The Going Rate to Keep Those Shoes in Shape

Though we are stepping into autumn, L.A. women do not need to put those heels away. Great weather makes it easy to wear pumps year round. But, keeping them in top condition can take some preventive care.  

For women who value their shoe collections, maintenance starts before those heels ever hit the street. At Eddie’s Shoe Repair in Sherman Oaks, owner Greg Papazian recommended adding a thin, rubber, protective half-sole on the shoes. This half-sole stretches three quarters of the way from the toe towards the back, he said.  

It’s especially important, Papazian said, for those high-end designer shoes. They can cost hundreds of dollars, but come with paper-thin leather soles, he said. “Once you wear through the sole, it usually can’t be fixed,” Papazian said. Half-soles for a pair of heels typically cost $25. For luxury shoe designers like Christian Louboutin, who sport that distinctive red sole, the price is $30.

Eddie’s Shoe Repair, 13716 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818-788-6010.

 Another simple form of protection, which shoe repair technicians recommend, is Scotchgard. At Master Shoe Repair in Sherman Oaks, manager Ana Manikyan suggested Scotchgarding your shoes “once a season.” Scotchgard is meant to repel water, she said, and should get you through the rainy months.

Master Shoe Repair will Scotchgard your shoes for $8 to $10, Manikyan said. Boots will cost you $15, she said. 

Master Shoe Repair, 13718 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818-786-2415.

A cost-effective way to make your pumps last longer, according to the managers of all the shoe repair shops listed here, is to regularly replace the heel lifts. This is the small piece, about a quarter-inch thick, attached to the very bottom of the heel. It can become worn down quickly. At Mark’s Shoe Repair in Studio City, owner Mark Ushaglyan said the heel lifts must be replaced on both heels when either one of the lifts is worn out. The wear can create an imbalance, he said.  

He said his shop charges $10 to $12 to replace a pair of heel lifts. 

Mark’s Shoe Repair, 4383 Tujunga Ave., Suite F, Studio City; 818-763-0210.

Another problem occurs when your heels become scraped. Chunks of leather can come loose, revealing the underlying heel. Our experts tell us that there are several ways to fix this problem. The shoe repair specialists can pull the leather down and stretch it out to cover the break. The heels can be removed and recovered with leather then reattached; or the heels can be replaced. Stretching the leather can start at about $6. Replacing the heels’ leather can run about $60. All of our shoe repair experts said that they would have to see the condition of the shoes to give the customer an accurate price.

You might think that, given the economy, people would be investing a bit to make their shoes last longer. Greg Papazian from Eddie’s Shoe repair, said that this is actually not the case. “When things are tough,” he said, “people get conservative. They don’t have the money to invest, so they are wearing the shoes that are OK.”

Sherman Oaks Patch does not endorse any particular business. We just aim to give you a good idea of the rates around town. You might want to get recommendations from friends, take a look at some review sites or ask business owners for recommendations from their customers.