And then there were shoes January 27, 2007
Posted by charmingbutsingle in Friends, Life, Shopping.trackback
I knew my favorite shoe store was about to have its semi-annual tent sale even before they put out the sign. I have a sixth sense about these things.I informed The Banker and we set our plans. This would be my third consecutive tent sale and her second. I was feeling lucky, as my past sales have left we with $10 Steven by Steve Madden shoes and Kenneth Cole Unlisted sandals. And, as a twist, the store now offers a $35 table for the pricier shoes. This table has better quality and fewer people shopping it. Win-win, right?
We met an hour before the sale at the coffee shop across the street. I’d gotten cash from the ATM to take advantage of the “cash only” line that moves much quicker than the credit card line. We sipped our lattes and headed over to the store about 35 minutes before it started.
There was a problem. It was raining. And what had started as a light drizzle was becoming a steady rain and gathering in puddles. We’d assumed this would keep many people from the sale, which is typically held a tent in the front parking lot.
We were wrong.
There were at least thirty women ahead of us in line. Apparently the sale was being held inside to avoid the rain, with tables set up in different areas. This was a terrible idea, as the store is sort of small and lined with racks and racks of regularly priced shoes.
People began cutting in line because it seemed only logical that they’d be letting people inside in small groups. This seemed terribly unfair to The Banker and Me. Perhaps it was years of being educated in religious schools, but fairness is very important to us both. If other women were there first, it is only fair that they get to the tables first. But the others? Should be behind us in line. For justice’s sake.
They opened the doors at 10 a.m. sharp and women rushed in. The Banker and I headed to opposite tables. I made it through half of mine and came out with one pair of black pointy mules with fringe on them. I moved to the next table. The crowd was out of control. It was worse than having the sale outside because no one could move. Each time you’d touch a box, someone would grab it. You have to be methodical and quick. Make a snap judgment and either grab or go. No time for deliberation.
Four boxes of shoes fell to the floor. I tried to pick them up and place them back on the tables, but I found that as soon as I leaned over, I couldn’t get back up.
I moved to another table and grabbed some gold strappy shoes before I retreated to a corner to try them on. Once I got them out of the box, I saw how hideous they were – iridescent sequins decorated the straps in a very tacky way. The black fringed ones fit, but I’d never wear them.
“And they’re not even worth $10 if you’ll never wear them,” The Banker remarked. She was right, so I put them back and waited while she paid for her one pair of very cute suede brown high-heeled loafers.
We were back in the car by 10:18, which is the least amount of time I’ve ever spent at a shoe store ever. I was depressed that I hadn’t made any purchases. We’d both expected to spend more time at the sale and to have more purchases to show off.
We decided to go to another, higher end store around the corner. I’d never been, but I’d always wanted to see their shoes.
The shopping experience was completely opposite. The stylishly dressed salesgirls offered us drinks (we declined) and pointed us to the sales rack in the back. We talked about the other sale (which is becoming urban legend type legendary in my neighborhood) and they couldn’t believe they’d held the sale inside.
The Banker tried on some shoes. I picked up some Michael Kors loafers with a ridiculous heel. The Banker scoffed at the heel. They looked fabulous on my foot, but were quite impractical. They were on sale, but they were still $90. And they were clearly fall or winter shoes that I’d only be able to wear a few times before the hot climate here necessitated something springier.
The salesgirl sat another pair of Michael Kors on the couch next to me. I was about to walk away, but I decided to try them on just for fun.
They were wedges with tan canvas and a peep toe. The four-inch wedge was covered in caramel covered leather and they looked fantastic. I loved them instantly, but was not prepared to pay more than $100 on them.
I went to put them back when I saw that they were marked down from $178 to $44.
And I couldn’t say no. They’re perfect for summer and spring, with either denim or a flowy skirt. And so they are mine mine mine.
And if you think that I didn’t wear them with just a T-shirt while I wrote then post, then you don’t know me at all.
I LOVE those shoes!!! at such a GREAT price. I should shop more…
Wow, you and Cute Jewess sure wear some HIGH platform shoes! I can’t wear anything over 2 inches without feeling uncomfortable! I guess it’s all about what you’re used to wearing. I love bargains myself, so congratulations on finding such a good sale!
Cute! I was just at Target earlier and saw a dark-brown knock-off of that same pair. But yours are only a little more expensive and no doubt much better quality!
I love successful shoe shopping trips. =)
so charming, are they comfortable? I’ve been looking for that exact style of shoe and am interested in purchasing them. thx!
Those shoes are totally cute. May you have many good times while wearing them!
i’m glad that you managed to buy a pair of shoes in the end… and those shoes are cute!
These shoes are delicious.
I indulge my shoe fetish without breaking the bank by collecting miniatures. Pure sublimation.
I was thinking just the other day how it had been a long time since you talked about shoes! Thanks for the post, I love hearing about sales shopping, and love photos of the bargains even more.
So I went to Target today set on buying a different pair of shoes, and walked out with the Mossimo version of your shoes in chocolate brown. They really are just adorable. =)
oh so cute….I just had a shoe shopping session this weekend. I’m thinking I need therapy as how many pairs of a black stilletos can a girl really need?
Guess it doesn’t matter, I have three pairs already.
omg, Saturday, I went to nine west, and picked up 4 pairs. I’m sooo happy!!
I’m going back Wed.
I love those! i got a similar pair, but it’s leather. brown.
and mine are way bigger, i’m a size 10. Weeeeeee!! Shoes!!
omg, check out bakers, they have santana shoes on sale!!! They are like 30 bucks, and they are 95 @ macys.
LOVE IT!
How fun…I wish I could have shopped there too!
I also enjoyed reading a/b last’s years sale.
Observation: wasn’t some “anonymous” person dogging on your feet in the shoe pictures a couple of weeks ago? I hadn’t seen your feet then, but after seeing them now, I can say without doubt, that “anonymous” is clearly an idiot, telling you to exercise based on the way your foot looked. For your foot is clearly fit and sexy in that picture.
Yay for cute shoes! Yay! I’ve been wearing my new platforms with glee too. Gleeeeeeee.
By the way, Steve Madden online is having a huge clearance right now… you live in the south so you probably don’t need boots like I do, but even the pumps are ridiculously cheap…and I’m only telling you anyway because I have a feeling you don’t wear the same size as me!
Those shoes are totally hot! I hate hate hate shoes now adays. I love the look of them, don’t get me wrong - BUT I CAN’T WEAR THEM. I can’t wear a 3-4 inch heel - barely can a 2 inch heal. I’m 5′10 with size 10 feet. Shoes today aren’t meant for me
Um, someone asked about comfort? They SEEM comfortable. But don’t most shoes SEEM comfortable at the store? (Especially when someone says, “Hey, thses shows aren’t 178 bucks anymore!”)
Despite my best attempts to wear them, it is still too cold. But in a few weeks, I’ll be rocking them with skirts and capris. (Makes me want to do some serious leg work at the gym once the whole very bruised knee heals and I can do more than just the bike.) (Did I write about the very bruised knee? About how I fell off of my wedge the other day and faceplanted on the sidewalk and my Blackberry flew one way and my purse the other and I almost DIED of embarassment in front of my coworkers and then had to go to a very important lunch and continue working with bloody knees and an ankle that I thought was cracked? (It was not.) MOR.TI.FIED.)
Also, I do wear a size 10 shoe. Which is kind of nuts because I’m not quite five-eight. So I’m sort of almost tallish, but not actually tall. I think I get the big feet from my mom’s side of the family. Some of my aunts and my grandmother are five-eleven and taller and they wear size 10 and 11 shoes. So I got the big feet without all of the height! Thanks Mom!
Ha! You totally do wear the same size as me…I take back everything I said about the Steve Madden sale.
what, no pics??? please provide pics if you’re going to be describing such scrumptious shoes.
did i tell you i got a BRAND NEW, never-been worn pair of charles davids the other day? for….(drumroll please) $12. pink strappy sandals w/a pink and white flower on the toe. ah. dore. ah. bull.
i also have the big feet w/o the height– i’m a 9 or 9 1/2 and i’m only 5′5″. *sigh*
to boot (no pun intended), my feet are also very very narrow, so most shoes fall off my foot.
man, it’s hard to beat a shoe sale…