Sex and the Knockoffs
I waded through a pool of drool at Bakers in International Plaza the other day. Three different customers were strutting like they just met God, or a serviceable substitute like John Stamos. Why? They had these babies en foote:
Astute shoe freakazoids will recognize them from a little art house film called Sex and the City.
Carrie Bradshaw's real beast is the Extreme Dior Gladiator Platform, which sells for almost $800, if you're lucky. The Bakers version is about $70. The sales girl told me they're selling out in within days of shipments.
$70 for shoes usually makes me want to spear a stiletto through my temple, but I guess in comparison to Dior, it's not, you know, terrible.
I don't know what to think of these. They look bomb on SJP. But she is an alien stick insect with calves the width of Twizzlers. I am five-feet tall with the proportions of a sectioned-off water balloon. Cutting a horizontal line around my ankle is generally a firing offense.
True, I am pondering the rockability of the Carrie shoe. But moreover, I am pondering the days when Bakers used to have $5 sales. D-zang, I miss that.
~ Deal Diva Stephanie
(Photos: AP, bakersshoes.com)
Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or 
Since she was a little girl Nicole Hutcheson dreamed of dressing like a Vogue cover girl. But her reality was more JCPenney catalog. The fact only honed her better ability to find luxury for less. Always on the hunt for markdowns on designer labels, this Deal Diva’s weaknesses are good jeans and killer heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8828 or 
Colleen Jenkins learned two invaluable shopping tenets from her mom: 1. Buy quality. 2. Get it on sale. Then she added one of her own: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! This Deal Diva’s idea of a blissful Saturday includes a trip to the Ellenton outlet mall. She loves mixing classic with trendy and cheap Target accessories with her markdown Banana Republic duds. She can be reached at (813) 226-3337 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
Yeah, maybe you're right. I'll ignore my inner Stacey and Clinton and wait till they go on the $5 sale (tonight, in my dreams).
Posted by: Stephanie Hayes | June 17, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Even sectioned-off water balloons need shoes like this. Get yourself back to Bakers.
Posted by: Tracey | June 17, 2008 at 08:37 PM