According to recent research conducted by Mintel, Payless might want to watch its back. The research indicates that over the next five years, the number of shoes purchased each year in the UK is expected to drop by seven percent, according to Manolo the Shoeblogger. And Manolo the Shoeblogger doesn't lie.

And why do I assume that means that cheap shoes are on their way out? Because one-third of the women questioned in the above poll said they now pay more for their shoes, which means that as they make their shoe purchases, they'll be looking for quality over quantity.

What woman do you know who has watched an episode of Sex and the City and not sighed over at least one beautiful pair of designer shoes? Years ago, only a select few were familiar with Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin, and now there are middle-school girls fawning over these sexy heels with the same look in their eyes I had when ogling the members of New Kids on the Block.
Some of you might wonder why, aside from the fact that celebrities wear expensive shoes, you should pay $95 for these ballet flats when you can have these ballet flats for under $9. Well, as with anything, a more expensive shoe will often mean it's a higher quality shoe, meaning you should be able to get more use out of it.

However, here in my little world that doesn't justify spending $500 on a pair of stilettos I'll only wear on special occasions (even if I do LOVE these). Also, I just might have to buy the SJP Bitten ballet flats for $8.98, because if I have a shoe in eight colors, I don't need to get tons of wear out of one single color, right? But Mintel can check in with me again in five years and see if I've changed my tone.