Chic, but is it cheap?

This morning I was reading a newspaper, when a Bergdorf Goodman advertisement caught my eye. It was for shoes...stiletto sandals, to be more precise.

These were obviously meant for women who take their car and driver, or a taxi, and don't walk. But still, they were beautiful: sky-high, peep-toe sandals featuring a braided T-strap, black canvas and patent-leather uppers, and cheerful, striped innersole and lining. I was instantly smitten.

I kept reading. My eyes followed to the print below the black and white photo of this pretty sandal. Moschino Cheap and Chic" said the ad, in bold, black type. For a moment, I thought perhaps Moschino really was offering a bargain. For a moment, I thought about playing hookey from my work, and running up to Bergdorfs. I wanted those sandals. I hoped they still had my size. For that moment, I had to have those shoes, even though my lifstyle is more geared towards sneakers, than stilettos.

My enthusiasm was short lived. In small print, I faced reality. I saw the price: $395.00

I know there are plenty of women for whom $400.00 shoes are simply another box in the closet. They buy them without thought. They buy them in every color. They buy lots of styles. I instantly realized that these shoes weren't meant for the average woman for whom $400 is half the rent, or a month's groceries, or the cost of some their child's medical care.

I'm not on the bread line, but cheap and chic? Chic, yes, but cheap??? On what planet?!


I don't know how Moscino ended up with "cheap and chic" as their tag line, but it doesn't fit anymore. Worse, it's really nervy. You have to have serious chutzpah to advertise a pair of $400 sandals as "cheap" and assume that anyone would believe it --or at least not take offense at the implication that if you think it's not cheap, you're simply not chic (or rich) enough. Had Moschino simply said "chic" I would have embraced the concept.

I'm not buying it (the tag line)....or them (the sandals).

Just my thought for the day. If you think $395 is cheap, please leave a comment and let me know about it!