Before I pull the trigger... - YouLookFab Forum

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Before I pull the trigger...

approprio

(website)

Veteran

So my much loved mid-price creepers have finally bitten the dust. These are an essential component of my look and have been one of my most worn pairs of shoes in recent years.

I want to replace them with a pair of the premium English-made variety by George Cox, which means I have to buy from a supplier in London. However, English shoes aren't cheap and the Euro is low against the pound right now.

I've made a few other investments in wardrobe lately. I've been sticking mostly to my wish list and objectives but it's been an expensive year. It all feels a bit extravagant.

I have a few options:
- Suck it up, part with the cash and commit myself to a shopping fast for a few months;
- Wait it out and see if the Euro goes back up (they still won't be cheap but I might save a few euros);
- Buy another pair in the mid-price range (nice enough, mediocre quality by comparison);
- Try to work around the space they leave in my wardrobe and see what else comes up in the meantime.

But just look at that full grain leather and stitching detail! I'm pondering Sam Vimes' 'Boots' theory and thinking I should go the extra mile. What do you ladies think?

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24 replies

Latest reply was from E

Astrid

Veteran

I say go for them and do a shopping fast afterwards, if you already know they will be absolute wardrobe workhorses. From the outfits you're posting I think you already have a great variety of things in your closet that you can play with, even if you don't buy anything else for a while.

frannieb

Veteran

I agree looking at your style these will be a workhorse. If you buy something else you will simply be unsatisfied and end up buying more.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I say either suck it up or work around. Don't buy the lesser version, Sam Vimes was a wise man. Working around might be fruitful, but if you need these buy the ones you really love. And don't wait for the Euro to go done - the change, if it comes, will not be worth the cost of wasted time.

Tania

Veteran

Suck it up or work around for now. Your previous posts have shown me how shoe fabness is essential! Plus I think working around often gives up space/time to think, expand, see other possibilities.

jackiec

Veteran

I agree with Shevia. Nice shoes

Author Linda

Veteran

Something tells me if you buy something else, you'll always wish you'd bought the Cox shoes. It's been my experience that if I love an item, I should just bite the bullet and buy it. You can always NOT buy something. But if those shoes will fill a place in your wardrobe and your heart, go for it, whether right now or later.

Thistle

Veteran

Woohoo, Terry Pratchett! I would have not expected to see a quote from his work

Anyway, I am not sure you are going to get a better Euro to pound conversion. The Greece issue is awfully touchy, and the anti-austerity Syzria (sp?) party just came into power. Markets will be volatile for a while as that sorts itself out.

So, I would listen to Sam Vimes (he is a very practical man in the books) and buy the good shoes if you can afford them.

abc

Veteran

I would buy the good ones. Just this morning I was thinking about some bras I just bought on sale and how I wish I had sucked it up and bought the full price ones instead of accepting not quite right. I think you will regret it if you get the cheaper alternative, and like many others said, the exchange rates will be volatile so why hinge your shoe happiness on a few euros?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think the fact that you are hesitating says it all. I vote work around it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. I'd usually be the first to say go for the replacement you really want, since this is a style that you clearly consider a workhorse. But I wonder if sitting with the reasons for your hesitation for a little while might not be a good idea. Is it just the price? Might it be instructive to see what you reach for in your wardrobe in the meantime without your old creepers? Just food for thought...

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Ladies, thanks for your wise advice.

I'm having a lot of trouble imagining my wardrobe without these shoes and I don't think another cheap pair will cut it. Sam Vimes' wisdom is hard to argue against. It feels like a lot of money now but it will be worth it in the long run.

I'm going to suck it up. The shopping embargo starts here!

ETA: Angie thanks... and why the hesitation? Ah, who can tell?

I think it's the hoops I'm having to jump through to source a classic rarity from a tiny dealer - struggling with Paypal, exchange rates etc - when I could go out tomorrow and buy a perfectly serviceable alternative in the market down the street for half the price.

rachylou

Veteran

Angie is wise, I'd go with her advice.

I have subscribed to the Vimes theory since before Vimes. But I do think it means that if the exchange rate drives the price of the boots beyond what they're worth for - you don't buy. That's not a good buy.

Or in other words, the rich are also rich because they're cheap

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Is it your Doc Martens that fell apart? Or another pair? (I thought you had a couple of cool pairs I had admired.) Well, I'd be on the fence, too. If you haven't decided yet, you might sleep on it. Usually if I wait a couple of days, the answer becomes clearer.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Sorry ladies if my tone is a little snippy on this topic. I'm feeling sorta frustrated.

Bottom line is that I'm trying to buy a rare cult classic at source from a sole (pun fully intended) supplier who doesn't appear to have any interest in selling in a professional or reliable way over the Internet, and I'm trying to figure out how far I am willing to go for the right pair of shoes.

If anything, the whole painful process is strengthening my resolve to get these shoes onto my greedy feet. I've decided to go to London and visit the bricks and mortar shop. And catch up with family and friends of course but that's incidental.

Angie: you're absolutely right to call me out. This should be a done deal, and it would have been days ago if I had faith in the buying process I'm going through right now. Exchange rates and budget are the least of my worries and moaning about them is not addressing the real problem.

shevia: this is raising some really interesting questions for me about our discussion on authenticity and provenance, so I might do a follow up to your wonderful thread on fakes.

rachylou: If the shoes are as good as I expect them to be then the price is not excessive.

Firecracker: the shoes I am replacing are of a very similar style, but nowhere near the same quality. This is the first time in my life I have upgraded a pair of shoes with an identical style. Usually when I wear something out, I let it rest and move onto something else.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You didn't in the slightest sound snippy, approprio. Have a wonderful time in London, and I hope you get your shoes. xo

AM

Veteran

Yummy. And what recommendations would you give to someone who is new to creepers and wanted to test drive?

approprio

(website)

Veteran

My last pair were Underground Barflys in black leather. TUK has something similar. Both brands are specialists in classic creeper styles.

AM

Veteran

Thanks. Enjoy London - and the shoes! ...oh, and the family.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am liking the sounds of this story more and more. I mean, I'm sorry it is so difficult to source the shoes you want, but a trip to London doesn't sound half bad to me!

The path of true love never did run smooth...

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

approprio, this style of shoe is quite central to your menswear-inspired looks. It's too bad that they are so hard to get, and that the exchange rate is conspiring against you. Hopefully these detractors are the kind of thing that will be quickly forgotten once you have the shoes you want! I don't know why I thought you had Doc Martens. The ones you linked to above as similar to your old ones are more fashion-forward.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Suz, I'm also beginning to enjoy this in a perverse way. In this era of instant shopping gratification by Internet, there's something refreshing about discovering something so absurdly difficult to buy. And of course I'm now looking forward to seeing my folks.

Firecracker, It's unlikely these obstacles will be easily forgotten. In fact, I think they'll all feed into a fantastic story once I have the shoes. And you're not mistaken, I do indeed have a pair of English-made Docs. I stalked these for months until finally finding them on sale after having given up hope on them. The design is called Elizabeth, which is great because that's my name

ETA:

And A.M.: sorry, I am forgetting my manners. Welcome on board! Good luck sourcing the creepers, and don't forget to post pics if you buy a pair. I'd love to see how you style them.

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AM

Veteran

approprio - Thank you for the warm welcome.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Oh, right--the Elizabeth! Those are gorgeous.

E

Veteran

I'm always in favour of quality over quantity when it comes to shoes. & love that Prachett quote.