Thursday, July 21, 2011

My Most Expensive Pair of Boots

My misguided fantasy of boho chic.
What was I thinking? 

One of my regular blog reads for inspiration is Gretchen Rubin’s “The Happiness Project”. The other day I read her post “Beware the Snare of the Linen Cocktail Napkin”She tells the story of being tempted to buy a set of linen cocktail napkins on sale and writes, “I wished that I had a place in my life for elegant cocktail napkins – but owning the napkins wouldn’t make me any different. I’d still be the same old Gretchen. Even apart from the expense, they’d just clutter up my apartment, and make me feel guilty, too.”

When I read these words the first thought that came to my mind was “brown suede London Sole boots.” I hadn’t thought about those boots in a long time because a year ago I tucked them into a flannel bag and shoved them to the back of my shoe shelf. Gretchen didn’t get caught in the snare, but I did. 

Seduced by the cache of the London Sole label, by the sale price and by the bright pink lining, I parted with $60 for a pair of boots that I’ve never worn, making them the most expensive boots I own. My Versace, Jimmy Choo and Lambertson Truex boots were all in the three figure range when I bought them, but I’ve worn each of them probably a hundred or more times, giving them a low CPW (cost per wear).

Not my look and that's okay. Boho Chic from Stylehive


What was I thinking when I bought these boots? I had fantasies of me being someone else. Someone who would sweep into a party as a vision of Boho Chic or stride all cool and hip down the sidewalk. But try as I might, these boots are not me and I am not these boots. To assuage my guilt and decrease my closet clutter I'm bringing them to my favorite consignment shop to cut my losses. 
Anyone else with similar experiences? I'd love to hear them. 

4 comments:

  1. Yup, those boots are not you, Lesa. The most difficult shopping strategy to learn and to implement is to only buy something that you are absolutely gaga about. And I mean gaga. Having said that, I still make the mistake of buying an item now and then that is such a good bargain I can't pass it up. And all because I am a sucker for certain designer labels that I discover at Marshall's or TJ Maxx.

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  2. I hear you, Lesa. I usually go 'off track' when I buy pieces that are too fussy. I've accepted that I look better in modern, clean lines. Ruffles, feathers, fringe and bows just aren't me!

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  3. I bought a pair of green spike-heeled "jelly" shoes in London about 5 years ago. They were cheap and they were really beautiful in an outlandish way. I have never worn them, and probably never will. But I still just love to look at them. I love to HAVE them. So I guess it wasn't a total loss -- actually, I think what I just described might be in another category from what you describe. Because I know the kind of thing you put in a flannel bag and these shoes aren't that. Thanks for the story, Lesa.

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  4. really cool ! its me ...i like them!:)

    www.froufrougirls.blogspot.com

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