Average woman owns 17 pairs of shoes! - YouLookFab Forum

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Average woman owns 17 pairs of shoes!

christieanne

Veteran

This may be the wrong audience for the conversation but I just was reading a blog post in Stylelist about shoe storage and it quoted a NYTimes article (which I am blocked from linking to as I used all my free reads so far this month lol) that claimed the average woman in US has 17 pairs of shoes.

I would not ask anyone to reveal how many pairs you own (unless you want to share) but does that seem low, high or just right to you?

I just purged and purged and have many more than that including gear and flipflops. As much as I realize I still have too many black shoes, it seems silly to unload perfectly good, still in style and serviceable/comfy shoes just to hit a certain number. 17 seemed low to me so I may need a reality check.

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61 replies

Latest reply was from anne

AJ

Veteran

Well17 is definitely a LOW number for me! I am in the 40's and that's NOT counting gear and flipflops!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

My impression is that 17 is low. But that number would accurately reflect what I regularly reach for. Or even less than that.

This winter & early spring (up until now) I have regularly worn --
2 gear/walking shoes
1 professional work clog
2 pairs flat booties
2 pairs wedge booties
3 heeled booties
1 dressy booties
= total 11 pairs

Yes, I am obsessed with booties, I have them in various colors for winter and spring, as well as in three heel types (low heeled, mid heeled & high wedges).

When the weather gets hot I will make a change out to sandals, the number will be 8 pairs or so.

So let's say I own 19 pairs year-round that get regularly worn. What makes my number of shoes owned higher is that I have at least that amount packed away, out of sight, out of mind, not worn but not disposed of either.

(I struggle with getting rid of clothing and shoes, it's really hard for me.)

Deborah

Veteran

Christieanne, like AJ is would be in the 40's (I may go an count them now). I recently cleaned out my shoes so I can say that I do wear all the shoes I have and of course some are seasonal so on,y get worn at certain times of year.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I always say I have between 20 and 30 pairs including work-out shoes. About one third are inexpensive on-trend synthetic that I treat like annuals. They won't last long but may also quickly go out fashion, so I don't feel guilty about purging when required. I store my sandals away at the end of the warmer weather so I always have space for any new arrivals, but do try to limit myself to the amount of space available and keep in mind the one in, one out principal when shopping/

Kiwichik

Veteran

Haven't hit the forties but definitely more than 17 pairs of shoes.

jayne

Veteran

Between 30 and 40 here. And i do not think I have enough for all events. Just black alone is necessary is so many styles.

Louise

Veteran

At 1 point a few years ago I was pushing 80!! I have nowhere near that many now after a purge of all the uncomfy ones which accounted for about 90% of them I think I have around 20 now I'll count later and get back to you x

anne

Veteran

Last time we had a shoe count Louise and I were at the bottom! I just counted 18 pairs (not including my slippers, but including running shoes) This number will probably go down as it includes some very rundown items that have been replaced but haven't been thrown out yet.

Irene

Veteran

I have:

2 pairs of tall boots
3 pairs of booties/shooties
3 pairs of pumps (though two of them are unusable)
2 pairs of ballet flats
5 pairs of mary janes
8 pairs of sandals
3 pairs of summer canvas shoes
3 pairs of cons
3 pairs of winter sneakers

32 pairs + raining boots + flip flops + slippers

That does NOT mean I use or can use all of them. Some I should just get rid of because they are not comfy for me anymore (like my super flat gladiators that my feet haven't been able to handle for two summers), but I haven't. Maybe I'll do some clean-up this month.

fashionista

Veteran

Oh I love shoes and I have this many shoes

9 pairs of tall and short flat boots (in black, brown, white and grey only)
3 ankle length booties (in black, brown and grey again...LOL)
10 pair of flipflops, slippers, ankle strapped flat sandals (in pink, black, grey, brown, blue, mustard, metallic gold, white)
12 pair of ballet flats (in black, purple, teal, red, white)
5 pair of high heeled pumps and mary jane pumps (in black, snakeskin blue, metallic gold, white)
1 pair of wedged pumps (in brown)
4 converse/sneakers (in white, blue, purple, red)
3 pairs of stilletoes (in metallic gold, black, metallic silver)
3 home slippers and kitchen slippers
= 50 shoes!!!! My god I didn't know I had that much. My mum's gonna kill me now if she reads my this comment.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I counted 19 pairs for all seasons excluding gear:
3 pairs of tall boots (one maybe going next year as it it 5+ years old)
1 pair of combat boots
2 pairs of booties
1 pair of winter boots
3 pairs of high(er) heeled pumps -it is 2.5 in. for me
1 pair of slingbacks
2 pairs of low heeled pumps
2 pairs of flat oxfords
1 pair of wedge sandals
1 pair of gladiators
1 pair of ballet flats
1 pair of walking shoes
Writing it all down it seems like a lot to me but when you divide them by 3 seasons we have (I count fall and spring as one ) I have:
5 pairs for winter
5 pairs for summer
9 pairs for spring / fall

Now it does not seem that many!

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

I have quite a few myself. Last count was 40+. Maybe 50+ by now no including boots or running shoes. This was a photo I took last year after cleaning my closet and it was only my summery shoes. It's time for a new purge.

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modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I'm not counting right now I think this is verrrrr low. I think I have 20 pairs of just boots, and that doesn't include snow boots or gear!!

Living in a 4 season climate makes my shoe collection grow exponentially. I don't make excuses for it anymore. There is no overlap between my winter and summer shoes, and I need gear, formal and otg shoes. Each has it's place.

bj1111

Veteran

srly...17 as an average? clearly not on this board!

i have so many the situation is acute and i am no longer allowed to bring any more into the house without sending a pair out. let's just say salvo's is getting very lucky!

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Low to me. But i'm a shoe lover and hoarder. I counted last time we had a "how many shoes do you have" thread and i think the number was like 50-60? O.o Something ridiculous.

Diana

Veteran

I think I have around 40 ... maybe 25 pairs of those get worn on a somewhat regular basis. I had a lot more before I purged a lot of uncomfortable pairs. I still have a few more pairs that I should get rid of. I can imagine that I would have a lot MORE if my feet were not so fussy.

My shoe collection is very unbalanced though. I only own one pair of pumps among the 40 (and they are slingbacks, does that even count as pumps?).

Isabel

Veteran

I have seen those numbers too. I have such a hard time believing them. I have one of the smallest collections of women that I know and I have 28 ( and a pair of running sneakers ).

Mochi

Veteran

I may have around that number, and that's only after a major shoe buying campaign these past few months...and I still feel I have big holes in my shoe wardrobe (not for wants, but for needs, like summer sandals). I feel like going to my closet and counting now....I now think 17 is a low number. In the past I would have thought it's an overwhelming amount.

Elly

Veteran

I have 17 counting my slippers, my various gear shoes, my snow boots, and my running shoes and flip flops--- this is also counting the one pair of boots that I can't wear but hoped I could start wearing again, a couple pair of shoes that are uncomfortable that I'll only wear in an emergency, and several pairs that need to go the garbage from being worn out. I didn't count my shower shoes (I have 2 pair), the shoes that are at the consignment shop, or the one pair that fell apart and ended up being used as doorstops.

1) running shoe
1) fashion sneaker (needs replacing)
1) water shoe
3) pair of flip flops, 1 unwearable, 1 damaged, 1 "gear" (recovery flip flops)
1) pair clogs (needs replacement)
1) low hiking boot
1) hiking boot (needs replacing)
1) blizzard-type snowboots
1) pair Fryes (can't wear them but they are in almost perfect condition)
1) pair of cowboy boots (need replacing, semi-gear)
1) pair heeled oxfords
1) pair black suede wedge sandals
1) pair black slingbacks (uncomfortable)
1) grandma wedge heels (uncomfortable)
1) slippers

So 8 pairs of gear shoes
9 pairs that are uncomfortable/unwearable/worn out or need replacing

It would be pretty difficult to have a fully functional 4 season shoe wardrobe that was also fashionable in only 17 shoes-- I could do it if I didn't want and need gear shoes. As, is, without mulitplying my gear shoes, I could replace my Fryes and cowboy boots with wearable pairs, replace the slingbacks with a wearable pair of pumps, the other black shoes with a pair of booties, one pair of flip flops with sandals, the other pair with some nice thong sandals or a pair of flats.

Gear-wise, I feel the need to have every pair of those shoes, and wouldn't mind buying a few more pair! That sounds bad, but in that bunch I not only do all the outdoor activities I love to do and sometimes need seasonal variation, but these are also the shoes most of us wear commuting when it is snowy or snotty-- like most the winter.

Mochi

Veteran

This is how I'm procrastinating on changing the cat's litter box....counting out my shoes.

sneakers/athletic/boat shoes- 5 pair
flat sandals 1 pair
knee-high boots 5 pair (2 pair Docs, 1 pair Fryes motorcycle, 1 pair slouchy, 1 pair equestrian)
booties- 4 pair
shooties (weird term) 1 pair, Born Carteret
Mary Janes- 2 pairs (heeled Fluevogs, flat patent leather Borns)
flats- 1 pair, Giveables
oxfords- 2 pairs, Cole Haan and Miz Mooz
Oh, and a pair of duck boots for winter....

That seems about right. 22 pairs. Wow! Yet could still use some more.

Kristin L

Veteran

To me, 17 sounds like the number someone would answer when the DH or BF was around and didn't want him to know.

I think I have between 20-30 pairs. But, most of them have been around for a few seasons and when I bring a new pair in, I try to get rid of another.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I could see 17 per season (spring/summer and then fall/winter) but it seems a little low for total if you're including boots, gear, etc.

Makrame

Veteran

I have 22 pairs in my "wardrobe worksheet" (maybe more if I include those that don't get worn often); this is for four seasons with snow and ice. This number, however, does not include the large selection of gear I own (snow boots, ski boots, hiking boots, running sneakers, water shoes etc.). So I am with Shannon, 17 or 20 might be about right but only if you count for one season OR do not include gear (although I know people who don't own any gear aside from maybe a pair of walking shoes).

I also know that at this point in my life, I have a lot more variety in my shoe/clothing choices than I did when I was a grad. student, simply because I could not afford anything other than maybe one pair of sandals for the summer, one pair of black shoes for the fall etc. The same is true for some retirees I know who live on limited income. So perhaps if one averages out women with different lifestyles and income levels, this is true.

bella

(website)

Veteran

High five Isabel! I have 28 pairs (including my gym shoes) + a pair of hiking boots.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I also have 4 seasons, but manage with a very small shoe collection. I don't think it is terribly well curated, but I would love for it to stay small. For example, I have 1 pair of tall flat lace-up boots, one pair of knee-high rain boots, two pairs of ballet flats, and so on. I need to go count!

Seventeen does not seem "too low" to me...I have a hard time adding to my collection because I do not like duplicating...

That being said, if shoes are your thing, and you have the budget for it, go nuts...no judgement here...but it IS possible (and even fun!) to have a small well-chosen shoe collection (at least I'd like to hope so, as that is my aim).

Amy

(website)

Veteran

haha....you ladies are funny I think I have about 17 pairs, give or take a few.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'd say I have 17, for each season that is Including even work sneakers and flip flops, I have 35. I am perfectly happy with this number. If I didn't move to and fro from Tahoe to FL I'd likely be happy with about 25 or so.

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Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

christieanne - as to your original post regarding needing a 'reality check' - I would only ask, do you still wear all of your shoes a reasonable amount? If you do, then keep and enjoy. I didn't read the article you mentioned, but it sounds like it just stated an average - which is just that...it's not a mandated goal for every woman to clock in with just 17 pairs of shoes. If however, you feel burdened by shoe clutter, and you are not wearing them, consider donating them - particularly if they are still in style and in good condition!

Kari

Veteran

Oh, that makes me feel embarrassed. I have... more than 17 for sure. In the neighborhood of 50, including 5 pairs of boots, 5 pairs of booties, about 7 pairs of flats, hiking boots, rubber galoshes, 3 pairs of oxfords, a pair of casual sneakers, and then the rest are pumps. I wear most of them pretty frequently though.

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