When it Comes to Luxury, Do You Get What You Pay For?

Cheap shoes? I think not. You won't catch this debutante in Payless Shoes, sorry guys no offense, but your cheap shoes do not go well with my feet. I'm partial to certain brands, Nine West, Aldo, Louboutin, Enzo, Tahari, BCBG, and Lamb, I could go on, but you get the picture. Cheap shoes ALWAYS look cheap. No matter how you try to dress them "up" or down in most cases, they just don't look expensive enough. Cheap shoes can kill an outfit, just like a bad haircut.

Creme de la Mer costs $130.00 for 1 oz. My St. Ives Collagen Elastin Moisturizer, which I have been using since junior high, costs about $6. A manicure and pedicure may cost $30 at your local corner nail salon, at Bellacures, La Vie L'Orange or the Paint Shop in Beverly Hills, a mani-pedi may run you $50 and up. But those nail spas mentioned also have great environments, cushy chairs, personal foot bowls (not the noisy automated ones), and tea or coffee. You pay for the luxurious environment.

With hair products you may find it's easier to go down to your local Walgreens and buy some shampoo, but sometimes investing in the more pricey brands, can be beneficial to your hair. I'm a fan of Oscar Blandi, Mizani, Nioxin, and a few other brands that cannot be bought at your corner drug store.

I am partial to OPI and Essie nail polish? Why? Because when I used to buy other brands from grocery stores and drugstores, they didn't last as long. After a visit to Jin Soon Hand and Foot Spa in New York, I became partial to Essie. I had a manicure there and the manicurist painted my nails in a neutral color from Essie's collection. The color lasted more than a week. It was great. So, yes, I'll pay a few more dollars for the nail polish because I like it.

With furniture, some things can be bought cheap. For example, Ikea has some great desks, bookshelves, and storage units, however, some pieces are not worth their money. Especially when you have to put them together from directions with no written instructions. You can find luxury items for your home at stores like West Elm, Crate & Barrel, or even your local furniture store. They key is to find out if it works for you. Some things may be cheap, but well made. Those are the hidden jewels.

Ah luxury, can you afford not to pay for it?