Celebrating V-Day With My Love of Shoes

So, we've already discussed how I adore shoes. I have what I call a shoe collection and what some of my friends call a problem. However, that is exactly what qualifies me to discuss with all of you the following:

There are shoes that are to be invested in and there are shoes that will be your favorites for a short time, before disappearing into the abyss of trends gone by. For the trend shoes, I can't tell you enough how much I love the designers for Payless. I bought a pair of gray suede booties with a high wedge heel and a sweater-knit cuff there over the winter- Alice + Olivia for Payless, on sale for less than $30. And I have been complimented on them by people who buy designer everything. Check out Payless.com for a fresh crop of spring styles from Alice + Olivia, Abaete', and Lela Rose. I love the white Alice + Olivia wedges shown here! There are some great basics in there too, just to freshen up the rotation.

Megan and I had a chat the other day about shoes- which ones can't you live without? For me, it goes like this:

• knee high boots, black and brown (I wear them with jeans, leggings, dresses, fall through spring)
• black pumps (work, special events, even for a dressed up jeans look, these are a great standby- if you own one pair of heels, make it a black pump)
• neutral flats (black, nude, or even a metallic, they're a perfect everyday shoe)
• athletic sneakers (for all the working out that I say I'm going to do and never get around to)
• dress sandals (flats or heels, whatever works for your evening wardrobe. I'm a heels girl myself, and I'd shoot for either a metallic or a black satin here. Maybe some beading if you want to get really crazy.)
• my Converse sneakers (I know for most of you these might not make the must-have list, but I know for a fact that I couldn't get through the week without them.)

Megan, on the other hand, manages to survive without the boots. And probably without the Cons, but she's a little bit girlier than I am.