Belle's Spring Shoe Conundrum

Mar 10, 2011

 

 

A few weeks ago, I cleaned my closet out for spring.  I was examining my shoe wardrobe, when I realized that I’ve worked myself into a footwear conundrum.  It’s been close to two years since I’ve purchased a pair of warm weather shoes, and all of my spring shoe staples are completely worn out or totally worthless.

 

While I can have my nude open-toe pumps refurbished (the heel is damaged), my sandals, gold flats, black pumps, snakeskin pumps and wedges had to be trashed.  I didn’t feel bad because some of these shoes are four to five years old, but now I need to replace them.  All of them.

 

The six pairs of shoes above are what I’d like to have for the warm weather months.  Grand total for all six?  $1,143.  Maybe I can sell a kidney?

 

I’ve never been much of a shoe shopper (I like clothes and jewelry more), but I need to be on the lookout for some new shoes.  At the bare minimum, I need a pair of sandals, a pair of gold flats, black pumps and some snakeskin heels.  

 

While I’ll probably try to spend $100 to $150 per pair, I need to choose quality basics if I want to be able to get another half-decade of wear out of my shoe wardrobe.  Spend now, save later.  I’m all about per wear cost.

 

I guess it’s time to look into Google Ads for all you freeloaders ladies reading this blog via the RSS feed.  My shoe wardrobe demands it!

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  1. Terri says:

    Nordstrom is having it's shoe sale, but…check the Rack online. Good luck. cause I feel your dismay.

  2. a says:

    You've heard of DSW right? Never paid more than $50 for black pumps (cole hann usually) in the Clearance section of the Pentagon row location. Even full price they have name brands for under $100.

  3. teddie says:

    Endless is having a 20% off sale on espadrilles and 45% on pumps. Free shipping and returns. And, Zappos is my favorite source. Free shipping and returns as well.

  4. LTH says:

    6pm is my go-to. I'm a lucky size 6, so that helps the odds, but you can usually find great shoes for a fraction of what they're worth. Best of luck!

  5. prosecutordc says:

    Its hard for me to want to spend $150 plus for pumps when the DC sidewalk eats up the heels and after one season they are shot. Anybody have any way of preventing this? I get the heel tips replaced but still the heel itself gets chipped etc.

  6. girl, you know that i can help you find those shoes at a good price!!! LOL

  7. N says:

    The Marshall's in Pentagon City has a big shoe department, and for me it's always worth checking there for staples like black pumps & gold flats before I shell out $100.

  8. ali says:

    Good luck with your search… as for the gold flats, I know they're expensive and it seems like everyone has them, but the gold Reva's by Tory Burch are the most comfortable and durable shoe ever. Mine made it through three years of college and three years of working and are still in great condition. I liked the gold versus any of the other colors b/c the gold emblem isn't as intense as it can be on the other colors. So fabulous!

  9. VA Gal says:

    I wear a size 7 which means the clearance rack for my size usually involves purple glitter and other things too scary to contemplate. I have good luck on Ruelala, though, and sometimes I get lucky with sales on Zappos. If you're in the mood to travel outside DC, I've had some lucky finds at Potomac Mills. They have a number of good stores there incl. Rack, Off 5th, Last Call, etc…

  10. b says:

    Belle, I just got a new pair of Vince Carmuto (Vickiy) black pumps for $79 online at Nordstrom. Fit gorgeously, extremely well made with quality leather (inside and out!), and are a spitting image of the ivanka trump pump (including the reasonable heel).

  11. Charleigh says:

    I was in the same boat as you, when I looked at my closet this weekend and realized I needed to blow some $$. So, I went down to Nordstrom Rack and bought five, count them five pairs of shoes.. I also bough a pair of J Brands and a pair of Hudsons, both being my staple jean brands.

    What makes my shoe choice intersting is it was pretty similar to yours. I bought a pair of gold flats, a pair of leopard flats, a pair of brown pumps with a cute flower on them, and a pair of black pumps that looked like something Blair Waldorf would wear. Both have a wider heel so being gobbled up in pave stones doesnt present a problem. I also splurged some and boat my first pair of Burberry's.

    Here's the best part.. where the Hudson's or J Brand's would have run about $180 each, I paid $70 per pair. Where the shoes would have been in the $100 and up range, I paid $60 for all of them except the Burberry's for which I paid $120. Just because the prices are so darn low at Nordstrom Rack for great finds, I even bought some great jewlery that was basically half or more off.

    There is a Nordstrom Rack in Pentagon City… I highly suggest you check it out.

  12. MidwestChic says:

    Best black pumps ever=bandolino! Always on sale, and have lasted me for years!

    And I agree with anyone who suggest DSW, they have great deals on staple shoes!

  13. L says:

    I have a pair of red pumps similar to the ones you listed on Polyvore. they are by Jessica Simpson and I got them at the DSW at Pentagon City recently for $50. They are really comfortable and the same style also comes in black.

  14. anonymous says:

    “all you freeloaders”

    Thank you, you're just inspired me to unsubscribe from your RSS feed.

  15. SarahB says:

    Belle~You might want to check out the Joan & David “Flipp” pump for your red pump fix..currently on sale at Nords.

  16. Belle says:

    Anonymous-It was a joke. Don't take everything so personally.

  17. E says:

    hahaha Belle I laughed when I saw that 🙂

    Also… DSW is my go-to, and they have a great selection online as well!

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