Q: Dear Sophie, this season, should I splurge on shoes shoes? Splurging on both is not an option.
Let's, for a moment, ignore all of fashion's irritating diktats.

You know, the rigid rules set out by fashion editors stipulating should only be worn by those with (grey) curls"; and, "If you're Why? Because blue and green make a great team; pearls can be Road, not to mention Target and Payless shoes, take (literal) inspiration from the "original" designer collection.
But, before I get caught in some ugly libel suit for implying that X is copying Y, let's just say that appropriations of the ching) stores.

Hooray. Take the black patent and zebra-print flats from Payless Shoes. They retail from $35 and are, quite simply, a great and Chloe have made legendary.

And, before shoe purists cut me down to my non-designer-clad toes, it's worth noting that expensive does not necessarily mean best. Let's take two examples from my own up for about $29.95, and exhibit B, a similar designer ballet flat bought for about $500.

Following twelve months' wear, it was the latter (shock) that needed re-soling. Go figure.
It may have been an isolated incident but .

.. Anyway, back to great, cheap shoes: Kmart and Target sell sweet patent pumps with stacked wooden heels that are on-trend and easy to wear.

And, as luck, providence and divine intervention would have it, as I write, celebrated US designer Thakoon is releasing a line in Australia for Nine West. According to Thakoon, it's all about creating "design within reach", and with shoes priced from $139, it'll suit me (and you) just fine. Take the Rococo heeled gumboot: it's affordable and, most importantly, an original design without the designer price tag.