WEARING
H&M slouchy pants | size medium
James Perse tee | a couple years old
Splendid “gravity” sandals | brand new, I sized down 1/2 size
Balenciaga Bag | secondhand from MOSS
I have a problem. Well, in particular, right now, I mean I have a shoe shopping problem: I require perfection. The issue isn’t FINDING the perfect shoe, it’s being able to afford it. For months (or my whole life, it seems), I’ve been CRAVING, obsessing over, consumed with the Robert Clergerie “pepo” sandals. They are perfect for me, I know I’d wear them forever, and all the time, and I’m in love with them. I’ll admit, I’ve had them in and out of my carts at various online shopping destinations for months, and they’ve actually been as low as $269 at Amazon, but prudence got the better of me and I didn’t buy them. I cannot afford such an expensive pair of shoes right now, no matter what the eventual cost per wear would be. I just can’t.
So I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find a substitute pair, which never works for me; once I’ve honed in on the perfect shoe, there’s no getting it out of my head. I can do that with clothes, because my tastes in clothing are so “basic” there’s usually a less expensive version of what I love available somewhere. And I can always find it. But with shoes, I have such specific, and sometimes weird taste that I can never find an acceptable pair to take the place of the “holy grail” shoes/sandals/etc. I guess my Camper sandals have been a pretty good alternate pair, but they’re not a t-strap, and they’re not Robert Clergerie.
So this weekend I decided to look for something completely different, maybe neutral, but still with a little height, and ended up with these Splendid sandals. I generally don’t like cork shoes, or criss cross straps, but I did like the way these looked on my feet. And the price is right ($63 at Zappos), so I didn’t hesitate. I sized down a 1/2 size, and I can’t say they’re the MOST COMFORTABLE shoes EVER, but they’re light, and cute, and cheap. And I don’t have an easy-to-wear neutral sandal, so…
Have you been “stuck” on the perfect shoe and not found a good substitute? What is shoe perfection for you?
Oh no! We ought to start a fund so you can buy them! Not a shoe, but a jacket at shopbop i let slip through my fingers, it was extemely expensive, and an unusual color, but oh, how i still think about it!!!! It was so perfect.
So i know how you feel!
This is an easy question for me – my feet are so notoriously difficult that if I actually found my holy grail sandals (look great and truly feel great) I would pay just about anything for them! With clothes my tastes run pretty basic and everything has to be washable (toddler and baby on the way) and really my shoe tastes are relatively basic too, but it is so hard for me to find beautiful comfortable sandals with wide/fallen-arches/burgeoning-bunions, feet. As a compromise I wear Saltwater Sandals (they are not sexy in any way, but are “cute” and don’t dig into my feet), but they lack support so even with an added Dr. Scholls arch support they start hurting in other ways after a few hours of wear. I really ought to be wearing sport sandals probably but I just can’t bring myself to it!
I’d contribute to the fund:).
And I was that way about my black Louboutin Simple 70s. Right now it’s the Valentino Rockstud T-strap.
At least your obsessions are practical
I either put it on a credit card and make sure to pay it off in 90 days. Or I start a fund. For example I would have taken the $63 you spent on the Splendid shoes plus tax and set it aside. And then if I skip a coffee at Starbucks or a meal or a manicure etc I put that money away too. It adds up fast and usually within 2 -3 months I can purchase said item. That’s how I got my Valentino Rockstuds, well and I got them at 60% off, in was the last day of the sale at the Valentino Boutique.
A fund is a great idea, Irena. Grechen, you really should save up for the shoes you’re craving. As for me, shoe perfection is Tracey Neuls, Trippen, and Marsell. They were worth every penny, are my favourite shoes, will last for years, and I’m still craving and saving for more pairs.
i’m like you in that once i have found THE item, i can’t get it out of my head. this is especially true with shoes. you just can’t skimp on quality and comfort. i’m very particular about details as well. usually more expensive shoes just have that special IT factor that does it for me.
lol. please don’t start a fund for my shoes!! 😉
i usually try to figure out a way to buy whatever it is i’m obsessed with, and if i miss out because it sells out or whatever, i just tell myself it wasn’t meant to be…but it’s still upsetting. in this case i missed out on the super-low price – now it’s back up again. i have a feeling the shoes will show up again for a good price.
yummy!! i love the entire valentino rockstud collection
not all of my obsessions are practical 😉
you’re right, of course i could save for them. i actually could have bought them earlier on in the year at full price, but i decided to get three pairs of sandals instead of one…all of which i’ve been happy with, but none of them replaced the clergerie sandals. i guess my original intention with the post was to make the point that no matter how hard i try, i can’t get the HG shoes out of my head. so i should have bought them at first, instead of the others. but i have such anxiety around big purchases, and purchases that i know i “have” to love and wear for years, that i get paralyzed and then can’t do it….and instead, use the money on several things. neurotic. i know.
if i used credit cards, i probably would have bought them anyway, but i haven’t used a credit card in about a decade. which is mostly good, but pretty bad when something like these sandals come around!!
i have a problem with saving up for things. i see it as either i can afford it or i can’t. and in this case, i made the judgement that i couldn’t afford one pair of shoes for nearly $500, but i could justify a few pairs. weird to hear myself say that, because generally i believe in spending more on fewer things, but lately, i’ve gotten VERY off track, and am focused on more STUFF. hate it.
the IT factor is so important!! i don’t remember where i saw it, but someone wrote something about “shoes make the outfit” and always wearing a really special pair of shoes, which is what kind of inspired me to write this post. i guess i regret not purchasing these because they ARE so special…
The Splendid sandals are really cute and flattering to your leg line. But let’s face it: They are NOT the sandals that you really want. I think if you’ve found the ones you want, you track them down (C’mon! You’re GRECHEN, afterall!), wait for a sale, and then JUMP on them! Really, are you ever going to forget about them? You’ve spoken of them before…and that was quite awhile ago. I’m totally like that. If I get my mind set on something, I’m a goner. Have to have it. No ifs, ands, or buts. It drives my husband nuts! And I don’t really have a holy grail shoe, because of foot problems, so I think like CarrollG, if I found them, I’d get them! (Irena is really smart about her saving idea. I should try that!)
I’m totally the same–will find something (usually shoes) that is exactly what I want, decide not to spend the money, and buy three okay-but-not-as-good versions that add up to the same price as the ones I “really” wanted.
Have you tried these on? I have also had the experience where I found a shoe that I thought was perfect, only to try it on and find out that they had some fit issue. i.e., see the Donald J. Pliner burgundy suede bootie fiasco of the 2012 Nordstrom Anniversary sale…there’s a reason they are marked down so much, as I couldn’t even GET THEM ON MY FEET since they didn’t have a zipper.)
http://www.donaldjpliner.com/product/brushed_suede_bootie_danee-bv.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn
Oh, I have been in your boat many times!! It usually involves a pair of Loeffler Randall shoes, but there have been other brands as well. I’ll see something, it will have some kind of unique/special design element, but the price tag will cause me to break out in hives and I won’t buy it. For instance, the YSL Tribtoo pump. I loved that shoe. The platform and heel height were perfect, they felt comfortable when I tried them on and they come in delicious colors. There have been many imitators, but nothing that compares to the original.
I have a love/hate relationship with buying shoes because my feet can be difficult and I can’t deal with high heels, but I have found that whatever I’m lusting for is probably the one I should get. Especially, if they stay on my mind for months. I have issues saving up money for expensive shoes too, but I say you should consider getting these sandals!!
Hi Grechen,
I’m a big fan of your blog – I’m on it a lot (as you can see, which is mortifying!) I’m 39 soon, similar lifestyle/personal life from what I can tell, and wondered if you’d do a post about the Net-A-Porter sale and what you think women of all ages, but especially women struggling to accept being ‘grown-up’ and not young 20something/early 30s women, should look for during sales. I’ll keep reading no matter what, obviously!
thanks for your comment! that’s a good idea actually, maybe more of a general “what to look for during sales” article, since the NAP sale is over soon!!