https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 01 May 2026 08:46:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1793054 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:07:13 +0000 Janet 1793054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If it's one thing I can confirm since I have been occupied by a number of house projects in the last month or so (and more to be continued), I am a collector. I am the child of a collector. So it's going to be a hard thing to break, should I ever choose to do so. But I'm cleaning out various spaces in my house during new window installation and painting, I have rediscovered my old collections -- everything from coins to old buttons/pins (the kind we collected in the 80s, with rock band logos or political slogans), to artwork to matchbooks to shoes. </p> <p>The difference with shoes is that they are actually a collection I can wear and use. The others are sentimental or silly, but my shoe collection is in sight every day, and I enjoy it every day. </p> <p>That said, my collecting habits are changing. I am more able to appreciate pretty things without feeling I need to own them. My wardrobe size has stabilized and will probably go down a bit, as I slow my purchasing this year and continue to edit what no longer works for me. This has been an interesting discussion! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1793039 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:24:26 +0000 Isabel 1793039@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Personally, I think that it depends on your lifestyle for the "need". &nbsp;But even if you don't "need" them but enjoy the variety and wear them, then determining a limit that is comfortable for you.</p> <p>I am a SAHM and don't volunteer at my children's school as much because they are older. I just don't don't have reason to go out as much for appointments either. My town is a small one. &nbsp;So my shoe core shoe needs and wants have drastically changed over the past two years. &nbsp;I LOVE shoes and I love looking at them but that is about it right now. &nbsp;I have also settled more and more into what is comfortable and works. I have a couple of pairs of high winter boots and winter booties...including a red pair that I just bought this year. I have 3 pairs of sneakers for various things and a pair of hiking boots. 1 pair of heavy ( more for fall/winter ) loafers which work for chilly Spring. I have some flats black and gunmetal and mustard. A pair of oregano perforated boots.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have way too many for summer, considering it is the shortest season. So I need to cut back. I think that a couple of pairs of sandals and one of two summer flats are more than enough. &nbsp;</p> <p>When I worked outside of the home or was at home but had lots of appointments , I had much more. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I am the type of person that if I just "have" stuff and don't wear it, it causes me some anxiety. &nbsp;</p> <p>:-)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1792962 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:23:25 +0000 minimalist 1792962@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have 13 pairs of non-gear footwear, including duplicate "daily drivers" and two pairs I've never worn. </p> <p>3 low-shaft boots: 2 low-heel (1 zip, 1 lace), 1 high-heel zip<br /> 3 knee-high boots: 1 low-heel, 1 high, 1 high-heel rain<br /> 4 sandals: 2 normcore duplicates; 1 low heel, 1 high heel<br /> 1 sneaker (Converse hi)<br /> 1 pumps: metallic pointy (not yet worn; love)<br /> 1 low-heel casual slip-on (not yet worn; uncertain)</p> <p>I'd rather have fewer, but don't feel like putting in the shopping time to streamline.</p> <p>Mr Max is no help on the (re)minimizing front. "But I like ALL your shoes!" </p> <p>Where I'm NOT minimal around footwear is in preventive care and maintenance. Sole guards, inserts, conditioning, refurbishing, my shoecare professional loves me! I haven't yet worn the pumps because I don't have suitable shoe trees for them. </p> <p>In an earlier life-phase, I had a, ahem, a *lot* of shoes. All good quality, all comfortable, all brought joy. It didn't feel excessive at the time, and doesn't look it to me in retrospect. Shoes I loved and well-fitting, high-end undergarments were my main ways of feeling feminine in a conservative, very male field. Too, they were means of finding balance after having been raised ascetically by well-meaning do-gooder bleeding-heart-liberal parents who felt they'd been damaged by over-pampering. They wanted our experience to match those of locals where they'd moved to do development work, so having one pair of shoes was the usual, and replacement, for growth or for weather, didn't happen in any hurry. Maybe, at the community level, that really was the best way for young idealists to further their cause; it didn't feel great for me as an individual at the time.</p> <p>In any case, I like the feeling of knowing exactly, "THIS is how much I'm spending on shoes." Women who truly have to cover up or minimise what they spend on themselves certainly aren't in an amusing situation. So for those of us who have the option of clarity, it seems at best insensitive to use jokey terms about justifying purchases. This is real life, not a Lucy and Ethel sketch. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1792935 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 03:04:45 +0000 Jaime 1792935@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow this thread has become much more intense than I would have thought. Cindysmith thank you for posting. I have to say that channeling my addictive tendencies toward shoes and fashion works for me. The great majority of my shoes are second hand and cost me $1-$10, which is how I am able to have so many. I am more of an all or nothing type than a moderate as it turns out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1792932 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 02:55:52 +0000 Carla 1792932@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I believe that I could very easily become a shoe collector, especially these days with shoes that are like works of art! That said, my fussy feet (which have become even more fussy in the past year) do impose some limits on where I spend my shoe dollars.</p> <p>There are certain shapes or styles that work better for my foot comfort, and I Tend to replicate those shapes in different colours and fabrications sufficient to work with my wardrobe. I probably own 18-20 pair street wear footwear from knee high boots to pointy toe flats, sandals to non-gear sneakers. I probably own half again as many pairs of gear related footwear! I'm sure I have 4 pairs of running shoes on the go and 3 pair of cycling shoes (you don't even walk around in them!) -one just for indoor cycle fit, one for regular cycling, and one for triathlon races that are 'quick release' so you can get out of them fast. Then there are special shoes for weight training in the gym, snow board boots, cross country ski boots...I could go on! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1792913 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 01:34:40 +0000 anne 1792913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have 15 pairs.<br />That includes running shoes.</p> <p>But &nbsp;quite a number of these are kind of on their last legs. One pair of sandals is probably one wear away from breaking. I still have flat sandals from 5 years ago because I can wear them to the beach and not ruin my current ones. My old running shoes may come in useful if I am doing something really dirty. Others are at the point where I have decided they aren't worth mending any more but I can't bring myself to throw out shoes until they are absolutely worn out in case I might need them.. *</p> <p>As someone said above there are also the mistakes - ones I wouldn't buy again, but might as well keep since I have them. I like the look of them - but they have &nbsp;high heels &nbsp;which mean they are less versatile and need to be kept to sitting.</p> <p>From the point of view of fashion, I'd like more a few more shoes.However I have budgetary restraints because I have expensive shoe requirements as I wear orthotics. Last year I bought 3 pairs (2 running shoes and one mary jane) and that took up nearly half my annual clothing budget. &nbsp;I also can't wear many styles because of my shallow heels.</p> <p>* and that is because I actually don't have any other better shoes in categories like "flat knee boots" or "leather flat shoes". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1792871 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:08:56 +0000 Lyn D. 1792871@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hear you Lisa, but am trying very hard not to swing too far to minimal, as this requires more waste via purging and possibly panic buying when I feel enough is just not enough. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1792809 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 21:27:57 +0000 Anonymous 1792809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>cindysmith - you are awesome, and thank you for sharing that. I have slightly different issues, but very similar manifestations. &nbsp;I am nothing but honest with anyone I know and am close to about my history, and perhaps this has hit a nerve with me...this post....and explains why I am so adamant about getting rid of stuff and going the minimalist route. &nbsp;It's part of a wholesale change. </p> <p>&nbsp;Re: the husband opinions ? &nbsp;Mine hates it, thinks it's completely wasteful and selfish, and I can't argue with him. &nbsp;It is a touchy, touchy subject in our house. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/3#post-1792801 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:54:11 +0000 Janet 1792801@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm chuckling a little bit at the comments from husbands. My husband fully endorsed the "shoe wall" in our closet because he actually likes most of the shoes I buy and wear. He knows they are a big part of what makes me happy when I get dressed.&nbsp;</p> <p>But he has more shoes himself than many of you do. ;-)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792780 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:22:16 +0000 viva 1792780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>La Ped: the husband thing! YES. Some of my guilt comes from DH, who loves to make fun of my "zillions of shoes" and call me Imelda. But this is from a man who, finally, after 25 years of marriage, broke down and bought two pairs of shoes for this school year so that he could rotate. Before that, he was literally a 5 pairs-of-shoes man: sneakers, hikers, snow boots, school shoes, dress shoes. And would wear each pair until it fell apart or walked away. (And the man is HARD on his shoes.)</p> <p>I just got rid of five pairs of shoes and I am expecting to bring in five new pairs. I bought the new Oxfords, and I hope to buy two more pairs of work-appropriate shoes. That's 3. And I expect to buy two pairs of sandals this summer: one casual and one dressy. So I should net out at the same number, which all in (including outdoor boots and gear) is 24. <b>But the distribution (professional vs casual) and the wearability of them all will be much, much better.</b></p> <p>My shoe wardrobe overhaul has been a really good thing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792767 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:50:00 +0000 Jeanie 1792767@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I kinda over bought in the shoe area because I was trying to figure out what works for me. &nbsp;I like comfort and style and some trendy options. &nbsp;I feel like nice shoes really give your outfit a kick because I tend to wear basics like jeans and a turtleneck. &nbsp;I need to get rid of some but having a hard time because they are new and were expensive. &nbsp;What I have learned is that I only like leather shoes that are comfortable. &nbsp;Anything not leather gives me blisters even if they are comfort brands. &nbsp;The ones I have settled on I wear quite often and I have a collection of formal shoes that I keep for formal occasions. &nbsp;My shoes vary by season. &nbsp;I struggle with summer because I want to buy more styles but really only wear Birks all summer. &nbsp;On my current list of wants are Grey fashion sneakers, Vans old school sneakers, Higher vamp booties to go with cropped jeans, Gingham check strappy flats and Black Gucci mules knockoffs. &nbsp;This is my current rotation going from most worn to least worn...</p> <p>BP Black combat boots<br />Black Nikes<br />Brooks running shoes<br />Black Sketchers<br />Gold Combat Boots<br />Black Clarks Oxfords<br />AK Black heeled booties for date night<br />Merrell waterproof shoes (for the rain)<br />Merrell Waterproof hiking shoes<br />Easy Spirit slip on sneakers for gardening</p> <p>Writing this out does give me insight as to what shoes to edit. &nbsp;Maybe I need to find a good consignment store?? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792747 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:42:20 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1792747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Also, I need to emblazon approprio's guideline somewhere prominent: <i>"any pair of shoes which don't meet your personal shoe standards is a pair too many."</i></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792723 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:59:32 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1792723@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>'This is such an interesting topic and discussion. Thanks for raising the question, jenanded. I've been considering a replacement pair of black booties, and in the process, I've been mulling what it is that I really want in place of the pair that I intend to purge. I want something to fill the same hole without actually being a duplication, because I want a style update as well as a functional replacement. I can envision a possible solution that would enable me to replace two pairs of booties with one. So my essential number of booties would then be reduced by one--which leads me to see that my answer to your question--what is my optimal number of shoes--really depends on the current mix at hand. It probably fluctuates quite a bit for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792699 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:46:24 +0000 jacquez 1792699@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is such an interesting discussion.</p> <p>I have a lot of shoes I no longer wear because my feet have gotten fussier. I've started donating some of them, but some of them are intensely sentimental for me and I haven't been able to let go. (My husband bought me a purple suede pair of Chie Mihara oxford heels years ago, and they're so very ME, and such a great gift....)&nbsp;</p> <p>What I do wear is:</p> <p>My work shoes (heavy slip-on leather shoes with grippy treads)<br />My hikers<br />1 pair of my sneakers<br />brown-taupe oxfords<br />glittery pink oxfords<br />glittery black smoking slippers<br />black oxfords<br />silver sandals (dressy)<br />black sandals (dressy)<br />brown sandals (casual)<br />Keens&nbsp;<br />Cole Haan ankle boots<br />My winter boots</p> <p>I really ought to donate or pass on everything else, even the sentimental stuff. I used to wear really fantastic heels on the regular....&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792690 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:23:53 +0000 MsMary 1792690@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So funny this should come up today. I have a huge shoe collection but last night as I was getting ready for a casual night out I realized I have a shoe-wardrobe hole for casual non-bootie, non-sandals shoes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792679 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 15:56:24 +0000 cindysmith 1792679@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't use the term "girl math" because I know far too many women who are serious about math and science. I also am a recovering addict, which means that I have to be brutally honest: if I'm rationalizing and justifying some 'stuff' then it's not girl math, it's my disease making something ok that probably shouldn't be ok (like my shoe problem in early sobriety--well over 100 pairs, probably close to 150 pairs of shoes by the time I was 4 years sober). In early sobriety, I just swapped the booze in for shoes and clothes and it quickly became as unmanageable as the alcoholism. 3 closets and 1 dresser full of clothes and shoes was so much more than I could ever actually wear.</p> <p>Now, to apply that to the discussion at hand:</p> <p>I've had to really start asking myself questions like "will these shoes duplicate the function of a pair I already own?" And "am I just buying these shoes/this top because I feel sad/angry/uncomfortable in my own skin?"</p> <p>I have to enforce a 1 in 1 out rule. I have to examine my closet and figure out what's working, what isn't, and what I genuinely NEED. I try and focus on the needs first and foremost, because otherwise I just wind up with a bunch of random stuff that makes it a struggle to make an outfit. </p> <p>None of that means I can't just buy something frivolous because I really love it on occasion. I just have to save the frivolity for when I'm in an emotionally healthy place and have the spare cash to spend on it.</p> <p>That's left me in a pretty good place headed into my seasonal work. I've got my winter boot situation squared away, and I am in good shape for summer shoes. I am also in decent shape for spring tops and pants and summer tops; I can focus on summer bottoms if I get an urge to shop.</p> <p>I don't know if I'm making any sense so I'll stop babbling now </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792531 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 07:36:21 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1792531@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I certainly don't *need* all the shoes I have in a purely functional sense, but I wear the vast majority of them frequently and I'm pretty OK about the number I have. For me as others have said it's about being able to pull together outfits - I don't know if shoes are my 'thing' but I've always been picky about what shoes work with what outfits. So each shoe has a different set of color scheme, wearability/functionality, and style - I don't generally have more than one shoe for each niche.</p> <p>If I count everything including the seasonal stuff like boots and sandals, and include gear and heels, my total is in the 40-50 range. I do have a few pairs of heels that if I were to start with them now I wouldn't choose to buy them, because I'm getting more and more fussy about foot comfort as I get older. But I do still pull them out for special occasions so it seems silly to get rid of them, since I have the space.</p> <p>I also go through shoes fairly quickly, or at least it seems like it compared to how often all y'all here mention replacing shoes. Everyday flat shoes that can be worn most of the year I get 2-3 years out of them at best. Boots, maybe a bit longer since the weather's not harsh here. Sandals, I'm pleased if I get a third summer out of them. I do walk a lot and I'm overweight besides, so maybe that's why! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792347 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 19:19:02 +0000 Jenni NZ 1792347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The psychology of it could be a whole new thread. Much like LaP with her Quaker background, I was brought up by older parents ( Mum 40 and Dad 38 when I was born in 1961, definitely older in those days) and strict Presbyterian. So to gradually get to 50 pairs of shoes goes against what I was taught about excess and ostentation and may be part of my discomfort with how my wardrobe exploded. However it exploded after I was seriously bullied in the church and left, in 2008, and lost my sense of self for some time there. I have joked that I replaced God with shoes!<br /> I have made peace with it because of any bad habits in this world, and given that I still care for people, try to help them, and donate to charity, I feel it's on the lower end -and wearing interesting shoes plus the research process gives me so much pleasure. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792291 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 17:09:30 +0000 Style Fan 1792291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can relate to a lot of what La Ped wrote.&nbsp; It takes me a long time to find a pair of shoes that work for me in terms of comfort and my style that I am exhausted by the hunt.&nbsp; I am a collector and a researcher.&nbsp; My husband carries on about the incredible number of shoes and clothes I have but he has no idea how little I have.&nbsp; Seriously.&nbsp; Although he does realize how bad my feet are. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792188 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:04:28 +0000 LaPed 1792188@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's really nice reading the range of responses here.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have about twelve pairs of around-town shoes -- not including gear but including crossover types like snow boots and Chacos, which I wear casually because it's practical for my lifestyle. I guess that puts me on the minimal end -- which is remarkable to me. My husband has about half as many shoes as I do, including his gear, and gives me a bit of grief about my "collection". He's Canadian and I'm a New Englander with a Quaker background, so maybe that informs our attitudes towards consumption. His wardrobe is a lot less varied than mine -- his pants are one length, his shorts are another; working in a technical field he rarely, if ever, has to dress up. On top of all that he has easy-to-fit feet. Aside from one pair of hiking boots, I've never seen him get rid of a pair of shoes out of discomfort.&nbsp;</p> <p>I've become pretty picky about what I put on my feet, after dealing with sports-related iliotibial band syndrome in my twenties, which only resolved after I switched to primarily zero-drop and barefoot/minimalist shoes as often as possible. I try a lot of shoes, and keep very few of them. This winter, I've been living in a pair of wide-width Blundstones and alternating with a pair of Ahnu insulated hikers. I can't wait to wear lighter-weight, thinner-soled shoes and sandals, but it looks like it's going to be a while before the weather allows for that. I've already tried and rejected about 6 pairs of casual S/S shoes and sandals. If I don't shop ahead, I won't end up adding anything new for the season. Honestly, I have shoe style holes I've identified and would like to fill, but it takes me such a long time. Even straightforward things like casual sneakers can take a lot of misses before I find a hit, and sometimes I just get tired of shopping (first world problem!). I think I need about 3 or 4 more pairs of shoes to really hit my sweet spot, style-wise. But I think somewhere around 18 or 20 pairs would start to feel like too many.&nbsp;</p> <p>To be clear, I don't see anything inherently bad about having a lot of shoes, or a lot of anything for that matter. I just don't think I'd feel good about it <i>for myself</i>. I don't have a collector personality type. Even things I'm pretty passionate about, like books or outdoor gear, I tend to buy when it's necessary and borrow when it's not. What I do have is a researcher personality type, and I'm happier to browse and test ad infinitum, collecting data without making any impulse purchases. &nbsp; &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792187 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 13:59:09 +0000 Ginger 1792187@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>delurked, I think you're right - most people are reporting the lower numbers. So I'll throw my hat in. Of my non-gear shoes, I have roughly 60 pair. I lived in a four season climate and have a widely varied lifestyle. I have more than adequate space for these, and I wear most of them, either regularly or occasionally.</p> <p>I am actively buying more, since I <i>am </i>occasionally at a loss for just the right shoe to wear. (The "wardrobe essentials" exercise was extremely helpful in identifying that I really do have significant holes in the selection.) I want to be where Janet is!</p> <p>When I get to a better place with my essentials I will want to do a more serious cleanout. Like figuring out which of my heels I can still wear, it's one of my goals for the year. My feet are getting a lot fussier and I really have worn out some other pairs. The number has a whole may decrease slightly. But 45-60 pair I'm totally comfortable with. They're all visible and organized. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792186 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 13:50:23 +0000 approprio 1792186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is definitely math. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.york.ac.uk/depts/maths/histstat/lies.htm">Statistics</a> <i>and</i> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dismalscience.asp">economics</a>!</p> <p>I thought my collection of ±30 was quite a lot, but apparently not. They all get worn one way or another, apart from a couple of orphaned pairs. I feel I have enough variety and no noticeable gaps at the moment.</p> <p>I agree with Gaylene that you want no more than you can reasonably take care of. I rotate between wears for same reasons as Donna and they do seem to hold up better that way.&nbsp;</p> <p>However, I will say that I am a shameless shoe snob. I made it a policy a few years ago to buy only two pairs a year and to make sure they were really good ones. I found it very limiting in the beginning but in the end it paid off and I'm very happy with my shoe farm right now. I've since relaxed that rule but I still keep to the spirit of it. It helped me raise standards in the rest of my wardrobe too.</p> <p>So while I don't have a straight answer to your question, I'd say any pair of shoes which don't meet your personal shoe standards is a pair too many. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792179 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 13:35:08 +0000 Janet 1792179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gaylene nailed it for me in her second paragraph. I have adequate space for my shoe collection, and I am never at a loss for a pair of shoes to complete any outfit I dream up from my closet. </p> <p>I have some I haven't worn in years, but I hesitate to purge them because they are "occasion" shoes for me. Those are pumps and dressy shoes for the most part. </p> <p>I am ready to do some more editing though. I am thinking of finally passing on my metallic Rag &amp; Bone Newburys -- they've grown uncomfortable and I didn't wear them at all this winter. I found other booties sufficed quite well in place of them. And my Okalas haven't been worn in over a year. I keep thinking I will need them someday but that day hasn't happened yet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792138 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 09:55:01 +0000 Style Fan 1792138@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do not have enough pairs of shoes.&nbsp; I find it very hard to buy shoes that work for my feet.&nbsp; I have shoes that are comfort brands like&nbsp;Finn Comfort and Birks for warm weather but these are on the casual side.&nbsp;For cooler weather I have my Chelsea boots from El Naturalista and my Combat boots from Trippin.&nbsp;&nbsp; I can wear my Frye boots and Clarke booties on certain days but not that often because of my feet.&nbsp; (My footwear is the first 5 Finds)<br />I do have a pair of wedges from Reiker but they only go with a few outfits because of their style and colour.&nbsp;</p> <p>All of my issues with my feet have left me with wardrobe holes.&nbsp; If I have a special event to go to (one coming up in about 10 days) I panic over what footwear I am going to wear.&nbsp; </p> <p>In my dreams I would buy one of the&nbsp;pairs of shoes in Finds.&nbsp; (Freebirds, Fonda, Bonnie, Cayanne)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792132 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 09:28:06 +0000 anchie 1792132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have 30 pairs of shoes, half of that is Fall/Winter and another half is Spring/Summer. This amount is ok for me, it gives me enough variety, while still manageable. I also don't have capacity to store more shoes, since I am living in apartment. So for shoes I need to maintain strict one in - one out policy. I have few pairs that I would like to replace this year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792130 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 09:19:37 +0000 Jenni NZ 1792130@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I may be too tired after a very long day ( recently back from holiday and needing to catch up) to reply properly, but my shoe collection had gradually built since 2009 to 50 pairs. I am trying to purge ones that are getting tired because I can't wear them all and some of my favourites get over-worn. There are sentimental ones that are difficult to purge as I have written in a previous thread like my high red rope sole ones. Minimalist kindly suggested for those that I could sit on the sofa and watch a TV show in them while calling for my hubby to make me drinks! I liked this image! May delineate types of shoes more tomorrow. Sally is correct, most NZers do not have that many, my collection is large in NZ terms and I'm afraid I am well known for it but not called out on it too often, as generally very sensible otherwise I may have managed to get down to about 45 recently. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792128 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 08:50:25 +0000 jenanded 1792128@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just back to my post after a busy day! I guess I have about 25 pairs of shoes and sandals. Perhaps listing my thoughts will help me sort through my issues which raised my questions in the first place:</p> <p>I take a relatively rare size<br /> If I see shoes in my size I swoop<br /> I often end up w duplicates in multiple colours so 1 tends to get worn more than others</p> <p>I have fussy feet<br /> Some of the swooped shoes end up uncomfortable so get purged<br /> I end up spending too much on shoes to try and get my size, quality and comfort</p> <p>I therefore end up with few pairs for full time in the office<br /> Like Viv I wear through these sweeties too fast AND I notice the wear because of the duplication factor above</p> <p>I end up with lots of black relatively low heel shoes and sandals because of above<br /> I have 'branched out' and ended up with same in 'beige' shoes<br /> This means I end up with a fairly boring look and perhaps miss opportunities to amp my style factor with interesting shoes</p> <p>I end up with wardrobe holes because of above</p> <p>I find some non work comfortable darlings and wear them to the ground<br /> It takes another few years to find another pair of shoes to wear everyday out of work</p> <p>I overcompensate for all of above by sometimes buying a wildcard... which ends up with no outfits to wear with them - looking at you magenta monk shoes....</p> <p>So yes, I need help in this department! And a formula would help! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792120 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 08:14:51 +0000 Sisi 1792120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting post! Considering that I live in a 4-seasons climate, here we go:</p> <p>1 bootie</p> <p>1 slip-on</p> <p>1 pump</p> <p>1 ballet flat</p> <p>1 Summer moccasin</p> <p>3 sandals&nbsp;</p> <p>2 snow boots.</p> <p>This has been my 2016 assortment. All&nbsp; of these shoes&nbsp;(except the snow boots - no snow this year, alas!) have been worn intensively.&nbsp;I prefer a moderate number of shoes because, as Angie says,&nbsp;a small number keeps things simple. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792119 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 08:04:37 +0000 Gigi 1792119@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I own about thirty pairs, and I wear pretty much all of them, aside from a couple of pairs that are used only on rare occasions (but are needed for those rare occasions, because nothing else will do). I feel like my shoe collection is as large as I want it, and I'm considering purging a few pairs.&nbsp;</p> <p>I think that part of deciding whether you have enough shoes has to do with whether you can put together the type of outfits you like. You might want to wear a pair of cropped jeans in the fall, but you lack a pair of high-shaft booties. Or maybe you want to wear some ankle pants but lack some high heels to lengthen your legs. Or maybe you have a light-colored dress but all your shoes are dark. I just kept shopping until I had enough shoes to fill my wardrobe holes, and along the way I added some extra shoes for variety and fun.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/triggered-by-janets-thread-how-much-is-enough/page/2#post-1792110 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 05:46:05 +0000 Greyscale 1792110@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hm, I think I have a medium number of shoes? 27, not including gear. High, if you consider that I don't need to vary the colors to match my all-black outfits, so I could make do with far fewer. I do wear almost all of them, though I've also bought a number of total failures that I passed on quickly.<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.pinterest.com/monochro/on-my-feet/">https://www.pinterest.com/monochro/on-my-feet/</a></p> <p>The real test, for me, is whether there are outfits I'd like to wear but don't have the footwear for. And in fact, I can see some holes in my collection, but they're also not things that come up often. Most notably, I don't have any truly dressy heels, nor flats that I wear often -- but maybe that means they're just not my style. </p>