Are you cheap?

"Cheap" is a mostly dirty word in the fashion writing business. If something is inexpensive, you call it affordable. If something is on major sale, you call it "deeply discounted" or a "bargain" attached to some sort of delightful adjective. This is because no one wants to think of themselves--or anything that they may be buying--as anywhere related to the C-word. However, after a night spent talking with other New York women about how they buy clothes, I've discerned that I am in fact cheap. And I am all sorts of conflicted about it.

I'll spare you the boring, soul-searching details, but essentially it all comes down to a pair of boots. I have wanted these, from Loeffler Randall, for approximately 100 years (Mandy Moore loves them, too).But I haven't bought them. I haven't bought them because I don't wantto be the girl who buys $700 boots. I feel like once I become thatwoman, there's no turning back: I fear I'll become addicted to $700boots, I won't appreciate them, I'll ruin them, and, perhaps more thananything else, I don't really need them. (And maybe don't deserve them?Oh, Catholic guilt, I missed you!)

My best friend Lara (who once purchased a pair of Jimmy Choos soexpensive, she still won't tell me how much they cost) chastised me forthis behavior: "Just buy the bleeping boots, just buy them new anddon't buy the 100 other shoes you get on eBay that don't even fit."

Interesting point.

And this is the cheap girl's dilemma. I've bought a zillion $29 shirtsthat have disintegrated after three washes. I own sale items that havenever fit/need repairs/come in a color I hate. The amount of money I'vespent saving money could possibly buy me a tree of Loeffler Randallboots. This is not to say bargain hunting is bad, but my shopping habits lately are. Instead of getting what I really want, I hoard inexpensive, deeply discounted clothes and accessories (and if anyone is watching the amazing A&E show Hoarders, you know how terrifying this tendency can be). So, I'm going to the buy the boots. Though, first, I might search for them on eBay one more time. Old dog, new tricks, etc.