…if I didn’t just increase my 401k contribution. God, I love these shoes so much. Adulthood has made me more sensible; I’ve lost all desire to walk around in heels all day, but I can’t do flat shoes (sneakers, ballerinas, etc.) yet. Both my self-confidence and feet feel better when elevated, and this pair of Chanel granny slingbacks is the solution to all my is-shoes. (Ha.) I also need something less overtly “sexy” to temper the mini skirts and dresses—hence a need for a pair of very expensive, very man-repelling shoes. I admire everything Aurora James and Brother Vellies stand for: sustaining traditional African footwear through proper attribution to and artisanal job creation within Africa. Now, the yin-yang symbol is obviously borrowed from Chinese culture (the collection has obviously expanded in breadth and inspiration); it’s what drew me in the first time I saw Aurora tease it on her insta. Throw in some shearling patchwork and Ethiopian-dyed leather on a miniature hand, and somehow a handbag all the more irresistible. It’s not just a handbag, it’s an icon. A beacon. A bag that serves major Cher-from-Clueless vibes, only in this movie, she’s less mall-rat and more conscious consumer. I one day…