OK, so if you recall my fellow Diva Stephanie blogged about Payless summer shoes.

I have to say I was intrigued. I have not bought a pair of shoes from Payless since the 7th grade riding boot debacle.

This is when I was forced to buy a pair of riding boots from Payless, because all the stores in the entire Hampton Roads region of Virginia were sold out and I just HAD TO HAVE riding boots to go back to school in. Did I mention I bought a size too big because that's all they had and I just HAD TO HAVE THEM? Sigh. I recall the name "Cloppy" being used a time or two. I've had a bad taste in my mouth about Payless ever since.

But lately curiosity had been getting the best of me, so I decided to explore the store's Fall shoe offerings.

I tried on this pair of boots. And well, they were bulky and gapped at the ankle. I would only wear them with jeans and that was if I didn't feel like shelling out another $20 to get some better ones. On the bright side,  the suede material was decently smooth.

   [Sasha Ruffle Boot, $34.99]

Another pair to note were these tall scrunch boots. I really wanted to like these but they didn't quite "scrunch" the way I needed them to. The suede was too stiff. I couldn't make these work if I tried.

[Marley Flat Boot, $34.99 *sale]

Now this pair I could kind of get with, but wouldn't say I loved them. Again a boot cut jean would camoflouge them well.

[Koture Peep, $24.99]

In the end, I did not become a fan of Payless' fall shoes. Maybe I'm still too scarred from the riding boot debacle.

And to prove it, my favorite shoes of the day were the antithesis of riding boots -- red strappy sandals!  

 [Red strappy sandal, $14.99]

Don't forget Payless' Buy 1 get 1/2 off your second pair, or BOGO, if you will, is going on right now.

~ Deal Diva Nicole

[photos:payless.com]