In the olden times, back when foot wear was only sported to protect feet from the rough sands and the harsh elements, it didn't really matter who made it or where up until people started to get a real sense of fashion. All of a sudden, shoes were about styles named after animals - leopards, snakes, alligators, canaries. Then came cunning heels and dazzling embellishments. And now, the appearance of the shoe isn't even a big deal sometimes for as long as some strapping designer fellow from Italy or hot dame in New York made it, then its all good. Since when did cold feet become hot?

Setting brand consciousness aside, it never ceases to amaze me how men and women revere their shoes. What used to be considered an obsession is clearly morphing into some kind of couture cult and neophytes are not exactly hesitating to jump into the madness. Shoe shopping has been categorized as therapeutic all by its bitty self and people from all walks of life resort to it once things go array in the world - which is all the time. If you're starting to feel like you're running out of fluid cash and waiters are going "snip snip" with your plastics, don't panic. From the absurd amount of money you've been doling out on designer shoes, you can't possibly wonder where it all went. Just look at those pretty little feet and you'll know. And I won't even discourage you from your lavish past time but I will, however, direct you to more "friendly" territory - discount shopping online. Let's have a look inside the boxed shopping extravaganza, shall we?

After Sarah Jessica Parker's character, Carrie Bradshaw, pranced around the streets of New York in the hit TV show Sex And The City, Jimmy's and Manolo's instantly became household names. And everybody knows how ridiculously pricey they can be. But if you get them on sale, the feeling you have that puts you on cloud nine is simply priceless. The Frattamu Stilettos by Manolo Blahnik is a flattering 3-inch mule-style sandal in rich mustard leather. They're made in - where else - Italy, of course. It retails for a whopping $465 but you can get a 51% discount if you buy your pair online at www.beniboutique.com. That's a pretty sweet deal as far as Manolo is concerned, wouldn't you say? And what about Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy? Jimmy Choo's Sexy Black Lace Pumps will turn any raggedy dress into something Cinderella would wear on a night out in town. The black lace stiletto is adorned with pleated grosgrain and black plastic dome detail, making it perfect and breezy for a dressy summer evening. What used to be $495.95 in stores is now only $397. You can take advantage of this bargain at www.designerexposure.com where you can get Jimmy Choo and other sought after designer wear at great discounted prices.

For casual yet stylish wear this season, you could work around the basics - flats, ankle wraps ala Greek deity, earth tones, retro details, or a combination of these. Bereanna by Nine West is a strappy flat sandal in soft bronze. It was originally priced at $130 but for only $49.99 you can own a pair. You may also want to check out Caraway which is a simple leather thong sandal accented with a rhinestone. This retails for $59.99 but it could be yours for $10 less. Both can be bought exclusively through ninewest.com.

Men are getting into the shoe groove, too. That's why more and more venues have been put up to cater to their manly shopping needs. Take a look at the Men's Halter Slide Thong Sandals by Steve Madden. The gorgeous soft leather pair would go with almost anything - from beach board shorts to khakis. Get 25% off from this fab find only at www.shoes.com.

Owning designer footwear gives us such a rush sometimes that we seem to be oblivious to the rest of the world. We should also, however, acknowledge other sources of fashion such as vintage, re-productions from last year's collections, and even our parents' closet. Whatever you decide to put on, whether they're your favorite old trainers or rubber flip flops, all it takes to pull it off are a whole lot of heart and sole.