1. Alexander Wang Chloe perch trimmed sandals
2. Bottega Venetta two tone sandals
3. Rag & Bone Hilary Convertible Boots*
4. Alexander Wang Fabiana*
5. Isabel Marant Gava*
6. Alexander McQueen suede ankle booties
7. Balmain Alight

Ohhh, the one that got away. You know what I’m talking about… not a person, but the pair of shoes you had your eye on forever, had queued up to purchase on sale and at the last minute convinced yourself there was some reason why you didn’t have the money at the time or that they wouldn’t fit (both of those are reasons I’ve used). I have kicked myself (no pun intended) so many times for passing on shoe purchases that I still search for. I experience all kinds of ups and downs when it comes to shoes. There’s multiple types of shoe heartbreak:

1) Passing on the best deal ever for no real reason

2) Finding your love match only to find out they don’t come in your size or are sold out

3) Getting the deal of the century and taking your new babies home to find out after first wear that it’ll also be the last because your feet are bleeding

4) The ones that you want, but can’t afford unless they go on sale – oh the torment of waiting until the end of the season

I’ve experienced it all. I was online shopping the other night (which is rare anymore because I’m so busy) and realized I’m so off the shoe sale game right now and got me reflecting on my past failures in 1, 2 and 3 with high hopes for 4. I still google search and comb eBay for some of my lost ones, wondering if they’ll pop up. So I thought it would be encouraging to others who have shared in this to hear a few of my stories. Hopefully you won’t make the same mistake as me and hopefully history won’t repeat itself in my life!

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1) Passing on the best deal ever for no real reason

Number One on my all time biggest shopping regret list is this pair of Rag & Bone Hilary Convertible Boots – they were on sale on SSense and I was afraid that even though they magically had my size, that they might not fit and I would be out a lot of money. I still hate seeing pictures of them, it hurts. They’re CONVERTIBLE boots and SOOOO badass. They double as short booties (part of my logic was also that you’re getting two shoes for the price of one, that still wasn’t enough) and I have yet to find another pair of boots more magical since.

Number Two on my all time biggest shopping regret list is the pair of Alexander Wang Fabianas. You’ve seen them, just about everywhere in silver and in black, and these too make me cringe a little inside. They’re one of the hottest pairs of sandals I’ve ever seen with a cape – doesn’t get much cooler than that. Again, another epic fail for not pulling the trigger on these when I had the chance.

2) Finding your love match only to find out they don’t come in your size or are sold out

The Alexander McQueens and the Balmain booties are good examples of this – the slow let down when you click the drop down box to find that your size is not available or is sold out. You have been there too, I was with you (in spirit).

3) Getting the deal of the century and taking your new babies home to find out after first wear that it’ll also be the last because your feet are bleeding

Let me tell you … sometimes the ones that you desire the most are the most disappointing. I had been looking at the Camila Skovgaard tassel booties for at least a year I think when I finally saw them pop up on the Outnet, in my size, super on sale. Score. A few clicks later they were headed my way. I am not a squealer or a shrieker at all, but I’m pretty sure that might’ve happened when they arrived. They were perfect, the most amazingly cool tassel/edge soled shoe to ever exist…. until I wore them. I can’t wear them for more than 30 minutes without wanting to cry because of the awkward arch – it was super disappointing to say the least. If you ever see me in them know I’m really struggling or there is a good chance I’m not planning on being around for too long, because they’re that painful. I always pick them up off of my shoe shelf, then I put them back down because I’m afraid. Seriously.

4) The ones that you want, but can’t afford unless they go on sale – oh the torment of waiting until the end of the season

This brings me to my last story, the Alexander Wang Chloe sandals. The best sporty spice meets scuba steve in a sexy sandal, maybe ever. I’m determined to bring these guys home and they look like they are actually kind of comfortable (I have tried on the sample at Nordstrom once… ok twice) so I’ll be stalking the sites come 1-2 months from now in hopes that I’ll be successful for once!

If you’re a warm blooded female, I’d guess you have a few stories of your own like these as well. Do share! I’d love to hear that I’m not the only one :)