Buying Your Sole: Shoes with devilish prices
Whether it's a pair of one-of-a-kind, limited-edition kicks, or the newest drool-inducing, red-soled Christian Louboutins, it's easy these days to have a bit of a shoe problem. Then there are the players and debutantes who indulge in a full-scale shoe fetish. Take a peek at these high-priced pairs.
Every girl needs a pair of go-to, gorgeous, "going out" heels to strap on for special occasions. Fashionistas can fit their fancy with a pair of $695 red patent leather heels by Christian Louboutin. Or really go high class with some Chrissie Morris "Suede Trim Lizard Open Toe Lacs." At only $1,116.72, why not go with some lizard skin trimmed with cowhide? Another option is to indulge the inner Cinderella by getting a pair of $2 million "Cinderella Slippers"–-four-inch stilettos, complete with 565 diamonds-–from designer Stuart Weitzman. Singer Alison Krauss wore them to the Oscars in 2004. It should be pointed out that knockoffs can probably be purchased at a discount shoe store for around $20.
Monetarily blessed men might be more drawn to a fine pair of leather loafers. Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta is pleased to oblige their sartorial fancy. A pair of "Naismith" rubber-soled sneakers walk in at $640. Dressing it up, the "Alcyone" dress shoes made out of calf skin feature a woven webbing pattern (think baseball mitt) on the side and can be purchased for $890.
For athletes and posers alike, having the right footwear is key. Laced Up--an Atlanta shoe boutique--deals in classic, limited-edition and rare shoes with a client base that includes music heavyweights like Usher, Lil Wayne and T.I., and athletes like Floyd Mayweather and Clinton Portis. Plain old sneaks leave these entertainment big boys feeling outcast. But hip-hop impresario Big Boi's pair of Nike Air Force 1 "So-Cals" priced at $50,000 should cut it. The aqua and white patent leather sneaks are coated with eight carats of champagne diamonds. The same effect can be created by a pair of $20 off-brands, some dollar-store jewelry and a hot-glue gun.
Sandals and flip-flops are all about relaxation. After all, nothing says "chill out" like letting wind tousle the toe hair. But affording these extravagant flip-flops is probably restricted to the celebrity crowd that has figured out how to capture cash with major hotness and minor intelligence.
Brazilian jewelers H. Stern dressed up a pair of Havaianas (ironically, known around the world as great, cheap, rubber flip-flops) with straps featuring 1,636 18-karat gold feathers--complete with a frog-shaped amulet on the left foot--and inlaid with diamonds. The soles are made out of standard black rubber, but they cost $19,840, or about $19,837.50 more than an average pair of Brazilian-bought Havaianas.
Twenty-G flip-flops might even be too much for Hollywood's latest bleached bombshell to afford, but don't worry. Crystalishious offers some for the relatively frugal price of $1,800. With straps decorated in crystals patterned in shapes such as guitars and winged hearts, these simple, ubiquitous sandals hold the distinction of being hideously ugly as well as pricey.
Keeping your feet ensconced in some quality kicks will help foot health and could prevent costly injuries. But diamond coating your ego with $1,000 crystal-encrusted flip-flops is insanity.
Sources: bottegaveneta.com; forbes.com; neimanmarcus.com; polyvore.com; cmt.com; podiatrists.org; most-expensive.net; ajc.com; havaianasasia.com; lacedup.biz





Post new comment