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A quick shoe edit and a question

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Spurred by Carla’s post about shoes, how many we have and how we duplicate, I decided to do a quick turn in my shoe shelves. My sandals are mostly tucked away for the season so those will wait, except for one pair that was in the shelves that I think may go, or at least hang in the holding zone until summer.

Sad as it is, I’m getting rid of both of the pairs of platform sneakers I have — one Vince, one Linea Paolo. I love how they both look, but after a few days wearing them I realized the comfort simply was not there for me. One slips off my heels and the other rubs the wrong way. I’m also releasing a pair of black booties that slip off my heels.

My Pliner snake print loafers are in the holding zone for now. They are comfortable enough and don’t slip off my heels, and I have very few transitional shoes that aren’t sneakers, so I may keep them and see how they strike me in the next wearing season that I actually dress to leave the house again.

I’ll ask for your feedback on this pair. Fluevogs are such a specific style, snd I’m not as into it as I was way back when I got these. Still, I keep them in case I want to wear them with a dress or skirt outfit sometime for a more dressed-up occasion. However, would I actually wear them? I have other heeled black booties that go with dressier outfits. I took a couple of quick pics — what do you think? Hang onto them “just in case” or let them go?

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Dolce Vita Bel Bootie

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28 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

rachylou

Veteran

I’m the wrong person to take advice from, but I’m on my coffee break. I have come up with a new rule: I will give away all shoes, ten years from now, that I haven’t worn in ten years.

I am not at all emotionally ready to give up my 4-inch now unwearable Marc Jacobs shoes...

Tanya

Veteran

I have been thinking after doing this exercise as well after Carla's post, but chickened out, so congrats on going through with it!

It sounds like you have made the right decisions regarding the platform sneakers and the loafers.

About Fluevog booties, do your other two dressy black pairs work with skirts/dresses as well or only with pants? If the others work only with pants, then I would keep the Fluevogs. However, if the others also work with dresses/skirts, then I would do a little outfit test I like to do in such situations: imagine you have a perfect occasion to wear a dressy skirt/dress outfit with black booties tomorrow. Put together 2-3 of such outfits from your closet, and try them on with each of the booties. Then evaluate if you like the Fluevogs the best with any of them. If the answer is negative, that is you would always reach for a different pair anyway, that to me would mean that it is time to let the Fluevogs go.

Anonymous

I like them & if it were me, I would hang on but the fact you asked ‘...would I actually wear them’ makes me think you likely won’t choose them to wear.

I think worth keeping in theory because they’re attractive on & versatile but not if you’re already questioning whether you’d reach for them.

* Narrow Heels*
My forefoot isn’t especially wide but it’s a big enough differential with my narrow heels, to cause issues. A lot of styles slip off my heels. Grr. Good you’re getting rid of offenders.

Sal

Veteran

I do like Fluevogs - they are definitely a classic in their own way. I don’t quite associate their look with your style - they are quirky and your style is a bit more edgy.

I think Tanya’s exercise is the right one to do. I can see them with longer asymmetric skirts or dresses.

Anonymous

I wore those Linea P sneakers to work today . They do have a shallow heel cup and I sort of come out of them a bit at the heel when I’m walking a lot . I still love them though . What size are your Vince ones ? Do I want them ?

As to the Fluevogs - you have the space , and they are really unique - maybe hang on to them for awhile ?

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Oh I am like Rachy. I have 1 pair that I will probably be buried in that I love so much that I rarely wear.

As I’m an enabler I say keep. I love the curve of the. So stylish

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Personally I like the Bel Bootie Dolce Vita in your Finds out of sight better, but that’s just my opinion.
The Fluevogs may come back around. I know I gave away some 90s square toes in 2017 ( with forum encouragement) that within a couple of years were back in. But I don’t regret it as by then I had other boots I liked better. I was kind of irritated though! So you need to balance what you may feel if you give them away, will you miss them?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

My response to your question “Hang onto them “just in case” or let them go?” is another question: in case of what? In case your tastes swing back in this direction? In case the other dressy black boots break and you can’t get out to get new ones? In case of Fluevog revival? Seriously, what is the “case” where you think you’d wear them? I keep all kinds of things I love that don’t fit or are not currently stylish, but that’s because I still love them. When I get them back out, they make me happy. I’ve worn my 501s every other day since I found out they fit again. It sounds to me like you think you ought to love these, but you don’t, not really. They look fairly new; some second hand store shopper will be thrilled to find such a great score.

Anonymous

Agreeing with Tanya about the boots, but I've definitely been seeing similar heels in stores.
As far as the transitional shoes, they're problematic for my narrow heels too. Luckily we only need them about 2 weeks a year in April and November!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Suntiger, yes! I’m always tempted by those transitional shoes when the truth is I go very quickly from sandals to boots and back again. The shoes pictured here are my transitional non-sneaker shoes and don’t get much wear. I’ve been off oxfords for the last couple of years mostly for practical reasons but I love all those shoes and they’re still comfortable.

Tanya makes a good point about trying the boots with some skirt/dressier outfits. Honestly I was thinking more of letting them go until I tried them on. They have a whole different vibe from the block heels and may be just the thing needed when we can actually go to events again. I have space and still like them — they are staying.

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Rachy, I sold the last of my 4” heels a few months back — they were amazing Jeffrey Campbell turquoise boots but I just couldn’t do it anymore.

kkards

Veteran

Well, I’m the wrong person to ask, as i feel like if space isn’t an issue, and you wore these at least once before the pandemic (ie 2019) I’d keep them...if you didn’t wear them in 2019, then maybe I’d consider giving them a new home

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Kkards, I don’t think I wore them in 2019, but a year earlier I did. I think it was lack of occasion rather than having soured on them.

There may be a time I want a more feminine, delicate heel style in a bootie for a dressy outfit. I’m remembering a wedding outfit specifically. I think for now I’d rather hold on, even if I put them in a box (like my Rockstuds or my silver heeled sandals, which are both strictly dress occasion shoes).

Vildy

Veteran

Glad you're keeping the Fluevogs. Trying to avoid using the wrong words here but the curved back heel is very eccentric and attention getting in the sense of What is that woman like? Throws in a little extra something to keep onlookers from getting too complacent in sizing you up.

nemosmom

Veteran

Glad you are sorted! I could see these working for you; they are a bit different than what I’ve seen in your outfits, but if they are comfy, you like them, and have space - why not keep them? If later, (when we have occasions to attend) you find yourself reaching for others over these, reassess then.

In any case, it sounds like your edit was considered and careful. Well done!

Joy

Veteran

Dress up occasions seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times to be shopping for shoes, so I would hold on to them “just in case”. The pendulum will swing back to dressier outfits as people get sick of ultra casual dressing.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like the elegant shape and the tidy fit around your ankle. I think you should keep them.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m glad to read that you are keeping the Fluevogs, and think you have classified them correctly when comparing them to the Rockstuds and silvered sandals as an iconic shoe worthy of space in your closet. They are very flattering.

Agree with passing along shoes that are uncomfortable or annoying.

always trying

Veteran

When doing shoe edits I only edit out those that have issues. If I think I may wear a pair, even for one time a year, They could be just the thing to wear, I keep them.

cat2

Veteran

I keep all of the shoes that fit, as I have zero ability to predict when each shoe shape will come back, but each eventually does.

nuancedream

Veteran

As an admirer of Fluevogs, I vote for keeping them. Would you expect any other response from an inveterate shoe lover like me? The design is so unique and bold. I have a couple of pairs of Cydwoq shoes that I haven't worn lately, but they are like no other pairs I own and they have earned their place in my closet. Definitely nix any shoes that are uncomfortable.

No Fear of Fashion

(website)

Veteran

I would hang on to them. Nothing wrong with them. On the other hand, if you don't feel happy in them, they are useless and you should move on.
Right... big help I am haha.
Greetje

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are RIGHT to get rid of shoes that boss your feet around. No thank you!

As for these boots - keep. Try them with this skirt:

Fuzzi Butterfly Print Asymmetrical Midi Skirt

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10

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

My approach is to keep shoes that are comfortable unless I really have come to dislike them. I know I am a shoe outlier but taste and moods change and shoes I am not into one year can become workhorses the next.
On the other hand, shoes never become more comfortable (assuming they are broken in or whatever already). So, in short, keeping is a good decision!

Deborah

Veteran

Janet I would let them go. I really feel you have answered your own question You don't reach for them. Yes they are kind of special but I personally don't feel they are that reflective of your style.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, everyone! Good feedback, all.

Deborah, I know what you mean — they are not *exactly* where I am at the moment, style wise, but they do represent a bit of a shadow style for me. As Angie pointed out, I could see wearing them with that Fuzzi skirt and a fitted black sweater, or with a dress that can be worn in winter for an occasion...in the after times when we have places to go again. It helps to keep in mind that I do not own any black pumps or black dress shoes that aren’t open toed sandals and solely summer wear, so these kind of fill that hole.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I think beloved items like rachylou’s 4” heels belong on display if one has the space.
Janet, I live how the forum/community helps us sort stuff out.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I was wondering whether the Fluevogs were your style or not, and no, they don't look like your rock and roll side, exactly, but I think they fit in with the artistic element of your style. And they are an edgy-artistic, to boot (pun intentional). Glad you are going to hang on to them for a while.