Veni Vidi Zara

I do not understand why I continue to get lured to the shopping trap that is Zara when oftentimes the quality of their items leaves a lot to be desired. I'd swear it off each time I spot yet another one of those recurring defects that usually come in the form of holes.

And then there are the shoes that are mostly pretty to look at but practically unwearable if you consider the calluses, blisters and pains that you have to endure while or after wearing them. I once made the mistake of wearing this pair of ankle boots (which scream pain the moment you step into them) to show a visiting friend around — meaning 90% of the time is spent walking — and ended up on the verge of seeing a podiatrist after weeks of painful feet.

I live near Times Square which is also where the nearest Zara branch is located. I go here at least once a week and it is unavoidable that I pass by the Zara store too. In spite of my repeated vows never to step foot in their store again, I'd always end up telling my sister, "We'll just have a look and try the clothes for fun. We're not buying because we're not going to fall for their trap anymore." And then we'd both come out an hour later with big and small bags.

I guess Zara's irresistible charm is its quick turnover of stocks that are trendy and quite affordable. By affordable, I mean not putting a huge dent on the wallets of average people like me. Sure there are also stuff that can be ridiculously expensive, like their bags and shoes, but whoever said you have to buy them on regular price? That's what the SALES are for. You wait for them patiently, and when they come, you patiently wait some more — for the third markdown because that's when the prices are their lowest. Of course there's the risk of having that shiny item you fancy not making it to the sale because someone else who doesn't care about money already snagged it. But really, who would buy a pair of sandals for 500 renminbi (around US$75)? At least not me and my small income.

Here's a confession: I unleash the "shoeholic" in me that I painfully repress for the most part of the year during sale periods and take home as many as six pairs in just one buy — sometimes for only the amount of one pair on regular price. The drawback is you have to wrestle your way through a huge crowd of frantic shoppers. The chance of getting an immaculate pair is also slim since most shoes have most likely been trampled on or tried by a million other feet. I don't really mind though because I'm cheap that way.

I admit I find it hard to cure my Zara addiction. But what about the holes and the shoes that torture the feet? I'm still not saying that the quality of their clothing has improved. It's more of an increased consciousness to inspect before checkout on my part. As for shoes, I now go for flats or sandals. You can hardly go wrong with them.