Shoe Stalking

Hello, My name is Alyah, and I stalk shoes....

I've been a shoe stalker for years now. And I'm actually quite good at it. Here's how it works: Whenever I go into any department store I manage to find my way casually glancing in the shoe department. I have a keen sense of what I like and many times I will walk by and not take a second glance...However, there are times when there is that one pair that catches my eye from accross the room and I am compelled by a force stronger than any I've ever known to stop whatever I'm doing and walk -ahem- speed walk over to the beauty that beckons to me, "Alyah try me on" So I do. I do have rules however when it comes to shoe stalking: #1. I must absolutely love love love them. #2. I must be able to afford them b/c I don't believe in credit card debt, hence the "stalking" for when they go on sale #3. If they do go on sale but they don't happen to have my size then I must be resolved to the fact that me and my love interest were not destined to be together.

My first stalking experience happened in 2004. I was at Saks 5th Avenue shopping with my mom and sisters for something totally unrelated to shoes. As usual we casually walk by the shoe department and as we walk by I see the object of my eye and I'm compelled to stop in my tracks and walk over to the most beautiful shoes I had ever seen as if I was in a trance. Beautiful, black, patent leather, strappy 6 inch Manolo Blahnik heels that are To-Die-For. I felt so lucky that the shoe on display was my size and as I slipped my feet into the strappy delicately carved leather creation, I knew that we were meant to be together. The transformation from normal-Alyah to supermodel-Alyah began. So when the salesman came over to tell me how lovely they looked on my feet, I was thinking to myself, "Duh, of course they do! I'm a supermodel in these gems." But my excitement was shattered the moment I glanced at the price which was waaaaaaayyy beyond my budget. I reluctantly slipped them off and decided to make friends with the salesman to see when they were having their next sale. He was super nice and promised to call me when they had their big semi annual sale.

A few months pass and as time goes on I'm continuing to go to Saks just to make sure they're still there...I finally get the call I've been waiting for 4 months later...They're on sale AND....The shoes are in stock!!!! Immediately I go to Saks and find that they are out of my sizes (6.5 or 7) Just before the devastation sets in, the salesman (now my buddy) says the most wonderful thing a girl could hope to hear in this type of situation..."Let me see if we have them in stock at one of our other stores" Once again I'm overcome with hope and excitement...As he's searching the database I'm praying that there is a destiny for me and my beautiful Manolos...

A few minutes go by and my buddy turns to me and says "I guess you're meant to have them, we have them in one of our stores in Florida" I wanted to kiss him I couldn't believe it...Not only did they have my size, but the shoe was on sale for over 60% off the original price and I was going to get free shipping straight to my house!

Once the transaction was complete I had to wait 5-10 business days before I could slip my feet into what was then the most beautiful pair of shoes I had ever seen. The most beautiful pair and I was going to own them, the most beautiful pair and they were mine and I was going to be able to wear them all the time!!! I was on cloud nine.

The day they arrived, I'll never forget...I came home and there was the box outside my front door. I ran into the house, and ripped it open and wore the shoes around the house feeling like a princess...For a while I wasn't sure I wanted to wear them outside b/c the sole was perfect and suede and I didn't want them to get scuffed...I got over that pretty quickly!

That was my first stalking experience...My Manolos and I have been to many a wedding, many a night out on the town, and many dates and no matter how great or horrible the evening was, it always ended on the best note knowing I was going home in the most beautiful pair of shoes ever known to man... and they were mine!

Currently I'm stalking a new pair of shoes...check out my next entry to hear about the newest obsession...