Category: Daily Living
I just bought two pairs of the same shoe in different colors, navy and black. My color identifier tends to have some issues distinguishing navy from black so I am anticipating a problem. I bought the navy pair in store and already have them and the black pair are being shipped so for right now, keeping them separate isn't a problem.
I know if I were a good and decent person, I could just label the box and put them back in the box after each wear.
I know I won't do that every time and eventually, I will end up mixing them together. I have two pairs of the same flip flops in different colors and occasionally I have gone out wearing two different colored flops and that doesn't bother me. But these new shoes are dress shoes so I definitely care!
Anyone have a good way to mark shoes without damaging them?
Thanks.
well, sometimes, me and my twin would have the same color shoes but
different sizes. So, what we both did, label them with a letter to tell who's
shoe is who's. But in your case, vh, I'd say, just put a letter of the color on
the inside of the shoe in braille and on the box. That way, if you're wondering
what shoe you're wearing, just look in your shoe or on the box. Hope that
helps. It sure did help me!
But, I also had a simular question for clothes. Because mom practically
washes them, the braille will come off. Any more ways to tell what color a
shirt or something else is? I mean, with shoes, no problem with clothes, trying
to match colors, it is.
Sia, I am very fond of metal braille tags you can pin or sew onto your clothes. I'll find you a link and post it later. They are ridiculously expensive in my opinion, but they don't break or wear out. You can also buy a strip of plastic like you use in labellers only it doesn't have the sticky. It is meant to go through washer and dryer but when I tried it, the Braille melted a bit. Instead, I just Braille it up and instead of sewing it, I pin it and before I wash it, I remove the safety pin and plastic. Then I replace it when it comes out of the dryer. That could run into difficulty if you have similar pieces of clothing in similar colors, though.
There are other pins and things you can buy to attach to clothes that are tactile.
You could also try creating your own markers-I seem to remember early on as I was just starting to lose my vision and only had trouble with certain colors-I would cut marks into the tag to differentiate.
If you sew, you could also sew (embroider) designs or letters onto the tags. I also did that for a brief while, but honestly, I was much too lazy to keep it up!
BTW, thanks for the suggestion. What would you mark the shoe with that won't irritate feet?
Also, sorry for the never ending post. :)
I just did it with the braille label. but, I'm not exactly sure. I don't worry
about the color of shoes anymore though.
http://www.maxiaids.com/aluminum-braille-clothing-identifiers
$30
http://www.braillebookstore.com/Braille-Clothing-Tags,-Colors.1
$20
thanks for the links. I'll check them out and see what mother thinks. I won't
need her help after these! :)
You could use a sharp nife or something to score the bottom of the shoe near the heel. That way it won't wear off. Do it on both pairs or say the black, and if you feel the score you can match them.
that's a good idea.
A very simple idea I hadn't thought of, forereel.
That will be my back up as I hate to mar even the underside of the shoes. I don't know why-I made little scores on the dials of my washer and dryer and that didn't bother me a bit!
BTW, the prices of the Braille tags aren't as high as they were and don't seem so outrageous to me now.
A small thread the same color as your shoelaces will do the trick. Simply develop your own knotting system to identify each pair of shoe, such as a thread through one of the eyelets of each of your black shoes knotted several times, and a piece of thread through one of the eyelets of your blue shoes knotted twice.
If your shoes don’t have eyelets, cut tape into shapes you can identify and associate with the color of your shoes, a square piece of tape for black, a circle for navy, etc., and stick them inside where you can feel them.
Perhaps you can do what I used to do with my dress shoes, which involves tossing in an object that indicates which shoe is which, such as a quarter into your black shoes, or a small stone into your navy shoes. All you have to do is memorize which object goes into each and be consistent about it.
I also always used to untie one of my pairs of shoes and leave the shoelaces of the other pair alone. This was done so repeatedly that distinguishing them became second nature. I have noticed that over time my clothes and footwear develop unique characteristics—a crease here, a knick there—that help me identify them. Since dealing with footwear is habitual our memory most times plays no part because instinct helps us identify a familiar object almost instantaneously simply by touch. There have been instances when I have had to borrow clothes or shoes from friends and family and knew the moment I put them on that they weren't t mine. Or perhaps I pay too much attention to what I wear.
I have never owned more than five pairs of shoes at once, so that has probably simplified this process for me.
It would be neat if someone invented an app that did for us what forensic footwear evidence does for scientists. Have the soles of our shoes scanned and be provided with all necessary information. Imagine if we could know how many different types of insects we murdered. That would be fascinating.
Call me a germophobe but feeling around the soles of my shoes is something I'd rather not have to do every single day.
I never buy two pairs the same in different colors, but I'm not a woman.
Laughing.
I have lots of shoes, but all different.
Problem with that is if I get forgetful.
Laughing.
I don't buy two pairs of shoes that are exactly the same either. And I'm not a
fan of those tags. First because they're still very expensive, and second because
you can't pick which ones you need. I ordered a set, and ran out of blue and
black tags, but had piles of pink and purple left. They just aren't marketed well.
I think the best way to identify the color of your shoe is something simple, ike
putting a bead on the laces. If they have no laces, you'd have to find some
other way, but I always try to stay as simple as possible.
the bead thing works too. I've tried it with mine and sister's shoes. glad she
took all her shoes! or else... :d :)
Have you considered a small safety pin or some other arrangement through the tongue or another unobstructive part of the shoe? I'm with VH on the scoring of the shoe, since that's damaging the shoe, even if it's on the underside. Raskolnikov is also right in that feeling the underside of a shoe probably isn't always a pleasant thing.
A small score near the heel won't cause any long term wear, or more damage then walking about in the shoes is going to cause anyway.
Soon as you walk on concrete, you've scratched the soles, so a mark on the part that never touches the ground is a small thing.
These are high heeled pumps, so no place to add a bead or thread. I think I will try a piece of tape on the part of the sole that doesn't touch the ground. or perhaps score it there. I have time to decide as they probably won't get here until sometime next week.
Silver, I agree on the too many of unwanted color tags and not enough of others. I was fortunate neough to have a friend give me a set she didn't use so that helped. Plaid, stripe, orange, yellow, gold and silver... I did find a use for those, though. I like to keep my socks mated but I hate to spend extra money on stupid stuff and I also hate to stretch one over the other as it makes them wear unevenly. I I use them along with safety pins to keep the socks together but prevent them from getting caught in the safety pin loop at the opposite end of the catch.
Cia, for labeling your clothes, instead of color labels, you could just use either a different-shaped button for color identification, or 1 button for blue, 2 for black, etc. No need for those color tags in case you run out of the color you need and are left with, say, a large pile of pink labels when all you need is green or blue. Hope this was of some use.
I think we should all be provided valets. That make this whole business void.
Laughing.
I'm trying to think of a way to label a high heel. I'd shy away from scratching
the sole, simply because you could easily scratch your shoes, so they both now
have scratches. If I come up with any ideas, I'll come back.
I'd consider doing a vertical slit with a pocketknife on the inside portion of the heel itself, where it would not likely to be scratched otherwise.
I'd use a small nail, or the point of a knife.
Something that is easy controlled, so you don't slip.
Any shoe can be labeled, they don't have to be high heels that has a heel.
A flat shoe, like a sneaker, it might wear off.
I'm talking a small scratch, just enough to feel, not a letter or anything.
A line from the heel going down to the toe on one pair. A line going another direction if you happen to have another set of exact shoes that are the same color.
You only need mark one pair, the other pair doesn't need marking.
If you have an I phone you could use taptapsee and take a picture of the shoe or you could put 1 in a spot and put the other one somewhere else but you will have to remember where you put it. I never buy different colours for identical pairs of shoes. Or just peal of a tiny piece of tape and stick it somewhere on the shoe not noticeable to others for when you go out so you will know which color is which.