Shoe Porn Monday: Why pay more when you can pay less? Um, Quality?

Ally: Kidding. I love me some Payless Shoes!

During Boxing Day week, the l’il and I took The Husband out to buy some new dress pants. Using the toddler as an excuse, I walked around the mall with the stroller searching for a quick steal. I found it at Payless.

Source

Aren’t they adorable? The brand is Fioni, and I mostly bought them because they were navy blue, and I have no blue shoes. Well, maybe I do but I can’t remember. Neighbourhood Bestie Melissa bought the exact same pair a week before I did, so essentially, I completely stole her look.

Right then. My head just got super itchy, and I remembered that I have hair dye in that was supposed to be washed out five minutes ago. SHIT.

L-A: That reminds me…my hair is getting serious roots again. Time to break out the box dye. I need a passport photo done soon and I don’t want border guards for the next five years judging me for having roots.  (passport outfit plan: nautical stripes! oh yes.)

I’m sort of opposed to Payless shoes. I like getting a deal on shoes and I’m not opposed to paying Payless prices. And if they’re cute shoes, I don’t really care if they come sporting a brand name. Because, let’s face it, unless you’ve got on a pair of Louboutins with the fancy sole that is a dead giveaway of spending a lot on shoes, NO ONE KNOWS WHO MADE YOUR SHOES.  But here’s where my Payless problem is: sweaty feet.  I hate sweaty feet. HATE. (I am all over the caps lock today. I hope my prof doesn’t actually read the blog, because she is totally going to hold this against me. Especially if I were to break out an exclamation mark or two).  And Payless has always given me majorly sweaty feet. TMI? Maybe. But I don’t care. It’s my reason for not wearing Payless and I’m sticking to it.

However, I am not opposed to spending very little on my shoes. Take exhibit A:

 

 

Even if DSW didn’t send my mom gift certificates for being an insanely good customer (seriously. She is a VIP or Platinum member of their DSW shopping rewards club), these shoes would have been a good deal.  They are kind of the poor, but sassy, cousin of these bad boys:

 

Like long lost fraternal twins!  I would have liked to hear the conversation at Steve Madden HQ when they decided to make the Madden Girl shoes.

Steve Madden: I hear we have a lot of extra satiny polka dot fabric.

Minion: And lots of the red stuff we used for heels.

Steve Madden: Well, we can’t make the same shoe again. What the hell are we supposed to do with it?

Minion: Let’s send it to the Madden Girl factory and tell them to make knock off versions of our own shoes.

Steve Madden: excellent idea! Here’s a pair of shoes as a bonus!

(and that, my friends, is why I will never be a playwright).