Finding Quality At Any Price - Part 4 of 4
As I’ve said many times, accessories are the heart and soul of personal style. Most of the pieces in any outfit are accessories. Sure, there are some woman who can assemble an outfit that includes more garments than accessories. They create ensembles that consist of layers of clothing and they can look fabulous.
To bring off this kind of style you need two things: 1. A slender to outright skinny body and 2. A lot of money. An outfit that includes a tank top, leggings and boots, under a cashmere sweater, an A-line skirt and a statement belt, under a blazer, under a cape, a knit scarf plus a brimmed felt hat and a leather bag, costs large money. And most of the time this outfit will also have at least some jewelry.
For the rest of us, most outfits consist of a dress, earrings, (maybe) a necklace or scarf, shoes and bag or a top of some sort, a bottom of some sort, earrings, (maybe) a necklace or scarf, shoes and bag. If you’re wearing a blazer or jacket, you’ll add a shirt, blouse, sweater, tank or T-shirt. That’s four to eight pieces, one to four of which are garments. The rest are accessories. And they are your style makers.
Someday I may write a book about accessories because that’s what it will take to do a comprehensive review of accessories. For now, I’m going to stay with the basics, primarily shoes and bags.
In high-end shoes, I’ll begin with some of my favorites and others who must be included. These are what I think of as, The Italians. Not because all of them are Italian, but because all of their shoes are made in Italy and Italy dominates the world in the production of highest quality leather goods.
Some, but not all, of the high-end shoe designers are, in alphabetical order:
Aquazzura ($695— $1,400)
Bottega Veneta ($750—$1,600)
Christian Louboutin ($695—$995)
Gucci ($450— $1,800)
Jimmy Choo ($600—$1,800)
Prada ($650–2,000)
René Caovilla ($995—$2,000)
Valentino ($450–1,500).
The prices noted are current ranges at retail and do not reflect shoes on sale or the highest ever produced by the designer.
From the standpoint of quality and style, any of these designers or others who manufacture in Italy and retail at similar price points, are going to offer the best available in non-custom made shoes. All of them produce a wide range of styles from trainers to spangled evening heels.
With any of them, you’re going to get highest grade leather outside and inside or, if the shoe is textile on the outside, you will get a glove leather lining. Their fit will be consistent and the shoe itself will be as comfortable as any particular style will allow. (I’m not going to include references to trainers as they are made from different materials and their performance is judged by different criteria than fashion footwear).
All of these designers also produce highest quality handbags. All but Gucci and Bottega Veneta were first known for their shoes, but they all started producing handbags either simultaneously or shortly after.
With exceptions for specialty evening bags, their handbags are all made in Italy of the highest quality leather, lined with glove leather and their styles usually set the trends for the industry. Their price points will run from about $650 for a small bag or clutch to $5,000 or more for a large or limited production bag.
As I said, these are my favorites and some that might not be favorites, but which must be included in any list of high end, quality producers of shoes and bags. You can’t go wrong with the quality of any of these labels. It’s just a matter of choosing which produce the designs you prefer.
Here are some of my favorites in the mid-range. Where I can get a country of manufacture, I mention it, but most of these labels just say “Imported.”
Paris Texas ($375—$900) gets honorable mention here. I have a particular fondness for this label. They fit in between the High-End and Mid-Range. They manufacture high quality, very stylish leather and textile shoes and a wide range of quality leather boots. They manufacture in Italy. As far as I’ve been able to determine, Paris Texas does not manufacture handbags.
Stuart Weitzman ($250—$500). Stuart Weitzman offers a wide variety of high quality women’s footwear in leather at an affordable price point. They manufacture in Spain. As far as I can determine, they do not manufacture bags.
Loeffler Randal ($200—$550) Loeffler Randal manufactures stylish women’s footwear in leather. Their quality is high and they are proud that their manufacturing is done in tiny factories and even homes. I can’t find any information on where these manufacturing facilities are located, only that they are imported. They also manufacture high style handbags in leather and textile in the $250 —$400 range.
Cult Gaia ($250—$500) Cult Gaia first gained attention with their “Ark” bag. Shortly after that they began producing high quality, fashion forward shoes in leather, wood and textile. You’ll recognize their ball-heels as among their first hit offerings in shoes. No information on Country of Origin - Imported. Cult Gaia got their start in handbags. They manufacturer high style bags in leather, wood, acrylic and textile in the ($250—$775) range.
By Far ($350— $500 for shoes, $500—$750 for boots) By Far produces stylish leather and textile shoes, but are better known for their high quality, fashion forward leather boots. Imported. By Far also manufactures high quality leather handbags in a limited number of classic styles in the $300— $650 price range.
Badgley Mischka ($200—$350) Badgley Mischka produces glamorous crystal and bead embellished textile covered evening shoes, Additionally, If you’ve ever looked for satin pumps in a particular color, you’ll recognize this name because, if you want a jade green or orchid purple satin or any other color of satin pump, it’s likely that Badly Mischka is the only designer offering it. Quality is good to high. Imported. Badgley Mischka also has his name on a line of handbags but I don’t recommend them. I believe that he has licensed his name to manufacturers of plastic junk. It’s too bad because he has a secure slot in shoes and a decent reputation.
As I said, these are some of my favorites in the mid-price range. You can find other labels in this range in higher end department stores and higher end online retailers like Net-A-Porter, Matches Fashions, Mytheresa and a few others. Always look for Genuine Leather and a price point of $250—$600 for shoes and $550 —$1,000 for a good mid-range pair of boots.
Mid-range leather bags should run from around $350—$7 or $800. A lot depends on the style and size of the bag. Obviously, large bags, which use twice or three times more leather as a small clutch or box bag, will cost more.
I’ve got another honorable mention for you. If you’ve been yearning for a genuine alligator or crocodile or other exotic leather bag, but can’t even dream of paying $7,500 — $20,000 for it, Nancy Gonzalez might be a name you should know. Her small bags & clutches run in the $1,000 to $1,500 range. Medium bags are $!,500 to $2,500 and her large bags all sell for under $4,000. You can find her bags at high end department stores like Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Wait for sales when you can get them for up to 60% off.
And now we come to the lower end range. And no, you don’t have to settle for plastic, which is uncomfortable and bad for your feet, to say nothing of Planet Earth.
First up is Vince Comuto ($50—$150 for shoes and $150—$200 for boots) Vince Comuto makes women’s leather and textile footwear in dozens of styles from ballet flats and loafers to glamorous evening sandals and boots. He also manufacturers stylish leather bags in the $150—$200 range. His quality is good to very good. Fit can be inconsistent, so be prepared to return online purchases.
Next is Via Spiga ($90—$120 for shoes, $150—$175 for a limited number of boots) When I first encountered the brand Via Spiga, they sold for considerably more than they do now. I have a strong feeling that, while it may be the same name, it isn’t the same company. Having said that, the Via Spiga of today offers good value for stylish leather and suede shoes and boots. Quality is good to very good. As is often the case with lower end shoes, fit is inconsistent from style to style. I’ve seen a few textile bags sold under the Via Spiga name, but I haven’t seen anything worth getting excited about.
Sam Edelman ($50—$145) has been around for a long time. They still offer well made leather sandals, ballet flats and an array of dressy heels at a good price. There is a line of bags with the Sam Edelman name, but, like Badgley Mischka, I believe they’ve licensed their name to a company that produces synthetic junk. These bags look OK, and, unlike synthetic shoes, they won’t damage your feet, but they can still harm the planet.
These are some brands that I think offer better quality at a reasonable prince, but there are dozens of brands at places like Zappos, DSW and Amazon that sell women’s leather shoes at affordable prices. However…
In doing research for this blog I came across a number of issues to keep in mind:
A manufacturer may say that their shoe is leather, but that may only be the upper. Check on the lining. Try to find a cotton lining if you can. Synthetic leather lining is just as bad for the skin on your feet as a fully synthetic shoe.
Many lower priced shoes have rubber soles. Look for them. They’re definitely preferable to a synthetic sole.
If you’re having trouble finding all natural shoes at an affordable price, then split your shoe budget. For closed shoes like pumps, loafers and boots, spend a little more to get natural materials. Then spend less on synthetic sandals which, because they’re small and open, don’t cause as much trouble.
I’m going to surprise you in the matter of leather handbags. You can get a cute leather bag at Zappos, DSW or Amazon, but I’ve found a place where you can get good quality leather handbags in great styles and colors for (usually) under $250. I’m almost embarrassed to say it, but it’s QVC and HSN (both now owned by the same parent company). And, no, you don’t have to watch television all day. Both of them have online shopping. These are now big operations and they have fast delivery, reliable guarantees and easy returns.
I tried them. I am now carrying a great gray everyday handbag that I got online at QVC. It’s large enough to carry all of my junk, it has outside zippers and inside compartments. It arrived quickly, the quality is very good, it’s wearing well after being used almost daily for several months and I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve gotten on it. Who knew!?
I’ve covered High Jewelry and Fine Jewelry in past blogs and it makes my head hurt to even contemplate trying to offer advice on fashion jewelry. So, I’m just going to touch on types that are readily available.
The best would be Sterling Silver or Sterling Silver plated in gold. Both are affordable and they are real precious metals.
You can also find them set with semi-precious gemstones like red pyrope garnet, amethyst, citrine, green quartz and blue and white topaz (yellow, peach and orange topaz are much more expensive). Some types of coral and turquoise are also affordable. Etsy is the best place I know for this type of jewelry.
Jewelry made from base metals plated with gold and so-called Gold-Tone or Silver-Tone jewelry can be found in cute styles at low prices at virtually any place that sells clothing. They usually look good for a short time, but don’t wear well. They tarnish, scratch and literally fall apart after a year or two.
Scarves are another valuable addition to your accessory wardrobe. You don’t need a lot of guidance with scarves. For the most part, what it appears to be is what it is. Whether it’s a fine silk scarf or a wool knit, choose what appeals to you. Construction is almost a non-issue because if it’s shabby, you’ll see it immediately.
You can spend a $1,000 on a Hermes or other designer scarf or you can spend $3 on a cotton bandana. Realistically, a pretty silk scarf, without a designer name, should cost you no more than $150. You can also choose a rayon or viscose scarf for under $50. There are polyester scarves all over the place, but you won’t be surprised that I don’t recommend them.
I’ll close with one final mention - Belts. This is another accessory that doesn’t need a lot of guidance. Buy leather in a size that fit’s your waist or hip if you want to wear it there. You can spend $25 on a leather belt, or you can spend over a $1,500 for a corset belt from Alexander McQueen. Like scarves, the quality is obvious at first glance. Buy what appeals to you and what you think you’ll use.
Next week I’ll look at vacation outfits.
- Gabrielle