https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:10:36 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1777022 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 00:54:48 +0000 Penny 1777022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although I'm all for keeping some fantastic shoes, especially those that are beloved, when I know I can never wear an item because of comfort / fit issues (rather than knowing I could wear beautiful, comfortable, wildly impractical stilettos if I felt so inclined for a fancy dinner, etc.), I feel sad looking at the item and prefer to pass it on and have more space for fun items I can wear. So it might be more satisfying to focus on fantasy pairs that you love to wear when the opportunity arises (or make alterations that would enable wearing them comfortably) unless you derive joy just from seeing them, which may be the case! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1777014 Sat, 11 Feb 2017 00:35:11 +0000 DonnaF 1777014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your post made me smile in recognition.&nbsp; Same with your shoes.&nbsp; Somewhere on YLF there is an Angie blog or maybe a thread on stretching shoes.&nbsp; I think Angie wears thick damp socks until her shoes stretch.&nbsp; Transcona Shannon has used potatoes.&nbsp; I think someone else fills a plastic baggy, puts it in her shoe, and then the whole thing is popped in the freezer.&nbsp; Maybe your green shoes will respond to one of these methods.</p> <p>I have some fantasy shoes that cost a whole lot more.&nbsp; The Matisse booties below are comfy for Angie but not for me; they are way too high.&nbsp; I need to pass them on.&nbsp; I think they are at $100/wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776954 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 23:30:13 +0000 cindysmith 1776954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have fantasy shoes in my closet too. They used to actually work for my lifestyle but now they don't and I can't bear to get rid of them. </p> <p>Love these shoes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776947 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 23:03:51 +0000 rachylou 1776947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting. Both are 'retro' aren't they? Unexplored style direction, lurking shadow persona? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776934 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:17:08 +0000 Jenni NZ 1776934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh thank you minimalist! I'm about to go to help my daughter pack up her flat, but will hold your image in my head all day! And yes, the green ones are leather. The only other time I tried stretching shoes it didn't do that well, it seemed to leave marks, but those ones were patent. So maybe I could try. Not wearing them now and yes, still love them x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776920 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 21:53:22 +0000 minimalist 1776920@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, now _I_ imagine you as a willowy 70s beauty, grey pixie and all. </p> <p>Life is short. Both of these spark joy for you, it sounds like?</p> <p>Practical things first: are the brogues leather? If so, depending on where they squeeze, perhaps they can be stretched. </p> <p>And then, loungewear. Are there times at home when you sit on a chaise and read or watch movies, and don't walk around much? That's a perfect time to wear your red maxi and rope soles! Perhaps with a glamorous throw. Your hubby can bring you iced tea and a plate of little sandwiches. </p> <p>For reference: Gabrielle Anwar is 5'2", I believe. Your red shoes would fit right into her Burn Notice wardrobe. You don't have to run in them like she did. Just sit on the sofa, wearing your fabulous dress and shoes, and say, "Can I shoot him?!"</p> <p>I'm all about ruthless purging, and will hold your hand as you do so if that's what you decide is best. But I'm wary of pressure to dash our fantasy personas, as if they're not a real part of our values and ideals. They shouldn't determine our core wardrobe, but probably do deserve some space and fabulous footwear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776907 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 21:00:16 +0000 Anonymous 1776907@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I rarely disagree with Joy, but if you have the room to store them, and you are not yet ready to donate them, I vote keep until you ready. &nbsp;There will come a time when you are ready and it will feel right. &nbsp;No need to force anything on yourself.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776905 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:57:53 +0000 JAileen 1776905@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I LOVE the green ones. They're so cute. It's too bad they aren't comfortable. I agree with Emily - that means they don't fit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776904 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:57:06 +0000 Anonymous 1776904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If they hurt your feet, it is time to pass them on. I know how hard it is. I had a pair of rather high heeled brown sandals that I could actually wear and they made my legs look amazing. Lots of other shoes got donated by I held onto those brown sandals. Finally they got donated before our move when I had to be ruthless. I would probably not have ever worn them. A fall risk at my age is frightening, but it was still hard to give up the fantasy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776903 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:53:14 +0000 Emily K 1776903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah...well...I won't cast the first stone. &nbsp;I have two pairs of shoes in my closet that I may never wear but, also, may never discard. &nbsp;On the second pair, though, I would challenge your idea of "fit". &nbsp;If they are super tight and uncomfortable, I wouldn't say that they fit, exactly.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-shoes-i-couldnt-purge--fantasy-personas#post-1776898 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:44:22 +0000 Jenni NZ 1776898@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So, as I've said, I have 50 pairs. I'm realising that some get bought for these fantasy personas I have. The high red pair was bought in 2013 for lots of reasons:<br /> 1. I adore red, was my favourite colour, maybe not now but still up there.<br /> 2. Don't like the look of higher wedges on me usually, but love rope soles. Like the look of espadrilles although don't have any. So these rope soles and heel just grabbed my attention for months. I knew they would be hard to walk in, so did not buy for a long time. Eventually they came down and down in price from initial $ 70 to finally $ 16. I ordered them on-line with other things and free shipping.<br /> 3. I think I was imagining a willowy 1970s woman with those long flared jeans and these poking out ( I dressed like that once in 1976 when I was 15 years old with flared jeans and cork platforms. Thought I was so fashionable.) Or with a maxi dress and these poking out. Is there anything much more silly than a 5 foot 2 apple-shaped middle-aged woman with a short grey pixie imaging herself as a willowy 1970s beauty? I ask you.<br /> 4. So, I wore them once, for about 20 minutes to a dinner and dance that December. Then I had to take them off and put on my lower heeled red sandals. Cost per wear: $16.<br /> 5. I tried to take them to the charity shop this year. But at the last minute I left them in their box in the spare bedroom.<br /> 6. I do now have a red maxi I bought in 2015. It's in my profile pic. But if I can't walk in the shoes, the image remains a fantasy, right? </p> <p>Onto the other pair. These are from maybe 2010. They are my size and they fit. But they are really tight and not comfortable for long. They were on sale in 2010, I no longer have the price, can't remember. But still not cheap. I'm guessing worn 6 times? Why can't I purge them? ( Same thing happened).<br /> 1. They are brogues. Love brogues, but especially those with a dainty more feminine feel. These sang to me.<br /> 2. I like lime green.<br /> 3. They have a 1920s feel in my head, probably my favourite fashion era. But also a sort of 1950s swing dancing feel. Saw a girl doing swing dancing at a free outdoor event wearing them last month. She must have kept hers for years too. It made me glad I hadn't purged them... but they still squeeze my feet. I have learned the hard way these past few years that not all flats are comfortable. </p> <p>So that's my story. They are both still in the boxes in the spare room. </p>