men dress shoes: what is the string loop inside the shoe for???

[dan330]

I have seen this in many of my dress shoes. I normally just ignore it..
but just got me a new pair..and there is it is again!!! what the hell is it for?

any one know? I tried to google it.. did not see any explanations.

 

[D-U-R-X]

I've not seen one myself, but would hazard a guess (depending on exactly where the loop is), that it's to help pull them on?

 

[dan330]

location of loop..
inside side (inside of the foot.. on the side).. under the arch..
about 1.2 inches loop.. not big enough to use to pull on shoe.

looks like you would use it to hang up the shoes.. but who hangs up shoes??

 

[quest7]

If you run your shoe laces through it, it may help keep the tongue in place and not slip to the sides.

 

[dan330]

Here is a picture..

 

[mikedt]

Here is a picture..

Are the insoles removable in these shoes? - because it looks like the loop is attached, to make it easier to pull them out for laundering or replacing.

 

[dan330]

nope .. not removable...

 

[DonB]

I have never seen that myself either, LOL

Have you asked the sales rep where you bought the shoes ?? If not simply call a shoe store and see what they say, I be curious to find out

But you might be right, it might be to hang the shoes to air out.

 

[zuben el genub]

Possibly to keep pairs of shoes together during shipment rather than that stupid plastic thing they normally use? Put the plastic through the loops rather than the shoe and making a hole in the side?

 

[dan330]

I might be a security thing.. where they can tie shoes together and/or attach the alarms tags.

but.. what about other shoes that don't have these?? so I am leaning away from security

 

[D-U-R-X]

Oh... right... you mean THAT loop... that's to attach to the hook in your foot's instep... haven't you got one?

Spoiler

Seriously... no idea what that is... never seen it before!

 

[olbriar]

Where is Siri when you need her?

Sorry... I haven't a clue what that could be used for.

 

[damewolf13]

I think that it has to be used for hanging the shoes up on some shoe hooks of some sort, but like others here, I have never seen it before. Where are these dress shoes that you buy with these loops manufactured? Are they European maybe?

 

[dan330]

those are a pair of .. Nunn Bush.
i also have .. Soft Stags
and .. colehan

i buy them from different major department stores..

it is hard for me to believe that i am the only one that has them.. and seen them

 

[mikedt]

I think that it has to be used for hanging the shoes up on some shoe hooks of some sort, but like others here, I have never seen it before. Where are these dress shoes that you buy with these loops manufactured? Are they European maybe?

I've never seen it in British* or Chinese shoes. Are they expensive shoes?

* British shoes are made in China anyway.

 

[dan330]

basic $70 to $100 shoes

 

[Xyro]

I might be a security thing.. where they can tie shoes together and/or attach the alarms tags.

but.. what about other shoes that don't have these?? so I am leaning away from security

I think that's probably the answer, actually. Most shoes have shoelace holes to stick elastic/tags through, but slip-ons don't.

 

[dan330]

so.. does all slip-ons have them?? only the ones that i get? hahaha

 

[Xyro]

so.. does all slip-ons have them?? only the ones that i get? hahaha

I did find one other lost sole who had the same question:

http://reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1s7jbc/what_is_the_point_of_this_loop_inside_my_shoe/

 

[dan330]

lost sole..
i see what u did there!

so the best "guess" is... security or keep 2 shoes tied together.
which makes it hard for buyers to try on the shoe!!! and not all slip-ons have them.

 

[mikedt]

I don't think I've seen security tags used for shoes before. What they often do is just have the right or left shoe on display, and so if you want to try a pair on you have to ask the SA to fetch the other shoe from the stockroom, along with the box.

 

[zuben el genub]

Do shoes actually get shipped in individual boxes like in stores? I kinda doubt it. I'd think shoes were shipped in bulk,and the big chains or wholesalers would be the ones to box and distribute.

 

[dan330]

boxes are designed with the brands and labels on them.
i don't think store employees build boxes then put labels on them

 

[mikedt]

They come in boxes from the factories.
Here's a pair for example on Made-in-China.com
Latest Men Dress Shoes with High Quality - China Shoes, Men Shoes
"Package: 1 pair per box, 10pairs/12pairs/15pairs per carton"

Stands to reason really, much cheaper to have someone building and putting shoes in boxes in China than at the distributor or shoe shop in the US or UK or wherever. Plus the boxes are branded and labelled as well of course. In fact most items of apparel comes in cartons and boxes for shipping, but some items have individual retail boxes, e.g. shoes, shirts and ties.

 

[saptech]

This is my first time seeing that! I haven't been shopping for shoes in awhile though.