When Did Accessories Get So Expensive?

Remember when shoes didn't cost more than your rent? When a designer handbag was extravagant, but could be acquired without selling a kidney?

These days, it seems like any It shoe, bag, or accessory that glossies tout as a must-have (we're guilty, too) clocks in at four figures. And no, you're not going crazy — designer shoes and handbags have been steadily increasing in price since the early 2000s. Ahead, we track the inflation, and provide a little insight into why exactly it costs an arm, a leg, and your mortgage to afford them.