All my shoes are from Payless Shoesource, which is now in the process of closing all their stores and going out of business. I'm upset.
They're not great shoes, but they're "good enough" shoes at inexpensive enough prices that I can make a mistake or three and it's no big deal. And they come in my size! Which is a problem anywhere else, unless you're willing to pay a fortune.
Worse, a couple of pairs I bought a few years back just gave up the ghost. I wasn't wearing them daily. In fact I hadn't worn either of those in a couple years, but whatever was going on with the thin urethane layer that made them look enough like black leather, a simple pair of flats, and a knee-high side-zip boot, just gave up and peeled off its backing. I did get to wear them out a couple of times when they were new, and they always got compliments. The boots, that is. The flats were perfectly normal, nothing anyone would see as out of the ordinary one way or another, slim and shaped like a court/pump shoe. I'm going to miss them.
So, some of the stores are still open, and they're still stocking the shelves. I just got back from one of them, with three new pairs! A pair of Champion sneakers in two shades of blue, some silver sparkle flats, and a pair of white pumps with a flowered heel. They all fit! I tried them on in the store. I'm getting braver as time goes on. Well, a little brave, anyway. I had a knee-high on under my sock, and I only tried them sitting down. Didn't have the desire, or the matching clothes, to walk the aisles.
Getting home, I tried them all on for real, to walk in them. (Not all at once! I only have two feet.) The sneakers are not only cute for girl mode, I think they can almost pass as unisex and they're super comfy. The sparkly flats are adorable, but are going to need a bit of breaking in so they don't cut a stripe across the top of my foot. I actually have a shoe-stretcher that might accomplish that. The heels, though... They fit perfectly, but I can't walk in them! The heels are an inch taller than I've tried before and my ankles are not cooperating -- they don't want to bend that far. They're only 4 1/2 inches, and on a size 12 shoe, that shouldn't be that much. I can walk perfectly with a 3 1/2" heel.
Maybe with some extended standing around, I could stretch my ankle joints enough to make this work, but it actually feels like I'm going to injure something. On the other hand, I have this flowered dress that would go PERFECTLY with them!
Comments
I know
Payless was great for my daughter, as she likes to do cosplay from time to time. So nice but cheap shoes, I dont care if she only wears them 1 or 2 times. From time to time they would have decent everyday shoes. Because of being on my feet so much for work and the amount of walking I do. I did not get many shoes there myself. But did find a few pairs to mix in from time to time.
Avenue
Carries larger sizes. They may not be a cheap as Payless but they are well made. I have a pair of knee high boots that I love and have worn for years. Only the fact I live in Florida and it's too warm keeps me from wearing them year round.
Commentator
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there used to be a great place for shoes here
called Tallcrest shoes, did ladies shoes for women with larger feet, everything from plain flats to dressy heels. They were also excellent for guys who for one reason or another wanted women's shoes - excellent customer service, no judgement. Then just at the time I came out of the closet and needed women's shoes they went out of business. sighs ...
Payless
I don't like seeing them go under, but I can understand why they are. Their stock wasn't the greatest and their clientele only shopped there because they were everywhere with no competition. I can't shed too many tears, they killed several shoe stores in my hometown due to their cheaper stock so have to suffer what they did to other stores 20 or so years ago.
Business practices aside, the chain was hit and miss with me. They were good for a quick pair of black loafers or Oxfords for formal or business events. The shoes weren't that great, but they would last a few years considering that they weren't used that often compared with boots and sneakers.
On the downside, their selection of wide widths were non-existent. For a family like mine who have wide feet, it was a terrible place to shop. If not for the rise of the outlet stores nearby I'd be stuck with crappy Walmart shoes that wore out every other month if not less.
I'm told STFU more times in a day than most people get told in a lifetime
Payless will be missed
They were my goto shoe store, literally! I mean they were only about 2-3 blocks from my house. My feet are such that I can wear many normal-width shoes, but sometimes need a wide. Payless made it easy to check a shoe or boot for fit then if I needed to I could order the wide. Ship to store was free, as were exchanges, so it was all good for me!
I've had the black peel off some of my shoes and not all were from Payless either. I think it comes with the territory - buy cheap shoes, get cheap shoes. I've considered gowing to the hobby and crafts store and look for something to recoat them but just haven't felt the need to do so. Either that or ask at the shoe and boot repair shop if they have any ideas.
But thanks for reminding me! I need to get to the store before they close up and see what I can find! WallyWorld shoes are so cheap, unstylish, and shoddy I'll never buy from them again! Go Jane online store often has larger sizes and widths and with a little judicious shopping can be found on sale for decent prices.
Has anybody tried Famous Footwear? There is a local store here but I've never tried them.
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Amazon still carries a lot of
Amazon still carries a lot of shoes from Payless.
Kris
{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}
Payless Shoes
I was never able to buy for myself there, because I have an odd size (12A) which they don't carry. However, when my daughter was young, we bought a lot of her shoes there. She was hard on her shoes, so buying inexpensive shoes was great, and they had several outlets in our area. The better-quality shoe stores here don't seem to have been too harmed by the competition.