The Bare Skinny

For those of you who have grown tired of the Chanel quilted bag, The Marc Jacobs “Stam” Satchel is definitely for you! It looks more like a doctor’s bag when opened which gives you a lot more space to carry your things! I know the Credit Card Divas are going to jump on this one but The $1,350 price tag might be a little steep for some of us.  For my Check Chicks we have the Lambskin Quilted Snap Bag which is made of real leather and comes in Burgundy, White, Black and Lilac. I don’t think it has the handles though which totally kills it for me. So Check Chicks if I were you I would become a Cash Conservative and grab the Sami Quilted Handbag for 54.95 which is almost a dead ringer for the Marc Jacobs Stam except it’s leatherette.

Cash Sami Quilted Handbag $22.50 handbagheaven.com
Check Lambskin Quilted Snap Bag $79.90 flyjane.net
Charge MARC JACOBS ‘Stam’ Quilted Frame Satchel $1,350 nordstrom.com

The Gucci Iman Triple Buckle Sandals are the hottest shoes this season. I’ve seen them on Beyonce, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Taraji P. Henson, Leslie Mann, Paulina Rubio and Drew Barrymore just to name a few. They retail in stores for $854 dollars so of course I had to find alternatives.

The Gucci Iman Triple Buckle Sandals are official! With the black leather, platform sole and goldtone hardware there is absolutely no comparison. But who besides the Credit Card Divas can afford the $854 price tag? For my Check Chicks we have the Aldo Bevans shoe which is a mess compared to the other 2 versions. Check Chicks if I were you I would become a Cash Conservative and grab Solace for $22.50. It’s almost a deadringer for the Guccic shoe. It also comes in black, red, gold, silver and gray. Of course it’s faux leather and the heel is a 1/2 higher but the price is definitely affordable.

Cash Solace2 Gladiator Heels $22.50 makemechic.com
Check Aldo Bevans Heels $125 aldoshoes.com
Charge Gucci Iman Triple Buckle Sandals $854 neimanmarcus.com

In my last Cash Check or Charge post I said I would do this everyday. Well that was over a week ago…lol. I didn’t realize it would take me forever to compare all these shoes. So truthfully, I will try to post at least 3 of these a week.

Ok so I ran across these Manolo Blahnik sandals while browsing the Barneys site and I remembered seeing the same style In Charlotte Russe. These are actually pretty tame for my liking but it’s still a hot shoe.

Ok so for all you Credit Card Divas here is the Manolo Blahnik Pepe sandal for $745. All leather with an elastic cuff around the ankle. The Guess version of this shoe for the the Check Chicks is very similiar. The heel is skinnier and the leather is a little more “patent”(if that makes any sense lol) but it’s $90 which is very tempting. For you Cash Conservatives you have the Charlotte Russe option which is only $24.99. The elastic cuff is thinner and it’s fauz leather but again, it’s only $24.99.

Cash Patent Cuffed Sandals $24.99 charlotterusse.com
Check Guess Digital Sandal $90 guess.com
Charge Manolo Blahnik Pepe Sandals $745 barneys.com

What’s your form of payment?

Christian Louboutin is one of the biggest Kings in the shoe kingdom but I’m not sure how I feel about this Jefferson Peep-Toe Platform. They’re kind of Doc Martinish with a heel. I could only see these being  worn with something nautical.

If you like the preppy look  and you have about $1,000 free on your credit card then go for the Louboutins. You’ll get the quality and the classic red sole and the craftsmanship is great. I’ve also seen these in blue and red. For those of you not willing to pay $1,000 for a pair of shoes even if it is Christian Louboutin, the BeBe Paige Lace Up Slingback Sandal for $139 is for you. These are very close to the real thing but you do notice the stiching is different and the heel at first glance. BeBe has these in white also. For my fashionistas that are on a very tight budget, the Charlotte Russe Topside Silettos are calling you.  The striped detail on the inside and the woven suede cord screams ‘Cruise Ship” but hey, they’re only $26.99.

Cash Charlotte Russe Topside Silettos $26.99 charlotterusse.com
Check BeBe Paige Lace Up Slingback Sandals bebe.com
Charge Christian Louboutin Jefferson Peep-Toe Platforms brownsfashion.com

For those of you that read my blog regularly, you know that I lovvvveeeee shoes and I like to have the best. I mean who doesn’t want to own a pair of Guiseppe Zanotti pumps or a pair of Givenchy heels? That’s fine if it’s affordable but you can also spend that same money sometimes and buy a couple pair of shoes. I’m all for sales and comparison shopping which is why I started this category. I will be posting a Cash, Check or Charge everyday for those of you who would like to see alternatives to high end clothing.

Anyway, while I was browsing the web, I ran across this pair of L.A.M.B peep-toes that zipped up the back with a brown heel that I thought were quite hot. They are only $219 which is a charge purchase. That could still be a little steep for some of us so if you’re more of a “check” chick, Bakers has a pair that I am digging but the heel is black instead of brown. If you need to save $10, then the Charlotte Russe pair is for you at only 39.99 but I would say go for the Bakers shoe as it is all leather.

Cash – Charlotte Russe Woven Strappy Stilettos $39.99 charlotterusse.com
Check – Bakers Berkley Pump $49.99 bakersshoes.com
Charge – L.A.M.B. Tammy Platform Pump $219.90 endless.com

It was love at first sight when I spotted the Alexander Mcqueen striped pumps! Of course the price tag threw me off a little but who could resist the monochramatic look with the sharp stiletto? I have searched everywhere and I have yet to find a similiar shoe with the same height and style of the heel but if isn’t that important, Aldo has a version with a shorter and thicker heel for $80 an Charlotte Russe has an even less expensive shoe for $24.99.

What’s your form of payment?

Cash: Two Tone Pumps $24.99 charlotterusse.com
Check: Rabenhorst Pumps $80.00 aldoshoes.com
Charge: Alexander Mcqueen Striped Leather Pumps $603.75 net-a-porter.com

High School Musical is not where I would look to find the hottest fashions but when I saw Vanessa Hudgens wearing these black Givenchy Caged Booties I knew they had to go on my wishlist. The front of the peep toe bootie is weaved in leather and the back is a rich suede. If you are into the cutouts then this is a shoe for you and it sells for a little over $500. Flyjane has a similar shoe but instead of suede, the back is velvet and you can purchase the booties for $54.90. If that is still a little steep, Gojane has a velvet version also but they have sold out of the black. They only have brown or gold. 

Cash: Velvet Caged Heel $29.99 gojane.com
Check: Rio Peep Toe Caged Bootie $54.90 flyjane.net
Charge: Givenchy Birdcage Bootie $565.21 endless.com

What’s your form of payment?

When Rihanna rocked these sandal boots a few days ago in Australia, I knew I had to have them. There have been mixed reviews about them but I would definitely throw these on with some leggings or a short skirt and keep it moving! Rihanna wore the Dolce Vita Adam shoe for $119 in gold. They also come in gray, black, brown, suede and leather. Nine West has a leather version on sale now for 59.99 in black, brown and a silvery gray. Go Jane, who never misses a trend, has a leatherette version with a gathered ankle in black, bronze, pewter and beige. I like the look and the heel on the Nine West shoe.

What’s your form of payment?

Cash: Gathered Ankle Thong Kitten Heel $20.99 gojane.com
Check: The Rockett $59.99 ninewest.com
Charge: Dolce Vita Adam shoe $119 shopdolcevita.com