I love that women’s oxfords have been in fashion for the last few seasons. Something about the laces and stitched leather that combine to make a nearly irresistible package that I just can’t wait to try on.

So, when I drove the three hours to the nearest Nordstrom in May during the Half-yearly sale, this shoe, of course, was not included in the sale, became my new obsession:

BCBG Corona Tan BCBGirls corona

BCBGirls ‘Corona’.

Available in: Icy Foam/Black, Summer Brown/Canvas, and Black/Black Snake (not pictured). Retailing for $109.95-$112.99 at Nordstrom.com and Heels.com; it is currently $66.45 at Shoebuy.com.

I was specifically attracted to the spectator color styling; my favorite being the ‘Icy Foam’ grey and black combination. This is a lovely alternative to the more traditional black and white spectators and is a great summer alternative to similar closed-toe styles. Unfortunately, this particular color combination is only available in Nordstrom stores and is not available at the Nordstrom online shopping site.  This is a  real obstacle when it is three hours and one gas tank to the nearest brick and mortar location.

So, my online hunt was on.

I actually found a similar shoe by Guess:

guess doozi black

The ‘Doozi’.

Available in: Espresso/Ivory or Black at Endless.com ($119.95), Shoes.com ($120), and Zappos.com ($124).

With two mass-retailed brands bringing out such similar styles, should I have been suspicious?

Does it live up to the reputation of Uber-sexy classic styling? Christian Louboutin’s ‘Sometimes’ starting at $860. Already sold out at Net-a-porter, it may still be available in-store at Saks, Louboutin boutiques, and other high-end retailers..