Shoe Diaries

The first day after

taking the pledge

was fraught with potential

shopping land mines.

My daughter's

homecoming dance this

year had a hoe-down theme.

We thought a western style 

Frye boot-look would be

a great compliment to her

jeans and little plaid shirt.

Our inspiration

Country Living

Normally we'd hit Target

or Famous Footwear, but

had a good idea that her

choices would be knock-offs

made in China.  So, we

went to Designer Shoe Warehouse, 

aka DSW, instead.

Astonishingly enough, 

most of the shoes there were 

also made in China....even iconic

American brands such

as Ralph Lauren.  Box

after box....made in China.

Dreaming of American-made shoes!

I'd be lying if I didn't tell

you that my stomach was

in knots and I almost felt

queasy.  Would I break

the pledge or would my

daughter just have to go

to the dance in sneakers?

{Her Converse Chuck

Taylor All-Stars, an

American classic....also

made in China.}

The real Frye boots were in

the $250-$400 range,

so we left, discouraged.

Solution?  We ended up

borrowing a pair from my

friend Jennifer. {Luckily, she and

my daughter wear the same

shoe size.}  Jen's a vegetarian

and her pleather pair were

actually made in ....Brazil.

Go figure!

If you visit Zappos.com

and search shoes made in

USA you will get three pages

of results, which include Frye

boots, cowboy boots, dance

shoes, Harley-Davidson boots

and a few others.....

Lucchese brand ~ Made in Texas, USA

Need a pair of work boots

or moccasins?  You'll be able

to find them manufactured in

the USA.  {Although Minnetonka

Moccasins are now made 

south of the border.}

Pretty dress shoe or boot?

Fa-ged-a-bowt-it.

I would really love to own a

a pair of Wellington style

boots.  So far, I haven't

found any that won't break

my pledge.  {Even the

U.K. brand Hunter is now

made in China and Serbia.}

{Hunter Botanicals ~ Sigh!}

But I'll keep

looking.

Stay tuned.

PS:  Ever notice how many

things at the craft store are

made in China?  I left there

today with only half of the

things on my list....

PPS: Thank you for all of

the comments and encouraging

e-mails supporting my 

October pledge!

[images: 1.4.5 flickr: click

for attribution; 2 Country Living;

rest:  Google images]

Posted in shoes , USA