Mending your Broken Glass Slippers

For petite women, the first “feat” is to actually find those super cute shoes. Since this step is so extremely difficult, maintaining our shoes’ condition becomes as equally important as finding them. Most women toss their worn out shoes and buy new for pure convenience and end up spending way more cash. As fun as shoe shopping is, it’s not fun to spend money when you don’t have to. Simply repairing minor breaks can save pennies in the long run.

We’ve all seen it before; outsoles wears thin, the heel breaks or wears down, embellishments fall off and leather gets scuffed. Rather than kicking your worn out slippers to the curb, a short trip to your local shoe repair store can do wonders. I have a pair of basic, black pumps that I’ve had for over 5 years. They are comfortable and work appropriate, so I end up wearing them at least three times a week. I would love to buy a new pair, however the style has been discontinued!! So, I take my precious little babies to the Austin Shoe Hospital at 8th & Congress twice a year. For a measly $12.99, the Austin Shoe Hospital at 8th and Congress will fix ‘em up new and shiny.

Some tips on repairs:

• Change the shoe soles as frequently as needed. Yeah, even that little one on the underside of your high heel…it’s tiny, but needs attention too!! Whenever it looks too worn, take it to the Hospital.
These are heel caps:

• Add toe guards to your high heels. When the peeps at the Shoe Hospital ask, “looks like these could use a toe guard,” listen to them! They aren’t sleazy car salesmen trying the sell you a P.O.S. dump of a car, they are really trying to help you! So listen. And do it. 

• Applying mink oil to the cracks that have appeared in the leather will give some much needed moisture back to cracks and crevices in the shoe. Always let the shoes dry before applying the shoe cream.

• Change tired insoles frequently. If you can, wear removable insoles that you can change more often.

• If your leather shoes are fitting a little too snug, moisten them with water and wear them around your house to stretch a bit. The Shoe Hospital can do this as well.

• Add a Soleguard! It’s a protective sole that adds life to your shoes by making them slip resistant, more flexible and durable, and more comfortable to wear.

• TRICK: Women’s feet were more petite in the past, so vintage shoes can easily be found in smaller sizes!! Shop for cute, inexpensive vintage shoes and take them to the shoe repair store. Not only will you spend less money, but you’ll have a very rare pair.

**Serious shout out to the staff at the Austin Shoe Hospital location at 8th & Congress. They remember me and my shoes every time I visit and are totally my best friends for a whole 5 minutes. I should bake them some cookies.**

List of services:

1. Work with lizard, alligator, sea turtle, hornback, anteater, elephant, snakeskin, antelope, pigskin, sharkskin, goatskin, kidskin, and ostrich
2. Replace heel Caps
3. Replace insoles
4. Shoe shine or recondition
5. Replace half-sole, rubber heel, combo heel (rubber and leather)
6. Add sole guard
7. Repair straps or buckles


http://www.austinshoehospital.com/home