Designer Shoe Review: Are they worth it?

If you’re like me, you’ve grown up dreaming about owning your first pair of designer heels. But that also probably came with a load of questions and pondering.

The cost, for one, can be a little daunting – are they really worth an entire paycheck? And what about all of the options out there – how do you know that you’re making the best choice? Should you just buy a used pair from someone?

I’m here to be your fashion fairy godmother and answer all of your questions!

Why I bought my first pair

First, it’s important to know that I bought my pairs for a purpose aside from writing this blog! Back in September, I was invited to go to New York Fashion Week for the first time ever (yay! More on that experience later). I was beyond ecstatic, but that also meant dressing the part and heels are an essential part of that.

Where I bought them + my experience

So I did my research and discovered that the Nordstrom near my home carried most of the designers that I wanted to try (seriously, they have a great selection!). I would recommend researching the shoes beforehand and determining what you feel would be best for where you plan to wear them. But don’t fret if you have no ideas – the people that work at these stores have only one job, and that’s to match you with a shoe!

I was definitely nervous before my first fitting and it happened to be raining that day so my feet were soaked when I went in (yikes) but I was lucky enough to have someone well experienced helping me pick out the best pair for me.

Be prepared to have your dream pair change! I knew that I wanted to start with Manolos because I’ve heard so many wonderful things about them but when I put them on, they just didn’t match my feet. So I switched over to a pair of Rossi’s in the same size and height and fell in love. I also swore never to buy a pair of pointy heels because I thought the style wouldn’t work well with my body type but I was wrong!

I ended up leaving with Rossi pumps and Louboutin pumps & booties. Here’s what I thought of them!

Gianvito Rossi

Size: 39
Street size: 8.5/9
Height: 85MM
Material: Suede
Color: Praline

What I loved: Rossi is a huge name in the industry and for a reason. These heels were beautifully made and easy to walk in. Rossi uses tight stitching on the inside of the shoe to keep everything clean and crisp despite lots of wear. Out of all of the heels I’ve ever owned from a variety of price points, these are the most comfortable.

What first drew me to the shoe: The color. I was going to New York in September so my skin was still tan and fall clothing was starting to pop up around the city, so I wanted a darker nude shoe. These were perfect!

Would I recommend this shoe?: Definitely!

Christian Louboutin

Size: 39
Street size: 8.5/9
Height: 85MM
Material: Suede
Color: Black

What I loved: No matter what Louboutin shoe you indulge in, everyone in the fashion world (and many outside of it) will know who you’re wearing. That’s because of the iconic red bottom. Christian Louboutin also loves to show off the foot, so you’ll find less material covering up your toes and sides of the feet. That was perfect for me, who has naturally wide feet.

What first drew me to the shoe: THE SPIKES! I cannot express in words how much I love this shoe. It was definitely love at first sight! It was also amazing to find a pair with a little edge that was shorter and easier to walk in.

Would I recommend this shoe?: It depends. Make sure you either have an event to wear them to or are willing to take them out of the house on the day-to-day because this pair deserves to be seen by the world! It’s also less versatile than the nude Rossi’s, so it’s all about what look you’re going for.

So… Are designer shoes worth the cost?

In short, yes. When it comes to heels, from my experience, there’s nothing that really compares to quality shoes. If you know that you’re going to be wearing heels for your job all of the time, it’s probably worth investing in a good pair. That being said, there are some alternatives out there that make the job less painful. I found a great pair of booties that were super cute and a fraction of the cost. Just don’t expect to be getting a pain-free day out of the $30 heels you found.

Should you buy them used?

I wouldn’t. You’re still going to be spending a pretty penny and the shoe is going to have molded and shaped to someone else’s foot. I don’t think that would make a great experience for you and would probably end up wasting your money. But I have heard of exceptions, so don’t be afraid if you find the hidden gem.

Hopefully this helps you make your decision! And check out my tips on how to look expensive on a budget so you can save up your money for your new shoes!

Do you have a favorite pair? Share what they are with me!

Xo,
Gina