The price was right. Delivery was free. The brand was one I had coveted for quite a while. The color was currently missing from my shoe wardrobe. The styling was versatile. The only pair left was in my size. Christmas was (is) around the corner.

How could I resist these Loeffler Randall taupe peep-toe twisted flats?

Of course I couldn’t. And let me tell you, I’m glad I got them.

You know how you wonder if these high-end brands really deserve their price tag? (I know I do.) Are those Louboutins really worth $950? Or those Chloe boots–really worth shelling $1200 for? I totally expect to pay over $100 for a decent pair of shoes, but I do balk at prices over $200–they require a lot of financial planning and rationalizations. Are they really worth it? Am I going to wear them enough? Do I have outfits to wear them with? At the very least, am I going to get envious glares every time I do wear them? Are they comfortable?  Are they well made enough for me to get my money’s worth??

These are not empty questions. One of my fabulous friends who fully understands the importance of splurging on shoes recently showed me a pair of Prada patent platforms she had gotten last year. The platform was made of wood, clog-style, and it had cracked down the middle, in the arch area. The studs holding the patent upper to the platform were in bad shape–getting loose. The shoe, which she hadn’t worn excessively at all, was sorely in need of capital repairs to make it another season. And that’s a disappointing thing to find out after you spend over $500 on it, you know.  I’m not sure that’s an acceptable risk you have to take with clogs, but still!
In all honesty, I don’t know how my recently acquired Loeffler Randalls are going to hold up, but the signs are extremely encouraging. This brand’s shoes retail usually for $350-$450; these were originally $360 (I paid about a third of that for them). But I can see they’re worth it. First, they feel like heaven. Soft, buttery kidskin upper, perfectly shaped, not too narrow or constricting, not too wide to lose its elegance–very nice! The sole is generously padded and there is a mini-wedge heel which offers plenty of support (which I sorely need). There is a subtle gold trim at the peep-toe (not so visible in the picture), which make them extra-elegant, but tastefully so. And overall, you can just see that they are very well made: all stitches and glues hold up, and there is attention to detail all around.

I wore them around the house and just a little bit outside, and I was SO happy with how they felt. I’m glad to report, Loeffler Randall lives up to the hype. And that’s encouraging–we need more lines like these, youthful, well-designed, tasteful, and COMFORTABLE around. Well done, indeed!