Save On Shoes, Splurge On Designer Outfits

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Let's, for a moment, ignore all of fashion's irritating diktats. You know, the rigid rules set out by fashion editors stipulating such workings as "Blue and green should never been seen"; "Pearls should only be worn by those with (grey) curls"; and, "If you're not wearing a pair of designer shoes then you're bound to get the blues". Why? Because blue and green make a great team; pearls can be worn by all girls; and you'd be foolish to spend a fortune on the latest Chloe pumps when chain stores such as Witchery and Country Road, not to mention Target and Payless shoes, take (literal) inspiration from the "original" designer collection. But, before I get caught in some ugly libel suit for implying that X is copying Y, let's just say that appropriations of the latest designer shoes can now be found in less than bling (read cha ching) stores. Hooray. Take the black patent and zebra-print flats from Payless Shoes. They retail from $35 and are, quite simply, a great re-working of the basic patent flat that brands such as Marc Jacobs and Chloe have made legendary. And, before shoe purists cut me down to my non-designer-clad toes, it's worth noting that expensive does not necessarily mean best. Let's take two examples from my own wardrobe: exhibit A, a black leather ballet flat from Dotti, picked up for about $29.95, and exhibit B, a similar designer ballet flat bought for about $500. Following twelve months' wear, it was the latter (shock) that needed re-soling. Go figure. It may have been an isolated incident but. Anyway, back to great, cheap shoes: Kmart and Target sell sweet patent pumps with stacked wooden heels that are on-trend and easy to wear. And, as luck, providence and divine intervention would have it, as I write, celebrated US designer Thakoon is releasing a line in Australia for Nine West. According to Thakoon, it's all about creating "design within reach", and with shoes priced from $139, it'll suit me (and you) just fine. Take the Rococo heeled gumboot: it's affordable and, most importantly, an original design without the designer price tag.