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Times are tough, we all agree. But one can maintain fashion sense an still be frugal, right?

Enter the "Frugalista". She's fashion savvy, compassionate, and not below scouring department store and boutique bargain bins to find the right shoe---at the right price. Still looking like a million bucks, no-one would know she spent pennies to get that way.

So what advice to savvy Frugalista's give to those of us just now making sense of the current economic woes?

Frugalista's always:

1. Buy Shoes Off-Season: The oldest trick in the book is to buy shoes at the end of a season, or even well into the next. Those shimmery sandals that are full price in May or June will be marked down substantially in just a few short months. The longer you wait, the cheaper they'll be, although you have to be careful not to miss out on the style or size that you want.

2. Buy Classic Shoe Styles: Unless you're getting a trendy item for a song, look for styles that will work well no matter what fashions the next season might bring. For example, a pair of simple black knee-high boots with a medium, classic heel will serve you far longer than a black knee-high boot with wedge heels, platform soles, faux fur trim and rhinestones on the side.
And, if you're the type who tends to live in jeans, then more than a couple pairs of evening shoes really aren't essential to your wardrobe -- no matter how pretty they are.
Think "versatile" and you'll cut down on the number of shoes you have to buy.

And finally, our last bit of advice from sage Frugalista's...

"Buying shoes you won't wear only prevents you from buying the ones you'll really need."

While most of the comfort products we featured, center around a stale looking insole of sorts, the 10 Kisses Lip Gel Insole set's itself apart by combining comfort with a bit of fashion.

ScandaLush, the makers of the 10 Kisses insole, claim they are stylish and sexy both inside and out minus the yucky glue-marks left-behind with most insoles. Each, one-size-fits all gel filled insole can be easily adhered to the heel, arch, instep, or anywhere you need a little comfort.

Available in both red (pictured above) and clear, each insole runs $12.99 and can be purchased at Scandalush.com.

A few months ago, we stumbled across a fabulous painting from artist Mark Schwartz of HighHeeledArt.com. Why do we like Mark's lovely paintings soooooo much? For starters, he is all about shoes. Calling inspiration from both Andy Warhol and Roger Vivier, the artist's pieces provide an insight into a man who also designs shoes for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Richard Tyler, Balenciaga, Christian Lacroix, Hermes and many others.

After spending over an hour on his site, we found ourselves finding a "home" for every painting he had. One after another, his work inspired us to build a new home with loft-style high ceilings, exposed ductwork, a doorman downstairs and a young (attractive) dog walker name Jose.....oops, wait, where am I?

For those with just a hint of fashion mojo, you absolutely must view Mark's work. All pieces are original work's of art and can be purchased directly on his site here: www.HighHeeledArt.com.

...Now back to Jose...

Via our "Shoe Shopping A Recession" posts, we are adding to the list of online destinations for finding the lowest prices on fabulous designer shoes.

In this edition, it is all about the Best Coupon Sites.
For starters, the past few years have seen a slurry of sites that aspire to offer true coupon features but "sneek" paid advertisements and promotions into the mix, leaving most shoppers skeptical of the site's true intent. Luckily we have compiled a short list of sites that skip the ad and promo clutter while offering true coupon's worthy of redemption.

1. First up is the site: Toutie.com.
Toutie is a great site that features over 100 coupons for online designer shops with coupons ranging from 10-30%. We love the fact that the coupons are divided by category (apparel, accessories, jewelry, beauty, and lingerie), and include a description of each online destination.

2. Our next and personal favorite site is: StyleBakery.com.
More than just a coupon site, Style Bakery is a site loaded with savings and tons of relevant style information. While providing coupons for major retailers as well as smaller online shops, we love the fact that the site offers a "Delicious Deals" section with categories like "Leather Booties Under $65".

3. StyleForFree.com also made the list.
Not as well designed as the first two sites mentioned above, Style For Free makes up for the lack of sophistication with sheer coupon volume. You can look up coupons by shop, or search through a particular category or find great product reviews on nearly every category. While the shoe selection is a mixed bag of sneakers as well as lower-end retail stores, we found fantastic coupons for Stuart Weitzman, Carlos Santanna, and Taryn Rose.

4. RetailMeNot.com.
A wonderfully designed site, Retail Me Not offers easy navigation and a powerful search tool that combs through thousands (literally) of fashion sites. Clicking on the "view coupons for these sites" links presents coupons for each site found through their search query. We were happy to find fantastic coupons from both FootCandyShoes.com and DSW.com.

On the "heels" of our post the other day regarding the "Sex and The City" iPhone application, an informed reader made us aware of another-far more functional program for shoe shopping.

For those that have utilized the "visual search" feature at Like.com, then you know how handy it is to find that hard-to-find style/color combination when shopping for shoes. Simply type in the designer you like--then choose a style/color--click "Visual Search" and you are presented with a comparative visual list of similar styles/colors across popular designers.

Now, with the "LikeThis" iPhone program, you can take and image of a shoe while out shopping, and have Like.com present you with similar designer/style/color combinations (with pricing)--right from your iPhone!

You can get more information here, or download the application from iTunes.

Are you looking for something to tide you over until the next Sex And The City Movie and have an iPhone or iTouch? Enter the new application from the folks at Warner Bros, "Carrie's Closet".

If you have one of the devices above, then you are probably aware that their are now thousands of applications you can download and use in your everyday life. Some are complete fun and some are utilitarian. We downloaded "Carrie's Closet" and found it was a little of both.
Here is how it works:

If you are out shopping, you can use your iPhone's camera to take photos of shoes, jewelry, clothing or accessories that you must have. Tag each item with a description and start building your dream wardrobe only Carrie herself could top. Once you have satisfied your lustful spirit and filled your pallet with goodies, then you can email the outfit (or single item) to that rich Mr. Big in your life.

All in all, the application is more fun than anything else (you can also watch clips, download movie tracks, and view movie photos), but we did find it a nice way to store your holiday wishlist that could be emailed to loved-ones.

You can download the application here (opens iTunes).

A few months ago, we penned a list of budget-friendly sites and resources that provided a little aid to the pocketbook. With such a huge response from that post, we put together Volume II. We all know the economy has seen better days, right?

Shoe Shopping Without Breaking The Bank--Quick Links V2:

• TheBudgetFashionista.com
• TheBudgetBabe.com
• TheCheapChica.blogspot.com
• Daily Candy
• Bargainist.com

• SmartBargains.com
• Bluefly.com
• Yoox.com
• DowntownGalShoes.net

A few weeks ago we penned an article on the fabulous Alba Ankle boots from Moreschi. Hand-crafted with the wonderful combination of faux crocodile and leather platform sole, the Alba's most certainly deserved our attention.

The Alba not your cup of tea? Take a stroll through their fabulous sale selection of classic styles like the open-toe platform, Arianna, now on sale for $279.00 (regular retail, $545.00). If that is not enough, the folks at Moreschi, have created a unique offer for Shoeflair.com readers! For a limited time, moreschishoes.com email subscribers will be automatically entered to win a $50 Moreschi Gift Card.

Click here to enter the exclusive contest and view the full details (did I mention, subscribers get priority announcements on new products and special sale items!).

Fans of Sex and The City star, Kristen Davis will be pleased to know that the starlet has partnered with North Carolina Department Store, Belk to offer a line of apparel, shoes, accessories, sleepwear, and sportswear.

Davis, known for her conservative-classy styling has carried that influence to the entire collection and can be seen in her basic Alta Patent Pumps, Soriano Flats, and Ally Boot.

While we can't argue that the star has remarkable class on and off the set, this new line seems to be a bit ho-hum in our eyes. We wish Belk would have waited for the Spring to launch her collection in order to capture Davis' taste in flowery pastels and the classic pink tones she wore throughout the Sex and The City Movie.

We are huge fans of leather maintenance. It is the only reason our beloved Prada pumps from Summer '91 have made into the 21st Century. Is it fun to do? No, not really. It ranks-up their with cleaning out the freezer; you know you need to do it, but it seems anything is more important at the time.

We have used every conditioning product on the market, from Neat's Foot Oil (messy), to our favorite Enzo Angiolini Polish (expensive) and everything in-between. We are happy to say that we have a new favorite polish, PO-ZU Edible Shoe Cream, made from 100% pure Coconut Oil. Yes, that's right it is edible (tastes like a Pina Colada), but more importantly it works like Neet's Oil without the messy oily discharge.
With just one application, our Tod's leather flats came out of life-support and looked ready for another round of Summer.

You can pick up a canister of PO-ZU Edible Shoe Cream at pozuusa.com for $15.00.

After the dust has finally settled from Milan Fashion Week a few weeks ago, we thought we would provide a "Cliff Notes" version of the week's happenings.

What caught our eye:
I remember doing this segment last year and writing a ton about the upcoming Gladiator craze that seemed a part of every Spring debut. Well guess what, "Glads" look to be very much a part of the design pallet for Spring '09. Keep an eye out for new versions of your favorite sandal and flat from this past year.
Cork: Yes, the beloved natural look that hit the show last year, was again present this year. Look for more heel adaptations paired with pastel blues and beautiful turquoise tones.
Extremely High Heels: As was present the last half of the Summer, the Skyscraper craze hit the Spring stage with Elevated Wedges and even Double Platforms. Look for designs with show-stopping pop colors and peep-toe laceups.

Our Favorite Designer From the Show:
Brian Atwood. As a Lead Designer for Bally, Brian's own collection for '09 was as classy as ever, but with just enough "trend-setting" to keep his line fresh and up-to-date.

Watching the fall '08 runways felt like walking back into Victorian era Monarchy. Brimming with lace, tulle and brocade, every designer from Prada to Valentino was hip to the new trend. Of no exception was Alberta Ferretti's gray patent-leather lace-up boots under the Philosophy brand (can anyone say L.A.M.B?)

While these shoes aren't our cup of tea, we can see why Victorian era influenced designs are so appealing to a great deal of women. The fine detailing and lace accents are a measure of true craftsmanship not so obvious on your every-day patent pump.

You can find these Alberta Ferretti Pumps for $600 at albertaferretti.com

Yes, it's a discussion for the ages...but it seems that we keep asking ourselves the question. Lord knows that their are designers out there specializing in combining comfort and style, but plenty exist that simply put comfort at the sake of style. So why do we do it?

Maybe it's the same reason that men don't ask for directions? Truth is, it is a complex question that delves in to the very psyche of being a woman. I for one have joined the millions of working women that don tennis shoes when commuting to work and then slip on my heels when reaching the office. And it never fails, just when I start to join the complacent army of women in tennis shoes, I spy a confident woman, dressed to the nines, wearing sexy three inch heels. My heart sinks and I swear-off wearing sneakers to work for the ump-teenth time.

So for us women, the answer exists among us all. It is truly all about how the women around us make us feel about ourselves...not what the opposite sex thinks. As for the reason they (men) don't ask for directions, well I don't think they even know.

Give Pain the Boot & Know Your Size:

• Designer Shoe Sizing and Conversion Tips: Part 1
• Designer Shoe Sizing and Conversion Tips: Part 2
• Christian Louboutin Sizing Guide
• Manolo Blahnik Sizing & Fit Tips
• How To Shop For Big Feet
• Five Rules Of Healthy Shoe Shopping

It is very rare here at Shoeflair when we ALL instantly fall in love with something that comes through our door. Such is the case with the Moreschi Alba Ankle Boot. For those that aren't familiar with the Moreschi name, you most definitely should be. Moreschi, an Italian based company has its roots as early as 1946 making finely crafted, high-end designer shoes. The brand has stores from Milan to Hong Kong with a flagship located on Madison Ave in New York.

...Back to the Alba. We love the wonderful combination of the faux crocodile pattern and leather platform sole; the contrast of both materials is something to behold and seems to just "work" on the boot. The Alba comes in two colors, Platinum, Purple Passion (picture attached) and retails for $735.00.

You can purchase the Alba online at www.moreschishoes.com or from one of their retail stores.

Over at about.com, we stumbled across a funny, yet revealing little quiz you can take to find out which style of women's dress shoe you are inclined to wear.

The 10 question quiz ranges from such questions regarding your favorite type of dessert (uh, Creme brulee) to your favorite car (Mini Cooper) to your favorite movie (Heathers). While somewhat whimsical, the quiz actually was dead-on with my favorite shoe style: Mary Jane Platform. Unfortunately one of our other writers found herself in the "Comfortable Loafer" category, even though she doesn't own anything without heels.

The quiz takes less than a minute and is a nice little distraction from the daily grind. You can find the quiz here.

In continuing our self-help posts, we thought we would offer a little fit advice for those that succumbed to the skyscraper heel trend that flew through the fashion world this summer.

What to look for when shopping for high-heels:

• The Right Padding: Look for padding under your heels and the balls of your feet to absorb shock and add comfort.
• Materials That Breathe: Choose breathable leather or suede. Avoid synthetics, which can increase perspiration.
• A Little Flexibility: The ideal shoes will flex at the balls of the feet, not at the arches. To test: try on the shoes and raise up on the balls of your feet; the shoes should not bend.
• A Supportive Back: Sling-back shoes or shoes with backs are better than those without. Backless shoes force toes to work too hard, which can create blisters or irritate hammertoes.
• Shock Absorption: Shock-absorbing rubber soles are best if you pound the pavement all day or stand on a hard surface for more than a few hours.

Story courtesy of Health.com

We at here at Shoeflair are constantly are on the look-out for tidbits that help our readers with their shoe shopping experience. With all that we write about the latest and greatest styles from exotic designers the world over--finding the perfect it shoes, only to have them reduce you to a puddle of crying-bandaged goo is something we try to avoid.

With that said, we found this great guide on Health.com that really says it all:

• The later, the better: Your feet swell to their largest size as blood pools in them by the end of the day, which makes this the best time to shop. Go to early, and you risk getting a pair that'll be too tight.
• Get measured every time: Pregnancy, weight gain, and age can cause your feet to lengthen and broaden; your arches can change, too. Also, if one of your feet is bigger than the other, buy shoes in the size of the larger foot.
• Try them on: Sizes differ by brand (and even within the same brand). Ask the salesperson to bring your normal size as well as a half-size larger and smaller.
• Go with your gut: You'll know within minutes if a shoe is right for you. If it's even a bit uncomfortable now, it will feel exponentially worse as time goes on.

Conscious about our current state of the U.S. economy, we have written a bit about how to save money and still get that fabulous pair of shoes you want. While it is still isn't super easy (and you may have to make a few minor concessions), certain online "boutiques" have specialized in offering high-end designer shoes at jaw-dropping prices.

One of those boutiques, Downtowngal Shoes, has existed primarily on eBay with incredible pricing and a huge assortment of previous seasons collections of Ferragamo, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Lilly Pulitzer, Prada, Tod's and many other "top-shelf" designers.

Today, DowntownGal Shoes & More announced the opening of the company’s latest effort to offer men’s and women’s high-end designer shoes at some of the lowest prices found online anywhere. With a fresh new look and edgy branding, Downtowngalshoes.net, was launched with extreme discounts on all Kate Spade designer shoes and Diaper Bags.

Even besting their eBay pricing, Downtown Gal Shoes, is using the site to offer shoes at anywhere between 50% - 80% off retail pricing! We can't wait to see what other goodies show-up on their site over the next few months.

Click here to browse the inventory at Downtowngalshoes.net

These days their are a lot of ways to find what you are looking for out here in cyberspace. Search engines, rss feeds, comparison shopping sites, site aggregators, blah, blah. Trust me when I say, we here at Shoeflair have seen it all. The unfortunate thing about a great deal of these services is that they don't provide the comprehensive collection that we want.

Enter NyMag's aptly named, the "Shop-A-Matic" shoe thingy-ma-bobber. While it lacks price comparison features that one might be used to, it more than makes up for it regarding breadth. Wanna see the latest fall collections? No problem....you will see them all (while sorting on price, color, and type).

We easily found the pair of beautiful Satine Booties by Balenciaga. From here we can go search for better prices.
If you haven't checked out the "Shop-A-Matic" by New York Magazine, check it out here.

A season ago, we were telling you about the BenjiBox for storing your winter wonders in a nice see-through "drawer-box".

With summer on it's way out, its time to start thinking about shoe storage again. While the BenjiBox is great, we found the lovely Shoebby (shoe-bie) that is pretty much the same thing at much less. You still get the same clear, solid plastic construction that is great for stacking, but the decrease in cost is an added bonus.

When compared to the 5 piece set of the BenjiBox, the same set of Shoebby's is around $2-$3 less AND available in the US (the BenjiBox ships from Australia). If you go with the 10 pack, you save around $10 comparatively and you receive a free box.