Christian Louboutin: Deja Vu Shopping

Christian Louboutin Tuba Passementrie Boots, $1,845 at Bergdorf Goodman

When I saw these boots, I immediately went ga-ga over them, and then I had to remind myself that I have a very similar pair--an old pair of tall black and brown Prada boots (from a couple of years ago) that share a similar passementrie design. Apparently, this kind of deja-vu shopping inflicts many of us frequent shoppers--we buy things we've already bought. Men do this all the time--they buy the same shirt or pair of shoes over and over again, but for women, the motivation is different. Instead of repurchasing items out of convenience (they fit, they work, etc.), we buy them out of a sense of safety, reassurance, and, yes, nostalgia. Whenever I wear those Prada boots, I get noticeable, envious glances. Sometimes, I get the "Where on earth did you get those?" response. But more than that, I love the look and comfort that accompany wearing them. So I suppose it is no wonder that I turned to these and yearned for that feeling again. My husband's theory about shopping is that we don't really want that item--we want the feeling we get when we have that item. For deja vu shoppers, embracing this truth will prevent you from cluttering your closet with unnecessary repeats.