Army & Navy Shoe Sale 2013

It’s that time of year again.  Imagine a room full of rows upon rows of racks of beautiful shoes.  More shoes than you would even have time to try on.  But you attempt to anyway.  That’s right, ladies, the Legendary Army & Navy Shoe Sale is only a few days away.  And I do mean legendary in every sense of the word.  On Wednesday, April 24th, Army & Navy will open its doors at 8:00 am sharp for eager women in search of the perfect shoes.  This is the 64th year that they’ve held this sale and things only get better with time.  I’ve been to this sale for the past three years and each time have been increasingly impressed with their selections.  They receive well over 100,000 pairs for the sale and are constantly restocking throughout the twelve days.

This year I had the privilege of meeting with footwear buyer Silvio Urbani, who showed me where all the many boxes of shoes are being stored awaiting the sale.  I was in awe when I saw all the boxes and skids in the warehouse, just wondering what shoes each one held.  I almost felt compelled to grab a box cutter and tear them all apart.  But I resisted the urge, as I did not wish to be banned from the store.  Instead I listened intently and contained my excitement.

With over 85 brands to choose from, there’s something for everyone.  Clarks, GUESS, Kelsi Dagger, BCBG, Nine West, Steve Madden, Qupid, Andrew Geller, just to name a few.  I hear that Pour La Victoires are supposed to be a hot seller this year.  But how could they not be?  They’re gorgeous.  And I’m not crazy or shoe obsessed.  Okay, who am I kidding, clearly I am.  But take my word for it anyway.  As a bargain shopper, I know what I’m talking about.  Just because you’re paying less for something, doesn’t mean that it’s cheap or that you’re not getting your money’s worth.  At Army & Navy, you’re definitely getting more than your money’s worth.  Every pair of shoes at the sale is priced at $40 or less, regardless of how much the original cost was.  You really can’t go wrong.

Sales this massive may seem intimidating to first timers.  But don’t worry, I promise you it won’t be the chaotic, dramatic, aggressive scene that you’re picturing.  Over the years, people have actually become more pleasant.  Rather than women fighting over shoes, there is now often a sense of camaraderie among them.  Last year, I met a lot of great people at the sale.  We sat together trying on our shoes, complimenting our various choices and giving our opinions.  The staff are also amazing and baskets are provided for those of us who like to try on as many as we possibly can all at once.  Shoppers are generally respectful and the sale is a real community building event where women can share their love of shoes.

There are usually about 30,000 customers between the 6 stores each year.  Store locations are in Vancouver, New Westminster, Langley, Edmonton, and Calgary.  I’ve only ever been to the  Downtown Vancouver location on 36 West Cordova Street.  That place is like my home away from home.  I always feel welcome there and they always meet my needs.  With over 100,000 pairs of shoes, you’re bound to find at least one perfect pair.  Last year, I believe I found eleven.  On day one.  Apparently that’s a lot?  Each person buys about 3.5 pairs on average at the sale.  So you know, there are a lot of practical and reasonable shoppers out there.  And then the few excessive and compulsive buyers like myself come along.  Because shoe sales are where we belong.

It’s recommended that you go early to make sure you get the deals.  I mean, everything’s a deal, but the nicest pairs go fast if you don’t hurry.  Doors open at 8:00 am on Wednesday, but people start lining up as early as 5:30 am.  Yes, while the rest of you are still asleep, a few crazy dedicated shoe lovers are out bright and early beginning to form what eventually becomes a massive lineup along Cordova Street.  Rain or shine, nothing gets in the way of a a new pair of shoes.

If lineups and ridiculously early mornings aren’t your thing but you don’t want to miss out on first dibs at shoes, don’t fret, there is another way.  Contests!  I’m not just a bargain shopper and a shoe lover, I’m also a contest enthusiast.  So I’m going to go ahead and tell you about the ways in which you can possibly win VIP access to the shoe sale.  Because knowledge like this is too good to keep to myself.  First off, what is VIP access?  Pretty much, you get to skip the line, enter the store before it opens to the public, and go try on shoes before everybody else.  So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

To win VIP access for you and 3 friends, plus a $250 shopping spree, simply click here and fill out the entry form.  I wish you luck!  Because we all deserve a new pair of shoes.  And the only thing better than a new pair of shoes is a free new pair of shoes.  There’s also a contest on the Army & Navy Facebook page where you can win a $100 gift card by uploading a 30 second video clip about your favourite Army & Navy moment.  I may enter myself, but there are too many good moments to choose from.  And you can win VIP access through their Shoe of the Week contest.  You can also win a new pair of shoes plus VIP access through Vancity Buzz.  It would also be worthwhile to tune in to your local radio stations and see if they might be giving away any VIP access prizes as well.

If you’re unable to make it first thing in the morning on day one, it’s okay.  New stock fills those shelves everyday.  There’s room for 30,000 pairs on the shop floor and staff keep busy filling them throughout the day.  Every two hours or so is a good time to hit the sale, in between the spurts of crowds.  There is more selection this year than ever before and always something for everyone.  It’s not just all about heels.  If you prefer comfort, you don’t have to sacrifice style, as there are plenty of great flats, sandals, athletic, and walking shoes to choose from.  If you’re anywhere between a size 5 and a size 11, there’s sure to be a pair for you.  And while men’s shoes aren’t advertised as part of the sale, the store actually does have a great selection of them at reduced prices.  Literally something for everyone.

So next Wednesday, I will be at 36 West Cordova Street at 7:00 am.  Because clearly I had to book a day off work for this.  It’s become a bit of a tradition for me.  It’s like a sign that spring is finally here.  And with spring, comes an excuse to buy new weather appropriate footwear.  Which in Vancouver is sometimes rain boots as opposed to sandals.  But Army & Navy has plenty of both so they got you covered.  The sale runs from April 24th to May 5th.  Hope to see you there!

This is my first blog post of 2013

Sorry it took so long.  I hope the quality of this post is not indicative of the type of year I’m going to have.  I’ll just leave you with a picture of me ringing in the new year with my sparkles and champagne at Celebrities.

I hope I get another opportunity to wear an outfit this shiny again some time.

Happy New Year!

Oh, hello red rain boots. I’ve missed you. Did you miss me?

My red Cougar rain boots from Army & Navy

It was sunny for a while.  But not anymore.  It’s over.  It’s all over.  Now there’s just rain, rain, and more rain.  I pulled out my red rain boots last weekend when we had that crazy downpour, and now I’m wearing them once again.  Perhaps I should never take them off, since the rain is showing no signs of stopping.  I’m not a huge fan of the rain.  But my favourite thing about it is that I get to wear these boots.

I want a convertible dress

I love outfits that are convertible.  Versatility and convertibility are amazing qualities for a garment to have.  I remember when I watched Fashion Star, one of my favourite pieces was the convertible skirt that Orly made.  The model walked down the runway, and then undid the zipper around the waist to remove the top part of the skirt, creating a whole different look.  Unfortunately that was the first thing she made, and everything she made thereafter just wasn’t as good.  But the skirt was awesome.

I remember watching an episode of Dragons’ Den where this woman had created a convertible dress.  It was a while ago, so I don’t remember exactly what the styles looked like, but I remember that I thought it was a brilliant idea.  To be able to buy one dress and wear it multiple ways to achieve multiple different looks, who wouldn’t want one of those?

There is also a company called Wrap Magic Skirts which does the same thing.  They have various skirts and dresses which can be worn over 100 different ways.  Their newest creation is the convertible dress, which is the same idea as what I saw on Dragons’ Den, except it’s a different company.  The convertible dress looks amazing.  The website has videos which demonstrate the various ways you can change the look.  They retail for $250.

But as luck would have it, there’s an online deal.  Two actually, one on SwarmJam and one on Deal Getters.  The deal lets you order one for $49.  Taxes and shipping are not included though.  But it’s still a significant reduction from the full retail price.  I am so tempted to buy one.  I can justify it by saying that I’m not paying a lot for just one dress, I’m paying a lot essentially to get multiple dresses.  And a skirt.  Yes, it can also be transformed to be worn as a skirt.

But I’m still debating as to whether I should get it.  I mean I don’t really have an event or occasion that I need it for.  I never really NEED these things.  But I’m sure I’d make good use of it somehow.  Chances are I’d probably find one way of wearing it that I like the most and then constantly wear it that way, defeating the purpose of its versatility.  Or even more likely, I would screw it up somehow, trying desperately to follow the steps from the video but ultimately being unable to achieve the desired look.  Then maybe I’d end up just wearing it as a skirt, unable to figure out the dress styles.  Because I tend to fail at fashion.  But it’s worth a try, right?

 

My main problem is I’m indecisive.  If I do in fact buy one, I have no idea which colour to get.  How do I decide?  If they had a convertible dress that also changes colour, now that would really be something.  That would be the ultimate in versatility.  But alas, there is no such thing.  It would make sense to get black, since a little black dress is an essential part of any wardrobe.  But I think I should get something colourful.  I think I look good in purple.  But I have a couple purple dresses already.  Though none like this.  The blue is really nice too.  Maybe the blue?  But what about the red?  Or the other shade of blue?  Or the green even?  I want them all!

Also, there are two different styles of the dress you can choose from to order.  The first one is really nice, but a lot of the styles are backless, which poses the problem of finding the right bra.  So perhaps the second style would be better.  But I like them both.  Chances are, by the time I make up my mind as to whether to buy it and which one to buy, the deal will have expired or sold out.  And then I will be left with non-buyer’s remorse, which is really an awful feeling.  Because I’m only going to buy one with the deal.  I can’t afford a $250 dress.

What do you think?  Should I get one?  And if so, which colour?

I went to South Delta to buy clothes

So you if you’ve been following my posts, you may know that I’ve been overspending lately.  Although how do you define overspending?  It’s really a subjective thing, isn’t it?  Each individual defines it in whatever way they want, based upon overall income, necessary expenses, savings, and their own personal values regarding money and possessions.  To some people, I may be overspending.  To others, maybe it’s not that bad?  But I think the majority agree that I’m overspending.  But I’m not in debt and I have a job and I do have limits.  I only overdo it once in a while.  Those times just happened to all occur recently as opposed to being more spread out.

What was it this time?  No, I did not go back to Army & Navy a third time.  That would be excessive.  You know, even more excessive than buying thirteen pairs of shoes.  But as it turned out, there was another big sale I was made aware of recently.  The Orb warehouse sale.  They had one back in the fall, at the River Rock Casino, where I got good deals on hoodies and tops.  This time, it was at the Delta Town and Country Inn.  Not as close to home, but as luck would have it, my friend not only informed me of the sale, but took me with her when she went.

We stopped by McDonald’s prior to the sale, as it happens to be another one of our vices. If we’re going to be judged for indulging, may as well indulge in food as well.  There were great deals at this sale as well.  Tops were 6 for $60.  Obviously I knew I would be buying me some of those.  Dresses were 3 for $50.  I had to have those too.  Hoodies were 4 for $120.  But I passed on the hoodies.  I got enough of those the last time around.  Like I said, I do have limits. The first thing I looked at was these small boxes that said 2 for $10.  There wasn’t much in them, but I did manage to get a top and a dress in my size.

Top & a dress at 2 for $10

As for fitting rooms, there were none, but there was a space for changing.  It was a space behind a curtain with long mirrors put up inside.  That’s how we do it at warehouse sales.  It’s one open area back there, however crowded.  It’s pretty much room for one person to a mirror and a box with which to discard any unwanted items.  So you do still have to line up and wait a few minutes at times when there are too many people back there.

Now in the past, I would have hated this and possibly not wanted to go.  I really do hate it when stores don’t have mirrors on the inside of their fitting rooms, forcing you to step outside if you want to see how something looks.  And then everyone else can see it too.  That’s nothing compared to this, where you’re just changing next to and in front of other people.  But it’s the only way.  Some are self conscious, and try things on over top of their pants and their tank tops in order to maintain at least some level of privacy.

I love Orb

I’m at a point where I’m comfortable and it doesn’t really phase me anymore.  If other people are willing to undress back there, then so am I.  I need to know how these clothes look on me before I buy them, as I can’t return them afterwards, since it’s a warehouse sale.  And really, no one’s looking at you or judging, their all focused on their own items and how they look themselves.  And even if they were to judge you, who cares?  You gotta do what you gotta do.

They give you bags when you walk in, which came in handy as I threw many items in there.  My strategy is often pick out as many things as you can that you like, and then try them on and eliminate after.  You never know until you try it.  I felt kind of bad because my friend was done before I was.  I knew that was going to happen.  I take a while to deliberate and make sure that I won’t have buyer’s remorse and that I won’t miss out on anything either.

I think I need a bigger closet for all my clothes

The problem with deals like 6 for $60 is that you have to get 6 items.  I always end up with too few or too many.  In this case, too many.  And then you have to decide whether to eliminate some, or go find some for.  I didn’t realize until I went to pay that once you have 6, any items over that amount would automatically be $10 each, so you didn’t have to go in increments of 6 each time.

The tops I got at $10 each

I also saw this small rack with dresses that were 3 for $30.  But there were really only 3 different dresses on that rack.  And there was no way they would all look good on me.  But there was one that I really liked.  I tried to make the others work too, but it was a lost cause.  They were really baggy and unshapely.  I thought maybe with a belt they might just work, but my friend assured me that it looked like I was wearing an apron.  I was grateful to have her there for her honest opinion.

Got the one dress for $15 since the others didn’t work out

There was another dress that I tried on that was black and my friend informed me that I looked like Morticia Addams.  These types of things are good to know, and had she not been there I may have been blind to this fact.  It’s not like there’s any time where I would want to look like Morticia Addams.  Not even Halloween, as I’m not pale enough to pull it off anyway.  I love black dresses, but that one just wasn’t meant to be.

3 dresses for $50

If you spend $200, you get $20 off.  So naturally that’s what I aspired to do.  The first time I tried my Visa, the connection failed.  But that was the connection, not my card.  My friend remarked that perhaps it was some sort of sign warning me not to do it, giving me a chance to reconsider.  But I still made my purchase.  When I expressed my excitement on having it go through, the cashier asked me if it was a new card.  To which I replied, “No, I’ve just been spending a lot of money lately…”.

I spent slightly more than my friend.  But this was her second time at the sale.  So she still beat me.  But she didn’t buy shoes at Army & Navy like I did.  Not that it’s a competition or anything.  But I think we sort of enabled each other.  Apparently, having me accompany her to the sale made her spend less than she would of had she gone alone, because when she’s alone, there’s no one there to judge her.  To which I replied, “You’re worried about ME judging YOU?”.  Because clearly I have no right to judge anyone.

Got 2 reusable bags with my purchases

I went back to Army & Navy

Don’t judge me.  Actually you know what, go ahead and judge me.  I don’t care.  I’m used to it.  Today’s reason for judgement, or one of them at least is due to the fact that I went back to Army & Navy.  Yes.  What?  I waited a week before going back.  That’s something, right?

I bought a pair of socks

It’s okay though, I didn’t just randomly go for the hell of it, I went with my friend to help her find a pair of shoes.  She’s a size 5, so it’s often hard for her to find a size that is small enough.  I couldn’t remember if there was a size 5 section at Army & Navy or not.  When I went last week, I just went straight for the 8s and never looked back.  But yes, they do indeed have a size 5 section.  It’s just very small.  Like half a rack.  But there seemed to be a good selection of heels on it, and they seemed to be pretty cheap too.  We had hope that we would find her a pair yet.

Running shoes, so I can pretend to be athletic

And there was me, still lurking around the size 8s, wondering if maybe it might be okay for me to purchase just one more pair.  I tried on these pair of Marc Fisher flats that I had also tried on the first time around.  I still kind of wanted them.  But I didn’t want to buy yet another $40 pair of shoes.  People already think I’m crazy.  Not that I care.  And so I sort of walked around in them for a bit while we shopped, hoping that would help me to decide.  Flats were missing from my first round of purchases. How could I go without a new pair of flats?

These Reeboks have some good support

I found myself wanting to try on boots and runners.  But I found myself without a pair of socks with which to do so.  And so I bought a pair of socks there solely for that purpose.  I was getting disappointed with the runners, and then I noticed a pair higher up in the shelf.  They were Easy Tone Reeboks.  And they were comfortable.  Throw them together with a dry fit tshirt and some spandex and I’ll look like I’m actually sporty.  No one needs to know how long it’s been since I’ve actually been to the gym.

A pair of short, black boots

I was also debating about a pair of short boots.  Rain boots were out of the question.  There were no pairs quite like my red ones.  I was hoping there would be, as my red ones are a little beat up from wear, but alas, nothing was good enough.  But these short leather boots were pretty classy.  And comfortable.  Comfort was key for them.  But since they were boots, they weren’t part of the $40 and under shoe sale.  Though they were still on sale, just not as cheap as the shoes.  I debated about them for a while, and eventually I caved and decided I would buy them for my mom as a Mother’s Day present.  And then you know, borrow them occasionally, since we conveniently have the same shoe size.  Hey, she borrows my shoes all the time, so it’s okay.

The boots even came in a box, how classy

And as for my friend?  She tried on the shoes.  But alas, came out of it with nothing.  I think I was more upset than she was about this.  Partly because having her buy something would make me feel better and more able to justify my own purchases.  By comparison to her, I just looked like I had a problem and no self control.  It was kind of upsetting.  She came very very close to at least buying a bag, but then ultimately decided against it.  Very disappointing.

Dr. Scholl’s insoles to add more comfort to my shoes

And so I ended up purchasing a pair of socks, a pair of runners, a pair of boots, and a pair of insoles.  Dr. Scholl’s for her comfort insoles.  I wanted these tana brand insoles that I liked that were cheaper but they only had them in size 5.  Go figure.  At least this time my purchases were more practical than last time.  And it doesn’t seem bad or unreasonable at all by comparison to buying eleven pairs of shoes.  So whatever, I’ll just take it as a sign that I’m improving.

I got to walk around with a considerably smaller bag this time

I would like to say that that was the end of my shopping day today.  But it wasn’t.  But that’s all I spent at Army & Navy.  Which is good.  The walk back to Waterfront was so much better this time.  It wasn’t raining as hard, I was with a friend, I didn’t look like a freak. All good things.  My shopping bag was considerably smaller.  And there was only one this time.  Well, technically two, but that’s cause she double bagged it for me so it wouldn’t break.  How very thoughtful of her.

She tied a knot in the bag to ensure my purchases would be safe

As for those flats, I did not end up buying them.  After walking in the store for a bit, I realized they would cut into the side of my foot slightly.  Which my friend assured me was a bad thing.  And so I reluctantly put them back on the shelf and we parted ways.  I know I have other flats, but I was hoping to get a new pair.  But there are still four more days left for the sale.  So who knows what could happen…

Army & Navy Shoe Sale, Part 2: Crazy

Read Part 1 if you haven’t already.  

The shoppers started rushing in at 8am

As 8 am hit, the sale became open to the public.  The public referring to all the crazy people who had been standing outside, lined up in the rain.  They ran in.  Literally, I saw people running in.  As if they were running to catch a bus or a train or a plane that a loved one was on and they had to stop them to tell them they love them before they leave forever and it’s too late like in one of those romantic comedies.  Yes.  Lucky for me, I was sitting down at that point, so I didn’t get knocked over or stepped on or anything.

The place filled up pretty quickly

I looked around and I could see people everywhere.  It wasn’t safe for me to get up anymore.  If I were to wander away from my seat by just a few steps, I would lose my seat, or worse, my shoes.  Not gonna happen.  It’s okay, looking at the shoes in front of a mirror was not essential.  I could manage.  It was okay.  Everything was fine.  Or at least that’s what I kept telling myself.

I was surrounded by people

I had a problem.  I couldn’t narrow it down.  And as I looked around at all the crazy people around me, I realized something.  I was crazy.  And I hate to admit it, but I think I might have been the craziest person there.  Why?  While everyone else had one basket full of shoes, I had two.  And people commented on it too.  There were two nice ladies I was seated next to who I began to talk to.  And one of them looked at my full baskets and asked “Do you have a limit at all?”.  And I said “Yeah, sort of..”.  And she said “What’s your limit?”.  And I said “I don’t know…”.

There were too many shoes to choose from

We had to be careful too.  Because at this point, employees were walking around, picking up and taking away shoes and baskets that had been discarded.  They would ask if you were done with your stuff, and then take what you didn’t want.  But when approached, everyone becomes so protective of their shoes, as if the employee is a predator threatening to take away their baby.  You don’t want your shoes taken away while you’re still deciding.  There’s no way you’ll be able to find them again.  I would hate to have to work there during the sale.  It must suck.  A lot.

How could I possibly decide?

There were also cameras everywhere.  Like a film crew, recording everything.  I don’t know where exactly that footage will end up.  But I hope the part where I was looking bewildered, trying to spot something on a shelf, then realizing the guy had the camera aimed right at my face is edited out.  Because I know that will not be flattering in the least.  They were also going around interviewing people about the sale.  I overheard this girl ask some women if they would mind being interviewed but they declined.  Because they didn’t want to be distracted from their shoes, no doubt.  I might have done it, had they asked me.  But then didn’t.  All the better, as it gave me more time to focus on my shoes.

I can't believe I filled 2 whole baskets of shoes

I tried them all on, weeded out a few, but still had far too many.  I could eliminate those that were uncomfortable and might cut into the back of my feet or squish my toes.  But somehow there were still a lot that I loved.  This sort of thing never happens.  At least not to this extent.  I can see why people go early.  They get in new shipments everyday, but still, if I went tomorrow instead of today, I wouldn’t have been able to find as many good pairs as I did.

My version of a condensed basket of shoes

We sort of had this sense of camaraderie going, those us sitting in that space with our shoes.  Comparing, saying “Oh you have to get those ones!” and “Those are so cute!” and “Are there any more of those ones?”.  And even offering up some pair every so often.  I had some that were maybes or that I’d discarded, so I let another woman try them on.  And this woman let me try on these boots that she wasn’t sure about, just in case she didn’t buy them.

I lined them all up. I couldn't narrow it down any more than this.

At one point, the woman beside me asked if she could try on a pair of shoes in my basket.  I said, “Oh, those are my shoes,” and she said “But can I just try them?”.  And I had to explain to her that by “my shoes”, I didn’t mean I was going to buy them, I meant that I owned them, that they were the ones I walked into the store with that morning.  I knew that was bound to happen.  I overheard another girl say “My fear is that someone’s going to take the shoes I came in with“.  You and me both, sister.

I carried them to the checkout like this

A little later, I had managed to condense everything into one basket.  I told myself that was my limit.  Whatever I could fit into one basket.  Even if that basket was overflowing, apparently.  At one point I just sort of sat there, staring at them.  I knew I was going to buy them all.  I thought about taking them out and trying on each pair again, just to make sure.  But I knew there was no point.  Like it or not, it was going to happen.

With the shoes on the counter, there was no turning back

So I made my way over to the checkout.  It was now or never.  I felt judgement was upon me, as others had just a few pairs they were holding.  I had eleven.  Yes, eleven.  I just counted them again to make sure I got that right.  They advertise the sale as each pair being under $40.  So naturally, I picked up all the pairs that were $39.99.  I showed some hesitancy at the counter, but I gave in.  At least I had the $100 gift card.  I was hoping the girl might have given me the $500 by mistake, but sadly she did not.  Even with the $100 gift card, I probably still spent more than a lot of people there.  Let’s just say my total was under $500.

My 2 giant bags full of shoes

And so I was handed two large bags full of shoes, and sent on my merry way, filled with shame, excitement, happiness, and regret.  It was a confusing mix of emotions.  A shoe sale can do that to a girl.

Stay tuned for Part 3…

What shoes should I wear tomorrow?

So I’ve been talking about the Army & Navy Shoe Sale for a while now.  You’re probably sick of it.  But oh well.  There’s still more where those posts came from.  Seeing as it hasn’t even started yet.  So I didn’t win that contest on Facebook.  Heather from Surrey had over 400 votes.  She’s a lucky girl, lots of shoes and lots of friends.  But she deserved to win, her photo was pretty awesome.

I’m kind of bummed that I didn’t win a VIP party at the Roxy and $500 worth of shoes.  But I still win, because I got the second most votes.  So I still get VIP access for the sale & $100 towards shoes, which is pretty sweet.  I’m supposed to be there at 7:30 am.  Still figuring out the details.  Damn that’s early.  But I guess it’s worth it?  For first dibs on shoes?

What shoes would be best to wear to a shoe sale?

I need to figure out what shoes I should wear tomorrow.  I mean comfort trumps all in this case.  I read advice that you should wear flip flops, as they are easy to remove and then you can quickly try on other pairs.  But I feel like if I wear flip flops, I could easily lose one, or maybe both.  Plus someone might step on them, and what if I need to run?  Or at least fast walk, towards a shoe rack?  I feel like it might make for a dangerous situation.

So I’m thinking maybe runners?  Cause then I can move quickly and easily.  And I can wear a comfortable pair where I can slip them on and off without having to untie and retie the laces every time.  I’m thinking maybe a skate shoe style, so it doesn’t look like I’m going to the gym.  Not that it matters where it looks like I’m going.  But yeah.  The problem is, most of the shoes that I own like that are at least partly suede, and it’s going to be raining tomorrow.

So maybe just regular flats?  That I can slip on and off with ease?  Better than flip flops, because they’ll be less dangerous in a frenzy.  And my feet won’t get totally wet in the rain.  But then what if I want to try on boots or shoes that I would want to wear socks with?  Maybe I should just wear flats and then bring a pair of socks with me, just in case?

One would think that since it’s going to rain, I should wear my red rain boots.  But no.  Boots are not appropriate footwear when shoe shopping at a massive event.  Because I’ll have to carry them around with me as I try on shoes, or leave them aside as I make my way through the aisles.  Plus those boots, I’m actually afraid someone might steal or mistake for a current sale item.

Basically I guess I just need a good shoe that can get me there.  Once there, I’ll likely forget about what shoes I came there in.  But I don’t want someone to try on my shoes by mistake.  That’s happened to me before.  I will be gaining new pairs of shoes, but I don’t want to accidentally lose an old pair in the process.  When did shoe shopping become such an ordeal?

I suppose I will figure it out.  I should probably go to bed soon, seeing as I will have to be up super early tomorrow in order to make it down there before the sale starts.  But I probably won’t.  I’ll just be tired tomorrow.  Oh well.  The excitement and determination to find awesome shoes will give me the energy that I need to get past my sleep deprivation.  I may not know yet what shoes I’ll wear to the sale tomorrow, but I know for sure what shirt I’m going to wear.  It couldn’t get more perfect than this one…

The perfect shirt to wear to a legendary shoe sale

Don’t forget to vote for my red rain boots photo in the Army & Navy Shoe Sale contest!

Click here to vote —–>  http://bit.ly/IV0NGi

If I win, I promise you an epic blog post about the shoe sale!

These boots are made for walking

The first time I wore these boots at SlutWalk Vancouver last year

Well, walking in the rain, to be more specific. But yes.  They have served me so well so far.  I was lucky enough to purchase these at the annual Army & Navy Shoe Sale last year. Some people laugh when they hear how much I love the Army & Navy Shoe Sale.  But whatever.  They just don’t understand.

They still have the ability to get attention

Funny enough, I’ve actually always hated rain boots.  I think they’re ugly for the most part. Gum boots, I mean.  I just picture little kids in yellow gum boots jumping in puddles.  And they just seemed childish to me.  It never appealed to me as a footwear option for grown women.  There are more stylish boots that you can get out there without resorting to gum boots.  They try to jazz them up with pretty patterns and such, but it just never worked for me.  They’ve also never seemed to fit properly either.

Ready to wear

But at the Army and Navy Shoe Sale last year, I had a change of heart.  After going through piles of shoes and deciding between them which ones I “needed” to have, those bright red rain boots caught my eye.  I was drawn to them.  They were different from any other rain boots I had ever seen.  They were special.  So bright.  So red.  So waterproof.  And so comfortable.  What were the chances they would be all those things?  I knew I had to have them.

They have really good tread for all the walking I do

Many people splurge on Hunters.  I was never willing to do so.  Mainly because they just didn’t seem appealing enough.  If they were really that great, then maybe I would spring for a pair, but I didn’t see the need for it.  Nothing against them, it’s just that everyone has them and the colours weren’t exciting enough for my liking.  I have heard good things about them though, and I’m pretty sure they are long lasting.

I love the buckle on the side

But I remain perfectly content with my Cougar rain boots.  I think it’s the fact that they’e just so vibrantly red.  They get noticed.  Pretty much every time I’ve worn them, I’ve received a compliment or at least some sort of comment on them, more so than any other footwear or clothing article I’ve ever worn.  Even in the state they’re in now, slightly beat up due to constant wearing, they still look good enough to get noticed.  I think if I died tomorrow, my red rain boots would be one of the things that people would remember me for.

Resting after a long day

They’ve become my go to choice of footwear when it rains.  Which in Vancouver is all the time.  But as those who live here can attest to, Vancouver weather tends to be very bipolar.  So the day will start out sunny, then it’ll rain, then it’ll stop, then it’ll rain harder.  Or it will be raining in the morning, then sunny in the afternoon, and then who knows what next.  It’s extremely frustrating.  As a consequence, I often make poor footwear decisions.  For example, wearing suede shoes on what I think is going to be a sunny day, only to find out that it will be filled with rain instead.

I can even wear them with sweatpants

The opposite happens as well, where I’ll be all prepped with my rain boots, and it will indeed be a sunny day.  This is preferable though, because who says that rain boots are only for rain?  If they look good, then I am permitted to wear them whenever the hell I want, regardless of what the weather should dictate.  And I have.  I try to colour coordinate when I can, but sometimes the red rain boots don’t exactly match the outfit I’m wearing.  But I don’t care.  I make it work.

The zipper's still going strong

I know I already wrote a blog post about another pair of boots not too long ago.  But it’s never too early for another one.  And besides, that one was expressing my sorrow at having lost a good pair.  It made me realize I should cherish these things while I still have them.  Also I’m slightly worried about my boots.  Zippers often fail me, and I fear that in the future the zippers on these ones may do the same.  The little top parts of them have broken off slightly.  But you can’t really tell.  I’m hoping they will pull through and give me another year at least.  Is that too much to ask for?  I think maybe some day in the future I will end up being like my boots.  You know, good looking and a cougar.

The brand of my boots