These shoes rule. These shoes suck.
October 17, 2007 12:28 PM Subscribe
How you'll wear shoes in the future... "You start with a 'bone': the made-to-measure core of the shoe that cradles your foot. You cover the bone with one of many 'skins,' the shell and sole of the shoe that creates the look everyone else sees."
there's so much screen flashiness its hard to actually learn anything about the shoes. Although it seems to have a lot to do with naked women and flimsy shoes.
posted by Red58 at 12:37 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by Red58 at 12:37 PM on October 17, 2007
If only I didn't already have a pair of shoes.
posted by box at 12:37 PM on October 17, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by box at 12:37 PM on October 17, 2007 [3 favorites]
I have very hard feet to fit (small, wide, very high arch), so this has a lot of appeal for me conceptually. But they'll need to work on styling -- the men's shoes only had one style that wasn't a variation on "trainers".
posted by briank at 12:39 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by briank at 12:39 PM on October 17, 2007
Hmmm... $60 for the "bone" and between $125 and $300 for skins? So, roughly $200 minimum for a pair of shoes? Not in my future, folks.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:52 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by Thorzdad at 12:52 PM on October 17, 2007
More designs.
Mostly it's just an attempt to break shoes down into multiple parts that each cost more, I reckon.
posted by hermitosis at 12:52 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
Mostly it's just an attempt to break shoes down into multiple parts that each cost more, I reckon.
posted by hermitosis at 12:52 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
Dude, I have this great idea! What if instead of worrying about putting two things on your feet everyday, you could worry about three?
posted by Citizen Premier at 1:00 PM on October 17, 2007 [4 favorites]
posted by Citizen Premier at 1:00 PM on October 17, 2007 [4 favorites]
It's going to be the future by the time all that damn Flash is done loading.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:03 PM on October 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:03 PM on October 17, 2007 [2 favorites]
can't find it now, but read an article awhile back about how shoes totally screw people up. from day one (according to the article) it creates a totally unnatural way to use our body. anyway, if i had the article that may be useful, but i don't so...
posted by andywolf at 1:04 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by andywolf at 1:04 PM on October 17, 2007
Four, if it's raining and you don't want your $150 fake loafers to get wet.
posted by hermitosis at 1:04 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by hermitosis at 1:04 PM on October 17, 2007
The designs don't actually look all that bad and the prices are within the range of high-design manufactured footwear.
But despite all the muscular, well-toned bodies and outdoorsy imagery, I can't picture any of these shoes being good for any terrain more rugged than a shopping mall parking lot. They're strictly for people who sit down a lot, fashionably.
posted by ardgedee at 1:05 PM on October 17, 2007
But despite all the muscular, well-toned bodies and outdoorsy imagery, I can't picture any of these shoes being good for any terrain more rugged than a shopping mall parking lot. They're strictly for people who sit down a lot, fashionably.
posted by ardgedee at 1:05 PM on October 17, 2007
So essentially this is a $60 rigid Dr. Sholls?
posted by Pollomacho at 1:11 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by Pollomacho at 1:11 PM on October 17, 2007
Uh, I'm really short and the idea of wearing flats terrifies me. How am I supposed to reach the second shelf of everything in my house? Hell, how am I supposed to grocery shop in these things?
Neat idea, customizable shoes. Call me back when they make a platform and stiletto version that look like Japanese robots made them.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 1:19 PM on October 17, 2007
Neat idea, customizable shoes. Call me back when they make a platform and stiletto version that look like Japanese robots made them.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 1:19 PM on October 17, 2007
lost me at the part where I click to enter the site and a full screen window pops up
posted by badstone at 1:21 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by badstone at 1:21 PM on October 17, 2007
You cover the bone with one of many 'skins'
I’ll hold out until we’re making actual feet this way.
posted by tepidmonkey at 1:53 PM on October 17, 2007
I’ll hold out until we’re making actual feet this way.
posted by tepidmonkey at 1:53 PM on October 17, 2007
I am clearly missing something. So these aren't Converse All-Stars?
posted by Aversion Therapy at 1:54 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by Aversion Therapy at 1:54 PM on October 17, 2007
IN THE FUTURE, THERE WON'T BE SHITTY ALL-FLASH PAGES THAT MAKE ME WANT TO STRANGLE THE ENTIRE FUCKING INTERNET.
Also, those shoes look extra stupid. I can't imagine myself skateboarding in something like that. More than one piece = bad. Heck, good skateboard shoes even have stretchy webbing that bind the tongue to the footbed so it's extra snug, all around.
Moreover, there's a reason why people wear different shoes. For starters, it keeps your feet from turning to goo.
posted by loquacious at 2:00 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
Also, those shoes look extra stupid. I can't imagine myself skateboarding in something like that. More than one piece = bad. Heck, good skateboard shoes even have stretchy webbing that bind the tongue to the footbed so it's extra snug, all around.
Moreover, there's a reason why people wear different shoes. For starters, it keeps your feet from turning to goo.
posted by loquacious at 2:00 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
ShoeBlue
I would've gone with "Pepsi Shoe" myself.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:17 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
I would've gone with "Pepsi Shoe" myself.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:17 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
"can't find it now, but read an article awhile back about how shoes totally screw people up."
Was it this? Or perhaps this?
posted by buriednexttoyou at 2:25 PM on October 17, 2007
Was it this? Or perhaps this?
posted by buriednexttoyou at 2:25 PM on October 17, 2007
Uh, I'm really short and the idea of wearing flats terrifies me. How am I supposed to reach the second shelf of everything in my house? Hell, how am I supposed to grocery shop in these things?
1. Step stool
2. Ask for help
(I'm short too. I just hate heels.)
posted by katillathehun at 2:28 PM on October 17, 2007
1. Step stool
2. Ask for help
(I'm short too. I just hate heels.)
posted by katillathehun at 2:28 PM on October 17, 2007
You cover the bone with one of many 'skins'
I'd rather go bareback, baby.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:36 PM on October 17, 2007
I'd rather go bareback, baby.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:36 PM on October 17, 2007
Does it come in a thigh-high PVC neon green vaccum closure boot with bluetooth, loadable bar-stamp rfid chip and goldfish bowl heel?
No?
Then it ain't from the future.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:36 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
No?
Then it ain't from the future.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 2:36 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
Wasn't there a NYTimes article on this guy not too long ago? Yep.
posted by desuetude at 3:07 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by desuetude at 3:07 PM on October 17, 2007
Just a couple of weeks ago I went to a Podiatrist and had custom orthotics made which helped my feet quite a bit. If this was being sold as a truly supportive custom made orthotic "bone" (god I hate that metaphor) I suppose it would be worth looking into. But if it's the same as store bought orthotics, it's about as custom as buying dime store reading glasses, i.e. good in a pinch but not really what the doctor ordered.
posted by ranchocalamari at 3:49 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by ranchocalamari at 3:49 PM on October 17, 2007
This is clearly not the future that I've been expecting. In that one, we will live in a wasteland and wear mismatched boots, which we have stolen from the punk biker we had to kill last week for a tank full of gasoline.
In my future, people will tie bricks to their feet, just to keep them off of the scorched ground. Brick based shoe technology will also, naturally, be good for crushing the radioactive scorpions which plague our hellish existence.
And they will still look better than the ones linked here.
posted by quin at 3:53 PM on October 17, 2007 [4 favorites]
In my future, people will tie bricks to their feet, just to keep them off of the scorched ground. Brick based shoe technology will also, naturally, be good for crushing the radioactive scorpions which plague our hellish existence.
And they will still look better than the ones linked here.
posted by quin at 3:53 PM on October 17, 2007 [4 favorites]
I'd been lurking in some of the barefoot running forums and found out about this anti-shoe with a pretty recognizable brand.
posted by klarck at 4:12 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by klarck at 4:12 PM on October 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
these are ugly, but i need shoes that fit, for once in my life, if possible, without heel and tongue pads and assorted stuff--and i'd need the bone part to cover my ankles to really get them to fit right. And i still don't understand why shoes match in size and width per pair when feet don't always do so (and parts of feet too).
They used to have a chain of stores that scanned your feet and built shoes to fit, so i tried it-- a few months later, they actually refunded my money and said they couldn't do it. : <
posted by amberglow at 4:13 PM on October 17, 2007
They used to have a chain of stores that scanned your feet and built shoes to fit, so i tried it-- a few months later, they actually refunded my money and said they couldn't do it. : <
posted by amberglow at 4:13 PM on October 17, 2007
Thank you hermitosis for posting the additional styles link. You can see the quality of the skins more clearly. Admittedly, I've done a 180, going from ready to buy, to not going to try. Interesting idea though.
posted by IndpMed at 4:35 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by IndpMed at 4:35 PM on October 17, 2007
i love the idea of custom made shoes. back in my fashion slave days i wore 3+inch heels far too often and for too long a time. i also happen to be a big fan of ugly shoes, starting with the earth shoe and moon boots. these skins look positively beautiful compared to those. i tried sole suckers but they were only good for limited wear before the stickum unstuck. klarck, i definitely see those anti-shoes in my future.
posted by msconduct at 5:42 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by msconduct at 5:42 PM on October 17, 2007
Failed business plan #367
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:33 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:33 PM on October 17, 2007
Might be handy for those of us on the wide-side of what's available at Hitchcock Shoe. My shoe size is 8-1/2 EEEEEE, 9 EEEEEE, 9 EEEEE, or 9-1/2 EEEEE, depending on manufacturer and model.
I now live within driving distance of their showroom, so I don't have to worry about figuring out which shoes fit in which sizes mail order, but it was damn inconvenient when I was living in Florida. A two-part shoe, that's guaranteed to fit no matter which style I chose, is tempting and worth the hassle of pairing the skin with the bone in the morning.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:40 PM on October 17, 2007
I now live within driving distance of their showroom, so I don't have to worry about figuring out which shoes fit in which sizes mail order, but it was damn inconvenient when I was living in Florida. A two-part shoe, that's guaranteed to fit no matter which style I chose, is tempting and worth the hassle of pairing the skin with the bone in the morning.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:40 PM on October 17, 2007
I'm wearing orthotic inserts these days, so as soon as I get any shoes or boots, the sockliner goes right in the trash. So there's not much point in buying these things, as far as I can tell.
posted by pax digita at 11:12 PM on October 17, 2007
posted by pax digita at 11:12 PM on October 17, 2007
For some perspective, I talked to an actual old-school cobbler who makes custom dress shoes. The first pair was $5000. He makes an impression of your feet, hand carves wooden lasts slightly larger than the impression, and then makes the shoes around the lasts. Subsequent shoes are a lot cheaper than $5000, but still ridiculously expensive.
posted by BrotherCaine at 12:11 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by BrotherCaine at 12:11 AM on October 18, 2007
Neat idea, customizable shoes. Call me back when they make a platform and stiletto version that look like Japanese robots made them.
Shoes of the future will be custom created for you by your personal rapid prototyping machine, like all the other daily crap people will use.
Buying stuff is so 20th century...
posted by Enron Hubbard at 5:20 AM on October 18, 2007
Shoes of the future will be custom created for you by your personal rapid prototyping machine, like all the other daily crap people will use.
Buying stuff is so 20th century...
posted by Enron Hubbard at 5:20 AM on October 18, 2007
Might be handy for those of us on the wide-side of what's available at Hitchcock Shoe. My shoe size is 8-1/2 EEEEEE, 9 EEEEEE, 9 EEEEE, or 9-1/2 EEEEE, depending on manufacturer and model
For some reason after reading this I couldn't get this scene out of my head:
Interior Hitchcock Shoes. Customer sits with his back to the curtain covering the door to the back room. Salesman pops out from back room.
Salesman: OK, here's your shoes. (making a stabbing motion at the customer's back with a large men's loafer) You said size nine E-E-E-E-E-E (Psycho shower scene music swells to match strokes of shoe).
Cut to shot of floor where crumpled shoe stuffing paper begins to fall.
And......scene.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:30 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
For some reason after reading this I couldn't get this scene out of my head:
Interior Hitchcock Shoes. Customer sits with his back to the curtain covering the door to the back room. Salesman pops out from back room.
Salesman: OK, here's your shoes. (making a stabbing motion at the customer's back with a large men's loafer) You said size nine E-E-E-E-E-E (Psycho shower scene music swells to match strokes of shoe).
Cut to shot of floor where crumpled shoe stuffing paper begins to fall.
And......scene.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:30 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
I guess flash is easy for web designers to sell but doing a whole site in flash is such a disservice to the customer. Flash should be used for demos only.
posted by any major dude at 5:45 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by any major dude at 5:45 AM on October 18, 2007
These seem kinda flimsy and overpriced.
Then again, outside of the gym/running, i generally wear these, so maybe I'm not the one to ask.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 6:45 AM on October 18, 2007
Then again, outside of the gym/running, i generally wear these, so maybe I'm not the one to ask.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 6:45 AM on October 18, 2007
Hey Uther, how long do those last? I need to replace my pair of these, which lasted about 8 years of heavy use, and I can go gothier, but I don't want crap.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:30 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:30 AM on October 18, 2007
I'm still not sure if I understand how the "skins" work? So you have a custom "bone" that fits your foot.... but the "skins" are elastic so that they're one-size-fits-all? That sounds really yucky... but sorta cool... if you rented them as bowling shoes, maybe.
posted by mhh5 at 12:33 AM on October 19, 2007
posted by mhh5 at 12:33 AM on October 19, 2007
« Older MRSA... the global medical communities dirty... | Like a Boot to the Head Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by fire&wings at 12:34 PM on October 17, 2007