Sneakers (especially Converse) have been a footwear style staple in my closet forever. I wear them year ‘round - as indoor shoes, and out of doors when there is no snow on the ground (and sometimes even when there is!) they are the shoe I am most likely to reach for. However, around 12-18 months, I notice the shoe starting to break down. The tread is gone, the inside heel counter fabric shreds, and the shoe itself may wear through at friction or pressure points. Leather sneakers last a little longer, but most are ‘done’ at 2 yrs.

Another example is lace up (combat style) boots - my favourite cold weather choice for footwear. I have 2-3 pairs of boots on rotation from November through April, but reach for the lace-up combat style the most. Even when I have two different pair (in different colours) they last 3 winters. Usually the uppers are okay (I’m an obsessive shoe polisher/waterproofer) - but the heels and soles get worn. These soles/heels don’t seem to be the kind a cobbler can mend (and currently no cobbler nearby).

Dressy pumps and sandals. I’ve ‘always’ had a dressy black pump in my closet - my most worn dressy shoe when I worked. The ones I have in my closet (from ‘23) replace a patent pair I had for 5 yrs and would probable still have, except I was caught in a rainstorm, and they disintegrated after getting soaked. A weird experience. My dressier shoes aren’t ‘long walk’ shoes, though if I was still in the workforce, they would be ‘all day’ shoes and I would wear them for commuting, etc. Now, I mostly wear them for events, sometimes for Bridge night, sometimes for a clothes shopping day. I have one pair of sandals that are ‘all day’ comfortable. I wear them for long walks when on vacation, but at home - not so much.

I bought 5 pairs of shoes in 2025, but ended up donating 2. The donated shoes were sneaker experiments that failed. (I wanted to try styles/brands other than Converse Chuck Taylor.) The other shoes reflect my new focus on acquiring ‘interesting’ footwear that make more of a style statement: low heeled leopard pumps, tan loafers, burgundy Sambas. (See Finds below)

My first purchase of 2026 is a pair of white leather Converse. LOL! And I have other footwear (walking sandals? HEWI low heeled high shaft sleek booties) on my shopping list. The chunky dad sneakers ‘24 and burgundy combat boots also ‘24 are the tiredest, but should last through 2026.

I know some YLF’s who have a walking lifestyle and who wear non-gear footwear mention fairly high turnover with their footwear - but does anyone have any numbers? Do you do exact duplicates of beloved footwear, or do you change things up? Has anyone found any unicorns of comfortable AND cool-looking footwear? What’s on your footwear shopping list for 2026? Whats your shoe story?