From Prada to Payless

Erin Logan DeRosa writes a popular blog called "From Prada to Payless." In it, she tracks her transition from a twentysomething fashion insider in New York City  to a mother of  three living paycheck to paycheck and facing foreclosure. ShoesTV sat down with DeRosa to get her take on fashion, shoes and the merits of Payless.

DeRosa in her twenties in a Martha Stewart wedding shoot. Gucci shoes lie in the foreground.

ShoesTV: Where did you grow up?

ELD: I grew up on Long Island, in a town called Lake Grove. It is about 60 miles outside of NYC.

ShoesTV: When did the fashion bug bite?

ELD: I knew very early on that I wanted to be involved in fashion in any way I could and my dream was to live in a studio apartment  in the city and be a part of the industry.

ShoesTV: What was your foray into fashion?

ELD: I worked at the mall by my house all through high school. I sold shoes at Thom Mcan.... After college... I got a job at beautiful store, called Cose Belle [in the Hamptons]. The owner of the shop, Shannon McLean, was also the designer of all of the clothes. She asked me to be her assistant at her Madison Avenue store... Then, Chloe was opening up it's first boutique here in the US, and I was recruited to be a manager of the store on Madison Avenue.

ShoesTV: What were your favorite shoe brands back then?

EDR: I got a wardrobe provided for me from Chloe so I didn't need to budget money for clothes. I got to blow it all on shoes! I must have purchased at least two pairs a week. I  walked home from work every night up Madison Avenue and looked in every store window. I would go out on my lunch break and pick up the shoes that I had seen the night before. I adored Sergio Rossi, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin.

ShoesTV: What is your favorite brand of shoes?

EDR: Gucci--hands down. I still have a pair of brown leather Gucci loafers with rubber soles. I got them when I was 25 and I am now 40. They look as good today as they did then. If you are going to spend money on a shoe, this is the one. It is an investment, but it will never be out of fashion. Ever.

ShoesTV: Do you find a big difference in the quality of expensive shoes versus inexpensive?

EDR: Shoes that cost a ton of money are not always the most well made shoes...  Stores like Target, TJ Maxx are great. I buy all of my summer sandals at Payless. I got a beautiful pair of gold, Indian-style sandals there a few years back and they have gotten me more compliments than any shoe I have ever worn. When people ask where I got them and I say Payless--they don't believe me!