Conversely, it is possible to spend ridiculous amounts of money on shoes and still look ridiculous. Unfortunately, sandals are big with men now. Some Pedestrians even wear them to work. Because sandals are fashionable, there is a compression curve at work where men who wish to be cool will wear them anywhere against all laws of aesthetic logic. It is one of the burdens which the cycles of fashion inflict on society.
Some shoes incur the death penalty.
For example, grey shoes on men, or Birkenstocks on anybody, or socks worn with sandals. Surely it is no coincidence that grey shoes are popular among middle-aged German men, that Birkenstocks were invented in Germany, and that Germany gave the world the jackboot. Shake your bootie Boots are the safest, most egalitarian form of footwear, especially Australian-made boots worn by Australians. Of course, any category can be butchered by Pedestrians. In a world of Blundstones, R. M. Williams and assorted bush and building boots, anything that looks like Nashville-wannabes is worn by the obtuse.