What's More Fun Than Wearing Shoes? Buying Them!

By Jayde Johannsen

For most women they are as much a source of stress as of pleasure, as much a potential foe as a trusted friend. For centuries shoes have played an important, pivotal role in a women's ensemble. Whether one is attending a baseball game, a lunch with friends, or an annual gala, choosing the proper pair of shoes to complete one's look is simply essential.

Whatever a woman's ensemble, whether it be a casual day skirt, a business suit, a swim cover up, or a party dress, the shoes she chooses must fit the look perfectly. A woman 's ensemble projects an image to the world and thus helps to display her role at work, at home, and at various activities. Achieving a big promotion requires dressing the part, and this includes the shoes one decides on. Even the perfect skirt, top, and accessories can quickly go awry if the wrong footwear is selected.

The effect of one's outfit depends on selecting the proper footwear to convey to the world her understanding of herself, her personal style, and her take on the trends of her current surroundings.

While in decades past it may have been acceptable for a woman to look as though she were recycling a "classic" or sporting a trend that is "en vogue" in some other city or country, today a woman is always expected to be dressed for her surroundings. Sporting Crocs in Milan or Uggs in Miami simply won't cut it.

Luckily for today's style and cost-conscious woman, there are a few simple rules that will ensure the perfect footwear purchase every time. By remembering these tips, one can become a master of the art of shoe-shopping almost instantly.

The first rule that every woman should remember when contemplating her next footwear purchase, is to consider carefully the relative price of the potential shoe choice at hand. Many women continually make the mistake of repeatedly buying somewhat less-than-desirable shoes simply because they are on sale for a very reasonable price. While the price of a pair of shoes may be very cheap, purchasing numerous pairs this way quickly begins to add up. A good rule of thumb for any woman to live by is to consider the question, "would I want these if they were not on sale?" If the answer to this tried-and-true test is yes, than the purchase is likely a valuable one, however if it is no, leave the shoes behind. A closet full of cheap, B-list shoes can often lead to guilt-tripping one's self into forcing a less -than-desirable footwear choice just to gain the satisfaction of knowing they were used.

A second important consideration for effective shoe-shopping is to remember to consider when to splurge on frivolity and when to opt for practicality. For shoes that are the must-have-item of the season, consult your budgetary constraints and determine how much you can allot this year, while bearing in mind that they will likely be tucked away in storage next year. Annually investing in just one or two pairs of it-shoes gives one the exhilaration of having nabbed the latest trend, while also keeping things under control in the finance department. For all of the other seasonal trends, consider buying high-quality, cheaper, reproduction versions of your favorite styles, so that you gain the same effect, but without the added stress or guilt of purchasing the originals.

Investing in the daily necessities and classic trends will ensure that you have beautiful, high-quality pieces for years to come. With just a bit of time spent doing research, you too can have the most enviable shoe closet around and at a fraction of the price of your friends. - 29959

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