any of you ladies own expensive shoes?

[bunnycat]

Comme Il Faut.

Here are some of my tango shoes, which for really nice ones tend to run in the $200 or so range.

Bastetcat, where do you buy these shoes? I like heels, but have a hard time finding comfortable ones. I love that the Comme Il Faut are open toe with ankle straps because they would stay on and wouldn't squish my foot.

Hi pregcurious!

There's a few dealers in the US. I also can't stand having my toes squished, and prefer open toe shoes for dancing.

One word of caution. In Argentina, a lot of the tango shoe manufacturers tend to model their line after CiF because it is the most successful, which is modeled sort of "Italian Style", which means a bit narrow. If you're feet are wide, stick to the butterfly front models or attempt to move up one size. The classic single band open toe is narrow. For example, I am a 6 WIDE. I can wear a 36 in butterfly front models, but not in a single band sandal. I have to move up to 37. (Yes, these things are super important when you are dancing! LIke keep you from broken ankles important.) I think tab front models may also be a little wider.

One of my first tango teachers sells them, and here is a link to her site:

http://www.malevashoes.com/

Another lady I buy from sometimes, who is very nice to deal with and will send you a box of shoes to try on. You just send back what doesn't fit. She carries several brands:

http://www.diva-boutique.com/women_welcome.aspx

And Felina. She's very nice also, and I like that she carries Neotango, which is my favorite brand.

http://www.felinashoes.com/index.html

In Europe:

https://www.lisadore.com/lisadore/commeilfaut/cif.lisadore.nsf/vwContent/home?opendocument

ETA- I forgot you generally can't see the whole shoe. You have to ask for pics. CiF is militant about people copying. The shoes are made in batches of 20 and so each set of shoes is basically a limited edition piece. I'm used to them so I know just from what i see what it will be, but it takes a little getting used to.

 

[TooPatient]

I adore shoes!!! But sadly I am a size 5 (5-1/2 if I really love something and am willing to live with a shoe full of inner-soles and heel liners and those thingies that keep the balls of your feet from sliding forward... ). Maybe that's a blessing in disguise becuase I don't think I could afford to support a bling, car, AND shoe habit!

Are you saying that you can't find shoes in your size?
I am a 4.5/5 and I can find all kinds of high-end designer shoes. My YSL Tribute Sandals are a 4.5, but most of my collection of CLs, prada, and Chanel are size 5. It is sometimes more difficult to find shoes in smaller sizes, but they are out there, you just have to do a little more searching in some cases.

My feet are also exceptionally wide (if I were a DUCK I'd be in business!) and I find that the high end designers are typically very narrow. I fell in absolute lust with a pair of Ferragamos a couple of years ago and I momentarily considered amputating a couple of toes to make them work!

Another duck here!

I HATE shopping for shoes as all of the cute ones are so narrow. It sucks. I recently spent hours walking through aisles just looking for 8 1/2 or 9 wide. Luckily the one pair I found was sort of cute (for a snow boot...) and came in two colors. Sadly, spring is here and I've got to get moving as I don't have anything but snow boots and one pair of dancing shoes.

Oh -- the amputation thing.... A guy in my math class used to work in a high-end women's shoe store. Apparently some women actually do amputate toes to wear those things!

DF -- I love the look of shoes but can't buy them as they don't fit. Not sure I would if I could. The most expensive pair of shoes I have ever owned was $60 hiking boots.

 

[CaprineSun]

Yes. Have a pair of CL's. I was so excited to finally have a pair, but found the quality to be underwhelming for the price & the name. I almost returned them I was so appalled until people said (on purseforum) they are meant to look like that & being handmade comes with 'expected' quality control issues. For paying close to 2K for some shoes, I expect utter perfection.

And, on top of that, his shoes are crazy uncomfortable. So, it will probably be my only pair (ok, I may buy 1 more; they are just so gorgeous!).

I heard Jimmy Choos and MB's are of much better quality and comfort for the price. So, I'll be sticking to those brands likely going forward. I'll likely wear Aruna Seth shoes for my wedding instead of the CL's I bought.

 

[momhappy]

Yes. Have a pair of CL's. I was so excited to finally have a pair, but found the quality to be underwhelming for the price & the name. I almost returned them I was so appalled until people said (on purseforum) they are meant to look like that & being handmade comes with 'expected' quality control issues. For paying close to 2K for some shoes, I expect utter perfection.

And, on top of that, his shoes are crazy uncomfortable. So, it will probably be my only pair (ok, I may buy 1 more; they are just so gorgeous!).

I heard Jimmy Choos and MB's are of much better quality and comfort for the price. So, I'll be sticking to those brands likely going forward. I'll likely wear Aruna Seth shoes for my wedding instead of the CL's I bought.

I have several pairs of CLs and none of them have any quality control issues. If I paid $2000 for a pair of shoes, I would return/exchange any pair that was less-than-perfect. My experience with CL is that the materials & craftsmanship is excellent. I have not heard that Manolos and/or Choos are "better" quality, so I can't comment about that. As far as comfort is concerned, I don't believe that my CLs are any more uncomfortable than any other brands and I don't think that you can judge comfort of an entire brand based on one, particular style within that brand. I have found that certain styles within the same brand can vary with comfort. For example, my CL NPs (I have 4 pairs) are super-comfortable, but my CL New Simples are horribly uncomfortable. However, that is pretty much true for ANY designer. Also, what's comfortable for one may not be for another. For example, I find my CL booties (I have 2 pairs) to be extremely comfortable, but I have heard some ladies say that particular style is horribly uncomfortable for them.

 

[pregcurious]

Hi pregcurious!

There's a few dealers in the US.

Thank you!

 

[chel180]

I have a few pairs of designer shoes. I tend to only buy them if they are really pretty and/or different. I wouldn't spend $$$s on a plain pair of black stilettos for example. Here are the last pair I bought

 

[Dancing Fire]

Hmmm...I currently have roughly 150 pairs, but before we moved recently, I was nearing 200.

$400+: Emilio Pucci, Casadei, Magrit

$200-$400: Kate Spade, Maloles, Betsey Johnson, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Stuart Weitzman

I typically stick to shoes that are $100+, for example, Jeffrey Campbell, Steve Madden, Badgley Mischka, J Crew, Cynthia Rowley, Kenneth Cole, etc.

i still love your blue "hooker shoes"...

 

[monarch64]

Nah. Dad taught me to be too conservative. I don't own any accessory I can't pack up and take with me...

Surprisingly (or not surprisingly), my legs look wonderful in very high heels and these days, I refuse to wear them.

I went out with my husband tonight. I wore a pair of BCBG 4.5" heels I've had since 2006. Lots of compliments were received...and that was great, and they were super hot with my outfit, but I would've been happier and looked just as pretty in my (free) Teva riding boots that I wear every day!

One last note: spend money on shoes? Shoes, which come in contact with the filth of the earth? No, thank you. Functional boots/shoes...mayyyyyybe, but I will never ever idolize footwear. I'd rather buy the land that's dirtying my soles, frankly.

 

[momhappy]

Nah. Dad taught me to be too conservative. I don't own any accessory I can't pack up and take with me...

Surprisingly (or not surprisingly), my legs look wonderful in very high heels and these days, I refuse to wear them.

I went out with my husband tonight. I wore a pair of BCBG 4.5" heels I've had since 2006. Lots of compliments were received...and that was great, and they were super hot with my outfit, but I would've been happier and looked just as pretty in my (free) Teva riding boots that I wear every day!

One last note: spend money on shoes? Shoes, which come in contact with the filth of the earth? No, thank you. Functional boots/shoes...mayyyyyybe, but I will never ever idolize footwear. I'd rather buy the land that's dirtying my soles, frankly.

I guess I don't see shoes as coming into contact with any more "filth" than anything else. Take rings for example, imagine all the stuff that comes into contact with your hands/fingers and subsequently, your rings. Dirty money, toilet handles, etc. With that line of reasoning, why spend money on rings? I can certainly appreciate not wanting to spend money on shoes, but not because they touch the ground...

 

[momhappy]

Nah. Dad taught me to be too conservative. I don't own any accessory I can't pack up and take with me...

Surprisingly (or not surprisingly), my legs look wonderful in very high heels and these days, I refuse to wear them.

I went out with my husband tonight. I wore a pair of BCBG 4.5" heels I've had since 2006. Lots of compliments were received...and that was great, and they were super hot with my outfit, but I would've been happier and looked just as pretty in my (free) Teva riding boots that I wear every day!

One last note: spend money on shoes? Shoes, which come in contact with the filth of the earth? No, thank you. Functional boots/shoes...mayyyyyybe, but I will never ever idolize footwear. I'd rather buy the land that's dirtying my soles, frankly.

Sorry - double post

 

[Harpertoo]

Clearly everyone has their own indulgences!
My husband loves to buy me crazy heels, I think I can count the number of times he's sent me flowers on one hand, but Barney's shoe dept. receives a lot of business. I run marathons, so I tend to focus on my running shoe rotation, but somehow they do not get space in the shoe closet!

 

[Harpertoo]

I have a few pairs of designer shoes. I tend to only buy them if they are really pretty and/or different. I wouldn't spend $$$s on a plain pair of black stilettos for example. Here are the last pair I bought

LOVE these!

 

[chel180]

I have a few pairs of designer shoes. I tend to only buy them if they are really pretty and/or different. I wouldn't spend $$$s on a plain pair of black stilettos for example. Here are the last pair I bought

LOVE these!

Thanx, they are fast becoming my favourites.

 

[wordie89]

Thank you, thank you! I love to see pretty shoes while resigned to wearing practical stuff. I'm doubly challenged with feet both short and wide: 5 eee or something like that. I tend toward new balance, Birks and some other German shoes. Sad to say my old riding boots are too tight after babies.