April 3 - really can't resist a bargain

What:  size 8 black leather kitten heeled mules
From:  Talbots (outlet)
Purchased:  early 00s
Cost: cheap.  Tag says $30, but I distinctly recall they were so cheap I could not pass them up - at least 50% off, maybe 60%, maybe 75%.  We'll say $15 since I can't remember.

 Oh for Pete's sake, I have TWO of them!  They had to have been cheaper than $15.  I bet $12.  But anyway, guess what, another pair never worn.  I really have no explanation, other than inability to pass up a bargain. Well, they're not really a bargain if I never wear them, now are they?

Bottom line:  keeper, I guess

April 2 - can't resist a bargain

What:  size 8 nude mules with kitten heel
From:  Talbots (outlet)
Purchased:  early 00s?
Cost:  cheap.  Box says $30, but I distinctly recall they were so cheap I could not pass them up - at least 50% off, maybe 60%, maybe 75%.  We'll say $15 since I can't remember. 

Another in the never worn category, which drives me crazy.  These were so cheap I snapped them up, but honestly.  I never wore nude shoes in the 00s, I have no idea what I thought I'd wear them with, and they've been in that box for a long, long time.  I do like mules, though they seem to have gone completely out of style.  And they do have a nice low heel, and the footbed in nicely padded.  Sigh, oh well, perhaps I can find a way to wear them.  (Seriously, why is there no resale market for unworn shoes?  I should really think more about ebay). 

Bottom line:  keeper, I guess

March 13 - brown mules

What:  size 8 brown snakeskin print mules
From:  Talbots (outlet)
Purchased:  late 90s?
Cost:  guessing $20

A total guess on price - I've had these forever.  They've been living under my bed in my shoe underbed storage thing, which I've decided to get through for my next few posts.  I've never worn these much - the part that goes right over the foot for some reason hurts like hell.  No blister or anything, jsut hurt like hell after walking just a little in them.  Not a feature you want in a shoe.  These are good looking shoes, so I've held onto them, but definitely not great shoes.  Oh well.  Maybe I can be persuaded to part with them, but they do have a clearly defined place to live so who knows. 

Bottom line:  keeper, for now

March 7 - more mules

What:  size 8 black mules with bow
From:  Bandolino (Hecht's)
Purchased:  '01-'02
Cost:  more than I wanted them to - $36 or so

I got these shoes because I really needed a pair of black shoes to wear to some meeting.  They were a classic I need X so will search them out and buy something that fits X's requirements but isn't quite perfect and costs too much money.  But I actually liked these just fine - I used to wear them all the time with a black shirt and grey pencil skirt.  Classic.  I haven't worn them in years, and they really aren't that stylish anymore. 

When did mules go so out of style?  Oh well.  They are still really fine.

Bottom line:  keeper

December 18 - party slip ons

What: Size 8W beaded mules
From: Naturalizer (outlet)
Purchased: December 03 or 04 - maybe 06? Not sure but it was a Christmas we were in Florida
Cost: $10

I have a very stylish friend who I shop with on occasion. One time, she found a cool pair of beaded deep red mules that she declared would be perfect as hostess shoes for an upcoming New Year's Eve family dinner she was hosting. Doesn't that sound glamorous? So when I found these at the Naturalizer outlet for only $10, I thought, aha! My very own hostess slippers! Not quite as fancy as my friend's, but still nice. I've worn them a few times, and intended to wear them for our holiday open house on the 18th, but my cozy slippers were far too comfortable. But these are still perfectly good shoes.

Bottom line: keeper

August 13 - more black

What: size 8 black mules with stretchy band and stitching
From: Naturalizer (bought at Marshalls on clearance)
Purchased: 2008
Cost: $20

These are super comfy slip ons, but the inside lining is coming apart and bunches up, which is totally annoying. I need to rip that out (free, plus buy liner at drug store), or get it glued back down (cobbler).

These shoes have a history. I saw them at the Naturalizer outlet in what must have been early 2007, and tried them on but passed them up. Then, later that year, someone in my office got a pair and I loved the look of them and was bummed I hadn't gotten them. I coveted her shoes every time I saw them, and on my next outlet trip looked, but they were long gone. Imagine my surprise to find them at Marshalls! But I think they were too high, and I was being frugal at the time, so I resisted. Until they went on clearance! And now they are mine. Victory! I wore them a lot in '09 (hence the tearing and bunching liner) because they are very comfortable and I think look good with a cropped pant, and they filled that black work niche (in spring, summer, and fall, but mules in winter is no good) that gives me so much trouble.

Bottom line: Keeper

August 12 - pointy toes

What: Size 8 pointy toe tan/cognac mules with small buckle and Louis XIV heels
From: Franco Sarto (Lord & Taylor)
Purchased: winter '04-'05
Cost: this is a guess - $36 (I know they came from L&T because they still have the "red dot" sale sticker on them, so whatever they cost they were an extra percent off, plus 20% coupon that L&T always offers, so they might have been cheaper, but let's guess marked down to $50, extra 25% off, 20% off coupon, which is a pretty reasonable guess)

I like these shoes a lot, though I rarely wear them. Love Louis XIV heels. On AwwwTrouble I once talked about my grand plans for maternity leave, but how I only once went to the National Gallery of Art. I wore these shoes that day. I swear they fit like a glove, the leather is like soft butter, they feel totally comfortable - and they wear blisters on my feet like you would not believe. I totally left the Gallery early, and limped home. The blisters are in totally random places, too. You know how you try on shoes and you think, hmm, this is gonna hurt in a few hours? With these shoes, there is no earthy reason why they should hurt. There is no explanation for a blister on the side of my foot, right below the big toe (as one example). These shoes feel so comfortable!

So, I wore them to a meeting downtown. Walked one block to bus stop, walked one block to meeting, sat in meeting, walked 3 blocks different bus stop (stopping at H&M along the way), walked 2 blocks home from the return bus stop. Feet felt ok, but sure enough there was one blister just forming on my 4th toe. Garr!

I really like these shoes! Am completely puzzled by the blister issue. I just learned about footglide, an anti-rubbing product that is supposed to help prevent blisters and hot spots. Might have to try it.

Bottom line: Keeper. Though the blister thing...sigh.

July 14 - another offer

What: red linen half inch heeled mules, size 7.5
From: Talbots (Outlet)
Purchased: ? early ‘00s
Cost: ~$20

Another pair up for grabs. All these 7.5s were just a hair tight back in the day, but now just do not fit. I wore these a small handful of times. I went through a real mule phase for a while there, but I think I’m over it now, or maybe mules just aren’t as in style. In any case, leave a comment if you’d like to try them on, otherwise they are going bye bye.

Bottom line: give away!

July 8 - lilac

What: size 7.5 2 inch heeled lilac mules
From: Aerosoles (outlet)
Purchased: late '90s, early '00s
Cost: Definitely <$20

I've had these forever. I used to wear them with a lilac linen a-line skirt and white blouse. Loved that outfit. Mules can be tricky - they don't just go with anything. And these are a tricky color too, so light. You have to wear something equally light colored, I think. I also have a pair of slightly too small lilac seersucker pants I've wanted to wear these with, but the whole size thing has been working against me. Anyway, have not worn these in forever, mostly because of not having anything to wear with them. I wore them with a light denim skirt and purple top and I don't think it worked, but the shoes were comfortable. Holding onto them until I can either fit into my linen skirt or I give up that dream!

Bottom line: keeper

July 4 - red

What: size 7.5 AA-width red tumbled leather mules
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: could not even guess beyond late 90s
Cost: not sure, but outlet purchase means they were around $20

As discussed, my feet have grown. Sigh. Kind of depressing, except I think this might actually help me cull some shoes. When I did a quick look through my shoes, I ran across several that were size 7.5 and just did not fit. Stay tuned, as they are going to be offered online before being donated. Anyway, I've long had a thing for red shoes, but my look through showed me several of the now too small shoes were red ones. And most of my red ones are heels or pumps or heeled loafers. I could actually use a couple of pairs of red sandals now that I'm thinking about it - filed away for future reference when I am checking out the clearance racks.

Anyway, on the 4th I picked these up and checked the size, 7.5. And sighed, thinking they would be too small. And the width - I have discovered at the Talbots Outlet that their shoe sizes are all over the place. I have at least two pairs of narrow shoes from the outlet, and my feet are wide. WIDE. Seriously wide. And yet, these still fit fine. Go figure.

Bottom line: keeper