I love shoes with a fiery passion. ย They’re almost certainly my favorite item of apparel, and I’m often attracted to wild, Carrie Bradshaw-esque styles. ย But when it’s time to purchase, I morph into No-Nonsense Nellie. ย Oh, I’ll snap up stilettos with unique details- as long as they’re black/ brown/ otherwise neutral. ย Last fall, though, I interviewed M.J. Aileen’s Mary-Aileen, and she reminded me that bold footwear can transform an outfit just as quickly as great accessories can. ย Since I don’t hesitate to buy statement-making jewelry, scarves, and handbags, I felt it was time to start adding some more exciting shoes to my wardrobe.
A couple of weeks ago, I finally made good on that resolution and ordered these:
Okay, I know- they’re just ankle boots. ย But they are PURPLE! ย For me, that’s a major step. ย They retail for $175, but I got them for $89 on RueLaLa, which was enough of a bargain to satisfy No-Nonsense Nellie.
The color is more amethyst than the picture- like a rich, mellow eggplant- which turns out to be surprisingly neutral. ย I’ve worn them once so far, with skinny jeans and a gray sweater, and they definitely gave my outfit a chic boost. ย And since they’re Born, I don’t have to tell you that the construction and comfort are fabulous.
Unfortunately the Born boutique at RueLaLa is long over, but I found the same boots at Zappos.com for $139.65, which appears to be the best buy at the moment.
And if you love the look but would prefer to spend a little less, I happened to notice a very similar style on sale at Aerosoles.com…
It appears that Aerosoles is actually sold out of the purple, but the gray, brown, and black are discounted toย $67.49 to $90.00. ย They are so cute that I may be able to convince myself to pick up the gray. ย (And FYI, select sizes of the purple Aerosoles are available for $119.95 atย Endless.com andย Amazon.com.)
I’m thrilled with my RueLaLa purchase and know that scoring Borns for under $100 is nothing to complain about, but it’s a good reminder that many companies design from the same “inspiration.” ย Ultimately, I’ve learned two valuable lessons from my Born Rosita experience.
- If you’ve fallen in love with a shoe that costs more than you want to spend, look around because there’s a good chance you can find something similar in your price range.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment! ย While it’s important to trust your own sense of style, it’s way too easy to fall into a rut. ย I found a great, classic boot and instead of purchasing my default (black), I chose a color that’s different for me. ย And it worked!
Lucie Amberg is the Director of ZinaBeverlyHills.com.
