First off, Bottega Veneta. I mean, *suede ankle* boots, *slides*, *sandals*, *flats*… the whole shebang. They’ve got that intrecciato thing going on, that woven leather that just screams “I have good taste and possibly a trust fund.” But seriously, they ARE gorgeous, and you see them everywhere. I saw some bright yellow rubber slides – Rasteira Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Plat Rubber Amarela – online the other day. Yellow! Bold. The website said they were like, 4 grand originally but on sale. Which, okay, still a LOT for rubber slides, but you get what I mean.
Speaking of websites, that’s where the whole “secure payment” thing comes in, right? You’re clicking around, drooling over those ballet flats or those Derby shoes (the men’s ones look pretty sharp, ngl), and then BAM, you gotta put in your credit card. That’s when the anxiety starts creeping in. Is this site legit? Are they gonna steal my identity? Are my new shoes *really* worth the potential hassle of dealing with fraud? Ugh.
NET-A-PORTER seems like a pretty safe bet, tbh. They’re, like, a big deal in the high-fashion world, so you’d *hope* they have their security locked down. But still, you gotta be careful. Look for the little padlock icon in your browser, make sure the URL starts with “https,” the usual stuff.
And then there’s the whole thing with “AFFIRM PAYMENT Rates from 0–36% APR.” Ugh, APR. The bane of my existence. I always end up paying WAY more than I thought I would. It’s like, you think you’re getting a good deal on those quilted leather slingback sandals (also on NET-A-PORTER, apparently), and then BAM, interest charges for days. Maybe best to just stick with saving up and paying cash? Food for thought.
