Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
For the budget-conscious shopper this will not come as news. But for the rest of you, I'm going to let you in on a secret: K-Mart sells amazing shoes.
I don't say that with any irony. I've been a K-Mart shoe section devotee for almost a decade, when I worked as a waitress in college and headed there to buy the all-black, slip-resistant old lady clogs the kitchen required us to wear. I branched out from work shoes and have never looked back.
The best pair, and the ones I buy in three colors every summer, are the Basic Editions Dakota Slip-Ons. Over the years I've also seen them labeled under the name "Fun Steps" but they're the same shoe: canvas slip-ons with thin, white rubber soles and a polka dot, striped, or floral cotton liner—a sort of proto-Tom's that doesn't make your foot look like it's wrapped in bandages. (Side note: Can everyone please agree to stop wearing Tom's yet?). The design is so simple they're almost invisible; there's pretty much zero chance that these shoes will compete with the rest of your outfit. They seem to be a K-Mart standby, available at all times of the year in white, tan, black, and navy, but if you're lucky you might find a print like tan-and-white striped or black-and-white polka dot.
To be clear, this is not an investment buy. These shoes will not last you more than one season. They might even find their way into a trash can before the summer is over (tip: don't wear them in the rain). But at $8, can you really complain? You can, and will, wear them with absolutely everything. You're welcome!
Loading comments...