Why one shoe costs $426 more.(Manolo Blahnik)

Ever wonder why you can buy a pair of shoes for about $50 while a similar pair from another brand could make you miss a mortgage payment? We did. So we paid $69 for black pumps by Nine West and $495 for similar shoes by Manolo Blahnik (the guy whose shoes drew raves from the women of "Sex and the City"). Then we tore them apart, peered into their soles, and asked experts to explain their prices.

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What we found. A Blahnik rep told us that all the company's shoes are designed by Blahnik himself and made by a small group of people in northern Italy who use kidskin and calfskin from France and Italy. Nine West shoes are mostly mass-produced in China, where labor costs are lower.

Beyond that, "the cachet of a designer's name adds a premium," said Nate Herman, who follows footwear trends for the American Apparel & Footwear Association. As the man who sold us the Blahniks put it: "Shopping for Manolo Blahniks is like going to an art museum. You can't take the paintings home, but you can take the shoes home."

CR's take. Higher-quality materials, sophisticated styling, and a famous name add $426 to the price. You and your wallet can make the call.

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