When trying to justify the amount of money spent on a purchase, my girlfriends and I have a very simple rule:
1 compliment means it was worth it,
2 compliments means it was a great deal,
and 3 compliments means….it doesn’t matter how much it cost, consider it free, and keep on shopping, clearly you have EXCELLENT taste!
The most recent example of this philosophy are these Sam Edelman peep-toe stacked stilettos in nude and black. I first spotted these beauties in Macy’s in Tampa, and NOT on the sale rack! Nevertheless I tried them on and fell in love immediately! The black trim and adorable bow detail are so unique, and I had never seen another pair of shoes quite like them. On closer inspection, I noticed they were scuffed, and while the salesman did his best to try and talk me into the last pair in my size, I just couldn’t justify the $200 plus price tag! Like a sad puppy with it’s tail between it’s legs, I sulked my way out of the store…where was I going to find another pair? As soon as I got home, I hit the web and Eureka…there they were!
http://www.shoes.comwere selling the shoes for the same price as the store, however, if you purchased online, there was no sales tax, AND no shipping costs if delivered within the US….SCORE! I immediately whipped out my credit card, gave a special nod to Mr. Visa, and completed the transaction. In the end, I saved over $20 from the store price. A few weeks later, my shoes arrived in pristine condition and with NO scuffs!
As I stomped my way to work the next morning, proudly wearing my latest additions, I was stopped by a girl who asked me where I bought my shoes, “they are awesome, where’d you get them?”
AHA! Compliment #1 – Response “oh, on line….” I must admit, I was a bit selfish…sorry Sam! But you can’t give away all your secrets! One of the most tricky things about fashion is they typically make more than ONE, unless of course you are buying a one-of-a-kind, couture piece, so when you find something special you need to be a little territorial!
As I headed up to the office, I was greeted by several colleagues who also noticed the shoes…..
YES! Compliment #2….I was on a roll! TOTALLY Worth it!
Heading out for lunch later that afternoon, I noticed a group of guys and girls looking down, and I could hear them discussing my shoes(okay, ya, so this blog sounds totally egotistical, but really, it’s not ME it’s the shoes!). One of the guys actually said to me “Great shoes!” and not in a creeper, slimey way.
MISSION COMPLETE…Compliment #3 – and all by Noon! Was a purchase ever MORE justified?
To this day, I continue to receive compliments on these great shoes. So when I'm not quite sure if I want to spend the money, I go with my gut. Is it 3 compliment-worthy? If the answer is yes....then how can you say no?
Check out the Sam Edelman 2011 collection!
http://www.samedelman.com
