Shoe Shopping in Germany

When I told my mom I was moving to Germany, one of the first things she said was to keep an eye out for Gabor shoes. Although I have no idea how she knew about the brand, it was further proof that she knows a lot more than I do about shopping.

Thus began my education into the world of German-made shoes. There are a lot of well-made shoes here, under a number of different brands, and I've finally made sense of what styles suit mine - and price areas. There are also a million shoe shops, but also zalando and mirapodo for online shoppers like myself, both with an inclination to send discount codes regularly.

One of the best lessons I've learned about shoes here - is side zippers! I still don't see this elsewhere, but a lot of shoes have laces and side zippers - it makes getting shoes on and off worlds easier! It also looks pretty stylish.

It can be hard to sort out which brands are worth the prices, so enjoy my guide below --

• Caprice - slogan, "walking on air". I really like these shoes for their price/ performance ratio and they always look good when I wear them to work. My leather Caprice boots and booties have kept up over 3 years and counting here, and I'm always happy with the comfort level when I walk around all day long in them. 
• Gabor - they can be pricey, but they are really well made. Mom knew what she was talking about! Styles can be a bit bland, but they are perfect for a conservative office environment, and the shoes last. 
• Rieker - leather Rieker shoes are great and almost always have a zipper. Non-leather quality can be hit or miss, but they are always well-priced and usually styled well. 
• Ecco - These are Danish, but I love my Eccos. They can also be pricey, but walking around in my worn-in Ecco sneakers is like walking on air. 
• Josef Seibel - I have a pair of booties that were pricey, and don't have a zipper, but I absolutely love them for style, comfort, and warmth. They're extremely well made and great for the office. 
• Legero - Great for comfort, and nice price / performance ratio. I really like these shoes for wearing around town and they are made to last. 

I've also tried and been disappointed by a couple of shoe brands, including Esprit, Tommy Hilfiger (I know, why did I even bother!), and Mark Adam. This is just based on my experience - I walk a lot, prefer simple / basic styles and solid colors, and prefer to buy shoes that will last a long time. I hope you find this short guide helpful! 

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