So I’m going to a snazzy affair this weekend, and although I’m wearing a dress I have, carrying a purse I already own and didn’t get any new jewelry for the occasion, I thought I might get new shoes.
<>So for the first time ever, I went to Joseph’s, and saw, for the first time ever… Manolo Blahniks. You know, the shoes Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and The City” favored. I held a shoe in my hand, and not so discretely flipped it over to see the price. Close to $400.
I could probably buy a pair of $400 shoes and still pay my mortgage and keep the all-important cable on… but there’s no way my Marshall’s-clearance-rack- searching, Macy’s-coupon-carrying, everything-eventually-goes-on-sale self could bring myself to do it.
<>So you Divas who actually own Manolos - did you cringe when you buy them? Did you have to work up to $400 kicks, starting with ones that were $200, then $300? What’s the most you’ve ever paid for shoes? (Me, it was $98.)
Responses to “Those shoes cost wha????”
September 27th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Wendi,
I read about some shoes that were designed by a podiatrist, yet were fashionable. The brand is Taryn Rose. I went to zappos.com and browsed around. Let’s just say that I didn’t buy any because of sticker shock! They were on a par with your Manolos. I saw some that I really liked, and like you I could buy them and still pay my bills, but my brain just froze. I read somewhere that to move up to “good” shoes (i.e., expensive), you need to buy one pair at a time. Supposedly, you will be so wowed by the comfort, quality and looks that you will no longer be happy with “bargain” shoes. Maybe someday I’ll get the nerve to try it, but right now I’m wowing everybody in the IT dept. at AutoZone with my $89 pumps (a black patent pair and a red patent pair) from Dillard’s. Paying that much for shoes is rare for me, but they were so darned cute, and I needed the black ones! Our group is so laid back that it doesn’t take much to impress — pretty much any pair of heels will do the trick. The most I’ve spent on shoes was $128 for a pair of gold tapestry slingbacks from Talbot’s, and yes, they’ve been worn to work.
Tammy
September 27th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Sorry Wendi, can’t say as I own any Manolos either. My “loves” are handbags, jewelry and lingerie.
The most I’ve ever paid for shoes was over $125 for running shoes. I exercise 5x a week, so it’s a necessity, especially for running on asphalt.
Like you, I live alone and could make the rent and the other bills if I bought such things, but I choose not to. I do get to go to really nice places from time to time but I just can’t justify that kind of money for a pair of shoes I might wear once in a blue moon. I gave $110 for a pair of open-toed black heels back in April that have been worn all of once. Guess you and I will be waiting for the “big sale”.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
So I pulled out the most expensive pair of shoes I ever bought and wore them to work today. They are now in a bag and I have slipped on some matching flip-flops. Those bad boys were making my dogs BARK! They’re sharp as all get out, but the heel is high and I was tottering.
But Samida, if you say that expensive shoes are more comfortable, maybe I’ll bring myself to try a pair on.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Manolos…oh no no!!I’ve seen pictures of celebs wearing those shoes and all of them looked like their feet were crying to be released from prison!! 
Mr. or Ms. Blahnik should be sent to shoe designing boot camp for one month and made to wear these shoes all the while they are there! We all know that the cutest and sharpest of shoes are the MOST PAINFUL ones to wear! But ladies…we’ve all sacrificed our poor feet to look good because we found the perfect pair of shoes to go with that outfit. Just last week I found a really cute blouse with the exact same colors as a pair of shoes that I purchased last year. I’ve got to tell you that was an amazing rush. They matched perfectly. Ladies, we all know that when this happens its like picking the right lottery numbers after trying for ever!
Also, I checked out the Manolo website…I only liked about 5% of their shoes…the rest were ugly.
September 28th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
sigh… Okay, I was at DSW tonight, looking for a pair of plain brown pumps (impossible to find, by the way) and happened upon a striking pair of red patent-leather pumps with a tiny peep-toe. Now, I don’t wear red shoes nor do I wear patent-leather anything, but these babies were marked down to $28 and they fit like a dream…well, as good as you can expect with a 3″ heel…but I left the store without them…until tomorrow. After purchasing my shoes, I’ll spend the rest of the day looking for the perfect red blouse or sweater to wear them with.
The most I’ve ever paid for a pair of shoes? $100 for boots and $80 for dress pumps.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Well, I don’t own a pair of Manolos because I prefer Jimmy Choo. I think they prettier and they fit me much better than Manolos. The most I ever paid for my Choo’s was $565…no lie. It was for my very first pair. They are the most beautiful pair of shoes I have ever seen….before or since, which is why I haven’t paid as much for another pair. It reads like a love story….I wasn’t even looking.. which is usually when you find that very special…..pair of shoes! I was in Saks in New Orleans (pre-Katrina) and it was if a everything around me went dark, the crowd parted and on the other side of the shoe department, this shimmering glow was drawing me in…closer…closer… omg! I had to have him, er, them! “Excuse me sir, but do you have these dainty gems in Sasquatch size or do I have to glue them to the top of the box and shlep outta here”? “Let me check for you. Uh, no, Ms. Kong, we do not. However, I have located your size at another store and can have them shipped to you.” “By all means, ship away!” Of course it seemed like they on the slow boat from China but once I got them….man. Now, back to the price. You probably think it is ridiculous to pay that for a pair of shoes…you may be saying it out loud, even. Normally I would agree…but THESE shoes….if only you could see them. I usually shop at Marshalls, TJ Maxx and SteinMart and am very satisfied with my purchases from there. But, those stores are the reason I can justify my extravagant purchases. I don’t buy $500 shoes every week and don’t get me started on handbags—those are my TRUE LOVE…. but because I am a bargain shopper 95% of the time, I don’t feel guilty when I do splurge. So call me crazy, but ugly feet never looked so good when Cinderella puts on her magic slippers.
September 30th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Wendi,
Knowing whether a $400 pair of beautiful shoes will be a good purchase after trying them on in a shoe store is a perfect anaolgy for finding “Mr. Right.” You can only know several years down the road whether it was a great choice or a dud.
Sure, I can say that the $100 pair of black strappy sandals from Pappagollo was worth every penny because I could wear the 2 1/2″ heels while pregnant–7 years ago–and to a cocktail party last weekend and they’re as comfortable as a pair of house shoes. But, could I have known that on the day I had to shell out the $100? Alas, no.
The same goes for the first few dates with a man. The guy looks good and sounds good. But will he be the perfect love I tell my granddaughters about or Mr. Restraining-Order-Nightmare-from-You-Know-Where? We can only know after giving them a shot.
I’ve forgotten all the $100 pairs of shoes I’ve donated to MIFA after two or three excruciating occasions. And I wish I could forget the promising dates who turned out to be wastes of lip gloss and tears.
They’re both leaps of faith that can land a girl floating on air or hobbling away, cursing.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:56 am
Wendi, it was a dark and cloudy day. Fifteen years ago I was walking along Chicago’s Michigan Avenue and just happened to glance to my left. Bells rang…confetti fell…drums rolled…a pair of black suede Yves St. Laurent pumps screamed my name! They were $225, more than I had ever considered paying for a pair of shoes, but I bought them. They killed my feet and threw me down the stairs 3 times with their quirky snag-on-the-carpet heels. I lived to sell them for $1 at a garage sale…good riddance!
October 4th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
hint, hint: those pretty shoes you saw at joseph, you can get those on a bargain too. twice a year, joseph pulls out the racks (just like at jc penney) and loads them up with designer shoes on sale. they are even organized like the department stores, according to size, not style. i’ve gotten countless ’steals’ at these sales. some would still call it indulgent but getting a $400 pair of shoes for $150 sure feels like a bargain! most i ever spent was $600 though (not on sale), on a pair of fabulous black leather marc jacobs boots. each season, i can’t wait for the weather to get cool again so i can polish them off and wear them out. i don’t regret it for a minute…
September 27th, 2007 at 12:30 am
I used some of my college graduation money and bought me a pair of simple black Manolos and I did suffer a MAJOR cringe attack. I paid over $400, but they are SO worth it! They still look fresh and new to this day, but the fact that I hardly wear them could attribute to that! LOL!
Other than that, the most I have spent on shoes is $200. Now, I refuse to go over $125 for shoes. Shoe addictions are hard to kick!