topic Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes in Shoes

Surviving with Fewer Shoes

wilma — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 16:04:26 GMT

I have always loved shoes: looking at them, trying them on, & buying them. I loved having the perfect shoe for every outfit.

I used to own nearly 100 pairs of shoes. I wore all of them, but some were only worn once or twice a year. Some pinched, were too uncomfortable, or had heels that were too high. Still, there’s nothing like a great pair of shoes. From time to time I would try on my collection, look at them on my feet and in the mirror, and they made me smile. How beautiful they were! So I kept them even though some of them were rarely worn.

Finally, I resolved to get rid of the ones that were uncomfortable or rarely worn. After some purging & a lot less buying, I ended up with about 50 pairs. That was a few years ago. I avoided going into shoe stores & shoe departments initially to avoid the temptation. Now I can go and look with a purpose - to buy something that I really need.

As of August 2019 I am down to 33 pairs. I am actually surviving with fewer shoes. I still have enough to choose from for my daily outfits. I honestly haven’t missed the pairs I have purged. While they were beautiful shoes, I just didn’t need or want them anymore.

Maybe I can get my total down to 20-25 someday? Or I could have a total relapse and go shoe crazy? Still love shoes so only time will tell.

ETA: Down to 32 pairs now. Got rid of a dressy metallic peep toe high heel shoe. It pinches a bit under my big toe. Kept thinking I’d wear them someday, but I keep reaching for & wearing my metallic flats instead.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

ID2 — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 17:27:55 GMT

I've never been a shoe fanatic. I only have shoes that I need. Now if you're talking purses, that's a different story.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

catter70 — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 17:39:52 GMT

I just gave my cousin several pairs of shoes that I can no longer wear due to comfort issues. She volunteers at the thrift store at her church and someone will get some nice leather, lightly worn boots/ shooties. I've cut back on my shopping all around and find I don't want as much as I used to.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

ALRATIBA — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 17:50:32 GMT

I'm a shoe lover also. I have no idea how many pairs I have.

When I switch my closet .... I generally either throw away those not worth saving for another season, or donate some that are still good, but that I just don't like anymore.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

Foxxee — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:14:47 GMT

The main reason I give away my shoes is my feet increasing in length as I have been getting older. It's my falling arches, but 1 1/2 sizes so far?

Wore Dr. Scholls sandals around the house for years hoping to prevent that, but no luck. Probably some here remember the wooden foot bed, toe gripper, and strap across the front that many designers copied, even Chanel.

I love shopping for shoes, but not at all happy about this.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

Bubblyfoam — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:26:04 GMT

Shoes and purses yikes! I downsize but then buy more. And yes my ever increasing foot size doesn't help.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

rms1954 — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:29:26 GMT

@wilma I can relate to everything you said BUT I have not purged many of my shoes I no longer wear. Some are brand new. You are a better woman than I. I probably own more than 100.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

drizzellla — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:29:50 GMT

Shoes slowly over loaded the shelves and floor of my closets. I rarely wore most of them. So a few months before I retired, I decided to wear a different pair of shoes everyday to work. When I came home if the shoes were the least bit uncomfortable, I donated them.

I still have too many. I rarely wear heels or dress shoes anymore. I should get back to purging. I would like to have all my shoes in one closet. And yes, I can easily survive with fewer shoes.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:33:55 GMT

Along with my old age and not being able to wear heels anymore and being retired I too have narrowed down my shoes. I only buy Clarks and Earth now that are cute and comfy and only if I need them.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

LizzieInSRQ — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:45:37 GMT

I have 5 pairs of shoes, 2 pairs of slippers and 2 purses.

I'm not a fashionista to say the least LOL sigh.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

kitcat51 — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:53:42 GMT

I love that you love shoes! I have 3 pairs of shoes, 2 dress & 1 everyday but here's the really oddball part...The 2 dress are the same shoe but in different colors, black & navy & I have a backup pairs of each color...The black Sixty Cruise that I wear everyday was discontinued years ago but I liked them so much I have many backups & still search eBay for new ones so when I'm not wearing the Sixty Cruise people notice & tease me. I also have 1 purse, a black Stone Mountain Frisco & I bought 2 backups when it was discontinued & look on ebay for more new too. I'm only a consistent oddball with those items, it doesn't happen with anything else.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

VegasBusinessWoman — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 19:11:32 GMT

How I love shoes!! I haven't ever counted them and doubt that I ever will because it doesn't really matter how many there are--except, of course, in terms of storage space. I rarely buy the same shoe in more than one color because there are so many beautiful shoes, so why buy any one twice? I don't feel guilty or sorry for my excess purchases; after all, I worked for the money I spend, and I want to enjoy it.

Now that I'm retired, I need different shoes--sandals, slides and the like, so I've been buying those. I may get around to purging my heels since I don't need them to wear to work--but not yet.

Shoes!! . . . and jewelry! YAY!

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

KentuckyWoman — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 19:12:04 GMT

I have at least 50 pair of shoes. Some are even vintage. I just hate to part with them. My goal within the next few weeks is try to pare it down to 20. Then I need to go through a 12 step program to help with my addiction to shoes. I will donate some and take the newer pairs to consignment.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

chrystaltree — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 19:33:25 GMT

I think of myself as shoe fanatic but not to the this extent. I admit that I did let my desire rule me and I would buy shoes or boots that were too tight or the heel was to high for me or the shoes/boots didn't work for my lifestyle. I wanted them so badly, that I talked myself into buying them. If I couldn't wear the shoes comfortably, I didn't keep them just to look at them. I gave them away or donated them. Mostly, I passed them down to my 2 nieces. I learned from my mother and my aunts that style begins with our shoes and handbags and their rule was that a woman should always pay a little more than she can afford on good quality footwear and handbags. It's an investment that pays off over the years. My mom said that if you want to see how much money a woman has, look at her shoes, handbags and nails. Women with money are meticulous about those things. I can't wear heels now and I don't work in an office environment so I did a major closet cleanout a year ago. I got rid of all the footwear that I can't wear and never will be able to wear. It was a lot of $$ and most had only been work a handful of times. I've never counted them but I probably have 35 or 40 pairs of flats/sandals/boot/ankle boots in variety of colors and styles. They are all classics, I work remotely from my home so I'm sure I won't be buying any footwear for several years. And I forgot my sneakers! I have 4 pairs of sneakers. 2 Pairs of suede Rykas (gray and black) for Fall/Winter and white and pale blue sneakers for Spring/summer. I admit that it makes me a little sad when I see footwear that I love and really, really want...it makes me sad that I can't justify buying them. It's the same with handbags. I like to match or coordinate my shoes to my footwear so I have put together a wonderful collection over the years. There won't be any new additions to that collection for quite some time.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

GenXmuse — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 19:48:09 GMT

I love shoes but if I’m honest I seems to wear the same two or three pair the most and I can only wear one pair at a time so I am down to 20 pairs which really is too much.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

Kachina624 — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 20:57:51 GMT

My undoing occurred about 4 or 5 years ago when I discovered the name-brand discounted shoes on Zulily. Since then I've accumulated over 100 pairs...too many to count. I have many that I've never worn. They are all flats since that's the only shoe style I can wear.

Fortunately the Qurate Group bought the company and have ruined the shoe bargains so I'm no longer buying but it was fun while it lasted.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

Desertdi — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 02:48:47 GMT

Since I retired..........I am SO RELIEVED to be out of the "shoe competition"

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

TY — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 05:24:07 GMT

@wilma

The shoes I've purged from my closet are ones I can't wear anymore because I have tendonitis in my left achilles tendon) and I have some heel spurs in both feet. I feel sad but that's the way it is. I still have a lot of beautiful shoes I can wear but they have to be comfortable and they can't poke my feet or dig into my feet or cause me blisters.

I never wear a really high heel but I can't do more than about a 2.25 inch heel and the forefoot of the shoe must have cushioning below the ball of my foot.

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

drizzellla — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 15:18:01 GMT

@wilma wrote:
I have always loved shoes: looking at them, trying them on, & buying them. I loved having the perfect shoe for every outfit.

Boy, did you start something. I started to TRY and purge shoes that I no longer wear. Well, I found so many shoes I forgot I bought. I found about 12 Vionic slippers, sandals and shoes. Most were never worn. I can't seem to be able to donate them yet. And I also for about 6 pairs of Born shoes. I bought them for work but never wore them.

I have to get rid of some - it is just hard to do. But I will keep trying. I know I will never wear most of them. So why am I keeping them. AND why did I buy them in the first place?

Re: Surviving with Fewer Shoes

wilma — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 21:57:43 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
@wilma wrote:
I have always loved shoes: looking at them, trying them on, & buying them. I loved having the perfect shoe for every outfit.

Boy, did you start something. I started to TRY and purge shoes that I no longer wear. Well, I found so many shoes I forgot I bought. I found about 12 Vionic slippers, sandals and shoes. Most were never worn. I can't seem to be able to donate them yet. And I also for about 6 pairs of Born shoes. I bought them for work but never wore them.

I have to get rid of some - it is just hard to do. But I will keep trying. I know I will never wear most of them. So why am I keeping them. AND why did I buy them in the first place?

@drizzellla
Good luck with your shoe purge. Believe me I totally understand how difficult it can be.