In today’s society, shoes have become a foundation for style in many people’s lives. Fashion can be a form of self expression and there are several students at Bonita Vista High (BVH) who take extra time to collect shoes in abundance for a variety of occasions.

“Shoes are the way I can express myself. They can be the absolute staple to your outfit. I had an outfit that was all black, so I matched it with my Creepers (a pair of platforms made by the brand Demonias as an alternative type of shoe in the 1990’s). I discovered an entirely new outfit that I adore,” senior Idalis Cesena said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic BVH students found an interest in collecting shoes. Cesena has been collecting boots since the beginning in 2020. They say that they are not exclusively collecting one brand but they love Demonias because of their bold and threatening look.

“During the pandemic, I asked my parents for a pair of Demonia Creepers that I fell in love with. I received them for my 15th birthday and from that day on, I’ve been obsessed with big shoes. I couldn’t have just one pair. I just had to have more and more,” Cesena said.

Cesena goes with the natural flow of things and likes purchasing boots from different brands and stores. They even state that it doesn’t matter what condition the boot is in, as long as it fits their taste and is functional.  

“I don’t get new shoes too often, maybe once every month or two. I get them from stores like Ross and Burlington; even the thrift store has some solid boots,” Cesena said. 

On the other hand, senior Ingrid Jimenez exclusively collects sneakers. She is on the constant look out for new releases. Similarly to Cesena, Jimenez explores different reliable sites to find the right ones.

“I’m really interested in new shoes that are going to drop and finding them in different places,” Jimenez said. “I try to win the shoes, there’s raffles on the sneakers app I try to win, but it’s really hard. If not I go on Nike or I’ll get them off of GOAT or Stock X.” 

For her, collecting shoes began in 2021 after she fell in love with shoes she found while browsing online. Her first pair were the Air Jordan 1 retro ‘Royal’ sneakers. Moving forward, her adoration for sneakers grew and she now owns 20 pairs.

“I started collecting two years ago just because I saw them online and I thought they were cool. I just collect sneakers, I’m not really into heels. At all the dances I just try to get some sneakers,” Jimenez said. 

Similar to Jimenez, junior Marvin Canton proclaims his love for a specific type of shoe. He explains what his current favorites are.

“I specifically collect Doc Martens. I like my 1461 Quad Betty Boop platforms or my White Jadon boot platforms,” Canton said.

Although Canton has only collected shoes for a year, he is well versed in the old and new Doc Marten shoe editions. Canton now owns seven pairs in total. He explains what is expected when waiting for a specific pair to drop.

“There’s more competition for older releases for sure. I remember when they released the Betty Boop ones I thought they were going to be sold out in minutes but it only took two days for them to sell out. Either they weren’t as popular or they had a huge stock of them,” Canton said. 

Though avid shoe collectors are rare, the practice has become more widely accepted. Many people are curious and can appreciate the beauty or style of shoes even if they are not collectors.

“It’s awesome that people see my vision too. They usually say that my shoes are cool or that they look great with my outfit. I say thank you and let them know where I got them so they hopefully can get themselves a pair too,” Cesena said.

Despite some compliments, not all will ‘see the vision’ when it comes to shoe collecting. Canton shares his experience and interactions with his family relating to the shoe craze.

“My family doesn’t really comment on the money, they comment on the looks of the shoes. They say they’re ‘mata vivoras’ (snake killers) because of how huge they are but that’s always really funny,” Marvin said. 

Cesena differs from Jimenez and Canton because they are not concerned with the timeliness of the shoe drop. They also don’t feel the need to splurge with every boot they buy. They are collecting but aren’t exclusive to designer shoes or collaborations.  

“I’m not willing to spend an insane amount on shoes to be honest. Maybe at most, $300. I can find what I want for way less and style them the way I want,” Cesena said. “I don’t need insanely expensive shoes to slay.” 

While Cesena, Jimenez and Canton sacrifice their money on shoes, they value the joy in collecting. Canton believes that shoe collecting allows him to pursue his ambition for an aesthetic view in life.  

“I find beauty in a lot of things and Doc martens, the way they’re created and the iconic yellow stitching showcases what I find beautiful,” Canton said. “I try to express myself through beauty and I think Doc Martens are just the way to do it for me because of their composition.”