6.28.2009

Shoes Named Oscar

It's been brought to my attention that I am not terribly creative when it comes to naming my significant purchases (see how I named this vlog). But when a designer item is so amazing that the mere thought of it brings a smile to your face, outlandish just names don't seem necessary.

This Saturday, I woke up at 7am to hit up the DecadesTwo HUGE shoe sale (as advertised on Daily Candy). I drove to West Hollywood, tired and groggy, to get in line by 8am. By the time I arrived, the line of shoe lovers was already almost to Harper Ave.

The sale was scheduled to start at 9am, and true to their word, the friendly DecadesTwo staff started letting people in at 9 on the dot.

Each time the line surged forward, I felt a jolt of excitement. My goal was to score a pair of seriously marked down Christian Louboutin heels (an item on my "dream list").

About 20 minutes later, a petite woman, apparently the first customer of the morning, pranced out of the store with two little brown bags and put on a show-and-tell for the poor souls still waiting in line (including my tired and hungry self - I forgot to eat breakfast). She had scored a pair of red patent-leather peep-toe Louboutins for $120 (which probably cost $795-$860 originally)! But I wasn't upset that she got to them before me...they couldn't have been bigger than a size 6. Even on my best days, my size 9 feet couldn't squeeze into those bad boys.

I finally stepped foot inside the store around 9:30am. I headed straight for the size 9 shoes only to find that, as usual with European sizes, I had to jump up to the 10's. I tried on orange strappy Manolo Blahniks, printed Stella McCartney flats, and jeweled Christian Dior heels before a pair of black satin Lanvin ballet flats caught my attention. They were a wonderfully comfortable and stylish staple for only $97 (similar Lanvin flats currently go for $530.). I grabbed them and kept on browsing.

Then, it happened. Someone had placed a pair of heels back on the shelf. Not just A pair, THE pair. My pair. Two-tone red, snakeskin, peep-toe mary janes...by Oscar de la Renta.

A lovely sales associate said she thought they were originally in the $7-800's, but the buyer said they were originally more like $1200! My price for my first perfect pair of Oscar de la Renta heels? $240.

My early Saturday excursion was well worth the waiting, the hunger pangs and the waiting. I may not have crossed Christian Louboutin off my list, but when I got home I welcomed in the newest addition to the family, shoes named Oscar.

Photos: ABNI

6.26.2009

Welcome back!

Welcome back readers!

A Bag Named Isabella is proud to unveil our new look! As a vlog (video blog) focused on Los Angeles fashion, you can depend on ABNI to bring you an inside look at west coast style.

Curious how we got started? Check out the About Me link to the right or read ABNI's first post, What's in a name?

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