At the age of 16, Lucy Smith dropped out of school and left 12 brothers, 3 sisters, a stepmother, 2 cows, 5 chickens, and her home of 16 years without even a note.

It took Lucy 15 days of hitch-hiking and walking (as well as 25 dollars in bus fares) to get to 42nd Street, by which time she had 250 dollars and 1 stick of gum left tucked into her back pocket.

Lucy went to Barney’s the next day after taking a 4 hour nap on the corner of 47th Street and 6th Avenue.

After looking around the store for half an hour, Lucy bought a pair of red peep-toe pumps for 249 dollars and 99 cents.