Falling in love with items that don't fit your wardrobe

I have a tendency to fall madly in love with items (especially shoes) that really don't "deserve a place in my wardrobe" to repeat a phrase Angie used recently. These shoes are examples.

The blue ones are so gorgeous and quite comfortable, but would work best in a wardrobe with a lot of white, blush, pale blue IMHO. I ear some of those colors although not blush, but they are not really the mainstays. I can still take these back.

The red ones I bought a few years ago to wear with a specific dress, wore them a few times, and found they are fairly uncomfortable to
walk in so I don't wear them much. I don't mind having some "special use" shoes but that was not my intention for these. They are tomato red!

I guess the idea for anything (not just shoes) s to analyze why I loved them and try to translate that into better choices. I bring them home, hem and haw for a while and then take them back. Would like to get better at this. How do others handle this?

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8 years ago

Liz

Veteran

If I owned those blue shoes, I'd wear them with almost everything; no need to restrict them to white, blush, and blue outfits.

Instead of analyzing the items, I work from the other end: knowing what I want my wardrobe to look like and what I need for it to function. Then, even if I fall in love with an item, I can say, "That doesn't meet a need" or "that isn't the direction my style is going."

AviaMariah

I used to do this all the time with shoes. I'd fall in love with a pair, buy it and then need to buy out outfit to go with it. My fussy feet problems have mostly taken care of this as shoes have to tick a lot of boxes to fit my comfort criteria. One thing you could do is have some really neutral outfit combinations that can be worn with almost any shoe. I would think both the shoes you're showing could be really versatile. I'd wear them with cropped jeans for the summer.

unfrumped

Great post.

You hit on something I found in another blog about culling wardrobe, that I mentioned in another post reply re: wardrobe editing and redirections.

" Identifying what it is about an item that makes it hard to let go. Finding that characteristic in an itme that is more you." ( quote from I think, Kelly at AlterationsNeeded)

Sometimes that is intended for "style shifts," but for me and footwear, I am noticing there are certain styles that make me feel more stylish and modern with certain outfits, but unfortunately are getting beyond my best foot comfort/health fit or heel height or overall comfort.

So I don't have a great tip or trick for you, but just encourage the analysis and mindfulness of what it is that is the attraction (color? refinement? quality) and what would be needed to make it more wearable , and search for that.

LaPed

Well, the blue ones look a lot more practical to me because they're flat but still a little dressy. If they're comfortable, they could make sense to keep. I could see those working with all kinds of colors in a summer wardrobe.

I have a real love for shoes in wildcard colors like red, purple, mustard, etc. I find it's not much of an issue because I have a wardrobe with lots of neutrals so bold shoes are a good way to add a pop of color. The only color shoe I won't buy is brown or tan, because I have a really hard time making them work (too many black toppers), and they always make me feel blah. It might be worth taking a broad look at your whole closet and figuring out exactly which colors of shoes will work with the clothes you have, and keep that list with you when you're shopping.

Maneera

(website)

I like both shoes. That being said - they have to be COMFORTABLE. I used to fall in love with shoes and buy them .... Without any regards for what I'd wear with them.

Last year, I got plantar fasciitis and even now, my feet hurt in the "wrong" kinda shoes. I purged Atleast 20 pairs! I now only wear (and keep) shoes that have some 'purpose' in my wardrobe....even special occasion shoes. I had to be brutally honest while purging. What helped is that I know they're going to someone who will truly love them.

PS: I would wear those blue shoes with EVERYTHING. If you're wearing blue jeans, no need to worry about the top. The shoes will give you an uninterrupted leg line.

rachylou

I'm really bad about this. I have to use tough love with myself, remind myself I'm on a mission to convey a consistent message. That said, those are cool shoes

Chris987

Loving everyone's comments....and I'm going to rethink the blue shoes... Thanks for all the comments on them... I am realizing that blue is one of my neutrals (just reading through the posting on colors referred to in today's blush/tomato outfit)

Sorry to hear about your foot issues Maneera, but even without those issues I will not longer buy shoes that are as uncomfortable as those red ones are. That's a non-negotiable for me. I must wear them around the house for at least two hours.....that's often the point at which they start to hurt if it's going to happen.

Roxanna

I think that blue is close enough to grey to use it as a neutral in outfits. Where did you get them form, BTW? Is that a Winners label I spy?

I got the blue suede shoes at TJMaxx, a discount retailer in the US owned by the same parent company as Winners so no surprise I suppose that the labels look similar. The brand is Gaimo, a Spanish brand I had never heard of before. I did find them for sale online in other colors including the darker blue shown here.

Muffin

Glad that you are going to take another look at the blue ones! With the thin gold strap they also would be leg lengthening if you wore them with crops, shorts or dress/skirt. I like the little lift they provide. Completely flat is worse for me than heels.

JAileen

I don't think these shoes fit in the category, but people talk about buying for their real life versus their fantasy life. For me, that might be buying a cool trench coat, knowing it almost never rains here. For another person it might be a fancy cocktail dress. It really depends on the person.

The shoes would look nice with jeans or slacks. I'd wear them out to dinner, for example. You should spray them, though. This is the stuff my shoe repair people recommend.

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Aida

I don't see the need to pair those blue flats with pastels necessarily, especially when worn with blue denim; they'll simply become part of the "neutral" denim section of your look. They'd also be very cute with your white jeans for a pseudo-neutral shade. Would pair well with navy for a tonal look.

All is moot if the shoes, in terms of function, aren't useful for you though. If you wear a lot of flats, have the weather for the open toes and find them comfortable, I think these would be a fine addition. If you'll be reaching for other shoes in place of these all the time, then not so much.

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