Thanks for all your input, ladies. Who knew a couple pairs of shoes could inspire such debate? I don't really see it as a moral decision but as someone who tries to resist materialism, I understand that perspective. But we are just talking shoes, here, and relatively inexpensive ones at that. As it stands now, I haven't purchased either the black or the red. Knowing me, I'll think on it for a while, place one or both of them in the "cart" several times and never buy either. That's often my version of virtual shopping.