WHAT’S A HEALTHY SHOE?
“You want a good leather, you don’t want plastic. You want a sole that’s a reasonable thickness. You don’t want something that’s too thin so you feel everything on the bottom of your foot.
“A lace-type shoe is better than a non-lace type; it fits better.”
--Dr. Harold Roth, West Los Angeles podiatrist
WHAT’S A WELL-MADE SHOE?
“It has to be lined with leather so it can breathe. Leather absorbs perspiration, plastic doesn’t. A lot of Italian shoes have paper linings, and it ruins the whole effect.
“Basically, a leather shoe that’s not too tight.”
--John Lewis, Buster’s Shoe Repair, Santa Monica
WHAT LEATHER IS BEST?
Most people think cordovan describes a color, but it actually refers to a horsehide shoe. “It wears, but it’s not easy on your feet,” says Dr. Roth.
The exotics, such as snake and lizard skins, also have problems. “They look nice and hold their shape, but they’re not good, supple leather that conforms to your foot,” Dr. Roth says.
So that old standard, cowhide, is still No. 1.
PRESERVATION TIPS
* Always shine new shoes before you wear them the first time to prolong their life. If it’s a buckskin, brushed suede or soft-leather shoe, use a spray or liquid that protects the finish and guards against moisture.
* Use a shoe stretcher.
* Never remove laced shoes without undoing the laces.
* Give your shoes a day’s rest between wearings to let them dry out.
* Have them polished or treated regularly.
* Wear socks. Please.