adventures in thrifting: kid's shoes

i do believe it's high time for another installment of A.I.T.

 if you were to ask me what my all time favorite thrifted piece is i would have to say this pair of little girl's red leather dress shoes.  i don't know why except they just make me happy.  i got them when whitney was a baby and devan now wears them, and she wears them well.  they're just so classic and well made and fabulous.

so, now that we're on the subject of kid's shoes, let's see what else i've come up with on my little escapades at the thrift shops.

let me just say, before we move on, that i am fully aware that i have a shoe problem.  too many.  they just call to me and i can't ignore them.  this is a VERY narrowed down selection of what i have and i'm not embarrassed to say so. 

i really prefer the vintage shoes.  one, because they are just so cute.  two, because they are often made of real, sturdy leather so they wear and last so much better and longer.  three, the soles are often stitched to the body of the shoe as opposed to being glued which means, again, they wear and last better.

plus they're cute.  did i already say that?

these aren't vintage, but just look at those sweet little cut-outs.  can you imagine these with a little springy easter dress?  these are actually kind of ridiculous, since they're so small and most babies are not walking when their feet are this size, but they are darling.  and who doesn't love patent leather?  

these are my favorite sandals for little kids.  i have four or five other pairs, all thrifted.  why anyone would donate a perfectly good pair of salt water sandals on purpose is beyond me, but i'm not complaining, since i'm the one benefiting here.

these little ranch boots are really cute with a knee length dress, some opaque tights and a winter dress coat.

always a classic.

more dress shoes, although all of the "dress" shoes get worn with jeans, short, skirts and pajamas during the week too.

these are awesome.  i have another pair for nikki.  can't you see these with a bright pair of matchstick cords tucked in?

as an aside: i make it sound as if my kids are fashionably dressed at all times, when in reality they could pass as homeless more often than not.  

these belonged to max when he was a baby.  i loved them.  a couple of my girls also wore them.  they're a total throw-back.

these were also worn by max... then nik, then whit, now devan, gwen next.  i love love love these.  and they're hardly any more worn out than when i found them nine years ago at my good ol' louisville, kentucky goodwill.  very crew cuts-ish.   

aaaaaww!

(i know, i did that bottom strap wrong, but gwen was tired of being used as a prop so i decided not to push it.)

i better stop and be done, but aren't shoes fun?

none of my kids have developed any kind of foot fungus thus far, so i guess i'll just keep perusing the shoe aisles as normal, fingers crossed.