On the red carpet or the streets of New York City, fashionable footwear makes a statement. You may wonder, then, how you can embrace designer shoes as part of your own wardrobe—after all, most people’s everyday belongings aren’t made up of Louboutins or Yves Saint Laurent. Nevertheless, you can most certainly incorporate your favorite designer shoes in a fashionable collection that will impress any brand-name maven, and you won’t need to sell your soul for new high heels or sneakers either.
Find the fashions you love.
When you first set out to build a designer shoe collection of your own, you can’t just grab the first high heel boots you come across with a red sole. Instead, you should take time to explore the available options and determine what styles stand out to you. Then, you‘ll know just what sort of stiletto or sandal you’re looking for. When you head out to purchase your first pair of high fashion heels, then you won’t stand out as a new customer. Instead, you’ll be seen as a shopper who knows just what they want from a pump.
Create the perfect space.
Just like you can’t head to a store and purchase any old shoe, you can’t toss your glam stiletto heels and Bottega Veneta boots on the floor of your closet. After all, a special shoe deserves a special space! This could be as simple as creating a custom storage rack in your closet or as meticulous as seeking out a special storage unit for your shoes. A mini storage space will be ideal, letting you spend less on your self-storage facility and leaving more money for your fashion fund. In addition, if you find a self-storage solution that offers climate control, all the better—your shoes will be well protected from fluctuating temperatures and the fickle elements.
Shop outlets and sales.
Knowing just what shoes you want and being careful about their storage doesn’t mean you’re emptying your bank account with each new pair of shoes. Instead, you can ensure you’re always getting the best price by browsing brand-name outlets, sales, and even third-party websites like eBay or Poshmark. In many cases, you can find the same shoes you’re dreaming of for half the price or even less, even when they have yet to be worn. This is a trick to keep in mind for all of your accessories—whether you’re buying yet another black high heel or your splurging on a chain of diamonds, you can likely find it for less than the brand’s standard price.
Incorporate the rest of your wardrobe.
When you’re building a designer shoe collection, in particular, it’s essential to consider the pieces making up the rest of your wardrobe. As much as you love Christian Louboutin, you can’t wear those high heels in place of a dress! Instead, find ways to incorporate your existing closet, including those pieces that aren’t a luxury brand name. By doing this, rather than shopping for designer pieces to match your red bottoms, you’re determining when you’ll save and when you’ll splurge. Now you can have more room in your shoe budget and practice a bit of sustainable fashion in the process.
A carefully curated collection of designer shoes is perhaps the most striking status symbol you can have, but that doesn’t mean you must spend your life’s savings on brand-name high heels. Instead, you can focus on styles you love, choose a designated space to maintain each piece’s quality, and find ways to buy the pieces you dream of at a more affordable price point. Then, you can make the world your runway, one high heel, sandal, or boot at a time.