Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The New Shoe Blues

I have been wanting gladiator sandals for months. Not because they're so trendy, but just because, well--they're cool. I am normally, strictly, a boots kind of girl. But living in such a hot climate makes year round boots simply not doable. But I do have an affection for leather and for leather straps, and gladiators fill that category quite nicely. Thus, I fell hard and fast for these Nine West numbers:

But the pricetag for them locally is around $100. I was quite torn about that, as I usually only spend that kind of money on sturdy, practical footwear. So I was delighted to see these Wet Seal knock-offs crop up:



Dead ringers, right? And a paltry sum of twenty-four dollars! But not so fast--just when I thought I had pulled yet another bargain coup, reality came to smack me in the face. As I've mentioned previously, I am handicapped. But I am also incredibly stubborn, and I manage pretty well in heels, as long as there's a thick, sturdy sole beneath me. Unlike the Nine West versions, Wet Seals "wedge" gladiators narrow to and almost stiletto-like width at the bottom, making them wobbly. Every time I step forward on my left, my ankle wants to roll inward. Which is not good for anyone. Suffice it to say, I am saddened that I will be returning these tomorrow.

9 comments:

MyFashionAddictions said...

Ahh! Darn it! Too bad cause I was just about to cave in and order these. So you definitely don't recommend these from Wetseal?

p.s. I shall be linking this post to mine about the Wetseal knockoffs with your opinion.

Unknown said...

i am sorry the wetseal shoes didnt work for you!

WendyB said...

You must spend the big bucks on the Nine West shoes then, so you can join my list of bloggers who have them!

FASHION CHALET said...

I added gel inserts and that helped me out a lot. Try it! :)

Couture Carrie said...

I totally understand your dilemma . . . sometimes it's better to pay more $ for better construction! I do love these shoes (and the title of your blog!).

meliindaa. said...

i love those shoes, i have gladiators but they're flats.

Lopi said...

Sorry the knock-offs didn't work out for you! To ease the pain, I have to tell you, I also fell in love with the Nine West ones when the season started, but as soon as I tried them on, my love for them vanished. They are really hard to walk in, and I do wear heels. Don't feel bad! Just find a new love! Or buy flat gladiators... that's what I did!

J.Yo said...

wow, too bad! i hope you find one soon, i bet they'll look great on you!

Owen Carpenter said...

Hi thanks for posting this