The Nine West Sobrina and over 300 other styles of Nine West shoes are on sale for just $24.95 today at 6pm.  With retail prices normally up to $160, you’ll save up to 85% during this sale and shipping adds $6.95.  Some other stand-out styles are the Nine West Bolero (very limited sizes), the Nine West Cityscene and the Nine West Kwest.  Expires 9/21/09.

Steve Madden is having a Spend More, Save More Sale, which takes 20% off $100 and 25% off $125 or more.  The discount shows automatically at checkout and shipping is also free when you apply their SMFREESHIP coupon code.  That means you can get the Steve Madden Brigght, a Balmain studded crystal sandal look-alike, for $97.46 shipped (regularly $129.95). 

I’m also seriously loving this style, the Steve Madden Regaal in leopard.  It’s $99.95, which is a mere 5-cents away from being 20% off.  However, add this indigo Steve Madden Lenorah for $29.95 to the mix and you’ll be eligible for 25% off instead.  That makes both pairs $97.42, which is like getting the clearance pair for free (and a bit of a discount on the Regaal as well!)

The sale ends 9/29/09.

She may be so over The Hills, but Lauren Conrad apparently isn’t over reality TV…or fashion design…or her expensive Miu Miu sandals.  If you’ve caught my posts on shoes from The City and The Rachel Zoe Project, you’ve probably gathered that I’m a reality show fan, especially of shows that are fashion-oriented, and The Hills has always been on my to-watch list.  I also have another guilty pleasure called In Touch magazine, which just reported that Lauren and her new boyfriend Kyle Howard might be getting engaged soon and have been approached by MTV to do a reality show together.  Although it’s certainly not definite at this point, I was a little surprised.  I mean, she’s been quite private about her relationship with Kyle and seemed ready to escape the cameras (and the drama) after years of being on reality TV.  Perhaps her potential change of heart has to do with her aspirations for fashion design.  Another reality show would keep her in the public eye, which usually results in increased sales.  On the other hand, reality shows are notoriously bad for relationships and she seems to have a good thing going with Kyle.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens, but I must say it would be quite interesting to see Lauren go from single L.A. girl to living the hitched life on camera (televised wedding anyone?)

So, now let’s talk about shoes.  Lauren’s fave shoe of the moment seems to be this Miu Miu Crisscross Platform, a sandal that she’s been virtually living in lately.  Unfortunately, for those of you who have $595 to drop on a sandal, the shoe doesn’t appear to be in stock anywhere (if you’re a size 10, see Bergdof Goodman or Neiman Marcus).  But, if you want a similar pair of sandals for that last bit of warm weather some of us have left, I found a few pairs for much less:

Luichiny Halo in limited sizes at Shoes.com for $56.79 with free shipping after using coupon code SAVE or at Amazon for $70.99 with free shipping.

Go Jane Snake Cross Strap Heel for $22.40. If you spend over $50, use coupon code GJSHIP50 for free shipping.

N.Y.L.A. Akila platform sandal in tan for $56.90 at Amazon.  There is also a brown version in limited sizes for $43.51.  Shipping is free.

ALDO Jolly for $59.98 at ALDO. Use coupon code VIPOFFER for free shipping.

On a final note, I noticed that the budget-friendly Lauren Conrad line for Kohls is now available.  There aren’t any shoes (I supposed she hasn’t delved into footwear as of yet), but there is a rather small selection of dresses, tops and pants for sale.  Yes, you can now buy your very own pair of Lauren Conrad skinny jeans.  If you see something you like, be sure to apply coupon codes NEW7123 (exp. 9/19) for 10% off and THISIS4FREE (exp. 9/27) for free shipping, no minimum required.  The codes can be used together.

Fall and plaid have always been a classic pair, but it seems especially so this year.  We’ve seen a bit of a resurgence of the ever-popular print lately, perhaps in a nod to the 90’s grunge trend - except much more polished and chic.  Plaid has definitely moved well beyond it’s own stereotypes (think: lumberjacks, school girls in uniforms, constructions workers, golfers etc.) and has found it’s way into much more fashionable territory - fitted blazers, cute button-downs and, of course, shoes.  Here are a few of my favorite plaid pairs:

N.Y.L.A. Mariah Platform Plaid Bootie for $89.95 at DSW.  Members get $10 off $49 with coupon code EXP10 (exp. 9/27) and free shipping on $35 using coupon code FALLSHP at checkout.  Membership is free.

Carlos by Carlos Santana Privilege Pump for $110 at Shoes.com.  Get 20% off using coupon code BML2009 during checking, dropping them to $88 with free shipping.

Betsey Johnson Cade plaid mary jane for $140 at Zappos, discounted from $175.  Shipping is free.  Update: They are now marked down to $110, but almost sold out.  You can also find them at Lord & Taylor for $112.49.

Betsey Johnson Leopold plaid pump for $94.99 at ShoeSteal, the clearance site for Shoes.com.  Get an extra 20% off using coupon code STEALTOPS at checkout, making them $75.99.  Sizes are limited.

 Jones New York Proven plaid pump for $54.95 at DSW.  Members can apply the same coupon codes listed above (on the N.Y.L.A. pair) to get $10 off and free shipping, which would make the total $44.95.

Style & Co Wilma mary jane plaid pump on sale for $54.99 at Macys, reduced from $69.  Get another 20% off with coupon code WEEKEND at checkout, making them $43.99.  Coupon expires 9/20/09.

Guess Teach plaid pump for $110 at Guess.com

Diba Haig 93816 plaid bootie for $49.95 at DSW.  Members get $10 off and free shipping using the codes listed above, making your total $39.95.

If you’re looking to amp up your personal shoe collection for fall, a Buy More, Save More Sale is a great way to go.  I love this kind of sale because you really can save a lot, especially if you can afford to spend more to reap the highest discount (hence, the name of the sale).  In some cases, you can even get an extra pair of shoes for practically free, as I found previously in this Bloomingdales sale post from April.  Well, Lord & Taylor happens to be having a Buy More, Save More Sale right now, which takes 20% off 1 pair of shoes or boots, 25% off 2 or 3 pairs or 30% off 4 or more.  Both regular and sale shoes are eligible for the discount, but some brands are excluded.  I’ve been checking out these particular styles:

Betsey Johnson Rally black satin peep toe mary jane for $120

Steve Madden Bonanza tall suede boot in grey, black or brown for $63.20

BCBGeneration Dania suede platform pump in purple or black for $71.20

BCBGeneration Moira suede wedge bootie in brown or black for $94.40.

The prices listed take into account the 20% discount for 1 pair.

Ok, here’s where it gets interesting (and my trusty calculator gets busted out).  If you opt for the 25% off discount for 2 or 3 pairs, you can save up to $90 for the particular shoes listed here, which isn’t bad at all.  The 3 highest-priced items would total $267.75 after discount.  But, you can get all 4 pairs for $305.20, which is only about $37 more than getting just 3.  Obviously, the money-saving possibilities are endless depending on the styles you pick and the amount you want to spend, but be sure and work the numbers before the sale ends on 9/28/09.

By the way, current Lord & Taylor coupon code SEPTSALE for 15% off does not combine with this sale.

Target is known for having low-cost shoes that are typically pretty cute and on-trend, which is perfect for trying out different styles without blowing the budget or overly committing to what may be a fly-by-night fad.  What makes it even better?  Their current Fall Shoe Stock Up BOGO Sale, which takes 50% off the second pair you buy.  Although clearance shoes are excluded, most of Target’s regularly-priced shoes are less than $50, so you’re pretty much guaranteed not to overspend.  I like this Mossimo Kady boot in cognac for $34.99.  Get free shipping if you spend $50 or more.  Sale ends 9/19/09.

You may recall the news earlier this year that Christian Siriano of Project Runway would introduce a new line for discount shoe retailer Payless, as reported here by The Cut.  As you can see from the Fashion Week photos, these shoes aren’t your typical pair of Payless kicks.  In fact, The Cut worried that they might be too similar to Rodarte from a few seasons back.  Well, that may have been the least of their worries.  Fast-forward to this month and you’ll see that what actually hit the stores is quite different from how these pairs looked on the runway.  Don’t get me wrong, I still think these shoes are a step above the usual Payless pair (and I’m not a Payless downer, they clearly have their place in the market).  However, I think a lot of people got excited about this and subsequently got let down.  Especially anyone who wanted those insane chain platforms.  Sigh…I guess it was too good to be true.

See the entire Christian Siriano Payless line and then be sure to check out The Cut for a preview of the heel-bending next round…just don’t expect it to look like this once spring 2010 arrives.

Update: Get 20% off any Payless order using coupon code 27858 at checkout.  Expires 9/18/09.