No, they're not. Shoes have a fairly broad spectrum of quality and style. Not everyone notices and not everyone can tell, but it is something that many evaluate.

Yes, it's a status signaling mechanism, but it is a part of culture whether you like or not.

These kinds of evaluations happen not just with executives in suits but also with youth and their ridiculous athletic shoes. Even gender-wise, women are apt to notice minute details of shoes.

Yes they are. Not in comfort or longevity, but as long as you don't completely cheap out on store bought you will get close. You're conflating quality and looks. They're related, but not synonymous.

> Yes, it's a status signaling mechanism, but it is a part of culture whether you like or not.

Which I never said. I merely pointed out that people look more to the style package than what logos you wear. Hell, if you for example buy high tier Polo Ralph Lauren the logo is often put on the inside of the collar.

> These kinds of evaluations happen not just with executives in suits but also with youth and their ridiculous athletic shoes. Even gender-wise, women are apt to notice minute details of shoes

Few 21-year old women will care if their date is wearing flashy DCs, flashy New Balance, or flashy Nike Air limited edition. You mentioned minute details: for the Nike, how many of them would even be aware of the difference between a limited edition, Nike ID or normal Laser Red batch? And dress shoes usually don't even have visible logos!

- Expensive clothing often has nicer finish and fits better.

- They are often better made and therefore last longer.

- At least in leather there are definitely different quality levels. E.g. most fake leather, bonded leather, genuine leather, top/full grain leather.

Getting mid-tier clothing and getting it fitted will look better and be cheaper than just buying expensive clothing

> They are often better made and therefore last longer

I pointed that out by saying well-polished i.e. well taken care of

> At least in leather there are definitely different quality levels. E.g. most fake leather, bonded leather, genuine leather, top/full grain leather.

But you can go firmly under the price of handmade and still get good quality leather. The large part of the cost of handmade shoes is not the materials but the labor.

I think it's probably a matter of degree or "tiers" of clothing.

It is probably almost always in one's best interest to buy from a higher quality (but not necessarily luxury) brand.[1] For example buying Levi jeans rather than Wrangler or a store brand.

Some people will notice if you are wearing a particularly high end item, but once you reach that "high end tier" there is probably diminishing returns for getting the highest of the high end. For example, I have had people notice the Swiss watch that my father gave me. However, it is basically the entry tier model for Swiss watches and I doubt I would get much benefit from instead wearing a more expensive model. For men at least, I suspect that wearing a luxury brand is probably more effective for accessories and shoes since mens fashion tends to follow a strategy of conservative clothing with more flashy accessories.

I think there is also a lot to be said for having some specific style even if it isn't fancy. For example, G-Shock digital watches aren't particularly "fashionable" but they are known for being very high quality. If someone who cares about watches noticed you wearing one they might not consider it professional or fashionable but they would likely recognize that you cared about your appearance enough to buy quality.

[1] When I say "always" I'm meaning for a professional with a good income. I realize that for people with lower incomes fashionable clothing may not be the best priority.

Machine made, decent leather from cows (not anything unusual), shoes, not boots: ~$200-600

Same, but handmade: ~$500-900 (usually the leather’s a little better too, though)

Then there’s custom fitted, probably $750 (Eastern Europe) and up.

I hear you and agree to some extent.