Shoes?

[Anthile]

So today I overheard a conversation where someone said that women supposedly look first at a man's shoes and therefore having nifty and clean shoes is very important for the first impression. I cannot think of any possible reason why shoes would be more important than any other piece of clothing, except it's some evolutionary thing.
Now I get rather often complimented for my fashion sense but in all my lifetime I have never had someone complimenting my footwear. Of course that's just my experience and hardly anything to falsify such an universal statement.

To be honest, I'm not really interested in anecdotes but that's what it's going to come down to, no?

 

[EvilScientist Trainee]

My shoes are always incredibly dirty. Now it makes sense that I don't get any.

That made me a little sad.

 

[Solitaire U.]

I cannot think of any possible reason why shoes would be more important than any other piece of clothing, except it's some evolutionary thing.

Think harder?

http://www.drmartens.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=12231002

More compliments than you'll know what to do with.

 

[dark]

I agree with EvilScientist Trainee, I wear Converse and it is impossible to keep them clean.

This is probably true for SP and SJ types. I know I have no fashion sense, I mean seriously there aren't many ENTPs who do unless they are self conscious about that. But I think my lack of fashion sense has started more conversations with females than anything.

Also I look women straight in the eyes when I am interacting with them, unless, which is highly plausible, they saw me first, I have never seen one look at my shoes. Of course the shy girls that always look down are probably looking at my shoes eh? Damn clever girls using shyness as a method to look at my shoes.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I've noticed it a few times. So it's true to some extent. I wouldn't say ever female is like that or even cares at all though.

I think it has something to do with your feet being the least visible area of your body so if you don't take the time to keep even the unseen parts of you looking fresh then you may just be a surface person and lazy/dirty on the inside.

 

[Kuu]

Fucking utter BS. Of the kind perpetuated by retarded magazines and 'seduction' guides, that the gullible majorities easily tend to believe...

Some idiot must have written this on one of those stupid love advice columns or 15-things to do something stupid articles.. some 20 or 30 years ago and people keep regurgitating it since...

 

[Mary]

I agree with Kuu. I never actually care about a guy's shoes. My ESFJ friend, on the other hand, has a mild shoe fetish. She obsesses over them. The article you read may have been based on people like her, but it's not universally applicable.

 

[snafupants]

So would a man have better luck getting bonked wearing Adidas over, say, Puma?

 

[Required Username]

I always have an awesome pair of shoes. Usually nike. Havent gotten any compliments.

 

[Bird]

You know... when I think of it, I do
look at a woman's shoes, if not
immediately, a few seconds after
noticing her. I do not do this with
men though. I think this could just
be attributed to the fact that I like
shoes, specifically women's shoes
as I am a female myself. And though
I do not judge a man by his shoes if
a woman is wearing an awful pair
of heels, I will judge her on her poor
fashion sense.

 

[Cognisant]

I wonder, what do women pay attention to?

I know that as a male I'm biased towards shape and colour over detail, at least I think it's a bias, or maybe it has nothing to do with being male, just years of videogames.

 

[The Gopher]

Required User name you will be missed. On the shoes though I would have no clue, women are strange creatures DUDE! THEY are like ka-blam then man they are odd....

 

[Polaris]

@Cog: Personally I don't look for anything in particular, but a nice brain is always a plus. Charisma can be so many things, but it is also something I notice. Then there are charismatic wankers.........

A shy guy is also quite intriguing, perhaps it's the mystery-factor. Until you get to know them.......

@ OP: But shoes? Come on.......what a lot of codswallop.

 

[Solitaire U.]

So would a man have better luck getting bonked wearing Adidas over, say, Puma?

I always have an awesome pair of shoes. Usually nike. Havent gotten any compliments.

Shoes that are predominantly white in color only get positive attention in basketball courts and middle-school classrooms, and tend to symbolize immaturity anywhere else. Vans and Converse of any color or...pattern, are exceptions. Those who march beyond puberty clad in Vans or Converse are likely to die with their virginity intact.

Now, to put the shoe on the other foot so to speak...a 12 year old can become the center of attention overnight simply by wearing his black 1460 Docs' to school. Girls have additional options since it's appropriate for them to divert from the basic black...suede or leather Jenny pull-ons in stylish grey mare for example, or how 'bout some stunning Sheena 20-eye zips in red-plaid to set off that chaste Catholic School Uniform! Forget about shattering the credulous belief that nobody pays attention to shoes...wear a pair of boots like that to school and you'll send those flustered old relics fleeing for the seclusive sanctity of their 'E-rectory'!

Seriously though, Docs' are somewhat pricey initially, but their durability is second to none (I get around 2 years of daily use in rough working environments out of a single pair). I'm not sure what it is about their unassuming exterior that draws attention, but they generate compliments from both males and females on a continual basis. I'm pretty certain it's something other than brand mystique, as they don't have any Nike-swish-esque trademark identifiers, or anything else for that matter, adorning their exterior. People just tend to say "Nice boots" rather than "Oh I just adore your brand-x's...are those really the authenticated signature editions?"

Perhaps I misread, but the question of 'what' appeared to be subtlety concealed within the critique of 'why' in the OP.

 

[Mary]

Shoes that are predominantly white in color only get positive attention in basketball courts and middle-school classrooms, and tend to symbolize immaturity anywhere else. Vans and Converse of any color or...pattern, are exceptions. Those who march beyond puberty clad in Vans or Converse are likely to die with their virginity intact.

I have to say, I love a guy in Converses. A lot of my college-age male friends wear them, they do not appear to have their virginity on hand. :P

 

[dark]

@ Solitaire U. I wear Converse everywhere, all the time. I will have to say there is no other shoe that can compare in durability, at least for me, but this may be because of how my foot is shaped. I tried a pair of Sketchers one summer to see if they helped me run better, tore through them in about a month, seriously the bottom fell off. Which is one reason my mother stopped buying regular shoes when I was a child, they just tore up in weeks. Converse never have. I have a pair I still wear and it has been 5 years. Albeit I have sown them up a couple times, but when ever I want to wear them, they are still there.

Also I am completely ignoring the "women like shoes" thing, absurd I think. I am using the thread topic to just talk about shoes haha.

Also where I live, everyone wears boots, and the rest that doesn't wear boots wear those flipy things on their feet. I can't stand boots, most hurt my body, except the Navy flight deck boots that I bought at a surplus store because they looked cool, I do like them.

Off topic of shoes, but I agree with Cognisant, what do women pay attention to, I know it will be different with every woman, but there should be a general thing like in us males. I know some of my friends in high school, one a very pretty girl, said she doesn't even care if her boy friend is nice looking because there were other things she cared about more, which her fiance isn't to great looking but makes her happy so I guess she knows what she is talking about.

Why do stereotypes exist at all?

 

[Solitaire U.]

Perhaps they've become skilled at keeping their virginity 'in hand'' after practicing so hard.

But I do concede...infantilization is all the rage these days. Rugged attractiveness has become so cliche.

I have no issue with Converse...my kids wear them, and when I was their age I wouldn't wear anything but Vans, which are also durable...or were back then. It's just my opinion that they tend to hinder the credibility of anyone over age 12. Yeah yeah....it sux it sux it sux I hear you, but the world still judges you by appearance regardless.

"Why do stereotypes exist at all?"

To sell Converse.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Why do stereotypes exist at all?

Because they are all true to some extent.

 

[gnome]

Fucking utter BS. Of the kind perpetuated by retarded magazines and 'seduction' guides, that the gullible majorities easily tend to believe...

Some idiot must have written this on one of those stupid love advice columns or 15-things to do something stupid articles.. some 20 or 30 years ago and people keep regurgitating it since...

I'd agree with this.

 

[gnome]

Perhaps they've become skilled at keeping their virginity 'in hand'' after practicing so hard.

But I do concede...infantilization is all the rage these days. Rugged attractiveness has become so cliche.

I have no issue with Converse...my kids wear them, and when I was their age I wouldn't wear anything but Vans, which are also durable...or were back then. It's just my opinion that they tend to hinder the credibility of anyone over age 12. Yeah yeah....it sux it sux it sux I hear you, but the world still judges you by appearance regardless.

"Why do stereotypes exist at all?"

To sell Converse.

Dude I know a ton of dudes who wear vans and converse and are getting laid. They are in their 20's. Not to be an asshole, but I think you're just getting old.

 

[Minuend]

I wonder, what do women pay attention to?

Intelligence, humility, calmness

Humour is nice too.

You look for someone who is similar to yourself, usually. (Not that I'm saying I'm the above).

I don't give a fuck about shoes. Unless they are pink with blinding flash lights, I won't even notice you are wearing shoes.

Why do stereotypes exist at all?

It's a necessary function. Stereotypes are our way of identity our environment. For instance, if you see a kitchen chair with four legs, when encountering another type of chair you will assume it is also sittable.

Imagine if we had to evaluate the chair every time we saw a new one. We need to stereotype to use prior experience to our advantage.

Trick is to know when the stereotype can be justified. Even though you can sit in the chair, it's not necessarily as comfy as the previous one.

 

[Mary]

Dude I know a ton of dudes who wear vans and converse and are getting laid. They are in their 20's. Not to be an asshole, but I think you're just getting old.

^^ This.

Converses are very "chic" with the current generation.. I don't know of anyone who really considers them "juvenile".

 

[gnome]

I wonder, what do women pay attention to?

I know that as a male I'm biased towards shape and colour over detail, at least I think it's a bias, or maybe it has nothing to do with being male, just years of videogames.

I think the sad truth is most pay attention to your bank account and your natural good looks. A strong genetic hand is hard to beat. I look at it from Darwin's point of view that they are just looking for a mate to give them the best possible genetic offspring. This isn't the way with ALL chicks, but it is with most. Well to an extent it is this way with all chicks.

 

[Meer]

In highschool, when my then-girlfriend (INFJ, if you must know) and I went to the graduation ceremony thing (not exactly a prom...), she wore Converse shoes matching her dress while I wore black Vans with little grey stripes. Not much virginity left.

I still have those shoes. They look like they belong to a homeless man.

I have a bunch of pairs of nice shoes, but I never wear them because they'll get ruined.

People who wear Dr. Martens are creepy, seriously.

Anyways, continue on.

 

[dark]

@ gnome, I guess I am not yet old enough to understand the bank account thing, but as a poor college student I tend to have zero money. My looks only get me as far as me noticing the girl in the first place, if she smiles at me I take a second look to see what she was smiling at, then usually I talk to her. I just really can't think shoes mean anything at all. I think someone mentioned maybe ESFJ females caring but I can't believe that, have dated one, well wait she did make a big deal about my Converse, she would steal them and wear them... but besides her I think she just had a shoe fetish, another ESFJ girl that had a crush on me didn't seem to much interested in my shoes at all, of course she ran from me after about 30 minutes of talking.

And about the stereotype thing, it makes sense but shouldn't be a real guide line. I am sure you can find some common things about men and women, but there shouldn't be some things. Will not use examples because I know stereotypes can be offensive, which I think is actually why they were made, to hurt groups of people, which just shows human intolerance or individuality.

I think your definition is more along the lines of generalization than it is of stereotypes.

 

[gnome]

@ gnome, I guess I am not yet old enough to understand the bank account thing, but as a poor college student I tend to have zero money.

Well dude think back to high school. The kids driving the expensive cars were usually getting chicks. Were they not?

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I knew this ISFP girl who wore vans to prom oops meant graduation.
I thought that was cool.

 

[Mello]

I have a foot fetish, so shoes are important.

 

[dark]

Well dude think back to high school. The kids driving the expensive cars were usually getting chicks. Were they not?

Hum... I can't really remember, most people drove trucks. The parking lots where full of 7 mpg vehicles, always made me laugh.

I guess you are right, but the chicks they got, were definitely not on my list of girls I would want to even be caught associating with. So I guess it is that way with any shallow person, so this cannot be tied to females, there are just as many shallow males. That's society for ya'.

 

[Mello]

Perhaps they've become skilled at keeping their virginity 'in hand'' after practicing so hard.

But I do concede...infantilization is all the rage these days. Rugged attractiveness has become so cliche.

I have no issue with Converse...my kids wear them, and when I was their age I wouldn't wear anything but Vans, which are also durable...or were back then. It's just my opinion that they tend to hinder the credibility of anyone over age 12. Yeah yeah....it sux it sux it sux I hear you, but the world still judges you by appearance regardless.

"Why do stereotypes exist at all?"

To sell Converse.

I wear converse, so I guess I'll die a virgin. I've been thinking of buying some Doc. Martens though.

 

[Solitaire U.]

Dude I know a ton of dudes who wear vans and converse and are getting laid. They are in their 20's. Not to be an asshole, but I think you're just getting old.

Dude, I appreciate that you've gone to such great lengths to watch tons of dudes who wear Converse and Vans get laid so you could inform me of that. I'll remember it if I ever decide to take my social cues from 20 year olds. Not to be an asshole, but I was laughing at that same shit when I was 20, so it's doubtful your info will be of use. Thanks for the patronizing remarks though...seriously. I support any belief that keeps you in your clown-house and out of my world.

@ Mary...you speak of generations as if your own is the only 'current' one, so you're not qualified to make cross-generational judgments, but thank all the cool kids anyway for keeping alive what we started 30 years ago. It's an honor to be a founding father of ridiculous style trends that are still being celebrated by contemporary juveniles.

@ Meer....Go fuck yourself back atcha, pal.

@ those who contest humanity's footwear fixation...

Top 10 Most Common Fetishes

1. Feet

2. High-heels and knee-high boots

3. Go find out yourself... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_fetishism http://www.chaimedia.com/list/197.html

 

[Solitaire U.]

I wear converse, so I guess I'll die a virgin. I've been thinking of buying some Doc. Martens though.

Well, you know, I was being sarcastic and all that, but I think you're thinking on the right track. I'm sure you'll find that Docs' administer virginity at a much higher standard of quality than then you're currently getting.

 

[Iuanes]

Evolutionarily speaking it doesn't make sense in the hard way, (how much can such a thing matter when attempting to survive and thrive in nature), but remember humans are social animals and human society makes up a large part of our environment AND the a tool to prosper in it.

Understanding fashion, subtle social cues, trends, behaviors etc., generally means one is able to gain or maintain good social standing, perceive social dynamics, and generally benefit from the social world much better than someone who is less socially savvy.

It is precisely in the details that don't matter, thats is when function has limited effect on style, that this social savvy, or simply wealth/health can be perceived most distinctly.

This can be applied to other things such as art, music, manners of speech, fashion etc. Both proficiency of performance and social savvy are at work here.

Sexual selection mechanics work to augment this. Something a female finds attractive, even if irrelevant, will make other females attracted to it by virtue of indirect indexing of value, and the fact that a progeny with the same traits will be more attractive (and therefore more likely to reproduce) to other females.

Thats my distortion of a reductionist evolutionary theory I might have heard anyway.

 

[Mary]

@ Mary...you speak of generations as if your own is the only 'current' one, so you're not qualified to make cross-generational judgments, but thank all the cool kids anyway for keeping alive what we started 30 years ago. It's an honor to be a founding father of ridiculous style trends that are still being celebrated by contemporary juveniles.

My bad. I meant current as in the ones who are wearing the Converses into and past their teenage years, or the "newest" generation. I meant it to be interpreted in a way similar to the way Apple uses the term "current generation" to describe their newest iPon/iTouch/whatever generation.

 

[crippli]

It's a necessary function. Stereotypes are our way of identity our environment. For instance, if you see a kitchen chair with four legs, when encountering another type of chair you will assume it is also sittable.

The danger is if your stereotyping is to rigid you may not recognize that car hoods, coffins, someone passed out on the floor are all sittable. In worst case scenario you may have to stand when you could have been sitting.

@op - Not sure if this is relevant to your question. But there are men that tends to use far to large shoes then what is the size of the foot.

 

[Minuend]

That's kinda what I meant by Trick is to know when the stereotype can be justified. Even though you can sit in the chair, it's not necessarily as comfy as the previous one.

 

[Cognisant]

I wear converse, so I guess I'll die a virgin. I've been thinking of buying some Doc. Martens though.

Find a bar... any crowded place... heck a library will do
Yell for all to hear: "What do I have to drink to get a fuck around here?"

It's the secret in-case-of-emergency code for meaningless sex.

Just pick the guy you like best, drag his bewildered ass somewhere private, and there you go, if he doesn’t do it for ya just grab another one, hey why stop at one?

Please don't misuse this, it is for emergencies only.
Every time a man-eater finds out the code we have to change it, and the logistics of doing that is a nightmare.

Fukyo I'm looking at you (-.-)

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

The day INTPf talked about shoes is the day it died a little inside. Unless the shoes are scientifically designed for walking on Mars or something all they need be is comfortable to the wearer. Anyone who would judge me by my shoes is doing me the favor of not wasting my time getting to know their shallow selves.

 

[BigApplePi]

I'd agree with this.

I was trying to find a way to disagree with this but can't. I am forced against my will to agree with you. Therefore I've decided to go barefoot. Is this a misteak? There is a lot of broken glass and nails around here.

 

[gnome]

I was trying to find a way to disagree with this but can't. I am forced against my will to agree with you. Therefore I've decided to go barefoot. Is this a misteak? There is a lot of broken glass and nails around here.

I'd say go ahead and go barefoot. Make sure you have an up to date Tetanus shot.

 

[BigApplePi]

I always have an awesome pair of shoes. Usually nike. Havent gotten any compliments.

Last year I went to the Nike store but they were all out of what I wanted. I went on-line (risky) and ordered a pair of custom color designed running shoes. Six colors I think but I can't tell you as I left them home and I'm here. They even have my name on them. Not one single person noticed until last week. A lady on the elevator said she admired my shoes and asked if I designed them. I told her yes I did. I'll wear another pair when it snows.
http://nikeid.nike.com/nikeid/index.jsp?cp=usid_KW_060309g&ef_id=bSRNF8HcAwAAxjM:20101226223126:s

 

[Cogwulf]

I always keep my doc martens well polished, but I think it's because I care more about my boots than about how I look in them.

I used to wear converse because they were comfortable, but then everyone started wearing them, and I was also tired of having to buy a new pair every six months so I got some doc martens instead. I like converse and docs because they're simple, everything else is covered with straps or mesh panels or whatever.

 

[Minuend]

There should be pink shoes with blinding flash lights

 

[BigApplePi]

I got me a pair of 15" Muck Boots and wore them for the first time this AM. They are great. Didn't get snow in them like yesterday. And my pants stayed dry. Had to take them off and hang them in the shower yesterday as they were full of snow.

 

[Cavallier]

Muck books are great! They keep your feet dry. They are warm though not warm enough if you live in a really cold place for an extended period of time. After hour 5 or 6 hours of slogging through snow you get tired of your toes being numb. Depending on the quality of the boot in question of course.

Am I really the first one to comment on Anthile's use of the word "nifty"?

 

[Minuend]

Cava you are ever so observant as usual!

 

[Mello]

Find a bar... any crowded place... heck a library will do
Yell for all to hear: "What do I have to drink to get a fuck around here?"

It's the secret in-case-of-emergency code for meaningless sex.

Just pick the guy you like best, drag his bewildered ass somewhere private, and there you go, if he doesn’t do it for ya just grab another one, hey why stop at one?

Please don't misuse this, it is for emergencies only.
Every time a man-eater finds out the code we have to change it, and the logistics of doing that is a nightmare.

Fukyo I'm looking at you (-.-)

That would be an interesting idea if I was gay.

 

[BigApplePi]

Muck books are great! They keep your feet dry. They are warm though not warm enough if you live in a really cold place for an extended period of time. After hour 5 or 6 hours of slogging through snow you get tired of your toes being numb. Depending on the quality of the boot in question of course.

Am I really the first one to comment on Anthile's use of the word "nifty"?

Cavallier. I ordered my 15" Muckboots for the snow to supplement the 12"ers I have for wading in the stream. I got them on-line and they are the real thing. More expensive than the not-as-good ones seen in the department store.

It would be really nifty if you'd meet some of the nifty newcomers here who will soon become old comers. I wonder if you'd lairn them a nifty thang or two?

 

[BigApplePi]

I don't have to wear special dress shoes for that, do I?

 

[Polaris]

Got a new pair of Swedish black clogs. Orthotic sole And a pair of Merrel Chameleons for fieldwork.

For any other occasion: Birkenstocks. (Frumpfactor increasing rapidly).