If you stalk me like I think you really should, you’ll know that I bought a pair of black sparkly TOMS for my trip to Boston/Rhode Island back in April.
I rather buy wedges anyday, (hello, height and comfort) but I needed a pair of comfortable flats since I was running 2 marathons and chasing down running celebrities like Kara Goucher.
At the Boston airport in my TOMS; socks showing like a total dork.
I didn’t really want TOMS to begin with because they’re so ugly. They are and you know it.
I looked at some grandma shoes and Burberry slip ons. I also checked out a pair of Puma’s but didn’t buy them because I didn’t want my compression socks to show. (My SIL Niki bought them in white/pink and they’re really cute)
So I ended up with TOMS and I fell in love with them because they’re so comfortable. I even took them on the boat to Alaska… which was where they started getting all haggard. They’re now tore up from the floor up. So I did what any crafty Alaskan would do: I took a Sharpie to them.
Sharpie’d shoe on the left.
Hey, I got new shoes!
Twitter
Facebook
{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }
hahaa im dying. i love toms, ugliness aside, but mine are totally torn up too. i do have a black pair and a sharpie..you may have just inspired me !
amen girl – them dogs are fugly. i’d rather donate $50 to Tom and stick to my less ugly berkies. but it is pretty cool to see them things out and about on rich old ladies, chic young students, and everyone in between.
I guess I just don’t get the hype – Toms are ugly! Have you seen the new Toms knock-offs by Sketchers?! They’re called Bobs!! I bet that took some real creativity to come up with that name! Haha!!
Thank you for being one of the few to admit to their ugliness! When people try to defend them from a style standpoint I want to hit them upside the head. Come on, they are hideous! I won’t argue the comfort factor but you think they could do something on the looks!?
Oh Skinny Runner sometimes you can be quite funny!
hehe, is there a new NEW pair of Toms in your future? do you like them that much?
I’d like to know this as well. I’d like to buy the pink or red glitter ones for you. If you promise to post pics of you wearing them.
I have a pair of navy ones that were intended to be slippers….that I wear to the store. And to dinner. And to my next (and hopefully last) wedding.
Ugh. They are hideous shoes. I *might* spent $5 on shoes that ugly at a thrift store, but never full price. Okay, I’m a cheap-o. I wouldn’t even spend $5 on ugly comfort. I’d rather just donate my money, tyvm!
That being said, I have attacked many shoes with sharpie markers – works like a charm!
ya that fishin left ur shoes tore up, but nice job with the sharpie!
I thought I was the only one who thought those things were ugly! I just can’t do them…sorry!!
I am WITH YOU on the wedges though, looove them!
I actually really like the way Tom’s look. It’s totally crazy, I don’t understand fashion and what it does to me. One of my favorite quotes, and I totally agree with it is:
“fashion is so funny and so fickle that if you stare at something long enough you’ll start to think it’s cute”
So many styles that I hated when they first became popular and now I’m wearing them. I guess I’m just a sellout.
You go girl– you rock those grandma shoes
I really want a pair of Toms… my girls have two- the pink sparkle and purple sparkle ones.
nice work! I love toms. They are hideous but SOOO comfortable.
So smart
I have to be honest, I’m not crazy about the toms either…
You are too funny! But awesome job with the sharpie. It has to be an island girl thing, because I can go to town with a Sharpie any day. More than once I have made black pumps look awesome!
Ha classy. I always do that with my lame black work heels because I despise buying new work clothes/shoes. No one knows the difference!
I have totally used the sharpie trick on shoes before.
Seriously thought I was the only one coloring my shoes with a Sharpie
So relieved there are other “creative” types out there!!
I think all resourceful gals have taken a Sharpie to their black shoes at some point!
I love TOMS! I have three pairs – even if they do look like bedroom slippers
Did you know they make TOMS wedges? and I think they are cute and comfy!
I cannot jump on the TOMS bandwagon! I think they are so ugly! Although there are some new TOMS wedges out that are not half bad… Have you seen them? I could get on board with these…
http://www.toms.com/womens/new-styles/metallic-tweed-women-s-wedges?utm_medium=gan&utm_source=affiliate
I’ve used white out on white shoes and I took a sharpie to my faux wood floors in Miami when I moved out. No one knew the difference. Gotta do it sometimes.
I love how comfortable Toms are (I have three pairs of the glitters) and I dont think they’re ugly but I’m probably a little biased!
I am totally on the fence about Toms! I kinda want a pair, but think they’re ugly…yet cute…at the same time. Dilemma! haha
Shhhh don’t tell the Toms people your secret!!
Though I’ll admit, I’m with you on the Toms are ugly boat, I haven’t met a single person that doesn’t love the way they feel. Life’s about compromise, right?
Haha! I grew up super poor and not only can you use sharpie on black shoes but you can also use white out on white shoes! When shoes got really bad we would just decorate them with markers so it looked like we were just expressing ourselves! I miss my Punky Brewster days! LOL okay that’s a lie!
I think I might have used a sharpie on shoes once or twice before!
I’m not gonna lie…I’ve totally sharpied a shoe before.
haha. I love those Shoes. One of those ‘so ugly it’s cute” things
I’ve also sharpied shoes. I guess I must always kick my door open at work with my pointy toes because the toes always start to fray on me. You’re right Tom’s are ugly, but not as ugly as crocs.
Agreed.
oh my gosh sarah, you are so cute! yes, shoes are ugly but somehow, you pull them off!
Funny!! My sister did the same thing with a black sharpie only to some strappy shoes she wore to her hubby’s formal work event….Halfway into the night the sharpie started to wear off on her feet and it looked like she had gangrene!!
I recently gave in to all the hype and bought a pair of Toms. They are comfortable but are totally not me so they’ll probably spend as much time in the closet as those Sperrys I bought a few years ago and wore twice. Seriously, I would probably jump off a bridge if everyone else did…
I LOVE my TOMS, and I LOVE my TOM’s wedges! cute & comfy…You need them!
way to be resourceful!!
i agree they’re ugly but they are the most comfortable shoes to just throw on and go. they tear up real quick though!
LOL I have the black sparkly TOM’s too…I’ll have to remember that when they start to look like butt.
Your post cinched it for me; I am ordering TOMS this week.
I love how comfy my toms are but I do admit, they could be cuter! Last time I got off the plane when I visited my brother the first words out of his mouth were “Those are the ugliest shoes I’ve ever seen in my life!”
hahaha! LOVE IT!
They are so ugly they are cute I have to agree!
Very resourceful
Ha ha if I’m the stalker like I should be… I’m such a SR stalker that I also bought the black sparkle TOMS because I saw yours and thought they were the less ugly of the options. I did get a pair of black TOMS wedges for Christmas and they are actually cute and comfortable!
Toms makes cute wedges.
Ha! I thought I was the only one who did that. I have sharpied several fake leather shoes.
ha! good idea! I LOVE toms. I wore my sparkly silver pair out dancing once (last minute decision… wore the wrong shoes) and they got ruined
…. so I used a magic eraser on them and they are *almost* good as new 
I’m so glad you’re admitting the fug. I think so many people are like oh, those are so cute. I BROKE DOWN AND BOUGHT THEM because I tried them on. But I’m a self-hating Tom’s owner because they’re so elf-ish. It makes me laugh, and yet I wear them. Oh well.
PS Sharpie + Toms = fan-cy!
Lol, I have done the sharpy trick to many a pair of shoes
I love TOMS! I have a pair in gray. Way comfortable. Ugh, verdicts still out on guys wearing TOMS, though…
I do that all the time, I even have a brown sharpie for brown shoes!
I can still see a little sparkle there…
…everyone uses a sharpie on a shoe now and then, at least I do!
I’ve sharpied a variety of clothing over the years and no one has said anything!
Sharpies are made for extended shoe use! Well done!
Hahahahahha this is too funny. I think you may have gone sea crazy but it is the good kind of crazy not the Britney Spears “im gona shave my head crazy” unless you’re gona have a new hair cut soon!!
http://www.territerriterri.blogspot.com
I don”t care what anybody says–TOMS are comfortable and worth looking like a hipster. They’re EVERYWHERE in Austin. I love the sparkly ones!
I don’t think I could do the Tom’s thing. But I have my own shoe fashion faux pas – I still like to wear those huge black platform hooker flip-flops. And in fact I’ve def. taken the Sharpie to those babies. I don’t wear them out in public anymore but I want to start and maybe bring the trend back. Or maybe I can get featured in a fashion-don’t article.
I really do like the Tom’s wedges, those are super cute.
Whaaaaat! Toms are super cute!!
You make the Toms work! I’m not usually a fan but they look good on you!
I’ve been wanting to get Toms for a wile too! I agree, so ugly, but not a fan of walking around in sneaks on vacation. They kill an entire outfit. I think I might have to get a pair… you can really pull them off well!
I’ve been wanting to get Toms for a wile too! I agree, so ugly, but not a fan of walking around in sneaks on vacation. They kill an entire outfit. I think I might have to get a pair… you can really pull them off well!
I’m with you…Toms are kinda ugly. I tried them on in-store back in April, and maybe it’s because I have size 6-hobbit feet, or maybe it was just the Toms, but they looked a little silly and elf-like. But I thought they were really comfortable and I like the idea behind them.
A couple months later, I ended up ordering a pair with the rope sole, I think that made them look a little nicer/kind of a maritime theme – better than the bright white edge on the solid colors. They really are comfy for just running to the grocery store though!
I’ve sharpied a black sweatshirt that I accidentally splashed bleach on.
I sharpie things all. the. time. Including shoes and purses when necessary. Hey, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!