We have been told that quality shoes and handbags are investment pieces whose long wear justifies a price tag over $1,000. And sure, craftsmanship and top-shelf materials cost money. But now more than ever, you can cheat.
In the past, cheap shoes usually looked just that. Today, companies such as Payless and H & M have some pretty decent looking options at affordable prices.
Aldo is my new favorite source for shoes, purses and accessories at can't-beat cost. The chain keeps getting more fashionable, hitting the spring trends of rattan clutches and tough-chic footwear. It's true that its shoes, which don't tend to have leather soles, won't last quite as long as a pair of Gucci loafers. But they're perfectly fine for a few seasons. And the selection is huge.
I go to Aldo for everything from basics, like slip-on leather sandals, to whimsical costume jewelry, such as a necklace made of jawbreaker-sized pearls. So don't pass the store by just because its display windows and ad campaigns target 20somethings. There's plenty inside for us, too.