As I write this and want to say “It’s OPEN TOE SEASON” the reality is I still need to go get a pedicure (haven’t had one since the baby in February!) AND today in Iowa it’s windy, and no joke, currently 33 degrees.
But hey, we can always plan ahead and someday it WILL BE WARM AGAIN, so let’s get in to it. Here’s the breakdown on how I was able to score six pairs of spring/summer sandals for an average of under $29/each, spending $170 total, including taxes, at DSW and Express.
STRATEGY HERE – FOR BEST USE/MILEAGE, GO FOR WEDGE HEELS, BLOCK HEELS, AND ONE TO TWO FLAT PAIRS. THEN OPTION FOR BLACK AND NEUTRAL COLORS SO YOU HAVE A PAIR FOR EVERY OCCASION.
 | Steven by Steve Madden Keanna Wedge Sandal DSW List price $79.99 |
 | Steve Madden Swift Sandal DSW List price $69.99 |
 | Journee Collection Genevive Sandal DSW List Price $39.99 |
 | Steven by Steve Madden Saria Wedge Sandal DSW List Price $49.98 |
 | Olivia Miller Passion Fruit Sandal DSW List Price $24.99 |
 | EXPRESS Textured Peep Toe Mules List price $59.90 |
So how did I end up averaging only paying $170 for all of this, when the list prices are clearly much higher? You guys – you have to sign up for DSW’s VIP program, it’s free, and you’ll start getting offers/coupons via email and mail. For my DSW order I used a $60 OFF $199 VIP coupon, and they let me partner that with a 25% off coupon promotion code they had going on that day. I paid $147.03 for those five pairs of sandals, and SAVED $139.06. 😮
Same song and dance for Express – sign up for their EXPRESS NEXT awards in addition to taking advantage of their coupons they send via email, phone and now text message. For the Express sandals they were having an online 40% off everything sale, so I ended up paying only $23.96. DEALS FOLKS, WE LOVE THEM!
Why/how did I end up buying six pairs of sandals? That seems like a lot, however, I swear sandals get more ‘beat up’ than any other type of shoe, even though technically they’re worn during more leisurely times, right? I can’t seem to get mine to last more than 1-2 seasons, so I always strategically buy my sandals at a low price point. Think about it this way – you probably spend more on 1-2 pairs of fall/winter boots and shoes because it does make a difference in terms of quality/longevity with better materials. With sandals, however, I cannot say the same. A flat, thong type sandal gets beat up/worn the same way whether you paid $150 for it or $15 in my experience. Same with wedge sandals or lighter colored options, they just look ‘dirty’ rather quickly.
In summary, you can get a lot of bang for your buck here by taking advantage of these retailer’s rewards programs and partnering them with online & in-store promotion codes. I’m pretty pleased with the number of options I have now, and the fact that they averaged to under $29/each for brand names! Happy shopping, and don’t forget to get a pedicure too.