You know that feeling....the feeling where you find that special shoe in the sale section?

Your heart races and you move quickly to the sale rack. You look right, then left. Is that woman in the purple top headed your way? You quickly look down to assess her shoe size...it could be close to yours. So, you head over to the rack and position your body in a way that she would have to invade your personal space to get to the 4 by 4 cross section of shoes. Yes, you are monopolizing the rack space, but you don't know IF there are any shoes you like, and you definitely don't want your size taken.

Please don't end up like these women during a shoe sale:

"60%-off shoe sale leads to melee at Saks Fifth Avenue: witnesses

'Pushing and shoving' among ladies who lunch when deadline to get cheap clogs nears; salesfloor cleared; 'it was crazy' said one guard"

You quickly scan the section of shoes...yes, no, yes, yes, maybe (dammit, grab them just in case) and you flag down the sales person. At no point in the hunt do you even consider if you need these shoes - because you are in a sale induced state of mind (SISM).

You shake your head. You try and rethink why you ever entered the store. Oh yes, black pumps, black pumps. I need a pair of work black pumps.

The sales person walks towards you while juggling 6 boxes of shoes. The first box is opened.

(find them here)

Ahhhhhhhh....these are beautiful animal print booties. And, Alexander McQueen. I mean, this is the same designer that Princess Kate wore to her wedding. Several other non-essential shoes arrive, and you slowly try on these exotic pairs one by one. As they lay out in front of you, you are feeling good. I mean, these are not the black shoes you came in for, but they are ALL on Saaaaalllllleeeeee...sale...sale. It sounds good rolling off your tongue.

This is what you should buy:

Yet this is what is in your hands:

(find them here)

And then it hits you. You shake yourself from the sale induced state of mind, and realize what must be done. You have to walk...now.

But, what about these...they would be perfect for Spring. Walking around DC when the cherry blossoms in effect.

(find them here)

Right brain, left brain...who to believe?

This subject is complicated, so I am am breaking it down into three parts:

1 - Strategy Sale Shopping - how to shop during sales. Creating your strategy before walking in the door or turning on the ipad.
2 - Making the Purchase - once you are in, how to have strategic purchases
3 - Online Outlets - how to manage vintage/gently used shoe shopping online. Ebay or other sites.

So, stay tuned. I want you to know that while I did put down most of those non-strategic shoes, I may have ended up with one pair...