You’re right that most used shoes are leather. As you mentioned, vinyl shoes tend to become too scary for anything but the trash heap. In fact, the only synthetic shoes I think I’ve ever gotten used were a pair of Chinese-made crepe-soled blue “suede” shoes I got at a flea market. They are (strictly speaking) too teenagey for me–they are from delia’s!–but I like to wear them when it’s raining because they elevate me above the puddles.

Which is a long way of saying that I think Zappo’s is completely justifiable.

I have no problem in theory with used shoes (I mean, it’s not like feet are a major vector for disease—used bathing suits, no, used shoes, sure), it’s just that I so rarely find any that fit. Plus they’re usually leather.

Or maybe I’m just telling myself that to justify my continued purchases from Zappos…

I have a BIG shoe problem. I have at least 25 pairs, maybe 30. I have green suede driving loafers, blue cowboy boots, pink flats, mole-brown stacked-heels, black Stevie Nicks knee boots, etc. etc. etc. The worst of it is that when I moved to the South, suddenly there were more seasons for open-toed shoes, so now I have tons.

I do catch some flak for this. But the way I get away with it is to buy almost all of them at thrift or consignment stores. I know some people can’t make themselves don used shoes, but me? One spritz of Lysol and I’m off.