Week 1527 - Old People Shoes

The Concept Explained

Counting Down to 90 - Week 1579

Why 1579

Bhavin's WritingsBhavin Jankharia

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I wear formal leather shoes to work and my oldest is a one-stitch Tramezza from 2013 that I have had resoled twice. I can no longer find hard leather-soled shoes in Indian shoe shops and even worldwide, they are difficult to come by. Most formal shoes now, even if they have some leather in their soles also have a lot of rubber or foam or some other material, which takes away from the “formal feel” of these shoes. 

In any case these days, I can only wear my formal shoes for a few hours at best, until my mid feet and toes start complaining. At work, it doesn’t matter much because I immediately switch to crocs when I reach office…and now that virtually all doctors and nurses in most healthcare work-places wear crocs, they no longer seem incongruous or ugly.

If we are going out for dinner or to concerts, I typically switch to more comfortable rubber soled Timberlands. If I am out sightseeing, standing or walking for long periods of time, then I wear my running shoes, typically one of the Nike Zooms or Flys. I sometimes wear non lace-up loafers, depending on the situation, though you have to keep track of the no-show socks that keep disappearing after they are put in the wash basket.

The problem with the running shoes is that because they are lace-ups, you have to either bend or find a place to sit to tie laces. While this is not a problem at home or at work, it can be a challenge in other places, especially when we can’t find a place to sit. 

I have seen relatives buying long shoehorns to get into their shoes at home so they don’t have to bend, typically when going out for a walk, because you do need lace-ups for brisk walks or runs. 

At 40, the presbyopia hits you. At 50, your knees start complaining. But at 60, it is the footwear that gets you.

The biggest challenge is during long flights and travel. 

A couple of years ago, I saw my brother in law and my Mom buy shoes that did not need any bending to get into or out of. They were non lace-ups and just about “theek-thaak” to look at. I didn’t pay much attention, but three weeks ago, while out at Dadar Circle with my wife who wanted to buy a pair of comfortable shoes for a wedding, the attendants at the shoe shop started showing me a range from Sketchers that was similar to the ones my brother in law and Mom had bought and I couldn’t help but buy one pair.

These are slip-ins as they call them, because you can get in and out of them without having to bend or use your fingers or hands to get your heels in, whether standing or sitting. This happens because of a reinforced, spring-loaded heel piece and a memory foam construct that allow this little magical act. The ones I bought have no soul (pun intended), but they are comfortable. 

This weekend, on a long flight, I wore them and they make a difference. Whenever you have to remove them, getting them back on is simple and straightforward without the need to sit or bend and they are comfortable to wear for a reasonably long time.

Function over form, comfort over looks. 

This is what it now means to grow old and while a part of me keeps rebelling, practicality now wins most of the times. 

For example, for years, I would think less of those who wore sneakers with their suits at weddings…now I guess if it works for them and they are comfortable, then so be it. What my wife bought that day at Dadar Circle was something entirely new…golden, “jhak-mak”, wedding sneakers that can be worn with saris or churidaars. 

Welcome to the 60s. Not only do you change physically, your mindset changes to.