Bargain Shopper Blog

Written by Kristen Le

Last time, we looked at ways to save on your dress for the Spring Racing Carnival. Whilst the dress can often be the priciest part of your races experience, the shoes can easily equal or trump the cost of the dress if you’re like me and have a bit of a thing for a good quality leather high heel. It can be an expensive habit, but there are ways to optimise on your spending in this department, and if you’re not comfortable swapping or borrowing shoes with other people and need to purchase a new pair for the races, here’s how.

THE SHOES

Shoes can be tricky at the races. The first thing to remember is that you’ll be out all day, and can often be standing on lawn or asphalt for long periods of time – you’ll definitely want to be comfortable. There are a few ways to do this. If you don’t mind dropping a little extra cash for your shoes, you can opt for a leather or leather-lined shoe; they are usually dearer than a synthetic or non-leather shoe but will last much longer and feel softer on your feet. Think of them as an investment piece – a term that all bargain fashionistas know too well! Like the dress, you’ll want to be able to wear your new shoes again, so if you’re looking at 6-inch stilettos that look great but have straps that cut into your feet, think of the pain you might endure whilst standing in them all day and use that as a deterrent to buy on a whim. Quality and comfort equal a longer lasting – and more appealing – shoe.

Another way to save on your shoes for the races is to buy flats or sandals. There are all too many cute embellished ballet flats out there these days to match any outfit, and flats and sandals can be significantly cheaper than a high heel. It’s okay if you don’t want to go leather for a flat shoe; your feet won’t be at an unnatural angle like with a heel, so being in a flat will be much more tolerable and the material isn’t as significant. If you still want to add height to your outfit but don’t want to splurge on an expensive high heel – try a wedge. Many chain discount department stores like Target, Kmart or Big W are offering a huge range of wedges this Spring that are lightweight and comfortable for a very reasonable price. Nude-coloured shoes are also a great investment – they are extremely versatile, and go with absolutely anything. Nude shoes are especially good if you are attending more than one race day as they’ll match any dress, and if you’re looking at cost per wear, these shoes will definitely be worth it.