To Shoes or Not to Shoes: Cost-Benefit Analysis

The thing about great shoes is that they tend to be expensive. Too expensive, in fact, for an unpaid editorial intern living in New York, which is what I was at the time I stumbled (quite literally) upon two pairs of really great shoes strewn about in the footwear fallout of the annual Barney’s shoe sale of 2007. Shoes that would, under any other circumstances, be handled with care are tossed aside mercilessly so that greedy, finger-wiggling women may more swiftly reach the pair they’re after. Beautiful leather is scratched and scuffed from the pointed toes of shuffling Manolos kicking them around until they end up under the shelves and out of the way. Wooden platforms are nicked and knocked up from being pounded (not placed) back onto the metal rack after an unpleasant encounter with a disobliging, swollen foot. Such is the scene in which I met two of the great, unrequited shoe loves of my life.

Enter the Lanvin Gladiator Sandal.

Its T-strap simplicity makes it classic and versatile while the Lucite heel adds an unexpected punch, revealing the mechanical, inner support system that holds a woman five inches above the ground. Gorgeous. A shoe guaranteed to get as much use as it does flattery. And at 70% off, who could resist? Unless, of course, that person is me, who lacked the necessary cash to purchase the wearable art, even if it was a comparative steal.

It bears mention that the use of Lucite was a decisively risky move, as it is a material usually associated with the professional removal of all attire besides Lucite-built shoes. Marc Jacobs recently tested the waters with a similar design and failed miserably, as far as I am concerned:

The square heel of this simple pump, contrary to the chic, sleek Lanvin cone heel, reads “clunky,” “heavy” and “outdated.” Furthermore, by placing the housed stiletto heel off to the side, the singular focus of the Marc Jacobs heel becomes the translucent nature of Lucite—a characteristic that is as boring as the design, lacking the dimension and depth the Lanvin heel gains from the embedded, exposed screw-age positioned in the center.

Moving on to a seemingly less practical “statement” shoe, let us touch on the Proenza Schouler Yellow Python Pumps. (I’m not certain that this is the designer-designated name of the shoe, but if you had any idea how hard it was to find a mere picture of the pumps, I’m sure you’d appreciate the lack of official information out there regarding these shoes these days.)

This is a shoe that is surely less multipurpose than the aforementioned Gladiator Sandal…. Or is it? The traditional shape of the shoe allows it to be inserted most anywhere a regular pump is needed, while the bright yellow color adds that certain je ne se quoi that has become an increasingly popular incorporation into the wardrobes of the world. Meanwhile, the texture of the python skin makes edgier even the most boring black ensemble without being as distracting as one might expect. Great for catching a show, hitting a club or grabbing a club sandwich. These shoes would go with everything. But, given that I spotted these beauties sitting on a full-priced display, tauntingly adjacent to the still overpriced sale section, it would not be my fate to own such fabulous footwear. Hence, unrequited shoe love, albeit more money in my pocket.