What's your most expensive shoe purchase?

[Nemtynakht]

So I was wondering... the taboo topic, money.
We're all shoe obsessed on here, but I'm curious about what everyone considers "okay" to pay for shoes. I prefer to get shoes on sale, and the majority of shoes in my closet (at least until a year or so ago) probably cost less than $50. That said, I do have a few splurges and I'm wondering what your threshold for shoes is and what your most expensive pair of shoes is.

For me: For a long time, it was the Josef Seibel sandals I bought when I was a junior in high school as an award to myself for scoring well on my PSAT (I was a shoe person, even back then...). I remember that I paid $125 for them and thought that was nutso. I still have them, more than 10 years later.

I got more comfortable with the $100 mark for shoes, and then bought my next most expensive pair about three years ago. A pair of Mephistos that were right around $150 (to reward myself for getting a fellowship). Since then I've bought several pairs at or above $150, and even a pair or two above $200 (my new Trippens).

My biggest splurge? My beloved Ferragamo Audreys, at $340, purchased at the store in NYC. (Closer to $370 with tax, ouch!) I've never before or since made a purchase in a store where you couldn't see the cash registers -- she took my card in the back room and came out with the receipt on a tray for me. So classy.

What about you?

[jitterbugbaby]

Hmmm... my biggest shoe splurge?

I'm such a sale shopper that most of my "most expensive" shoes were actually purchased at a discount. But the pair that I paid the most for is probably my Espace Mercure boots:


They were $270. Yes it was $270, down from $415, but still... it was a big chunk o' change.

Being a shoe snob, I get very wary of shoes that are under $100 full price. Not to say I won't buy them, but I get nervous about the quality and production. So, I think the range I'm most comfortable with is $100-200. It's really the $300 mark that starts to seem expensive to me. And I've got several pairs whose "MSRP" is over that, but I've gotten lucky and either found them on sale or had them given to me as gifts.


Also, in other news, I want to hear about/see pictures of your Trippens. I love that brand! And I'm dying to know which ones you bought and where you found them.

[shoesense]

I'm a world-caliber cheapskate. I basically never, or EXTREMELY rarely buy something full price. And the sales--they have to be good! Like, at least 50% off, or something.

So my most expensive pair, I begged my hubby to buy it for me. It was 50% off, and it was still $235--it's my Dries van Noten heels (which I almost never wear, mind you, they come from an era in which I thought I could wear 3-inch heels without problems). No matter, they're BEAUTIFUL.

I guess my limit would be about $200--perhaps slightly more if we're talking tall boots. That's how much I would be willing to pay; doesn't mean that the retail value of the shoe is such. I have a lot of shoes that were initially marked over 3, 4, or even $500 (as in the case of my Louboutins, gotten on eBay for $188; retail price would have been $525; and yes, they're quite authentic).

Good question!

[Nemtynakht]

I got the Trippen "blossom" style. They're the reverse color of these in the picture. I love them.

A note about Trippens: they run large. I'm almost invariably a 39, and the 38s were great. Also, most of the shoes were heavier than I expected (or prefer).

It's a funny story, actually. I was in Paris last week, and one of my goals was to find a pair of Trippens (ideally this pair). I was too embarrassed to admit to my bf that I was on a shoe mission, so I had almost given up tracking down the locations where Trippens were sold. But then one fateful day... I got lost while returning to our apartment. I was walking down this side street in what I thought was a rather unsavory neighborhood (a few stores down, a sign offered "Caresse... jusqu'a plaisir!"). I looked in a store window and immediately recognized a Trippen leather bag. So much more gorgeous in person. Beautiful. I got very excited -- they had a full wall of Trippens. I could have gone nuts and bought all of them (luckily most of them were black, and I try to limit the number of shoes I have of any given color).

[shoesense]

I love them! I MUST go to Paris in the near future. Lucky you!

[JuneHawk]

A pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. I live in the UK so I paid £345 which is roughly $690. They are probably more expensive that all my other shoes combined! OK, maybe not (I have A LOT of shoes!) :P

[Nemtynakht]

Those shoes are BEAUTIFUL, though! Wow.

[jitterbugbaby]

I love both the Trippens and the Louboutins! Both so gorgeous in their own ways, and both worth the price to me.

[JuneHawk]

I love the Trippens but I couldn't find them online!!

[soccergurrl]

my mum has an annual auction held in the fall for my all-girls middle school every year [ocd] in westchester, ny to support the less fortaunate who attend the school, and i put awn my sum marc jacobs for the event? i wuld show yhu a pic. but i'd be embarressed considering they're soo nawt in.