How many pairs of shoes do you have? - YouLookFab Forum

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How many pairs of shoes do you have?

Louise

Veteran

I'm sure this question has been asked before but I'm thinking comfy shoes you can wear all day, shopping, sightseeing etc? After the lovely clogs gave me blisters on a 3 hour shopping trip (i didn't buy anything just tagging along!) it got me thinking how many of my shoes are REALLY comfy? I have loads of shoes but after I take out the increasingly large contingent of shoes which are 'sitting' shoes I'm not left with much

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61 replies

Latest reply was from Louise

Sparky

Veteran

Here's DH's answer: TOO MANY.

ETA: Oops, I fired off a reply without reading through your post. Most of my shoes are 8-hour shoes, simply because the older I got, the fussier my feet have become. Now I don't buy & keep a pair unless I am pretty sure they will work as 8-hr shoes. My Ecco clogs (open back) are more like 6-hour shoes, but my Dansko clogs are easily 10-hour shoes. I don't go for sky-high heels or super trendy footwear, and am more than happy focusing on so-called comfort brands.

Louise

Veteran

Hehehe Sparky that's my BF's answer about my collection too!!!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

If I find comfy shoes, I will buy more than one pair, either in different colors, or duplicate the same color. I have 2 pairs of black Me Too Swann flats (I've already worn the 3rd pair into the ground and had to throw those away), and 2 pairs of the Clark's Brulee gladiator sandals in the champagne color, and one pair in the pewter color. Those are my favorite, most comfortable 8 hour shoes. I also have a yellow pair of Me Too peeptoe wedges that are 8 hour shoes once they broke in. Those are almost trashed though--pretty close to the bin. I have one pair of Cole Haan Nike Air 3" heels, those are probably 4 hour shoes, but if I'm sitting/standing I can wear them up to 6 hours with no pain. I've got one pair of Seychelles boots that I got in Seattle with Angie that are similar to the Cole Haan heels in terms of comfort. They would probably be better with cushioning insoles in them, though. And one pair of Cole Haan Nike Air Cheetah print ankle boots that are like the Seychelles.

Other than that, I've got 3 or 4 pairs of shoes/boots that are not comfortable, but I'm still trying to break in the Doc Martens I have. I wore those the other day when it rained, and they chewed my heels into ground beef. I'm not giving up though!

I'm always on the hunt for comfortable 8 hours shoes. When I find a pair, I've found it best to duplicate, since I'm never sure when the next pair will come along.

Sparky

Veteran

Sorry I hit the reply button too soon, Louise. I went back and added a bit more.

Men just don't understand the importance of shoes, if you ask me. But then my hubby would get away with a single pair of New Balance sneakers if he could.

crwilson

Veteran

I probably have 30 or 35 pairs of shoes total - which is ridiculous, when I write it down. Of those, probably only about 5 or 6 are 8 hour shoes. My feet aren't very fussy, though, so most shoes are pretty wearable for me.

Sihaya

Veteran

Too many as well if I count all of them. One one pair that look good and that I can wear forever, literally is just that one pair. So I keep buying them. I'm on my third pair right now (Arcopedico mary janes). Unfortunatley I can't wear them with formal outfits.

marianna

Veteran

My shoe collection consists of mainly ballet flats, and most of them are really comfortable (I return uncomfortable shoes). I have about 6 pairs of comfortable ballet flats. I also have 4 pairs of comfortable flat sandals. I have one pair of interview heels. I got rid of most of my boots when I moved, but I left two pairs, and those are comfy!

Kate

Veteran

Right now I have 16 total (plus two that are for sale on ebay).

they are:

- dark brown leather boots (La Canadienna Tahra)
- tan sandals (Sofft Rori)
- teal sandals (Indigo by Clarks Gelato)
- brown mary janes with 1" heel (Naturalizer Holdup)
- black pumps (Naturalizer Magee)
- red t-strap pumps (Clarks Apple Snow)
- pewter t-strap wedges (Clarks Malibu Beach)
- brown tennis shoes (Onitsuka Tiger)
- green and pink Chuck Taylors
- leather flip flops (Rainbow)
- blue pool flip flops (Old Navy)
- gray and magenta running shoes (Adidas)
- white and red running shoes (Adidas)
- orange sandals for monsoons (Crocs Malindi)
- blue and gray water sandals with protected toes (Teva)
- black snowboots

So, 7 of those shoes are gear, and I don't have any gear doubles. I do have two pairs of running shoes, but one is used for running, and the other (older) pair is used for yardwork and hiking.

I'm still working on my non-gear shoes. I've found that I stick to my favorite shoes and neglect the others, so I've been editing out the neglected pairs that don't have a unique role in my collection. I walk a mile to and from campus everyday, so if shoes aren't comfortable I don't war them. My 3 pairs of heels are too fancy and impractical to wear on campus, but I keep them for conferences, weekends/evenings, and other (rare) events when I actually need to dress up. Again, they are unique enough that they each fill a different role.

I was on the market for flats, and am still keeping an eye out for the perfect bronze flats, but after trying a bunch that didn't fit right, I've decided my 2 pairs of sandals and 1 pair of 1" heel mary janes are really all I need. Instead, I'm focusing my efforts on finding a second pair of boots (in a cognac color). I need boots in another color because I have some brown bottoms that don't work with my dark brown boots.

Sometimes I think I put way too much thought into these things, but so far it's helping me restrict my purchases (and collection) to what I need and use.

Marley

Veteran

I'll have to go count mine and get back to ya!

Sandi

How many pairs of shoes? Let me start counting, and I'll get back to you tomorrow... Actually, I don't dare count, because it will depress me to think of how much money I've spent on them. But I LOVE fun shoes.

I have a number of pairs of Stuart Weitzman shoes (all bought on sales) and boots that I can wear all day - but that's with a signficant portion of my day sitting at my desk. For running around on my feet, I have a few pairs of ballet flats (dressy and casual), a couple summery wedges, and a pair of boots. I MAY have just found a pair of pumps that fit the bill but haven't had a chance to really try them out yet.

Isabel

Veteran

I also have about 30-35 - that includes sneakers, snow boots, water shoes, etc. I am about to donate several during my seasonal clothing switch. I try to stay around 30. I am not at all sentimental when it comes to shoes. If I don't wear them, they get donated. If they are uncomfortable, out they go. Period. Now bags.....well you didn't ask.

I would say that 4-5 pairs are not 8 + hour shoes. Those are my "evening"/holiday shoes/wedding shoes.

Louise

Veteran

I have a plan! I don't have my car this week (BF's Tax has run out on his, he went to tax it Saturday and realised that the MOT is up too!!!) so muggins here is on foot. So my plan is to sort through my shoes and then wear them to work, including the walk there should tell me whether they are 8 hour shoes or not. Thanks for all the help x

halfpass

I know that I have a solid hundred, but I am not sure I am up for actually hunting all down and counting them :-). Although I have a lot of shoes, I still often find I am lacking what I need for a specific look. And each year it seems like there is a new style that I really like and buy several of. This year it was Clarks Wedge Sandles, but I am starting to really look at booties.

JewelryGirl

How many shoes is one thing. How many comfy one's you really wear is definitely a different question - hence my post of "Letting Go....".

Too much to list the details. I did a count though - 46. That's gear, boots, flip flops, everything. If I could actually let go due to not wearing, fit issue's, etc. I really feel I would be left with maybe 35. YOWSA - I need to find some homes!!!!

BUT, I still don't think that answered your question - how many are REALLY comfy meaning I would wear them if I had meetings to walk to in another building throughout the day @ work, casual for home, etc. that number would come down to maybe 15-20 max! I try to not buy them unless they are comfy anymore & really focus on FIT as well because I've messed up a couple of times. I've found it's better to size up than down if needed & go with the inserts if something is slipping.

Queen Mum

Veteran

about 20 regular shoes... not counting gear, flip flops etc.

taylor

Veteran

I have lots, and lots and lots and lots.....

pumps, open toe , boots, heels , wedges, booties, I wear them all at some point:).

Queen Mum

Veteran

more or less than 100 Taylor?

taylor

Veteran

Um maybe a bit shy of 100...I should count and get back

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I have a lot of shoes as well. Should probably do a purge.

Barbara

Veteran

What a fun poll, Louise! I have 25 pairs of shoes, 8 pairs of leather sandals and 6 pairs of boots. I have fussy feet, so ALL of them are comfy, as in I can walk in them for hours. Conclusion: I need more boots!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Lord, what a question! I split my shoes into warm weather/cold weather, but I easily have 30+ pairs of each. More, if I am going to be honest; I did a count last year for the blog, let me go check what I had at the time.

http://lowfatdressing.blogspot.....ition.html

46 for the winter. Less for summer, maybe half that?

That said, for the comfort part, I distinguish between shoes I can wear all day for work or out running errands versus shoes needed for an all-day shopping expedition or tourist adventure. Because a regular day, be it work or weekend, is a series of fits and stops; I am sitting, standing, walking, in and out of my car, and usually eating and drinking regularly. But when I go on a long shopping trip or out to a museum or walking all over a new place, I am on my feet a lot longer than usual, and I am almost always not getting enough water. So my feet swell up on those days in ways they don't on a normal day, and I wear different shoes for those kind of trips. I mean, even beyond my feet, I am beat after a long shopping trip; you think you aren't doing much, but I spend a long time in dressing rooms trying on clothes, twisting and changing and turning and carrying stuff around. Plus I drink so much less water! It impacts my feet a lot.

MsMaven

Veteran

Sad to say I only have 2-hour feet no matter what shoes I wear. All those years of good ol' rock 'n roll music, shopping, hiking and walking (I do love to walk) have worn down my feet. I just went and counted and right now I have about 20 pairs including boots and sandals.

I wear a 10 1/2--used to be narrow, now regular. This was an impossible size until Nordstrom came to town along with Stuart Weitzman shoes. Many good brands--Clarks, are you paying attention?--don't make 10 1/2. I don't know why they discriminate against the long of foot, but an 11 is usually too big, and a 10 unless it is a sandal is too small.

No matter how careful I am in the shoe store, it is only in the wearing that a shoe proves its usefulness. I move shoes and and out of my closet on a regular basis--why keep the failures? While I feel bad about donating shoes I've only worn a few times, I hope my discards are making some long and narrow footed women happy.

I do have some nice shoes that are good for standing around at cocktail parties after a glass or two of wine. Not good for walking out to the car, but good for standing.

Kristen, I am interested in your comment about feet swelling if you don't drink enough water. This is something I am going to pay attention to and see if it is also true in my case.

April

Veteran

Oh my -- you ladies have some serious shoe collections! I was just beginning to feel that I was accumulating too many, and I'm pretty sure I only have about 20 pairs, plus a couple pairs of boots.

Now I feel that I've been downright depriving myself...

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

37, including:
my running shoes and my motorcycle boots,
8 pairs of boots (4 flat, 1 kitten heel, 3 high),
10 pairs of sandals (4 flat, 2 wedge heels, 2 high heel),
11 pairs of pumps (8 high, 3 mid),
3 pair flats,
2 pair sneakers, and
1 pair ankle boots.

I would like to have more mid-heel pumps since they are more practical for my lifestyle, and I'd like to have at least as many pair of boots as sandals (since it's boot weather 9 months out of the year and sandal weather at the most 3 where I live).

In total, about 22 of my pairs are something I can wear all day (and I walk a lot during my day). That's almost 60%! Not bad...

Edit to add...make that 38: forgot about my rain boots!

Melody

I haven't counted, but I probably have around 45 pair of shoes. I've got an over the door rack that holds 36 pair, another smaller shoe organizer partly filled and several pair of boots and athletic shoes in the floor. When I find shoes that are comfortable, I become a repeat customer. And I don't own any shoes that hurt my feet in under a couple of hours.

Sparky

Veteran

I don't want Taylor to count her shoes, I want her to photograph them and post so I can drool.

MsMary

Veteran

Hmm...

2 pair gym/running shoes
4 pair non-gym casual sneakers
1 pair snow boots (which is pretty hilarious since I live in Los Angeles)
1 pair cowboy boots
1 pair spike heel black boots
1 pair blue suede booties
22 pair work shoes (pumps, slingbacks, heeled sandals)
3 pair YLF-approved thong sandals
7 pair non YLF-approved flip-flops
1 pair other casual sandals
2 pair dressy sandals
2 pair other dress-up shoes
2 pair tap shoes (I take lessons twice a week)
1 pair ballroom dancing shoes

Wow. 51. And I'm probably forgetting some that I didn't see in my quick look into the closet. I'm stunned. I would have guessed closer to half that.

ETA: 52. Forgot the black patent ballerina flats.

Out of those, I'd say 75% fit the "comfy" requirement from the OP. I do have some fab pumps for work that I only wear on days when I only have to hobble from the parking lot to my office and back, but other than that I have low tolerance for sore feet. (I went through four pair of tap shoes before I finally found a size and style I was happy with!)

Mae

NOT ENOUGH.

taylor

Veteran

Sparky, You never saw my shoe closet in April's closet post? I will try to dig one up.

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