"one for one"...for less

I saw my first pair of TOMS shoes in the hands of my friend Kylee about two years ago in a small surf shop in Huntington Beach, California.  And to be honest, I found them hilarious and strange-looking.  When she told me that a needy child receives a pair of shoes with each pair bought, I admitted that it was a kind and thoughtful idea; however, I still thought that they would never end up in my closet.

Two years later, I now have to admit that TOMS are probably the most comfortable shoes that I have ever worn, and believe me, I have plenty of shoes. What makes them sweeter is finding them on sale. And this past weekend, I found these babies for $18.99, brand spankin' new. The listed price on the TOMS website is $48.00.

(toms photo credit: http://www.toms.com/)

My find was sent to me by the angel that is Nordstrom's Last Chance in Phoenix, AZ. As listed on the Nordstrom's website, this is essentially a clearance store filled with clothing, shoes, accessories, etc., that has either been returned or was overstocked in the regular Nordstrom stores. 

(last chance photo credit: http://randalswife.blogspot.com/)

I will advise the brave shopper three things.

1. Go on a week day, if at all possible.  Unless you get excitement out of a smaller-scale "Black Friday" type shopping experience, don't go on a Saturday.  The amount of people in the store is slightly annoying, but it comes with the territory.

2. Be prepared to dig.  They have hundreds of pairs of name brand shoes, but some might be slightly damaged, and they don't always have multiples of a certain style. Therefore, be prepared to search. You can find tons of great name brands (that are still in season, too!) in pristine condition, but you must be willing to spend some time.

3. Make sure your search for scuffs and/or tears is thorough, because there are no returns or exchanges, and all merchandise is sold as is.  It's unfortunate, but as long as you give your items a glance-over, you should be fine. I would say that most items that they sell there are brand new, but it's wise to keep an eye out for the small percentage that has been worn.

Last Chance is definitely a neat place to check out if you're into bargain shopping. But really, who isn't?

Here's a video on TOMS with founder and CEO, Blake Mycoskie.  His company is cranking out shoes for needy kids, saving the environment by using eco-friendly materials to create his shoes (check out Toms' Vegan line), and giving us comfy shoes that go with just about any outfit.

xO JM