Source: marcjacobs.com

 

Confessions of a Savvy Marc Jacobs Addict: Why You Should Never Pay Full Price.

Hello Darlings,

Call it destiny or call it luck, but there are times when the shoe fits and there’s no escape from going home with it. I am not an impulsive shopper and always follow my heart when it comes to acquiring new items: I must really love something before I decide to buy it. There is one exception to this self-control rule: Marc Jacobs. With him, every rational thought is squeezed out of my head by cute tees with little Miss Marc on them, and the leather masterpieces most people call shoes and purses.All reason goes out the window when I spot a new collection of Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes. Despite the fact that I walk into a shoe department and feel like hypnosis has been performed on me: “You are getting sleeeeeepy. Browse through the shoes, take out the Visa and swipe away.” But one way or another it never plays out quite that way, as I always torture myself over the prices of designer items.It’s almost as if you have to sell a limb in order to purchase something to wear on that limb! Therefore as a finance-conscious Marc Jacobs addict, it is hard to resist when you come across an item that makes your heart race. Then reality hits when you turn over the price tag and feel a heart attack coming on. No more heart skipping beats; it stops completely when your eyes lay upon those triple zeros. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.

Despite my absolute love of designer fashion, I have no fashion godmother who covers my bills. The reality of being on a budget set in hard when I came across a pair of beautiful Marc by Marc Jacobs wedges while shopping online at Saks. Despite the sales and the discount, the hefty price tag did not spark my fancy, nor did the duties or taxes. I mean come on, I live in Canada, not Antarctica. Should it really be an extra $108 in duties, taxes, and shipping costs? NO!With a last pair online and in my 6.5 size, I was determined to step away from the laptop, grab a cup of tea and reconsider. Following ten minutes of serious contemplation, I decided not to spring for that couple hundred and instead went to bed.

Nevertheless, I found the same pair shoes for more reasonable $220, also in the last size, with no duties or shipping. Lesson learned: sometimes it is best to walk away. Plus, finding that ultimate bargain on an item that you’ve so desperately wanted is a thrill that is bound to last all week.

As my ever-expanding Marc by Marc Jacobs collection evolves, I admit that despite my love for Marc Jacobs and the quirkiness of this label. I am just not willing to pay $100 for a tee or $600 for shoes. Instead, with patience and a little bit of effort, I almost always get the pieces that I want for 50% off just a few weeks later.

My reasoning is this: in the cycles of the fashion industry, collections come out faster than the seasons, so why bother spending the money on an item that is going to be on sale three weeks later? Nothing lasts or stays new anyway, and so “last season” has never been a part of my lingo. Rather, I find the right piece at the right price and make it mine.