The Undeniably Irresistible World of Designer Shoes

Even those with the tiniest bit of fashion sense can tell you that nothing in this world is quite as divine as a good pair of designer shoes. Yes, there are those who insist that buying a $500 pair of designer sneakers is a waste of money when you can get something for less than $30 off the rack at your local Payless.The question is, have the people who make such outlandish claims ever even graced their feet with a pair of Prada sneakers or Gucci sneakers? I would think not! After all, anyone who has ever owned a pair of designer shoes knows that some things are definitely worth the price.

 In the World of Designer Shoes, You Get What You Pay For

 Yes, there are an abundance of cheap footwear to be had on your local department store shelves, but none of those shoes look or feel anything like the shoes put out by the world's leading houses of couture.Cheaper brands will try to imitate the Channel ballet slipper, the Gucci sneaker and the Prada sandal, but none ever manage to hit the mark. Why? Because there is so much more quality and work put into a designer shoe.Some of the world's best designer shoe brands have been creating their masterpieces for more than a hundred years. The world-renowned Prada has been in the business since 1913 and Gucci started their line of genius in the 1920s.Those who wear the brands understand how and why they have been able to amass such a loyal following over the past century. They understand that when you pay for a pair of designer shoes, you're not just paying for a name. You're paying for the superior quality and the years of experience that go into that shoe.

Art vs. Profit

In the world of fashion, design is everything. It takes a master to combine the alluring beauty of designer shoes with a proper fit, superior materials and genius craftsmanship. This, my friends, is the reason why a $400 pair of Fendi sneakers will last years while a pair from Target will only last you a few months, and that's if you're lucky. But there's even more to it than that.While shoe enthusiasts can go on and on about the quality of designer shoes versus the quality of sub-par bargain shoes, the real debate comes down to the battle of art versus profit.No, the brilliant minds who create your Prada shoes, Gucci shoes and Fendi shoes aren't just doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. They are definitely interested in pulling a profit, but that's not their single focus. They are also focused on the art of the industry.Quality designer shoes are truly a work of genius and anyone who has worn a pair can attest to this fact. The masters who design these gems are talented professionals who spend painstaking hours making sure everything is absolutely perfect. The same cannot be said for those who design the inferior bargain shoes sold at the local discount stores.So does that mean you have to pay an arm and a leg if you want the best that the world of designer shoes has to offer? Fortunately the answer to that question is a resounding “No!”

Do Cheap Designer Shoes Exist?

If you're one of the many fashion enthusiasts who has a love for designer shoes but just can't swing three or four hundred dollars for a pair of Prada sneakers or Gucci loafers, you're in luck. Cheap designer shoes can be found at very generous discounts under the right circumstances.Depending on the style and the season you can purchase discount designer shoes at markdowns as low as fifty percent off, and sometimes even lower. Chances are you won't find the latest releases at rock bottom prices, but for those who don't mind wearing last season's styles the savings can be phenomenal.The best place to find cheap designer shoes at the deepest discounts is online. Because online stores have a lower overhead and can cater to a larger volume of customers they have the ability to offer better prices than the smaller boutiques and even the larger upscale department stores. The Internet has proven to be a great resource for deal hunters, and it holds true for those looking for deals on designer shoes as well.

Stretching Your Dollar Even Further

In addition to finding discount designer shoes on sale at bargain prices, there are other steps you can take to stretch your shoe wardrobe budget a bit further.If you can only afford one or two pairs of designer shoes, make sure you purchase a classic style rather than a trendy one. While a bright and flashy Prada sandal may be to die for, you'll probably get more use from a classic pair of Prada sneakers.Of course as I stated before, designer shoes do last longer than their cheap counterparts so purchasing one or two classic pairs each year will enable you to build a shoe wardrobe that any discerning shoe shopper would be proud of. Then, when the basics are covered, you can add a few of the trendy pairs here and there, should your budget allow it.Another way to save money is to restore your designer shoes when they start to wear down. Because the shoes are made with quality craftsmanship they can be professionally restored for a relatively low cost at your local shoe repair and restoration business. They'll be more than happy to restore your designer shoes to like new condition in one or two days time. Sometimes even less.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is this... If it's true that you are what you wear, wouldn't you rather be a designer original than a cheap generic knock off? Practicality and quality aside, there's something to be said about the feeling you get when you have a good pair of designer shoes on your feet. Whether it be a pair of men's Prada sneakers or women's Prada sandals, a pair of Gucci sneakers or a Fendi loafer, the designer shoes you wear can speak volumes about who you are.