Fancy Feet

One of the most important qualities that all Bargain Shoppers possess is the will power to refrain from impulse buys. Impulse buys are those dreaded, guilt filled purchases made on a whim without thought or regard for price, quality, necessity, or otherwise. Bargain shoppers can have that immediate reaction to a particular item--they may fall instantly in love with that pin-striped black pencil skirt, but they know if its just been put on the shelves, they are better off waiting a bit to see if it goes on sale or clearance, because no matter how hot the style is, it always feels better when you look good in a hot deal. One very easy way to break into the habit of biding your time in regards to purchases, particularly for items that are solely in the realm of extraneous accessorizing--meaning those pieces in your wardrobe that are totally unnecessary in the practical sense, is to start being more aware of your shoe purchases. Ever since our favorite Sex and City gal, Miss Carrie Bradshaw, and her real life alias Sarah Jessica Parker, the debate over women and their obsession with shoes has officially been put to rest in favor of the infatuation. Now while most of us would really enjoy being able to spend $300, $400, $500, or even more at a clip on a single pair of shoes spectacularly imprinted with the name "Jimmy Choo" or "Manolo Blahnik" upon them, this simply is not the reality for the majority of women.

Manolo Blahnik originals that cost hundreds



So what do we do instead to satisfy our lust for foot adornments? First of all, accept the fact that you can't afford designer and move on--if you're a true fashionista, then your impeccable taste and ability to put together ensembles will enable you to likewise make any piece of fashion--be it Valentino or Walmart, look fabulous. After you've gained that self confidence, you can start planning your assault. If you have a particularly good eye and are attuned to the latest trends, you can even go out looking for less expensive versions of the latest designer styles and achieve the same look for a lot less dough! Realize that women's shoes are very seasonal items--you're not going to find pink flower covered sandals in December, and just the same, you'll have trouble finding black leather knee high boots in May. The key to finding discounts is to buy when things are at the end of their season. This means you have to keep an eye out for what you may be interested in and look to make your purchases 1-2 months after they've first appeared in the displays. Retail stores have to make room on their shelves before the end of each season so that they can stock them with new apparel. That means that those sizes and styles that haven't sold are marked down drastically on clearance in an attempt to move them out of the way quickly. While this is a risky bet depending on the availability of your shoe size as well as how popular the particular type of shoe you are interested in is, since the shoes would simply be an addition to your closet, and not a need-based buy such as work shoes, or winter boots, you shouldn't feel that bad if you don't end up getting what you wanted.

Apostrophe by Sears on sale for $9.99

By using this tactic, I've had some fabulous shoe splurging shopping trips where I have bought up to 3 or 4 pairs of shoes at once. These splurges are made all the more fun (and guilt-free) by the simple fact that I've paid so little! One such trip, my mother and I bought 9 pairs of shoes between the two of us, and each pair only cost $3! One of the pairs of shoes I got on this excursion quickly became one of my favorites, and a staple in my then high school wardrobe. I distinctly remember the secret glee I would feel when classmates and even teachers would say how much they liked my shoes--one friend even recalled seeing "my shoes" on Sarah Michelle Gellar in a magazine recently. My best shoe bargains ever came from the now closed Ames, where I found 3 pairs of shoes, costing $0.25, $0.50, and $0.75 respectively. It was in fact one of those pairs of shoes that I wore to my junior prom. Some of the other stores that I have had particular luck with finding some sexy shoes on sale--Target, Walmart, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, and Fashion Bug. So go ahead--fill up that closet with as many shoes as you can fit, and when your parents or your boyfriend bemoan your plethora of ped-wear, ask him when's the last time he only paid 3 bucks for a pair of shoes.