I never was into designer bags or clothes or shoes. Most of my previous wardrobe was from Ann Taylor & Banana Republic and is about 10 years old. But ever since I joined YLF, I have caught a serious fashion bug and have been buying a lot of new clothes & shoes. I never had any designer shoes before, but last month I got some Aquatalia and La Canadienne boots, and now I am thinking about getting a pair of Chie Mihara sandals as well as some black and brown Prada pumps that I happened to find on sale at Bluefly. These pumps were recommended by someone on another board as her best pair of work pumps ever--which is pretty high praise, since she seems to be a bit of a shoe collector. These look like a good height and with the black and brown combo, it would match with pretty much everything. I have a pair of black Naturalizer pumps but I never wear them because they hurt my feet after 10 minutes. Also I found another pair of red and black Prada pumps (although I'm not sure if they have the right size for me) that look like another great work and dress pump. So I'm thinking of getting these (at least to try & see if they will fit right and be comfortable) but I am also feeling conflicted and a bit guilty about splurging on myself. Is this really worth it to buy designer shoes and clothes, or am I just wasting money? Are shoes like this really 4-10X more comfortable and better made than all the other pumps you can get at Payless or Target or Macy's? I am on my feet a lot at work so I need shoes that are comfortable. What do you think of these shoes? Worth the price?
http://www.bluefly.com/Prada-b.....detail.fly
http://www.bluefly.com/Prada-r.....detail.fly
http://www.strutdenver.com/pro.....8;PID=1015
And what about designer clothes? I recently bought a bunch of stuff from Nordstrom and Kate Spade (which I posted for you guys earlier)--they were all on sale, but still not exactly cheap. Is it worth it to buy designer/higher-end clothes or should I try to find cheaper options at H&M, Gap, etc? As a doctor, it seems like I should try to maintain a more professional appearance at work (at least, more than I have been in the past) because I feel like my patients will feel more confident in me if I look older & more professional (I constantly get the concerned comment "You look so young!"--even though I've been out of medical school for 15 years). So maybe it's worth it to spend more on my wardrobe to get higher quality items, and I should sort of look at it as a "business/marketing investment"? I'm in a totally different stage in life, career, earning power, etc. than when I bought my clothes before. Still, I'm feeling a little guilty. Just wondering if it's worth it to buy designer especially for classic pieces like pumps & coats, or whether I'm being wasteful and should try to bargain shop.

Thanks in advance for your insights & experience!