Oh How I Do Like A Bargain

By Jan True on Jul 18, 08 09:15 AM

AS you have probably gathered by now I'm no Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City. Don't get me wrong, I'd love a pair of Jimmy Choo's or Manolo Blahniks', but I'm not a designer-gear fanatic. If I see a pair I like and they fit my budget, then I'll buy them.

I think the cheapest pair I have ever bought was on a market stall in Ormskirk.
A guy was selling a selection of fancy court shoes with 4inch heels at the amazing price of, to which he reply for two pairs for £7.00. Bargain!!
They came in two colours, beige and tan, so I had visually made my choice and just needed to find the right size.
Unfortunately, he didn't have many left and a woman in front of me was trying on the last tan pair in my size.
Quick as a flash I grab the beige size 4s and asked the stallholder if he had a tan pair in the same size, to which he replied, "Sorry love that's the last pair," pointing the the ones in the woman's hands.
Not sure if I gave off some disappointing vibes but to my delight the woman in front decided the size 4 was too small and put them down.
They weren't there for long. When I move, I move, I can tell you.
Now you may be thinking at that price they were going to fall apart after their first outing.
Not so. In fact they have turned out to be one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I have ever worn. The make was Tonic. Never heard of it myself but I have since seen shoes in Ethel Austin's of the same brand.
Anyway, I worn the beige pair in particular, day in day out for work and for walking round the shops and when the heels and soles started to wear, I took them to the cobblers.
It cost me £15 to get them fixed, but I still thought it was worth it to get another six months out of them.
Sadly, they are looking a bit dishevelled these days and I really don't think another £15 repair job is worth it. But I definitely think I got my money's worth. Don't you?

NB: According to a certain Nolan sister column I read this week, Christian Louboutin's red-soled high heels are the shoes most likely to put us women in the mood for love. But at £300 a pair I think I stick to my much cheaper but just as sexy red stilettos!!