Splurge vs. Save: Ruffle Mules

I love a great pair of mules for dressing up a simple, casual outfit...like a pair of jeans and a white tee. When I found pair of mules (above left) on Nordstrom, I thought they were amazing. They also happen to come in black. But the price tag ($128) was a little too high for a pair of trendy shoes. But then, as I was browsing Amazon (which I tend to do quite often), I found the almost exact pair of mules (above right) for less than $35. You can barely spot the differences. The heels are the most obvious difference, but otherwise, they are almost the same shoe.

In the mood to throw caution to the wind? Buy the Free People mule here.

In the mood to pinch your pennies? Buy the Brinley & Co. mule here (available in 5 fab colors).