A week or so ago I spotted this new version of the much coveted high top sneaker by Isabel Marant on the La Garconne website. I was instantly obsessed in that totally irrational fashion way, and was about to order them when I noticed the fine red print stating the expected arrival date was February 15th. In other words I couldn’t pull the trigger just yet. So I obsessively checked the website daily to monitor their status. Given I already own the black version of this sneaker from last season, I attempted to rationalize why I didn’t need another pair—even one I lusted for this much. But then the devil (who in my case wears Marant, not Prada) took a strong position on my other shoulder and reminded me that this multi-colored version was a totally different shoe. Plus, I wear my black ones so religiously they are naturally staritng to get a little worn around the edges. And on that note, isn’t the fact that I wear them so much a reason to splurge, err, invest wisely, in another pair? Tough call, but at least I had close to a month to decide. Or so I thought.
The other morning I returned from my spin class—where as it happens, I spotted a chic women wearing a pair of the Marant sneakers in last seasons’ lust worthy red white and blue combination—to find an email from La Garconne announcing that the new collection of Isabel Marant shoes were available for pre-order. My just rested heart rate raced back up as I clicked the link. I would purchase now and ask questions later. Unbelievably, they had already sold out. It was 11:04 AM, and the the email landed in my in box at 10:56. I was totally crushed in that irrational fashion way and kicked myself for stopping for coffee on the way home. But it didn’t take me long to regroup and realize there is an Isabel Marant store close to me. Surely they will have the sneaker and surely they will have more stock. I made the call to the store (with yet another rush of adrenaline) and was informed by the lovely shop girl—who no doubt has a pair with her name on them— that the store had not received their shipment of the Willow sneaker, but she would add me to the wait list. I may have lost the battle but I hadn’t lost the war. Yet. But then is another sneaker that everyone is scrambling to get their hands on, something I really want? Only time, and my place on the wait list will tell.
