There are some things luxurious investments are choices, much like choosing soda over water or spending savings on a vacation when you should be paying off student loans. However, the black pump, much like the little black dress is one investment that just cannot be overlooked.

Net-A-Porter 

These Christian Louboutin Miminette 70mm Pumps are a perfect example of how an investment piece doesn’t have to be boring. The patent leather and amazing comfort that comes along with these small heels are amazingly understated, but still chic. Of course you could pick up a pair of patent leather pumps from a non-name designer from Target, Wal-Mart or even DSW, but will someone stop you on the street or at a job interview and say “Where in the world did you get those shoes?”

These shoes are available at Net-A-Porter for $595. They are 3 inches (hence the 77 mm in the name for all you Americans) and have the signature red soles of all Christian Louboutin heels.

For more information on why to wear expensive heels and why to invest in them check out this blog entry.

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.

If you are looking to experience a free undergraduate or graduate education at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), it’s only a mouse click away. MIT and their Sloan School of Management, through their OpenCourseWare website, offer over 1,900 courses in the sciences, management and humanities for free. Wow. They also offer resources especially useful for high school students and teachers.

It’s like a free course audit without the commute (or paperwork). No registration is required. And many of these courses have been translated into Spanish, Chinese, and other languages.

I came across it because a friend of mine was preparing for job interviews in the sciences and was looking to boost and refresh his knowledge of some topics that interest him and are relevant to his work.

You don’t get to put a degree from MIT on your resume, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt in your next information or job interview to say, “I am interested in [career relevant topic] so I found that MIT offered an online course in it – I learned/remembered a few things, like ______?”

OpenCourseWare is yet another way to increase your knowledge and skills in a particular area – or refresh old principles long forgotten in your high school or undergrad haze…

This blog post was graciously submitted to BizzyWomen by The Career Key Blog, run by Juliet Wehr Jones, J.D.  The Career Key™ gives you expert help with your career search and career choices  career change, career planning, job skills, and choosing a college major. Our career assessment helps you find a career by matching your personality with careers and providing you complete and accurate information about each career you choose to explore.