxazFMMYlX1EXcdXmVo_d9zzjH_TE265qmAqWN0OqSY2Lzxkg4yi3GmSBp6OK8Xy9zo0MnZODAiwlh-UTJUzjMNcTvIAcRZ1IlNbJ/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4Q7OY89M4KAGGC2F36UBGNZpn5Phs-xuPQgL4jbWxazFMMYlX1EXcdXmVo_d9zzjH_TE265qmAqWN0OqSY2Lzxkg4yi3GmSBp6OK8Xy9zo0MnZODAiwlh-UTJUzjMNcTvIAcRZ1IlNbJ/s320/IMG_0343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Despite my silent grumbling about there being way too many pairs of ballet flats for sale on eBay, I've purchased quite a few. The majority aren't very worn at all but every once in a while I come across a pair that's trashed and abused enough for my liking. This pair walks the fine line between the two and something compelled me to bid. Maybe it was the leopard print?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtXt_MxTdIPl_xeGV7mg915QD8wg1Qcy-9A1rcRhPkZzWBm8v015ewmcrdv-182Id405pm01flOyAM45CIRj_WPTGsHT8XxqnejboWiEJCO1KeXwDt-MnKQ2DL5Y9Il4NNSuwlaEgtRMy/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtXt_MxTdIPl_xeGV7mg915QD8wg1Qcy-9A1rcRhPkZzWBm8v015ewmcrdv-182Id405pm01flOyAM45CIRj_WPTGsHT8XxqnejboWiEJCO1KeXwDt-MnKQ2DL5Y9Il4NNSuwlaEgtRMy/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As far as ballet flats go, these are holding their shape quite well. Most have quarters that are collapsing but these are completely intact, at least from a distance. One major sign of wear is the fact that the insoles are missing, with the layer of cushioning that once resided below them pulling double duty. Since the white foam is fairly dirty, it's obvious these shoes were worn without the insoles for a while, instead of having had them removed for the sake of making them look more worn.</div>
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There's nothing much to see on the outsoles. They're fairly worn but nothing that renders the shoes unwearable. Considering how the wear on the outsoles is in line with the wear exhibited elsewhere on the flats, it's likely these spent some time outdoors.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDF-45K-kKQ5qP8IsAQ7GQTeXHVvKyVzu5NVJml_PiQMPVK_JuFWisuyNxIivqp7nNeQAIEkw4RzUcQBUicw189BsL4vtMgqG2nHTPFZEIKLgqkDyPlryOIXXFbEyDqTEv385A9hZRyqa/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDF-45K-kKQ5qP8IsAQ7GQTeXHVvKyVzu5NVJml_PiQMPVK_JuFWisuyNxIivqp7nNeQAIEkw4RzUcQBUicw189BsL4vtMgqG2nHTPFZEIKLgqkDyPlryOIXXFbEyDqTEv385A9hZRyqa/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
With the help of my camera's flash, it's easy to see toe prints inside the shoes. I'm going to assume these were worn barefoot and in hot weather, which makes sense because I'm pretty sure I bought these from a seller in Florida.<br />
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The lining in the quarter of the right show is separating at the topline. I'm not sure of why this isn't also happening on the left shoe, although it ties in nicely with my theory that right shoes generally take more abuse than their left counterparts. Even if the wearer is left handed and that somehow indicates what foot takes on more of the body's weight, the right foot is the one that has to operate the accelerator and brake pedals, meaning the right shoe gets forced to do a lot more bending and flexing and moving around.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJNj_bSsI-HxwwGnhpZ34vlhZ1X2JR3EPGCSZ1ki9VmU9QHkBr_bWadTQtO87sIWU8cq-mXCnWWC6JYvRy8S_NfisqVJFgplHIg1Sp3QMX3Yj2EQw20TvJNtQxl4BqCdthUpBZ7UoRVWX/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJNj_bSsI-HxwwGnhpZ34vlhZ1X2JR3EPGCSZ1ki9VmU9QHkBr_bWadTQtO87sIWU8cq-mXCnWWC6JYvRy8S_NfisqVJFgplHIg1Sp3QMX3Yj2EQw20TvJNtQxl4BqCdthUpBZ7UoRVWX/s320/IMG_0353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The most significant trashing and abuse on these flats can be seen on the backs of the uppers. The material appears to be joined by another wide strip of the same stuff, and for some reason everything is coming apart. I can't think of a reason why this is happening. Even if the wearer crushed down the quarters to use the shoes as mules (which I'm almost sure she didn't, judging by the wear that's visible), it wouldn't cause this to happen. Ideas?Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-19782176536467117862013-03-03T15:58:00.000-05:002013-03-14T18:37:26.029-04:00Lou's Girlfriend's Shoes: An Introduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I started this blog, I had no idea what kind of interactions I would have with you, the valued readers. As it turns out, the majority of you are very, very quiet. No comments? At all? Come on, some of you must have <i>something</i> to say, right? Right? Oh well, maybe at some point down the road.</div>
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One of the earliest emails I remember having received was from a gentleman named Lou, residing on the other side of the pond in Europe. He expressed a desire to send me two old pairs of his girlfriend's shoes to trash and abuse by way of "natural" methods, as opposed to taking the easy way out and simply throwing them in a mud puddle or setting fire to them. I'd get to document the destruction and post it to the blog for all you lucky readers to enjoy under the stipulation that I finish taking the shoes to within inches of their lives by June so they can be sent back to him. At first, I didn't know what to make of the request. Seeing as how his girlfriend's size 39 shoes (that's a size 8.5 here in the States) would be a really tough squeeze onto my big feet, wasn't sure what I could do to them aside from using them as way-too-small slippers. After I reminded myself that a challenge is just an opportunity in disguise, I imagined many ways by which I could meet Lou's request. Over the next three months, I'll provide regular updates and while I'm not about to share all of my ideas right now, I do have a friend who I know will be more than happy to slip onto her size 8 feet and take them hiking over some precarious terrain when the weather here gets a little more tolerable. I'm already looking forward to sharing those photos with you.</div>
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As for the shoes, let's take a look.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5kSMUI_tOjXvKHBpeIe70rwfkArjWYfAaudt7X4bPwEtraKARXhh0GxeFxkn_cssiWZPcI7bswfmJN_89DOnjm1nnrprRuzZr3NG-5TdWLBjjldBlcvxa7lZ1xnq-DXEqjTJpGdXoqy_/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5kSMUI_tOjXvKHBpeIe70rwfkArjWYfAaudt7X4bPwEtraKARXhh0GxeFxkn_cssiWZPcI7bswfmJN_89DOnjm1nnrprRuzZr3NG-5TdWLBjjldBlcvxa7lZ1xnq-DXEqjTJpGdXoqy_/s320/IMG_0368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure of the brand of these ballet flats- there's nothing listed anywhere, nor does it look like there was anything affixed to the shoes that ever indicated the brand. Lou says they're about four years old, and that seems to be right judging by their appearance and the way they're adding a nice aroma to my office as I type this. The uppers are either a cheap-feeling real leather or a somewhat-convincing faux leather, and straps across the toe boxes provide a mounting point for two cute off-center bows.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepL8z0_txx9x-7drPLnqPOHgy2Ky2zhIk5y7V_Imm9fMqAp94Bp7jF06eMyAaAuWBGTs569fBZeImJ6VKepBRukgQxHnWS3c_osxsT9mV1j1XkzKivNP9lPEo4xMrCBJEZstzYTYoixbM/s1600/IMG_0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepL8z0_txx9x-7drPLnqPOHgy2Ky2zhIk5y7V_Imm9fMqAp94Bp7jF06eMyAaAuWBGTs569fBZeImJ6VKepBRukgQxHnWS3c_osxsT9mV1j1XkzKivNP9lPEo4xMrCBJEZstzYTYoixbM/s320/IMG_0369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As is typical of ballet flats, there are no counters to stiffen the quarters so they're a bit misshapen, especially on the right shoe. There are times this is caused by the wearer deciding to push the quarters down with her heels instead of allowing them to do their jobs and wrap around them (that's what I'm going to have to do when I start wearing these flats). Since doing that usually results in some scuffing and staining of the uppers and there are no visible signs of that on these, I'm guessing the quarters are misshapen because of the way they were tightly packed into a box for shipping across two continents.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf6aogs7-gdr7RCzp5nbw-l7FslATetqmjhV8fHp3F6fLYPcqnB9fx6U-vn4MmAPxXexaAPA51Dim7I72jHPqlO3xU5PfpmDDyvClFxo-xEmyFMx6Wl4TWGv-GgbyrW4YSCDZ-fGbqP3F/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf6aogs7-gdr7RCzp5nbw-l7FslATetqmjhV8fHp3F6fLYPcqnB9fx6U-vn4MmAPxXexaAPA51Dim7I72jHPqlO3xU5PfpmDDyvClFxo-xEmyFMx6Wl4TWGv-GgbyrW4YSCDZ-fGbqP3F/s320/IMG_0370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The insoles and lining are of a cloth-like material with flower pattern that my grandmother probably would have liked as wallpaper. Here you can see the cloth starting to separate from the insoles, likely from moisture generated by sweaty feet. Seeing as how the cloth has a way of bunching up, I can imagine these flats were quite uncomfortable to wear without socks. Maybe that's why Lou's girlfriend might not be missing them all that much?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR8ouSoo5UhvmzJUY8Hkc6ez9OaikOQMri9keZWxXtWMTRvbhsCBXZSOAIP1WNrFFv2yJRcMNw0rEDy8oGmKN-8psLN0OzGAzgdoHSyY6eh624iA3XAxJ8aG-mhk_-mBIEq8CutzYJiqA/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR8ouSoo5UhvmzJUY8Hkc6ez9OaikOQMri9keZWxXtWMTRvbhsCBXZSOAIP1WNrFFv2yJRcMNw0rEDy8oGmKN-8psLN0OzGAzgdoHSyY6eh624iA3XAxJ8aG-mhk_-mBIEq8CutzYJiqA/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The situation is a little better near the seats where some staining of the flowery cloth can best be appreciated. Note the lack of stiffening counters in the quarters- I'm assuming this is what separates ballet flats from regular flats that are a lot more rigid? Are ballet flats more comfortable than regular flats? They certainly seem more popular these days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyh0ks7wps0UpE4UnhFEg1KTMysYWzypMIjLvU7Z9sfzE3kkHMYQSyxU1aPgWcPuzEuntcMMzWrwJmmOrlveMsW9RyJ3gDdnTreRVGp3dh_uhv9OqKN3NEovGv3J9xnmwzDZuPxMxC_6f/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyh0ks7wps0UpE4UnhFEg1KTMysYWzypMIjLvU7Z9sfzE3kkHMYQSyxU1aPgWcPuzEuntcMMzWrwJmmOrlveMsW9RyJ3gDdnTreRVGp3dh_uhv9OqKN3NEovGv3J9xnmwzDZuPxMxC_6f/s320/IMG_0372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It appears that Lou's girlfriend probably spent a lot of time wearing these flats indoors as the outsoles are worn smooth in some spots but are generally without any extreme signs of trashing and abuse. The rubber isn't worn very thin, so it's possible these shoes could have been worn for another few years. I'm looking forward to making it so they can never be worn again, at least in public by any woman that's at all conscious of her appearance!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZwNCdxpyWf078FQtYDyAtIsHjLW9Khmah0aGffxNBU5lPfvsWIYMVPWD6a7ED3SFOngj2umF76omeDSWeUCq55ijobvsMS6ZL-c8nz-Im4cKRVyKrdvOvunCgXEbMreNvzRfWfNOBehH/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZwNCdxpyWf078FQtYDyAtIsHjLW9Khmah0aGffxNBU5lPfvsWIYMVPWD6a7ED3SFOngj2umF76omeDSWeUCq55ijobvsMS6ZL-c8nz-Im4cKRVyKrdvOvunCgXEbMreNvzRfWfNOBehH/s320/IMG_0373.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
This is something I've seen on countless pairs of ballet flats- the quarter seems to sag over time, with the bottom eventually ending up drooping down over the rubber of the heel section of the outsole. While the wear is very light on this particular pair of shoes, I've seen other pairs where the wear is so severe, the material that comprises the upper gets worn through to the lining because of the way it scrapes along the ground. You'll be seeing this in some ballet flats I'll be sharing with you in the not-too-distant future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ1ahyphenhyphenaq0Vtvmk3h6MPbkl0_oJ9B3FDwRiXS-nw0h0il-2Whzguv9iaT7CR0KqFDoo_v2JYaVUnwCoIFkSZ6fSbtARdfzIUjMlh0J7aKEOT-huuyiUr7NEyjIZWU4-LBIoytMjWa-u3Eb/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ1ahyphenhyphenaq0Vtvmk3h6MPbkl0_oJ9B3FDwRiXS-nw0h0il-2Whzguv9iaT7CR0KqFDoo_v2JYaVUnwCoIFkSZ6fSbtARdfzIUjMlh0J7aKEOT-huuyiUr7NEyjIZWU4-LBIoytMjWa-u3Eb/s320/IMG_0374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The second pair of shoes from Lou and his girlfriend's closet is a pair of Superga sneakers. I've never heard of the brand so I'm guessing they're specific to Europe. They look to be a cross between a pair of old canvas Keds and a more modern pair of Converse All-Stars. Lou says this pair is about two years old.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6JbCmaLSpD-TlproyOmqasJu4NT838CaqfOM1NqzjzYUjjjhrZOXwCCE3anJNM34TRwfadlEDldUhvornRpEHM-LgEl9iEyfP5wJfzKe920t5BphJmw6pOj0j3RVsoPKT2q10jBLrzxZ/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6JbCmaLSpD-TlproyOmqasJu4NT838CaqfOM1NqzjzYUjjjhrZOXwCCE3anJNM34TRwfadlEDldUhvornRpEHM-LgEl9iEyfP5wJfzKe920t5BphJmw6pOj0j3RVsoPKT2q10jBLrzxZ/s320/IMG_0375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The pink canvas uppers display significant signs of wear without having been compromised in a way that prevents them from being usable. The canvas is starting to fray along the topline of both shoes, although much more obviously on the right one. As with the ballet flats, I look forward to making sure these sneakers reach the end of their life within three months.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKIvt-szVEtQqNbFixOjvTdu5OMjqfsazVxM5p1xgCJ0Tgdop-fkF-uxXtrQn1maEUY9dp6JYZP9q8TIn5mShvLYstcatt8HMlLu9XDl2c1ArgQOkdUBWJQBvBDgW-sS_rJlicoMsdsF_/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKIvt-szVEtQqNbFixOjvTdu5OMjqfsazVxM5p1xgCJ0Tgdop-fkF-uxXtrQn1maEUY9dp6JYZP9q8TIn5mShvLYstcatt8HMlLu9XDl2c1ArgQOkdUBWJQBvBDgW-sS_rJlicoMsdsF_/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Initially I thought the uppers were starting to separate from the rubber material that joins them to the outsoles, but a closer examination revealed that's not the case. Too bad.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8Qy7G3PsOPNEuSmcTzgXS27BJP3MAGFXbRztYtaTjbZxre0C7C94QXoAhZ6c7LfYU8poeEctxpVMNl5cl147OUbMk6kNGXD_84YArWZwCOSwnbd67gz8hP-F6M_MvjHfdVsce7L0rnmx/s1600/IMG_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8Qy7G3PsOPNEuSmcTzgXS27BJP3MAGFXbRztYtaTjbZxre0C7C94QXoAhZ6c7LfYU8poeEctxpVMNl5cl147OUbMk6kNGXD_84YArWZwCOSwnbd67gz8hP-F6M_MvjHfdVsce7L0rnmx/s320/IMG_0378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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What's too bad- for the sneakers, of course- is the extreme trashing and abuse seen in the quarters. The lining is completely ripped and worn away, exposing the shape-forming counters that ensure the shoes remain rigid enough to stay on the wearer's feet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbSpO-ofcv0CSD5b4_IgxRiAqBkoAcjVb8pwTBVVBqUvWiXzUXflMZn3dh0kdelTVnTVVpY7f9J_EQF7IZlJSAleHHLcQpzpP6sRUjKNCpLZ8qHsXAChx8tX_j3mt-aceZJOKj2XSbWb8/s1600/IMG_0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbSpO-ofcv0CSD5b4_IgxRiAqBkoAcjVb8pwTBVVBqUvWiXzUXflMZn3dh0kdelTVnTVVpY7f9J_EQF7IZlJSAleHHLcQpzpP6sRUjKNCpLZ8qHsXAChx8tX_j3mt-aceZJOKj2XSbWb8/s320/IMG_0380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Things are so bad on the right sneaker that the counter is literally cracking apart. Usually this is a result of what I described earlier where the wearer smashes down the quarters with her heels so that the shoes becomes makeshift mules. However, there is no staining of the canvas of the upper that would indicate it spent any amount of time under the heel of the foot, so it's possible the cracking is the result of Lou's girlfriend's feet being slid in and out of the sneakers hundreds of times.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2dpoHxvpNRPvgXaaJQwUPiQE7ilGeNq7ktghmM5EFmz3mDJSpU1eu00D33wq_fkKoerV4C2rKHVaOgyaa3P73SCLohxgtQ9sq56c6RJz52-ZtzVG3HNvJpr4y4eLJJT6UQCxIDVPMwx0/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2dpoHxvpNRPvgXaaJQwUPiQE7ilGeNq7ktghmM5EFmz3mDJSpU1eu00D33wq_fkKoerV4C2rKHVaOgyaa3P73SCLohxgtQ9sq56c6RJz52-ZtzVG3HNvJpr4y4eLJJT6UQCxIDVPMwx0/s320/IMG_0381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Superga appears to have been inspired by Keds as the outsoles have a similar look and feel, although the textured pattern is slightly different. Wear is visible in the expected areas under the balls of the feet and the heels.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbFE7wYA3Uj9ZZs29HsSBzbT_bHbTrAC8SKjAvYKiQBuNSfPw0qLrT32XzZeEEqKwxBIjxoaiLsa0SLu5KQ_0Ot-G3cZErnwZD2gy-ABhK1XV4vM9VoGtesTJ7sjmCOww_50j2JoIQT58/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbFE7wYA3Uj9ZZs29HsSBzbT_bHbTrAC8SKjAvYKiQBuNSfPw0qLrT32XzZeEEqKwxBIjxoaiLsa0SLu5KQ_0Ot-G3cZErnwZD2gy-ABhK1XV4vM9VoGtesTJ7sjmCOww_50j2JoIQT58/s320/IMG_0382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Many thanks to Lou for being a loyal reader of the blog and for being the first to step up and contribute. I'm looking forward to the chance to honor his request and share the results with you, and perhaps another reader or two will enjoy this so much that they'll want to contribute as well? No reasonable requests will be denied!</div>
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These shoes will be sorry they made the trip to the U.S. of A. Stay tuned...Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-5502607871127360622013-03-02T01:03:00.004-05:002013-03-07T11:28:44.423-05:00An Unexpected Surprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0WO_t_VusTphdv4Xf-0vvw0yEV1sKZOuBSdEG3oJTIAhpG7rEUNCQ4um7vsQyeql4yKhcenC_LVeglgL_wKJFKUcqxE4rhE-H5ILmC7gqHo0Sad_4mMmG0Lk-PRB_L4QY-tEGPN_sDFZ/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0WO_t_VusTphdv4Xf-0vvw0yEV1sKZOuBSdEG3oJTIAhpG7rEUNCQ4um7vsQyeql4yKhcenC_LVeglgL_wKJFKUcqxE4rhE-H5ILmC7gqHo0Sad_4mMmG0Lk-PRB_L4QY-tEGPN_sDFZ/s320/IMG_0366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Remember the <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-collection-more-flip-flops-of.html" target="_blank">flip flops I received yesterday</a>? Another morning of, um, rest as I recovered from my illness gave me a chance to spend some time with them. I already knew I could squeeze them onto my feet but what I didn't realize until today is that they're actually quite comfortable. Imagine that. Sure, they're flip flops, meaning they're a mess of thin straps that can be manipulated to a degree, but they're still about eight sizes too small for my feet, if the seller's claim of them being a size 9 is accurate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciwBrSlPXZpDg0La7xSyuVxt-xcqAlSzP_1Cxx-zu9ShYeoOipdzxhe70NrT3YoNflNVRQIgs5jvXHOp1Vv2jMEPN-tSDC0cVVHxUyARi9nRs5sf7S0u_gCzo1UBJSVRdGnkxWPw8ZvXd/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciwBrSlPXZpDg0La7xSyuVxt-xcqAlSzP_1Cxx-zu9ShYeoOipdzxhe70NrT3YoNflNVRQIgs5jvXHOp1Vv2jMEPN-tSDC0cVVHxUyARi9nRs5sf7S0u_gCzo1UBJSVRdGnkxWPw8ZvXd/s320/IMG_0367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
In my pajama pants that did a fairly decent job of covering the majority of my feet, I wore them outside to get the mail, finding that the right one in particular has the structural rigidity of a wet noodle and likes to catch on the ground and bend under my foot as I walk. I continued to wear them as I opened a few more packages containing shoes I'll be featuring in the future, then put them away before my shower. More than ever, I want to buy the other pair the seller had originally offered me before disappearing. I might get addicted to wearing these and will need another pair for when I inevitably destroy these.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-85751406107848978402013-03-02T00:55:00.000-05:002013-03-07T11:19:32.362-05:00My Collection: Nine West High-Heeled Pumps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMBaueMDI7MIcbTShzGdYjmnSE6w_j-kYH2t4Yx4CannNkjxAou2lYwmbk648l2HbaWVWuduQy8Gt9XTXZfijFvAVzWka9Dei2Kq9mUcYINb0OGL07n892rGW_UfNDkXrMalRTgCbdHQv/s1600/IMG_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMBaueMDI7MIcbTShzGdYjmnSE6w_j-kYH2t4Yx4CannNkjxAou2lYwmbk648l2HbaWVWuduQy8Gt9XTXZfijFvAVzWka9Dei2Kq9mUcYINb0OGL07n892rGW_UfNDkXrMalRTgCbdHQv/s320/IMG_0354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
In the world of shoes, I'm only vaguely familiar with what's universally respected. I'm sure every woman wants a pair of Christian Louboutins to join her Manolo Blahniks in the closet, and it seems there's an appreciation for most anything with the Steve Madden name. Nine West? I'm not so sure, but on a personal level, I have a soft spot in my heart for them. Maybe it goes back to when I was younger and spent a lot of time in my mother's closet? One of my favorite pairs of her pumps was made by Nine West and I always found myself going back to them. When I was out of high school and building my first collection of trashed and abused shoes by way of the local Salvation Army thrift store, I picked up a few pairs of Nine West pumps. They were all of the same design with the sides of the heels featuring a ever-so-slight concave scallop that gave the back of them two character lines in the form of nicely-defined creases. The look was nothing overly dramatic, just very stylish and elegant. This was about fifteen years ago and I imagine the shoes were about ten years old at the time, but I believe that if they were sold today, the design would look very modern and work well with just about anything.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJxRoYpY2uN3FHcvHEmgVUlb357rgDosGvWKGaCnhCZ8qXc7NX-SvVaB6-YCWIqKB61KUn8IdaZkkw3-wu8i57AlCjcXHpRvuzWt4VnqAY8L8TCwDUwu9L2yJdH0w373nMSQ-X601vRP3/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJxRoYpY2uN3FHcvHEmgVUlb357rgDosGvWKGaCnhCZ8qXc7NX-SvVaB6-YCWIqKB61KUn8IdaZkkw3-wu8i57AlCjcXHpRvuzWt4VnqAY8L8TCwDUwu9L2yJdH0w373nMSQ-X601vRP3/s320/IMG_0355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I suppose my love of Nine West shoes brought me to these. There's nothing very trashed or abused about them- they're worn and used but could easily be put into service by a woman looking for a pair of pumps for a formal event, night of partying or even day at the office. The topline is low, exposing a good portion of the foot, while the pointed toe box is stylish but isn't very severe. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0weeYI8VgtgsAqbDa4s7HUHQIevgOoinytcT2tRqFE_iv3YjmFbG5kXUAXNPANpcnvr3D-q04ipEJ9Sbgu3bMYbCHzemsbak-9OiMrS4U7E6bmwOZx13TgVLrB6ULZ0qRghshrsxNm1e/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0weeYI8VgtgsAqbDa4s7HUHQIevgOoinytcT2tRqFE_iv3YjmFbG5kXUAXNPANpcnvr3D-q04ipEJ9Sbgu3bMYbCHzemsbak-9OiMrS4U7E6bmwOZx13TgVLrB6ULZ0qRghshrsxNm1e/s320/IMG_0356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The heels are probably what would be described as of a medium height, although for the sake of categorization on this blog I'll refer to them as high heels. They taper to become very thin at the bottom, which is a look that always appeals to me. The right shoe is leaning to the side just a bit- partially because of the somewhat uneven tile surface of my dining room table that makes for an easy place to photograph shoes with heels, and partially because the top piece is completely gone, as you'll see in a minute.<br />
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The black leather uppers are practically perfect. There are a few scratches here and there but overall it's soft and pliable, with nice creases from lots of wear. Nine West always seemed to use good leather for their shoes. Then again, I'm no expert and am probably making uneducated assumptions based on my limited experiences with their products, which I admittedly don't wear (but, oh, how I dream I could).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Wmo-9FUYY1dUZLXNX-KOr6ABWYz1FPF5nm95nIACaa2hRvVzmcfuOKC_0cmWINPBMC75X9NBnvOX1UuWGioH846SpWExpJEM3R6g6CNrZryRfyP_EPUkTij4kzocF-DGoNE_bUWL4jTx/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Wmo-9FUYY1dUZLXNX-KOr6ABWYz1FPF5nm95nIACaa2hRvVzmcfuOKC_0cmWINPBMC75X9NBnvOX1UuWGioH846SpWExpJEM3R6g6CNrZryRfyP_EPUkTij4kzocF-DGoNE_bUWL4jTx/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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I wish I could have seen these pumps in action. They're a size 8M, which makes them almost perfect candidates to end up on the feet of a friend of mine who will be helping me with contributions to this blog in the future. I have to decide how much I love these shoes- do I want them to survive, or do I want them to suffer? I'm trying to come up with ways to bribe her into walking through the woods or even a gravel parking lot in these... you know, just in case I decide to pull the trigger on extreme abuse.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoe1sLaZqfKL7asgJyaKGT5b408TK9OjuVHjQDfuj3bhobLFnYuidX9tsfkzoBhV3TqDXnh-l-QhG3Czrun2rSo3OMrIYNUQL3Uh-4ONA7S6ebBfn_A606OWmD0oJ_h1uG0EN4ME2K1sK/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoe1sLaZqfKL7asgJyaKGT5b408TK9OjuVHjQDfuj3bhobLFnYuidX9tsfkzoBhV3TqDXnh-l-QhG3Czrun2rSo3OMrIYNUQL3Uh-4ONA7S6ebBfn_A606OWmD0oJ_h1uG0EN4ME2K1sK/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Inside, there's not much to see. The silver linings are in great shape and still have a decent amount of cushioning beneath them. I'm willing to bet it was a pleasure for the wearer to slide her feet into these over and over again. I know I'd be doing that, keeping myself entertained for hours upon hours if they fit my feet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOlKRNSwhyg1s49Quoq3k1mMwDiQOFKYaeG0ClWyhHAmm6C4JXSWlcKEh9HkcRstXoGo_bhZ6Zc1uHBjLJSETllne_ipVMepE8_IgqTKwdFTQPkaDb_vqwAkRWktH21-HjgBDwqul9kRk/s1600/IMG_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOlKRNSwhyg1s49Quoq3k1mMwDiQOFKYaeG0ClWyhHAmm6C4JXSWlcKEh9HkcRstXoGo_bhZ6Zc1uHBjLJSETllne_ipVMepE8_IgqTKwdFTQPkaDb_vqwAkRWktH21-HjgBDwqul9kRk/s320/IMG_0360.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The only visible signs of wear are in the quarters where the cloth-like material is starting to separate where it is joined together behind the heels of the feet. Still, it's minimal, and has no effect on the integrity of the pumps. To quote a popular line from eBay descriptions of trashed and abused shoes, these really do have a lot of life left in them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hmauTQW7xN-_5TdoTc7uDQXsiQHuBzCNErLB1EMxgeD9aztphlkgVoDM0fDUDNNSU1C-P8R8ZsWxWDaHnIm2MyKrZArCtfZh2BH7e1hAAks9kPTHGJqnjkMKKL1gXl64uc42KCTfhJEZ/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hmauTQW7xN-_5TdoTc7uDQXsiQHuBzCNErLB1EMxgeD9aztphlkgVoDM0fDUDNNSU1C-P8R8ZsWxWDaHnIm2MyKrZArCtfZh2BH7e1hAAks9kPTHGJqnjkMKKL1gXl64uc42KCTfhJEZ/s320/IMG_0362.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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The outsoles have shallow ridges stamped into the rubber to provide a modicum of grip on slippery surfaces and are intact for the most part, with wear being limited to the areas subjected to the weight of the wearer. Even then, the ridges have been worn smooth but the outsoles have not lost any of their thickness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFFZxm36M6UbqD6lBJ_VrB14cVhHPViaC-du-LWrubst0UKekbddwCrEa2sIt3CuGV9O7kEiNNwDDu_7xwgtkcAtIiEfiPfrZQaTspLasuNBJFYzw7pYWez5aQVr24g_yxPS7ssddbBzm/s1600/IMG_0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFFZxm36M6UbqD6lBJ_VrB14cVhHPViaC-du-LWrubst0UKekbddwCrEa2sIt3CuGV9O7kEiNNwDDu_7xwgtkcAtIiEfiPfrZQaTspLasuNBJFYzw7pYWez5aQVr24g_yxPS7ssddbBzm/s320/IMG_0363.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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The tips of the pointed toes are looking a little rough, as to be expected of pumps with pointed toe boxes. It's probably quite challenging to keep them from coming in contact with everything and makes sense that they'd be among the parts of the shoes exhibiting the most wear. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTFNJZOl1aQD7HmK4Fw540JnnwogLGSCpbYjqzWxgv8ggY6Prc3IQEZeoHNzUIO443kCRC24SHd3szb4Izstlk4RBO8K2XPoijt71gyUe-kI8lu9WKyWnIlh-IqF3Uu9a7oviHuAhSV9W/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTFNJZOl1aQD7HmK4Fw540JnnwogLGSCpbYjqzWxgv8ggY6Prc3IQEZeoHNzUIO443kCRC24SHd3szb4Izstlk4RBO8K2XPoijt71gyUe-kI8lu9WKyWnIlh-IqF3Uu9a7oviHuAhSV9W/s320/IMG_0365.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
However, nothing compared to the top pieces, which are worn to the nail on the left shoe and completely gone on the right, exposing the nail and the plastic structure of the heel itself. I always wonder if the wearer knows when a top piece is missing? I remember my wife having a pair of sandals that had a huge crack spanning the width of the outsole, yet she never knew it because she never looked at the bottoms of her shoes. Is it possible these shoes were worn for weeks or months with the top piece missing, and only when the wearer noticed were they finally retired? How wonderful it would be to get inside a woman's head! I've had some interesting conversations in the past but they've just scratched the surface of my curiosity.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-19268467844206052902013-02-28T12:01:00.001-05:002013-03-07T11:27:51.549-05:00My Collection: More Flip Flops of an Unknown Brand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once again, it's been a while. I really have to work on some form of consistency with this blog. However, in my defense, it's been a busy week and I haven't had many alone moments at the house in which to photograph shoes in my collection and when I do, it's late at night and I can't count on the help of natural light to help in my photography sessions. I see no point in posting lackluster photos that don't do the shoes any justice, just for the sake of making sure there is something new to post. Quantity is the goal but quality is a must.</div>
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I'm not sure if I'm really sick enough to have taken the day off from work, but I did, and now I can use some of my time alone to catch up on a few things. First is the breaking in of my <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/two-pairs-of-pleasers-for-my-pleasure.html" target="_blank">Pleaser slingbacks</a>. Wow. Two inches of heel height makes one hell of a difference! It took me no time at all to get used to 3" heels but the 5" heels of these shoes make my feet wobble, not to mention hurt quite a bit as the weight of my body is forced into the balls of my feet, which in turn squeezes my toes into the pointy toe box. It probably doesn't help that the heels are very narrow to the point where they could probably be defined as stilettos. On the plus side, my calves are being stretched so much that I shouldn't wake up in the middle of the night with cramps for at least a few days, and being 6'3" tall in 5" heels gives me a feeling of power.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLUyBJ6nrYiCUkxFZIK2yugFV4SrBghrmRmSUHDMeRqgII_AAMl9YJQHHAs5JGpbtysYAhQqigwOM_S40rv6OYTABJJxt51uNra5WRRstbOMKCZeRo8vAK8r19KuGtDFWXvIXNvw-hIE7/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLUyBJ6nrYiCUkxFZIK2yugFV4SrBghrmRmSUHDMeRqgII_AAMl9YJQHHAs5JGpbtysYAhQqigwOM_S40rv6OYTABJJxt51uNra5WRRstbOMKCZeRo8vAK8r19KuGtDFWXvIXNvw-hIE7/s320/IMG_0336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I still don't know what I'm going to do with these shoes. Maybe I'll feel more comfortable using them for destructive purposes if I can get accustomed to having to balance myself on the tall, thin heels but right now I feel like one wrong move will send a heel snapping off the shoe, which will in turn leave me needing another pair. This is by no means a cheap hobby! But anyway, being home today allowed me to not have to rush to leave work and get to the mailbox before my wife gets home because I knew today was the day I'd be adding another pair of flip flops to my collection.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4r2MGTsfCtXVmaA18iskIGC2Z2NW6J0tqGMUhlt_yWTsYi72UCj_h4wVSCOSkehC_Qcxg1THVJb2MMT9PwNUMMChu3NaOKf0xk_uGV-KIS0QrzOFms0g3Gpg-XRjf1k33C4iSxD9jvOJ/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4r2MGTsfCtXVmaA18iskIGC2Z2NW6J0tqGMUhlt_yWTsYi72UCj_h4wVSCOSkehC_Qcxg1THVJb2MMT9PwNUMMChu3NaOKf0xk_uGV-KIS0QrzOFms0g3Gpg-XRjf1k33C4iSxD9jvOJ/s320/IMG_0327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I have no idea of the brand name, as only the faint remnants of letters can be seen in the heel area. The seller advertised them as a size 9 and I believe it, because they're just barely big enough to squeeze onto my feet for short periods of time (time on me feet is how I got the straps to maintain a shape long enough for me to take some photos.) The seller claims to have another pair just like these and just about as worn so I'm hoping to make a deal for those. Perhaps then I could have one pair to admire with my eyes and another pair to suffer under my feet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdj-WJknEEdeWXlmJyuuPOIt_MggQ_qJu-gyMXneWWpIh7Z6gVDg3NNaSV1pXM8OV5EL_-m9oc13zrukpvMUsCwk_OuNLIe3awdH9lr6IFOeYELELejvD6z4Zr8BN9U-M4FMoL2QvQEEZk/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdj-WJknEEdeWXlmJyuuPOIt_MggQ_qJu-gyMXneWWpIh7Z6gVDg3NNaSV1pXM8OV5EL_-m9oc13zrukpvMUsCwk_OuNLIe3awdH9lr6IFOeYELELejvD6z4Zr8BN9U-M4FMoL2QvQEEZk/s320/IMG_0328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
As I've said in the past, flip flops can be boring, but can also be extremely enjoyable. This pair is clearly an example of the latter. From afar, they look as though they need a new coat of paint. There's way too much wear here for a black Sharpie to repair!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ7Kp7KbJJldKi4QJ8GkRTO2M7KWILk6rqENfFcKK9MVpBJRaoEqcqsJC_WWSYNXJiox3TsGp0XAGumvZbSgiebcmZGLLNQ3JNxitz-bjadguVrl2zofcnTq9Q6khO-EXV-8x7Q35sRR1/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZ7Kp7KbJJldKi4QJ8GkRTO2M7KWILk6rqENfFcKK9MVpBJRaoEqcqsJC_WWSYNXJiox3TsGp0XAGumvZbSgiebcmZGLLNQ3JNxitz-bjadguVrl2zofcnTq9Q6khO-EXV-8x7Q35sRR1/s320/IMG_0329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The wear to the heel areas reveals the honeycomb-like structure sandwiched between the insoles and outsoles. The insoles feel as though they're real leather but as I've stated in other posts, can never be quite sure. Regardless, a good portion of the leather/faux leather has been worn off, revealing a cloth-like material below. The white marks are the remains of the brand name that was once printed on the flip flops. Any shoes CSIs out there willing to help with the identification of these poor things?<br />
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The front areas of the shoes are even worse. Note the long thongs that slide between the big toe and the other four. It's almost as if the thongs were designed to extend forward from where they attach to the insoles before rising up. Or is it possible they stretched about three quarters of an inch? Either way, the extra long thong is part of the reason why I can massage my feet into these flip flops, so I'm not complaining.<br />
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In some areas, the lining is so worn that the cloth-like material is also worn away, revealing the rubber of the outsole. These flip flops did not have an easy life. In addition to having been used a lot, it seems as if the wearer wasn't very careful with them, although that could be an assumption I want to make as I fantasize about what these went through.<br />
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The front of the right one is a total mess- frayed, with all the layers of material beginning to separate from one another. Peeling it back provides a revealing look at the sandwich of rubber, cloth and even paper that comprises the construction of these flip flops.<br />
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The straps being stretched out beyond the shape of the outsoles and under the weight of the body left permanent indentations in the leather/faux leather. A nice touch that I discovered only after spending some quality time with the shoes. It pays to have quiet moments where they can be enjoyed with more than a passing glance.<br />
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The straps are decorated with countless colored pieces of plastic that remind me of sequins, except rectangular instead of round. Many are still intact but many are also missing, having left behind traces of white thread that likely held them in place. They seem to be firmly attached so it must have taken collisions with some pretty hard objects to work them loose.<br />
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Flipping the shoes over doesn't show a ton of wear on the bottoms of the outsoles. They're worn smooth in some spots and the honeycomb-like rubber in the heels can once again, but other than that these flip flops took most of their beating on the other side. Here's hoping that I can soon be adding their sisters to my collection.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-81540470684830639622013-02-25T15:29:00.001-05:002013-02-25T15:29:36.974-05:00Best. Promotion. Ever.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7npBdli32A7DrofsxvNQ1l1IExNOOYZ22V3kFcV3CkyCUXyoMP0p1MOjuE6jRoTv8p1q9YRDvseAgFwtbOqx2KUo8KYtIBjVsXR6-VsuvALY_AodslQEuBWNL2xSYeZNVTnh-Ap7NedbL/s1600/2013-02-25_15-20-59_581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7npBdli32A7DrofsxvNQ1l1IExNOOYZ22V3kFcV3CkyCUXyoMP0p1MOjuE6jRoTv8p1q9YRDvseAgFwtbOqx2KUo8KYtIBjVsXR6-VsuvALY_AodslQEuBWNL2xSYeZNVTnh-Ap7NedbL/s320/2013-02-25_15-20-59_581.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
You'll have to excuse the lackluster quality of this photo- I had to take it with my Droid and can't seem to find anything on the dealership's website about this promotion. You have to wonder if someone on Major World's staff shares in our hobby and is hoping to score some trashed and abused shoes? If so... brilliant!<br />Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-74966316602846252382013-02-23T01:05:00.000-05:002013-03-01T17:40:48.968-05:00Destroying the Gold Ballet Flats: Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I try to make educated eBay purchases but every once in a while emotion (or something else that I can't explain) grabs hold of me. In this case, it was these ballet flats reminding me of the ones pretty much all women (and girls) seemed to wear in the early 90's. My mother had a pair, as did her friend... and my best friend at the time... and her sister... usually white, all with a cute little bow above the toe box. I saw these and was immediately captivated.<br />
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As you can see, there's not much about them that's trashed or abused. In fact, the outsoles of the shoes look practically new. Something tells me these shoes spent the majority of their life indoors, confined to carpeted areas and other surfaces that didn't inflict much damage at all.<br />
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The most significant sign of use is inside the shoes where sole is completely gone. Maybe the woman that wore these shoes had sweaty feet and the moisture worked them loose. Maybe she got rid of them, just because...? Either way, the thin layer of foam meant to provide some cushioning is a little dark and dirty in some areas, so whatever the case, the shoes spent some time being worn with the soles MIA.<br />
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With a house to myself and wanting an opportunity to do something with my <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/two-pairs-of-pleasers-for-my-pleasure.html" target="_blank">new Pleaser Mary Jane pumps</a>, I figured that I would make up for the fact that I allowed myself to buy a pair of shoes that really wasn't anything special aside from the fact that it took me back about two decades for a brief moment. Yes, that's my lovely feet inside my red patent leather beauties. I love how my gigantic Pleasers look eager for their chance to rip the flats apart.<br />
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I started slowly by stepping on the sweet-looking bows with the heels of my shoes. Since there's not usually much in the way of structure in ballet flats, I could barely feel anything as I put my weight on them. They seemed to compress into something no thicker than a piece of paper. Not at all satisfying.<br />
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Next, I stepped on the backs of the shoes. Again, the sensation was mediocre at best because of the lack of a stiff counter in the quarter. When I destroyed <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/destroying-moda-sandals_14.html" target="_blank">the Moda sandals</a>, they put up a bit of a fight. Ballet flats don't resist much of anything, they just sort of go with the flow. I suppose that could be why they're so popular, and women tend to keep them until they fall apart. I have a few good examples I'll be showing you over the next week or two.<br />
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Somewhat disappointed, I took the flats to the garage where I figured I could do some serious damage. And damage the shoes, I did. This is what they looked like after the Pleasers were unleashed on them.<br />
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Remember the scene from the end of Jurassic Park where the pair of velociraptors team up to frighten the hell out of Hammond's niece and nephew? I've learned that a pair of heels can create an equally effective team. By using the heel of one shoe to hold the victim in place, the other can kick the life out of it without it moving all that much. It's all about finding a way to maintain a good amount of weight on the heel of the shoe that's holding the victim in place while being nimble enough to inflict damage with the other.<br />
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The heel marks on the foam padding were nice to see but what I loved more was how they hooked themselves onto the bow as I kicked away, eventually ripping the fake leather material enough to leave them looking injured but not anywhere close to death.<br />
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The absolute best result of the fury was the hole I made in the back of one of the shoes as I held it down with the heel of one of my Mary Janes. The top piece of the heel eventually cut through the thin layer of material, further trapping the poor ballet flat underneath it and preventing it from being able to escape. Talk about a torture device!<br />
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I found that kicking ballet flats positioned on a concrete garage floor means you'll miss about twice as much as you hit the target, or at least until you get a feel for what you're doing. The top pieces on both heels took some abuse, but the heels themselves seem as sturdy as ever.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_TxgAhyphenhyphenOuyOWFUEVKz8GbFe6MfrsisFg_gsBp1hz7OZJ2joHbmw1aIysvFyifLD2EXhlIAaC6Rhf5UTNqv1gbChSwO7FudGSp6t6Erj7in-s85Y8IY4z4dJeuuhCZVphkCxwM1GHX81p/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_TxgAhyphenhyphenOuyOWFUEVKz8GbFe6MfrsisFg_gsBp1hz7OZJ2joHbmw1aIysvFyifLD2EXhlIAaC6Rhf5UTNqv1gbChSwO7FudGSp6t6Erj7in-s85Y8IY4z4dJeuuhCZVphkCxwM1GHX81p/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Still, the moment left both of my Pleasers with some unintended damage, like this black mark that doesn't seem ready to go away anytime soon. Part of me feels bad, and now I can reason with women that get distressed when they do something to hurt their brand new pair of shoes. Yet another part of me knows this is the life I intended for these shoes, and the damage that accumulates over time will be worth the results. Speaking of results, the gold ballet flats are getting put away, but their trashing and abuse is far from over. Stay tuned.<br />
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Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-56193832667381908252013-02-21T14:04:00.001-05:002013-02-21T14:04:31.047-05:00Ummm, What's That Thing Called?I just had a conversation with a friend who kept referring to her heel lifts, referencing the little pieces of plastic on the ends of her heels. I've heard others call them taps, caps and tips. However, <a href="http://www.fortheloveofashion.com/2012/02/anatomy-of-high-heel.html" target="_blank">this page covering the anatomy of a high-heeled shoe</a> calls them top pieces and since that's the page I've been referencing since I started this blog, is what I'll consider my bible. Just thought I'd share, in case any of my posts have created any confusion.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-90234596862534389482013-02-21T12:18:00.005-05:002013-03-01T17:41:30.520-05:00Another Pair For My Feet To Embrace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another day, and another pair of Pleasers arrives for the pleasure of my feet. This time it's a pair of Vanity T-strap pumps.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7rIzVWent_o_lwp9cK9Oi4QPptgruIoOAn_jBYTXPdbSf0-y3LJCBPRNfOgC2Fvjvzh0Ep5yvKoM9W3gcwhtQ9zD3XlKX87eXRUEKueFwuVb0dWVY5CpKnTyNeYstjA-GKIzeQyKakwg/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7rIzVWent_o_lwp9cK9Oi4QPptgruIoOAn_jBYTXPdbSf0-y3LJCBPRNfOgC2Fvjvzh0Ep5yvKoM9W3gcwhtQ9zD3XlKX87eXRUEKueFwuVb0dWVY5CpKnTyNeYstjA-GKIzeQyKakwg/s320/IMG_0290.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the thrill of opening a box like this. I used to wonder why women would buy more shoes than they'd ever have the ability to wear but now I'm starting to get it. This is my fourth pair of shoes (with one more on the way- a pair of size 16 pumps to replace the 17's that were too big) and while I now have more pairs of shoes than I'll be able to enjoy as much as I'd like, I'm getting the itch to buy another pair or two, and maybe even boots if I can be assured that they'll work with my calves.</div>
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There's certainly no real reason for me to be disappointed but I'm just a little dismayed by the fact that Pleaser has made a bit of a liar out of me. Not long after I <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/two-pairs-of-pleasers-for-my-pleasure.html" target="_blank">sang the praises of Pleaser's packaging</a>, I open the box to find no black protective storage bag to house my shoes. These shoes also came wrapped in white cloth bags that weren't as substantial as the black cloth bags that contained the other Pleasers I purchased, so I'm assuming it wasn't a simple oversight and is just a case of Pleaser not providing the protective storage bags with all their shoes?</div>
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Regardless, the shoes are awesome. They're red patent (don't be fooled by the bad lighting of the photos- they're not pink, although the pumps that are due to arrive are a flashy hot pink, just to switch things up a bit) and the 4" heel should make them a bit easier to deal with than my slingbacks with the 5" heel that feels just a tad delicate, although I'll be the first to admit I need to get used to them.</div>
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At first I was worried because I had a hard time squeezing my feet between the straps, but then figured it was more about the angle of approach than anything else. Still, I give straps a lot of credit. I stretched these in ways that made me sure I'd snap them apart, and that was once... and with the shoes in brand new condition. How do the straps do it when they're old and having been stretched to their limits (and likely beyond) hundreds of times?<br />
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I look forward to seeing how these straps do it.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-74442201624653000712013-02-21T11:57:00.000-05:002013-03-05T15:06:47.870-05:00My Collection: Rogue Mid-Calf BootsTwo kinds of eBay auctions stand out in my mind long after the bidding has closed: the ones where I overpaid for something, and the ones where I walk away feeling as if I stole it. And eBay auctions can be a funny thing. I've seen ones for mediocre items spiral wildly out of control (a hint for the ladies: if you have an average pair of worn shoes to sell and want to some bidding action, don't be afraid to be descriptive with some well-planned fibbing, like saying you're a sorority girl and your pumps have spent the year being passed from sister to sister as they wear them to bars and have beer spilled on them), and I've seen some fantastic items sold for a lot less than the seller deserved. These dark brown size 10 Rogue boots were one half of a Buy It Now auction where I walked away with two pairs of trashed and abused boots for a paltry $10. It was probably the best purchase I ever made in regard to this hobby.<br />
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You'll have to excuse the background scenery. Finding a place in the house in which to photograph boots in all their vertical glory proved to be insanely challenging, and that was after I had to come up with a way to convince the shafts to stand upright without holding them myself. In a perfect world I would have a few mannequins (or at least their feet) for situations such as these, but we all know it's not a perfect world, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHTvEDIf2_RffwyUtsRMZb6vW106ZNAtmjz7X5cUsBdr_VmUhwaHKTK6RAsVrHtY7Udrxu6yue06ZCuVsshsmHXkpUK2ONpHM2PHsSYRpccZZI6xBGXJHJAvUwSWjEFRLQ5MSwqhTlNAq/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHTvEDIf2_RffwyUtsRMZb6vW106ZNAtmjz7X5cUsBdr_VmUhwaHKTK6RAsVrHtY7Udrxu6yue06ZCuVsshsmHXkpUK2ONpHM2PHsSYRpccZZI6xBGXJHJAvUwSWjEFRLQ5MSwqhTlNAq/s320/IMG_0282.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
These boots seem to be perfectly suited for everyday use. I'm no expert when it comes to fashion but I can imagine these would work well with most everything in the closet (well, except for maybe a bridesmaid dress or ballroom gown) and the low, blocky heel makes them a "go anywhere, do anything" option.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclmYobUQ7NFC9rwFVs1md2sjZbF4yHfdXmg8eRFiQk53IjF8RON64RCLg4eFqXvxebPR4XnReEjt9bneyQ-HS-lXn5jk6N3MT0uR-2_Ps7O74kQeA1oBHvuSCdiYh-PsUOTVJfhnXKDnD/s1600/IMG_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclmYobUQ7NFC9rwFVs1md2sjZbF4yHfdXmg8eRFiQk53IjF8RON64RCLg4eFqXvxebPR4XnReEjt9bneyQ-HS-lXn5jk6N3MT0uR-2_Ps7O74kQeA1oBHvuSCdiYh-PsUOTVJfhnXKDnD/s320/IMG_0283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
On the outer sides is a large ornamental bow... quite adorable...<br />
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On the inner sides, a full-length zipper.<br />
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The leather (or whatever the material happens to be- I can't be sure because half the time I can't tell real leather from the synthetic stuff, and there was nothing on the boots indicating the material) is perfectly aged. From a distance, is looks wrinkled and soft from years of use, and only when you get in for a closer look do some of the battle scars make themselves obvious. The tips of the toe boxes are looking particularly rough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0bD3L7lCiZvelPaksp_skmuQEGTBsuehuX1bZZWRfckzVVOmlcRO__PZ7WeLF1eK37w1cn6LAdta4cz57b8Ymdi3WI8FMSgaBICFzztFXuilEnlI_O5GNH5L9S2Y0_M14Bz5PPoyaHPL/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0bD3L7lCiZvelPaksp_skmuQEGTBsuehuX1bZZWRfckzVVOmlcRO__PZ7WeLF1eK37w1cn6LAdta4cz57b8Ymdi3WI8FMSgaBICFzztFXuilEnlI_O5GNH5L9S2Y0_M14Bz5PPoyaHPL/s320/IMG_0289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The same goes for the shafts, where the top layer is peeling away. I love shoes with this kind of character!<br />
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I wish I could have seen these boots in action. By flexing them, it's easy to see how the leather folded with the foot. I found that stuffing the foot area of the boots with a few paper towels helps to better simulate the presence of actual feet.<br />
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The hard life these boots lived is best appreciated by looking at the parts that would rarely be seen. The outsoles actually held up quite well, although I'm not surprised given the fact that these are heavy, substantial-feeling pieces that feel as though they're designed to survive lots and lots of use.<br />
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The heels dealth with the majority of the trashing and abuse, where the top pieces are an ancient memory. At first I was suspicious of this being intentional, as I've purchased shoes in the past where the heels were obviously worn down with something mechanical like a sander, but the way the leather is frayed and the plastic structure breaking apart leads me to believe this is a pair of boots that were worn hard for a long time. Part of me is surprised the owner didn't replace the top pieces since everything else is very worn but still in good shape (if that makes some kind of sense), but a greater part of me is happy they decided to part with them. One of my favorites in my collection, although I love the other pair even more... and you'll be seeing them soon, I promise.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-57452024082948232442013-02-20T10:12:00.000-05:002013-02-20T10:12:23.404-05:00Your Questions, My AnswersOver the past week, I've received a few emails asking for me to show more photos from my collection of trashed and abused shoes, including a few requests for more heels to be featured on the blog. As I explained in my responses to those emails, I'll happily oblige. After all, I've been looking forward to both.<br />
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I want shoes from the collection I've been building to be a central part of the blog. I get so much enjoyment out of them and like to think others can enjoy them as well when I photograph and describe them in detail. However, I've never wanted those to be the only features on the blog. The point of all this is for me to explore all aspects of the hobby, and that includes a lot of things I'm just now starting to figure out, like the joy I've discovered in <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/destroying-moda-sandals_14.html" target="_blank">destroying shoes with my Ellies.</a> It's clear to me that many of you enjoy the trashing- and abuse-related items I've found on other sites. One of the most viewed posts on the blog is the one where I talk about the <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-mom-wears-heels-to-playground.html" target="_blank">mom who wears her heels to the playground.</a> There will definitely be a lot more highlighting what I've been buying on eBay to add to my collection, but I'll also try to maintain a good balance around here, touching on a lot of different things.<br />
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As for the lack of heels, I have them in my collection, although not as many pairs as I'd like. I'm working on that... trust me. Heels are difficult. While eBay is a wonderful tool <a href="http://trashedabusedshoes.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-beauty-of-ebay.html" target="_blank">I've discussed in the past,</a> finding trashed and abused heels isn't easy, probably because of the nature of the shoes. In my dreams, women wear their nicest pumps on spontaneous walks in the woods... in reality, they're usually reserved for events where they won't be taxed with any kind of hard work. The toughest chores most high heels have to suffer through is drunken dancing at weddings, and they usually get a few weeks or months off after that short-lived experience. I tend to look for office shoes because those are worn on a daily basis and often for long periods of time, but even then they're typically stuck walking carpeted hallways and being kicked off underneath a desk.<br />
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Right now, my collection features more high-heeled boots than pumps. For some reason women seem to have fewer reservations about wearing a pair of thigh-high boots to death than a fancy pair of slingbacks. Therefore I'll be posting a lot of boots in the future... that is, as soon as I use my engineering skills to finish crafting something to ensure the shafts stay upright during photography sessions. I also have some flats and sneakers to share with you. I know... some of you aren't really into flats and sneakers, but I think you'll enjoy some of the ones I've purchased. Others ended up being duds, and maybe you'll take comfort in the fact that they'll meet unpleasant ends.<br />
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Thanks for reading, and keep the questions and suggestions coming. It's always great learning what you want to see.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762436645748525926.post-21073382093379290932013-02-19T15:54:00.001-05:002013-02-19T15:54:58.819-05:00Ladies! Please Wear the High Heels Right!A while back, my endless internet searching led me to a short but interesting blog post by a modeling agency in South Africa. The "human element" is what got my attention because the woman posting mentioned feeling bad for high heels worn the wrong way. When I started this blog, I searched for the post but had no initial luck, and for good reason: it appears the website was hacked, or otherwise compromised. It took me a little while to come to the realization that I could use the trusty <a href="http://archive.org/web/web.php" target="_blank">Internet Archive: Wayback Machine</a> to find an archived version of the site. Sure enough, it worked. And <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120313152921/http://www.imanimodels.com/index.php/blog/39-high-heels-worn-right" target="_blank">here it is</a>.<br />
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Anything that anthropomorphizes woman's shoes is okay in my book, and this was the first time I had seen someone else express sadness over the way some shoes are treated. It also touches upon one of my favorite signs of trashing and abuse, which occurs when the woman wearing the shoe walks on the outsides of her feet and causes abnormal wear- in the case of high heels, top pieces worn down at an angle. The tips for wearing high heels also makes for good reading. Tip #7, which reads, "<em>Never put pressure on the heels</em>" is my favorite. It probably has something to do with the fact that I'm starting to understand what it's like to wear heels, and maybe even the fact that I disagree with statements about not putting weight on the heels. Maybe it's just me but I find it comfortable and pleasurable to rest my weight on the heels. Then again, it might be easier for me to do that because I have a large foot and there is a big difference between wearing 5" heels with feet that are twelve inches long as opposed to seven inches long. Simple geometry and physics.<br />
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Don't get too excited about the comments section. The conversation devolves into a bunch of spam posts before it has a chance to develop into something good. What a shame.Trashed and Abused Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05404034323760047858noreply@blogger.com1