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Covering MaterialsThe material that the upper is made of usually dictates the retail price. Man made materials are the cheapest while good quality leather is the most expensive. The shoes to the left are covered with a satin material while those below are covered with a suede material. Soft supple leathers like Kid (goat) and calf (baby cows) demand higher prices than less expensive cow hide leathers. Suede’s also are more pricey. Suede’s are harder to keep clean and their appearance is quickly changed if the suede’s grain is disturbed. Mud is murder on suede, as is rain. Exotic animal skins are the top of the line in cost, but thankfully there are man made equivalents. Multi-colored materials and panels offer style. Materials such as Satin and a cloth woven look work well for formal occasions. Again these coverings can be easily ruined by mud and water. Some cloth covered styles are designed to be dyed. The purpose of dyeable shoes is to allow a match to a particular garment color and often find use in weddings for the bride maids. Patent leather looks are now made with man made plastics. This style of covering is susceptible to scuffing. In general, plastic uppers do not allow the foot to breath so expect really sweaty feet in the summer with these materials. ConstructionModern shoes tend to be glued together rather than the traditional sewing method. When I buy a shoe I look at the quality of workmanship. Straps in particular are a weak point. Sewn seams can be wavy and run off the edge. Buckle holes can be off center or incomplete (ie don’t go through the material). Anchor points to the shoe or from the strap to an elastic piece can be poorly sewn resulting in breakage and a shoe that falls off. The liner may have bumps behind it which will cause local discomfort and possibly a blister. The inner sole may be off center or have bumps in it. Upper finish may have blemishes. Sole material may be too stiff for comfort or of a material that offers poor traction. Go cheap on the flats and wedges, but don't buy poorly made high heels! If a heel breaks you can you twist an ankle and fracture it. And that's no fun at all
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