https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:03:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1341099 Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:15:36 +0000 Lisa 1341099@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a great question. &nbsp;I have a dedicated space to my shoes and if I want something new, I have to let something go. &nbsp;This helps me keep them under control. &nbsp;If I own too many, I usually forget what I have and double purchase, whoops! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1340499 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 22:46:28 +0000 Aida 1340499@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suja, finding that happy number can indeed take some time. I went from having 5 pairs to having 60 pairs, and eventually settled on around 45 as my happy number. My feet are also not super fussy, but I made a commitment two years ago to stick to shoes that I could walk in and that were VERY comfortable. Just in case, not at all out of necessity. I have a desk job, I don't NEED to walk a lot by any means. But I did find that once more of my shoes were walkable (talking 4-6 hour shoes) I found myself walking more throughout the day! Was I avoiding walking before or just happy about comfy feet? I've no idea, but I like the results either way And weekend shoes, well those I make sure are all at least 4 hour walking shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1340339 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:25:09 +0000 rachylou 1340339@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, completely out of control here... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1340257 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 16:27:16 +0000 Suja 1340257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kiwigal, &nbsp;money is one way of holding back but for me part of the problem is my feet aren't that fussy and I *can* feel comfortable in $40-$60 shoes. &nbsp;Boots and designer names are more expensive but I have a weakness for another cute pair of flats :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339982 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 04:40:10 +0000 Sal 1339982@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shoes are pretty expensive here in NZ, more so than in the US or in Australia or the UK. &nbsp;And I am pretty careful now about buying quality ones that will last.<br />I tend to buy about three new pairs a year excluding sports trainers (1-2 pairs a year). &nbsp;This year it was a pair of black ankle boots and I hope for&nbsp;two summer pairs.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339980 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 04:21:33 +0000 Suja 1339980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, so many thoughtful replies. Thanks everyone. I see a few themes. The first is being super picky about comfort which for some people naturally limits their shoe purchases. That might work for some but fortunately or unfortunately, I have less fussy feet than most on the forum. I guess I don't have a hard time finding comfortable and affordable shoes. Thus my problem.</p> <p>Limiting by space is very logical and required to some degree. The question is how much variety do I want within a season and based on that I can swap out every based on season and trends. This is more or less what I do, I just find myself craving more variety and that requires more swapping if I want to see all of them in one place (which I do).</p> <p>Another theme is allowing the weather to naturally limit footwear. This one depends a lot on your lifestyle. I live in the Pacific Northwest where the weather is cold and wet for 6-8 months a year but I work in an office. I wear one pair of shoes to commute and another in the office. So I could wear heels and other cute shoes year round, making limiting my shoes a bit harder.</p> <p>I really don't want to be that girl with more shoes than wearing occasions so I might decide to do one in, one out on my shoes. Or just exercise restraint. Probably a little of both. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339979 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 04:15:04 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1339979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This question made me ask myself...am I a shoe lady? </p> <p>I think I am less of one than I used to be when I was working in dressier offices on the east coast. I still appreciate a good shoe for sure, but of the 50 pairs I have now (20% of which are tall boots), many I really should get rid of. My recent interests have meant that quite a few no longer fit my style or lifestyle. I have at least 5 pairs beyond this already in the sell pile, soon to be taken to consignment.</p> <p>I would say that what keeps me in check is mainly my maximizer attitude about wearables. I like to have really useful, versatile shoes of decent quality that go with a lot of things. It would really irk me to have shoes that are too specialized (relative to the price) or that are too similar to each other. In addition to that, there are price-to-value ranges I tend to stay in, and of course I vet everything for fit, comfort, and whether it really works with the wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339923 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 02:00:38 +0000 Jaime 1339923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a very large and ever growing shoe collection. If the shoe is comfortable and I have enjoyed wearing it at some point I tend to keep it until I am just sick of it. I have an Ikea wall closet and all the bottom space is devoted to shoes which I keep stacked with Ikea shoe boxes which have clear fronts and I usually keep open. I need to be able to see the shoes I am generally wearing and rotate the seasonal ones to better positions as the weather changes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339913 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:53:49 +0000 Deborah 1339913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have 50 pairs of shoes across all seasons:)&nbsp; I am very bad at tracking what I wear.&nbsp; The only thing I do make sure of is that I don't replicate my footwear, with the exception of black boots:)&nbsp; I think the things &nbsp;that helps me keep my shoe collection under control are 1.&nbsp; I don't like having lovely things that I don't wear and if I have too many shoes they simply don't get worn, and 2. I do like a quality shoe with means they are not cheap so my budget restraints also keep from going too crazy </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339904 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:41:35 +0000 Staysfit 1339904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's interesting how we limit ourselves with space, budget and weather constraints. I am also starting to find space constraints. I purchased an underbed shoe storage bag and put off season shoes and special occasion shoes there. I only keep the shoes I am currently using in my closet, plus my boots- which don't fit under the bed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339893 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:09:25 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1339893@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>At our old place, I used the shelves I had above the closet rod to tell me how many shoes I could have - when they wouldn't fit without being stacked on top of one another, something had to go. We moved and I'm still figuring out where to store my shoes. But in the meantime I've created a list of ideal numbers (for me) for my wardrobe, including shoes. If you're curious, the total number is 36: 9 ballet flats, 3 other flats/oxfords, 6 heels, 6 sneakers (3 gear, 3 casual), 6 sandals, and 6 boots (three ankle, three tall). That's for a warm but not super-hot climate where I can wear flats without socks a lot of the year. </p> <p>I do think shoes are one of those things that it's a shame to get rid of if they are still in good shape and work for your foot. Storage for a few seasons until you see if they are truly out or something you'll use occasionally seems like a reasonable solution for most of us. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339891 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:07:55 +0000 Anonymous 1339891@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm kind of shameless in justifying shoes because I have a hard size to find, so when I find something I like that fits <i>and</i> is comfortable <i>and</i> doesn't feel like a duplication of anything I already own, it's sometimes hard to say no.</p> <p>I'm also bad at getting rid of shoes. Partly, I want to hold onto anything that fits well and is comfortable just in case. But partly because a lot of the shoes I don't wear much anymore are&nbsp;in&nbsp;that nether region where they're still wearable for now, but&nbsp;worn down enough that I feel a little bad donating them because I'm not sure how much longer they'll last. So they end up sitting in my closet, with maybe a few wears if they're the only thing that goes with a particular outfit or if it's raining and I don't want to ruin a better pair of shoes, until I finally get sick of having a giant pile of shoes I don't wear and get over my guilt at donating them.</p> <p>Like others have said, it's easier to keep track of my shoes and know what else I could really use when I can see what I have. Not that I&nbsp;always succeed in doing this, but I do try to at least put sandals away in the winter and boots away in the summer so only&nbsp;shoes I might actually wear are out.</p> <p>I also try to look for chances to upgrade by buying one pair of shoes I really love that can take the place of two or three just "okay" pairs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339868 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:32:58 +0000 Mo 1339868@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am aiming to stay around 30 pairs and this means pretty much implementing a 1 in 1 out. &nbsp;I go in phases depending on which climate I'm living in at the time. So, this year I am wearing my sandals to death and have identified 2 pairs I likely won't take back home to the snow with me this winter. &nbsp;I also sold off 2 pairs that I wasn't wearing as much since newer styles brought in replaced my wearing of them. &nbsp;<br />My overall shopping goal is to only buy 4 pair of shoes yearly from here on out, barring a crazy serendipitous encounter. &nbsp;That's one shoe per season. &nbsp;I'm thinking that will translate into a boot, a flat or sneaker, a flat sandal and sort of a wildcard for the last - maybe a heeled dressy sandal or pump or maybe just another of the aforementioned categories (like a second boot, one knee high,&nbsp;one a bootie, for instance). &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339859 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:20:36 +0000 Janet 1339859@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ever since we had our closet professionally done by one of those closet companies last Christmas, I've had such great dedicated space for my shoes that it is easier than ever to keep track of what I have and what I wear. So if something new is coming in, something old will need to go out. I do a little seasonal switch -- the most wintry boots (mostly the tall ones) go into storage in the warm months, and the sandals go into storage in the winter. ("Storage" means they go in boxes in the very top of my closet, so it's an easy switch.)</p> <p>I am getting pretty good at sticking to the one-in/at-least-one-out strategy of keeping my closet in check, and this is true for clothing as well as shoes and bags. If I bring something home, and I can't find something I want to get rid of in order to make room for it, chances are I don't love it enough. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339841 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 23:51:35 +0000 Gigi 1339841@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am with Thistle. Three-quarters of the year, it's too cold to wear cute shoes. I would buy more knee-high boots, but I have a very narrow calf and finding some to fit is a nightmare.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also, as Thistle said, I want comfortable shoes. That is actually the best way I have found to limit a burgeoning shoe wardrobe: insist on comfortable shoes. There aren't that many of them out there, imo! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339823 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 23:22:11 +0000 Caro in Oz 1339823@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do the same as Susie. Tracking the wears has been really eye-opening for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339812 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:59:24 +0000 ma 1339812@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So interesting to know how others deal with shoes! I rarely get rid of shoes unless there is a reason and I never counted not wearing a reason. Now that I am trying to build a functional wardrobe, I have been thinking about let some (or a lot) go since I probably only wear 12-14 pairs of the 50 or so that I own (estimations, haven't counted). My main reason for not wearing a lot of my shoes (same as my clothing) is that I went from working to being a SAHM, then moving to a different climate and we are going to move again within the year. I am liking milehighstyle's idea of never letting go the more I think on it... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339806 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:55:03 +0000 DonnaF 1339806@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wish I could find 55 pairs of COMFY shoes!!!&nbsp; Having fussy feet is my limiting factor.&nbsp; My shoe racks on two doors hold 18 pairs each, so I have told myself that I will limit myself to that number.&nbsp; If my feet weren't so hard to fit I shudder to think how large my collection would be.&nbsp; I am working hard not to buy for my fantasy feet, not to mention my fantasy life.</p> <p>Oh, and I have short legs with athletic calves so I just gave up on tall boots after I discovered I owned a barely worn pair that I never remembered I owned.&nbsp; No more tall boots for me!&nbsp; After all, I live in a mild climate (SF Bay Area) where it never snows and is often too warm for boots.</p> <p>Now, if Dansko Pros were to become the next norm core Birkies, I am likely to be on the lookout for another closet on which to hang another shoe rack!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339804 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:50:30 +0000 Thistle 1339804@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have never counted mine, but usually, a couple of things keep me in check.</p> <p>First, my climate. It simply is not conducive to a lot of fab shoes. I sorta kinda have a 4 season climate, but 3 of those seasons are around for a combined total of less than my dominate winter season. </p> <p>Second, cost. I have fussy feet. They like expensive shoes. :)</p> <p>Third, space. If I can't see the shoes, I won't pick them. Once I have more shoes than space to see them (excluding gear) then it is time to cull. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339802 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:48:36 +0000 Susie 1339802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love shoes. They are one of my favorite things to buy. And I do like to have variety.&nbsp;I consider them to be a main player in any outfit and I am no more likely to wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row as I am to wear the same sweater. I have about the same number as you- about 60, counting all seasons and&nbsp;all styles&nbsp;except 3 pairs of special occasion only styles and a bunch of flip flops, Comparing that to tops, I have about 70 of those, counting sweaters, shirts, knits, etc. So to me it's a reasonable number. </p> <p>I don't want to keep things that I only wear once or twice a year. I've been tracking the number of wearings of shoes&nbsp;along with&nbsp;tracking wearings of clothes, for almost a year now. I have several pairs of boots that didn't get much wear last year. If I only reach for them once or twice this coming year, than it's probably time to let them go. Sometimes I do one in, one out. I recently bought a pair of pewter sandals that replaced two pairs that didn't work as well. Overall, I probably weed out shoes the same way as other items, occasionally it's one here and there, other times it's several at a time. </p> <p>I keep shoes for the current season on a rack with more on a shelf just above it. Out of season ones are kept in plastic boxes and stored on the top shelf of my closet so twice a year I do the big changeover. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339793 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:35:14 +0000 Staysfit 1339793@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm right there with you in the shoe department I never counted mine other than knowing I recently eliminated 12 pairs for poor fit, or being worn out. I went back and counted the remainders and have around 55 pairs. I keep them until they wear out. I love shoes and always buy a few new ones each season. I make a strict shoe budget and force myself to stick to it or I would endlessly purchase. Once I have spent my limit for the season, I'm done. So sad for me, and too bad. I wait it out and start again. Lucky there are four seasons! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339786 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:23:56 +0000 Aida 1339786@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know that I like having between 30-45 pairs (covering all seasons and all occasions), so I made that much space and that's it. With the limited amount of space for shoes, I can have only as much as the space allows </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339783 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:13:04 +0000 deb 1339783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I keep shoes if they are in good shape and only purge when they are unfixable by the cobbler. If they are not a current style, I put them in a box and store them on the top shelf of my closet. Every now and then I pull the box down and look through to see if any will work with my current wardrobe. It is funny, I just started wear a pair of Via Spigas again and they are about ten years old. You just never know. I do not grow out of my shoes so it is much easier for me to keep them. Medical issues are the major reason I purge perfectly good shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339777 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:46:57 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1339777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I only purge shoes when I'm not wearing them anymore, and even then I tend to wait a long time before letting go.&nbsp; It helps that I have a large storage space in my basement and can rotate boots/booties and sandals/open toe shoes seasonally.&nbsp; Also I have a whole spare bedroom for my&nbsp;current season wardrobe. The only time I do one in/one out is when I've specifically bought a pair to replace another pair that's showing wear - black flat sandals for black flat sandals, for example.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-ladies-how-do-you-keep-your-collection-in-check#post-1339759 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:13:49 +0000 Suja 1339759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ascetic August has been great for me so far in that it is really helping me understand my shopping cravings. One thing that I knew before but is becoming more clear is that I love shoes. What I'm struggling with is how to keep my shoe closet in check with my goals of having a smaller, but not minimal, wardrobe. I do practice one in, one out on my clothes but don't do the same with shoes because shoes are more expensive and are sometimes hard to fit. Rather, I focus on keeping a reasonable number in rotation. However, I am so often tempted into wanting another pair. A flat with a cute bow and quilting, duplicate a pair of peep toe booties that have become workhorses in another color, comfy snake print wedges, the list of temptations never ends. And I do actually wear all my shoes. I currently have about 55 pairs of shoes. 25 are "legacy" shoes that I'm hanging on to if my style persona gravitates back (high heels, ballet flats, heeled boots, etc). The rest are a combination of practical shoes like running shoes and rain boots and cute shoes like detailed flats and booties.</p> <p>I think the current number of shoes is right for the amount of variety I like but I have so many wants, I can easily see myself adding a lot if I stop using restraint. How do you other shoe lovers keep it in check? Do you do one in, one out on shoes? Or is the sky the limit? </p>