As children, we often used to have hand-me-downs shoes, but as I got older & Mum bought me new ones, I used to be so excited & couldn't wait to wear them - usually when I got home though, just in case. I always kept them well polished & shiny too.
I really enjoyed buying new shoes for our daughters & sometimes do the same with our grandchildren too, except there's so much choice these days! They also get measured up, wheras I didn't!
I love leather shoes, full stop!
I don't remember x-ray machines for checking shoe sizes, I bet that was fun!