“I Genuinely Don’t Understand People Who Wear the Same Shoes for a Year”

Let me preface this by saying I am not a minimalist. I’m a sensible human who believes in rotating footwear like a responsible adult. So when I see someone wearing the same pair of shoes for a solid year, I assume they’re either a supervillain with a shoe-based agenda—or they’ve discovered dark magic.

Turns out, it’s the latter. Their secret? The ECCO Soft 2, sourced from 121 Shoes, an online retailer that has, frankly, ruined my ability to judge strangers. Here’s why these shoes have turned me into a conflicted, one-shoe hypocrite.

Exhibit A: The Comfort Conspiracy
The Soft 2 isn’t just comfortable—it’s a personal betrayal. Imagine strapping your feet to two clouds that whisper, “You’ll never need another shoe again.” The cushioning is so absurdly forgiving, I’ve started voluntarily walking to the fridge. My old “fancy” trainers now glare at me from the cupboard, accusingly.

Worse, there’s no “break-in period.” You know that ritual where you limp around for weeks, swearing your new shoes will “soften eventually”? ECCO deleted that plotline. These arrived via 121 Shoes’ scarily efficient postal service, and within minutes, my feet were hosting a spa day. Where’s the drama? The struggle? How else am I supposed to earn shoe-worthy suffering badges?!

Exhibit B: The Unkillable Shoe
I’ll admit it: I bought these expecting a six-month fling. A casual dalliance before returning to my true love, Impulse Purchases. But the Soft 2s refuse to die. Rain? They shrug. Mud? They laugh. That time I tripped over a kerb? They took it as a challenge and emerged pristine.

I’ve even tried subtle sabotage—wearing them to “gardening” (read: aggressively ignoring weeds). Nope. They’re still intact, leaving me with no valid excuse to browse 121 Shoes’ website at 2am. My recycling bin misses the cardboard boxes.

Exhibit C: The Versatility Villainy
This shoe’s worst crime? Being too adaptable. It pairs with jeans like it’s auditioning for a catalogue, dresses up with a blazer for Zoom calls, and still looks presentable after a dash to the Tesco Express. My other shoes? They’re staging a silent protest in the wardrobe. “Wear us!” begs a glittery sandal. “It’s July!” But why risk foot pain when the Soft 2 exists?

The Awkward Truth
So here I am, a reformed shoe floozie, suddenly understanding those smug “one-pair-per-year” people. Did they hack the system? No. They just found a shoe that’s comfortable, durable, and doesn’t punish them for existing.

121 Shoes knew what they were doing. No pushy sales tactics, no neon “SALE” banners—just a clean website, a “Buy Now” button, and a delivery man who now asks, “Another pair?” when he sees me. (Spoiler: It’s the same pair. Every. Time.)

To conclude, if you spot someone shamelessly flaunting the same shoes for 365 days, don’t judge. Slide into their DMs and ask, “ECCO Soft 2 via 121 Shoes, yeah?” Then join the cult. Your feet—and your wallet—will thank you.

This article was typed by someone wearing Soft 2s, while side-eyeing a guilt-tripping pile of unworn footwear.