A Christian Louboutin boot doesn’t protect your feet better than a L.L. Bean winter boot - in fact, it’s probably far less functional - but it does convey a sense of identity. The fancy shoe instantly informs strangers that you’re the type of person who can afford (and appreciate) such splurges, and also knows how to find something so rare. (This is an under-appreciated perk of capitalism: it allows us express ourselves with things, defining our personality with clothes, computers and brands.