NSBR: Let's Talk Shoes. :)

[Teresa]

I'll start by saying this...I'm not a shoe gal, I'm a purse gal. I've come to realize that I buy a really good pair of shoes every few years usually in black and brown (yes, I'm THAT shoe-boring), usually on clearance if I can find them and then supplement with cheaper shoes as needed that really aren't practical to walk around in all the time. I don't need to dress up super fancy for work, I have dress shoes...I just need new "everyday" shoes. Even though I'm in desperate need of new ones, I'm having the worst time convincing myself that my favorite brand is worth the cost.

That brand: Born. They're comfortable, they last forever, and they don't hurt my feet even after a really long day (I turn my heels in, so I need support). How much are you comfortable paying for shoes? Is it worth it to you to buy a really good pair that will last a long time? Or are shoes just a weakness and you love all shoes? Do you hate shoe shopping?

Personally...I guess I'm probably extremely cheap, but I think $50 for a pair of shoes is a lot of moolah! And Borns are usually more in the $75-95 range. Ack! Not to mention the guilt I feel right now buying shoes when we need so many baby things!

Anyway, I bought two new pairs of shoes today- one black Born pair at regular price at DSW and a pair of blue suede Naturalizer shoes at Macy's for $14...that's way more in my price range and they're perfect (such a lucky clearance find), so the one Born pair was justified. LOL But....I have my eye on these right now too...aren't they purty? Then I'd have 4 pairs of solid "go to" gals....I'm nuts, I know. Or am I? I've never owned a pair of red shoes, but always wanted to!

[CA Dreamer]

They're adorable. And, they look comfortable and versatile. I think that if you will wear them and they go with your wardrobe, then go for it!

[Leila]

I hate shoe shopping. I hate shoes. I think I'd like both shoes and the shopping for them if I didn't have such hard to fit feet. After two kids, I'm wearing a 12 EEEE...before kids I was in a 10AA. Seriously, my feet got longer and really spread out. It's pretty much a cataclysmic event to find cute and comfortable womens' shoes in my size. Right now, I'm wearing Andrew's sneakers since mine have too much mesh to withstand the snow.

That said, because I've always had hard to fit feet (wore a 9½AAAAA in high school), I'm very willing to pay upwards of $100 on shoes. I can't find shoes that fit though, so I settle for $60 mens' shoes most of the time. Sigh.

Oh, both of the Born shoes you showed are adorable! Love them!

[rach3975]

Oooh...purses and diaper bags...

I'm like you--I don't buy a lot of shoes, so I'm willing to spend a lot to make sure my everyday black shoes are comfortable and durable. (Sandals are another story--I love sandals!) I shop at discount shoe places like DSW, but I'll easily spend $50 to $100 for just the right pair if I have to.

You didn't say how much the black ones were, but it sounds like they were about $50? Are the red ones the same price? I think you did great and spent a very reasonable amount on the black and brown ones. But here are my questions for you with the red ones--first, do you know you'll wear them? When I venture outside black and brown I tend to like the idea of the color more than the reality, and I don't wear them much. Second, do you just feel guilty spending the money on yourself, or is money tight right now? If you think you'll wear them and it's just a little guilt, then treat yourself to the red shoes! If you aren't sure you'll wear them or buying them means going without something else, then maybe start with a cheaper red pair.

[digideb]

I don't have advice, I'm a cheap shoe buyer too! No more than like $20 for me! lol But, now you've got me really wanting these http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7468991/c/9981.html Good thing they don't have my size, or I might be in trouble! lol Oh! And those are super cute shoes! I always wanted a red pair too!

[digideb]

Oh & check out 6pm they've got them much cheaper! Not the styles you posted but maybe you could find something else...
http://www.6pm.com/n/search.cgi?path...q=brand_id:342

[Teresa]

Leila- gosh, I really feel for you!! My husband has very wide feet and he can NEVER find shoes that fit right. I'm a 9.5-10 medium width (at least for now, LOL). Maybe I should be holding off on shoes in general until after the baby arrives!

Rachel- you bring up some very good points! (and don't get me started on diaper bags...I have 2 already, one I've been hanging onto for the past 5 years...LOL) The ones I bought today were $70...but they are SO comfortable and black, so I know I'll wear them all the time. The red ones are a splurge, I know I'd wear them less than the black or brown, but I love a little red to spice up an outfit. It's mostly guilt about buying things for myself (DH doesn't understand why, he just says go for it if I want them...blessing and a curse, eh?). Although, I showed him the red ones and he made a face, not his cup of tea!

Deb- those are so cute!! And thanks for the 6pm link- I hadn't heard of that one before.

[BrattyMeg]

I'm a shoe whore..so I'm no help..I say buy em all!!

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by FlirtatiousBrat

I'm a shoe whore..so I'm no help..I say buy em all!!

Um, yeah...you're a bad influence on me. You already forced me to go buy that too gosh darn adorable pink and red owl mug at Target last week!!

[Nettio]

You know, if they were red heels, I'd say to totally get them, but I'm not sure about the red in that style of shoe. Seems like it could be too much and if you prefer the black and brown to the red, how often will you really wear them? I guess my question would be, do you have clothes that you can see yourself wearing the red shoes with?

[BrattyMeg]

Originally Posted by Teresa

Um, yeah...you're a bad influence on me. You already forced me to go buy that too gosh darn adorable pink and red owl mug at Target last week!!

score!! Traci bought it too lol

[digideb]

No problem! My SIL told me about 6pm. They are Zappos discount store!

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by Nettio

You know, if they were red heels, I'd say to totally get them, but I'm not sure about the red in that style of shoe. Seems like it could be too much and if you prefer the black and brown to the red, how often will you really wear them? I guess my question would be, do you have clothes that you can see yourself wearing the red shoes with?

Oddly enough, I do have clothes they'd work with (lots of black/grays). Sadly, red heels would probably be the ones to go unworn around here! Red is definitely outside the norm for me, but it would be fun!

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by FlirtatiousBrat

score!! Traci bought it too lol

LOL- no more posting purchases for you!!

[Jennifer]

Sounds to me like you really want them and think you'd wear them...go for it!!!

[Teresa]

Yup, I do. But I'll sleep on it. The brown ones are now sold out in my size, go figure- I wait a hour and they're gone! So that's a good motivator to think on the red ones a little more too I guess.

[Teresa]

Okay, so I'm not sleeping on it. LOL

I found this site- www.housershoes.com and they have awesome prices!!

I got the brown ones from the original post and these suede Naturalizer red ones for less than $50 each (total was only $5 more than the cost of the Born red ones alone)! Woo-hoo!



Thanks for your thoughts ladies! I suspect I'll have some fun 365 photos to post once they arrive. LOL

[digideb]

AWESOME!!!!!

[digideb]

OMGosh, Teresa! That site is awesome! I'm totally in love w/these!!!
http://www.housershoes.com/products/...i_Skimmer.html

[kscwgirl]

And I want these.

http://www.housershoes.com/products/13238/Kalissa.html

I do not need them. but I want them. LOL

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by digideb

OMGosh, Teresa! That site is awesome! I'm totally in love w/these!!!
http://www.housershoes.com/products/...i_Skimmer.html

I considered those too, but refrained. LOL Don't you love the prices?! I was amazed...they don't do free returns, so many they can offer lower prices because of that?

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by kscwgirl

And I want these.

http://www.housershoes.com/products/13238/Kalissa.html

I do not need them. but I want them. LOL

Those are super cute too! Wish my cankles fit in boots right now. LOL

[LeeAndra]

Oh yes, I love shoes. When you are a big gurl with even bigger gurls... you LOVE accessories that are not dependent on your body size!!

I justify buying 2 new purses a year (spring/summer & fall/winter) and at least 5-7 new pairs of shoes (esp. sandals) because I don't spend more than $30 on any purse and/or pair of shoes. I mostly shop Payless and Target. If I had a really grownup important job like you, I would consider paying more to buy 'real' shoes as opposed to the fun cheap-o shoes I own now.

I own a pair of Steve Madden red sneakers that are totally the bomb. I love to wear them with dark jeans & a long-sleeved black & grey shirt I own for that POP of color. It makes me so happy to look down and see red shoes on my feet. I know you will feel the same way abt your red shoes.

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by LeeAndra

Oh yes, I love shoes. When you are a big gurl with even bigger gurls... you LOVE accessories that are not dependent on your body size!!

I justify buying 2 new purses a year (spring/summer & fall/winter) and at least 5-7 new pairs of shoes (esp. sandals) because I don't spend more than $30 on any purse and/or pair of shoes. I mostly shop Payless and Target. If I had a really grownup important job like you, I would consider paying more to buy 'real' shoes as opposed to the fun cheap-o shoes I own now.

I own a pair of Steve Madden red sneakers that are totally the bomb. I love to wear them with dark jeans & a long-sleeved black & grey shirt I own for that POP of color. It makes me so happy to look down and see red shoes on my feet. I know you will feel the same way abt your red shoes.

"Grown-up important job"? LOL- I'm still a graduate student!! Ha! You're totally right about the red shoes- I absolutely can't wait to get them. I wear lot of jeans with black/gray tops too and they're going to make me very happy!

[rach3975]

Great finds, Teresa! Enjoy them. And FWIW, my feet went back to almost the same size after my pregnancies. I had 1 or 2 pairs that ran smaller that I couldn't wear anymore, but everything else fits. I hope you have the same luck!

Originally Posted by digideb

No problem! My SIL told me about 6pm. They are Zappos discount store!

Zappos has a discount store? That knowledge could be dangerous to my health since DH doesn't think I need any more bags ever. (I don't buy shoes online because I tend to be hard to fit. I have to try them on first.)

[digideb]

LOL Rachel! Yep! I know! I was super excited when SIL told me about them! She got the cutest shoes for like 16 bucks! The only thing w/6pm is they don't have a lot of sizes in everything. So, being a size 11, I can't find much on there!

[lovely1m]

oh, they are so cute! I usually own 1 or 2 pairs of sneakers, some flip flops, a pair of clogs and then countless dress shoes I have picked up on clearence throughout the year.