Shopping for shoes is now a guy thing
IT IS a fact: men spend more on their shoes than women.
This is according to the findings of a recent survey of British shoppers, which found that, on average, guys spend about 15% more on shoes.
As the owner of more than 70 pairs of shoes, Johannesburg accountant Khaya Dludla has no trouble believing this.
McQueen, Prada, McCloy and Margiela are but some of the designer features of the shoe cupboard at his Johannesburg home.
“For men, shoes are an investment into completing a look and more about comfort, while women are seasonal shoe shoppers.
“Women tend to shop in colour, make and designer, while men look for quality and comfort first, which is more costly to find. That’s why you find that more men shop abroad,” said Dludla.
He is probably an exception, even among South African shoe lovers, but Dludla certainly backs up the findings of British research company Mintel’s survey.
It found that guys as young as 16 paid up to 15% more for shoes than women.
In addition, it found that the average guy aged between 25 and 34 easily spent R2 800 on anything from sneakers to sandals.
“Yes, men do spend more on shoes than women,” said menswear expert Neil Doveton.
Locally, it appears that men pay more for their shoes because they shop less frequently.
George Messini, manager of Socrati in Rosebank, Johannesburg, said: “Men are very fussy about the type of shoe they pick. They want comfort, quality and versatility, which means spending more money.”
Although female shoe shoppers consider fashion when making their purchases, Messini said it was “tough” to sell colourful shoes to men, who prefer classic brown and black.
Men look for quality and comfort first, which is more costly to find
A pair of Versace “strapover-buckle” shoes at R9 000 and a pair of Italian Aldo Brue dress shoes at R6 900 were among the pricier shoes spotted in an informal snap survey this week.
The associate editor of GQ South Africa, Siphiwe Mpye, was not convinced by the findings of the British study.
“I am not into excess and I am not an obsessive shopper, so I make do with less.
“I tend to buy classic styles, which means buying infrequently and wearing them season after season without looking dated.”
Besides, said Mpye, his wife, Marie Claire beauty editor Mathahle Stofile, definitely had more shoes than him.