Isn't it a form of denialism to pay so much money for shoes that fail the basic purpose of shoes--to comfortably protect your feet from the environment? (Tip to Instapundit)
The designer shoe industry, to some extent, relies on the willful suspension of rational thinking, the giving over to a more primal urge (to shop, that is) in order to move merchandise that common sense would suggest is patently, obscenely, even self-destructively overpriced.
And painful in many cases, as feet are squeezed into too small shoes (just ask Al Bundy).
Paying a lot of money to endure pain for the sake of pleasure just makes no sense to me in any context.
But, hey, it's a free country. Until Mayor Bloomberg discovers the issue.