Help: Need shoes, what do you consider your minimum shoe requirements? - YouLookFab Forum

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Help: Need shoes, what do you consider your minimum shoe requirements?

Thistle

Veteran

After a closet purge, I am now down to a 3 pairs of shoes for this fall/winter plus 1 pair of boots I just purchased.

What do you consier to be your staples?

Help me make a shopping list.

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from

qpswan

In my opinion, there is no minimum but that's not very helpful...

It really depends on the person and their lifestyle, however, shoes can be divided into four major categories: work, casual, dress and gear.

Work: I have neutrals in a variety of heel heights for skirts and trousers. I love my red shoes; they add colour and interest to any outfit. I have three pairs of red work shoes in different heel heights. I am also a fan of animal print footwear. Plus I wear dress boots with skirts.

Casual: boots, booties and walking shoes including loafers (same colours as above)

Dress: heels for the holidays and evenings out

Gear: runners, snow and rain boots

Hope this helps!

PS I love Zappos; I buy 90% of my shoes on-line. Read the reviews for helpful information but don't be afraid to buy and return.

Glory

Veteran

Oh Thistle shoes have been my greatest issue. After joining YLF I realized that my shoes were horrid and dated. I have since realized that the shoe can really pick up the entire outfit. I have 6 pairs of winter boots but in my defense I live in Canada and we get tons of snow. These range from high to ankle to snow boots. For casual wear I have a new pair of pewter sperry's (thanks to YLF and Angie), taupe skechers (also new), Clarks Shooties (old), flat black ankle boots (old). \
I have 2 pairs of dress pumps for fancy wear/weddings etc. Yesterday I posted a pic of a new ankle boot I purchased but am undecided on. So my shopping list as a work at home person is as follows: ankle boot with heel because I love how it dresses up a casual outfit and I purged my ancient ones. Flats and I have two pairs picked out but am worried on how much use I would get, a pair of casual but interesting shoes that can be worn with socks in a colour such as red, taupe or navy. Since I joined I have purchased and returned quite a number of boots and shoes but am getting closer each time thanks to all the support and patience here.

KikiG

Veteran

I am a shoe minimalist. I generally only wear black shoes (exceptions are dark pewter flats and dark red heels that I thrifted.)

My shoes for winter: black dressy full length boots with heels, mid length black flat boots for jeans and skinnys.

Black pumps with strap for skirts and pants.

Black ballet-type flats.

Pewter ballet-type flats.

(Althletic shoes for the gym=gear, only worn to the gym)

I feel that I need a feminine heeled dressy loafer for pants, and I'm looking for this. I do no mucht care for how booties look on me with skirts or dresses, because I'm short, I feel that they cut into my leg line and I feel stumpified, but I might wear them with pants if I found some that I really liked.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's important to know where you live (climate) and what your work requires, and what you do with your day. There's no way of stating a minimum without knowing that.

For my life, the absolute bare minimum to get me through the activities I need to do would be:

1 pair genuine snow boots (gear type).

1 pair winter boots for city streets

1 pair booties to wear with pants and skirts

1 pair more casual booties for hikes that are not in the snow/ice

1 pair gym shoes

1 pair dressy pumps

1 pair wedge or flat sandals

1 dressier sandal

2 pairs of actual "shoes" - wedges or oxfords or ballet flats or loafer - something that is not a boot and not a sandal.

This would really be a bare minimum. Which for many years I could not meet, and no wonder I had difficulty getting dressed. I find options in footwear VASTLY increase my outfit options.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Suz has provided an excellent list which I will echo. Since joining YLF I have become a bonafide shoe addict but I consider that to be a good thing, not a bad thing. Like Suz, I find different footwear can change an everyday outfit into something infinitely more interesting. I definitely try not to duplicate too many like items and comfort still comes first.

Carole

Veteran

My minimum shoe requirement, hmmm...here goes

Athletic shoe
Ballet flat
Slipper flat
Tall boots
>2 in pump or dress shoe
Sandals

Anonymous

Tall boots
Ankle boots to wear in place of pumps
Sandals - 1 dressier + 1 casual
Athletic shoes for exercising

All except the athletic shoes would have to be in a neutral color that blends with my hair so I could wear them with everything.

Geez! I have so much more than the minimum in my closet. I'd hate it if someone told me I had to cut back. I love shoes!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Most important in answering this is climate, and then job or activities you engage in. But basically, a flat comfortable walking shoe, a boot, a gym/running shoe if you work out, a sandal for the heat, and a shoe to go with skirts or dresses (if you wear them). I can't imagine getting by with less than that, and of course most of us have way more

Thistle

Veteran

Okay, I live in Wisconsin. That means I endure brutal winters and hot summers. Not hot quite like when I lived in New Orleans, but still in the low to upper 90s. I have sort of put summer aside until next year as it is already fall by us - high today of 59F.

So, I am really concentrating on Fall and Winter. This is my dominant season. It tends to become fall in September, and this year, it really didn't warm up into spring until May.

I work in a business casual office environment where jeans are only permitted on Fridays. Our version of business casual means kahkis or dress pants and a polo shirt. If men wear button down shirts, they do not wear ties. Women, well, that is harder. So much more difficult to nail down an exact level. However, we are midwestern manufacturer, so pretty conservative.

As I have to dress for this 5 days a week, this is where I tend to focus. That, and with a baby, we have a very casual social calendar.

In the winter, I tend to wear a pair of Sorrell's into the office everyday and change my shoes once inside. No matter how much I try to protect the leather, the snow and salt destroy it.

I cannot wear heels. I just purged them as they hurt my feet and back.

I am very intrigued by the idea of shooties, especially lowered heeled ones. It is funny, I love shoes, but I have been on a minor shoe buying strike it seems since I stopped wearing heels. I just love the look of them.

Thank you for all of your suggesstions!

Diana

Veteran

My bare minimum, living in a 4-season climate.

a pair of neutral, versatile boots - I prefer midcalf or lower if I were to only have one because they can be worn both over and under pants as well as with skirts/dresses

a pair of flat, closed shoes - oxfords for me, could be ballet flats for others

a pair of comfortable, walkable sandals

a pair of snow boots or boots that can deal with snow like hiking boots

a pair of sneakers for working out

a pair of dressy shoes

Everything except the dressy shoes should be 8-hour shoes.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Well, if I were to equate your weather needs, lower heels, and casualness to my Tahoe closet, these are the shoes I wear out of it most in fall and winter. These are all under 2 3/4" heels and can be sturdily walked on in snowy, icy conditions. Granted, I don't really do business casual, and when I do wear dresses in winter, it is almost always with a boot. Not sure if that helps at all or not. #3 and #5 are waterproof and shearling lined.

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Echo

Veteran

"Necessary" shoes are like "must-have" wardrobe items. Each person and their lifestyle can be different. I would venture to say that dress shoes, casual shoes, snow boots and dressier boots, along with whatever shoes you need for gear (if you are a runner or walker or kayaker or mountain climber or whatever). As to how dressy or whether these shoes have heels or are flat depends on the person.

For me, that means a minimum of black and nude pumps, neutral ballet flats, snow boots, dressy booties (heeled), rugged short boots, dressy knee high boots, flat sandals and dressy sandals and running shoes. I have many more than that, but I could get through almost every situation with just those on the list. I, too, live in WI so winter is my dominant season. Boots and booties are my staples.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Oh no. no no no. That is simply not enough. We've had counts recently. I think YLF'ers had an average of ~50 pairs of shoes. some of us, ahem, have many more.... like 20/season. Not much overlap between my seasons. I need different shoe wardrobes for each time of year.

missvee

Veteran

I think the other posters have given you some good ideas. I just wanted to chime in and say that I'm buying more shoes these days and fewer clothes. Rationale being that different shoes change the look of an outfit so much that they really stretch my wardrobe options. My most recent purchases are a mid heel bootie that is dressy enough for dinner out or the theatre, and a mid calf moto style boot that looks good with jeans tucked in, and toughens up the look of skirts. I think I'm going to enjoy both of these.
I also have a flat heeled tall boot that's good in the cold weather, and another pair of booties, low heeled, that work with skirts or trousers. All of these boots are comfy to walk in - that's a must!

Elly

Veteran

Hmmm . . . .

I think this really, really depends on lifestyle and climate.

I need more gear shoes than the average YLFer (waving at Una!). However, because my profession allows jeans/smart casual dressing, I can get away with wearing a lot of the same shoes on the weekends as I wear to work, supplemented with gear.

I do a lot of robust things at work, so I can't wear shoes that would be totally ruined if I had to walk through some gravel or kneel down in them. They have to be low and sturdy-heeled enough to stand in on hard surfaces for hours and not pose any tripping risk or throwing off my balance or slipping through a grate or open stairwell. Good soles (be they leather that is worn in properly or rubber) are a must. Generally the working conditions in offices are cold enough that boots and closed shoes are worn most if not all year. For me this means I try to get 2-3 pair of casual boots, a 3rd or fourth that is practical but could be worn with skirts/dresses/dress slacks dressed down, and 1-2 pair of shoes that work for transitioning seasons and those days you don't want to wear boots and can also be worn to supplement more summery shoes. I aim for 4-6 pairs at any given time since I wear them 7 days a week unless I'm only in slippers at home or hiking. I also admit to wearing gear shoes to work on days with bad weather where I will be in and out in it a ton, or days were I might have to jump in or out of the back of a truck.

I also generally need some "interview and funeral dress shoes" that are somewhat subdued and I can wear year-around (closed toe-- my current are a pair of heeled oxfords).

I'm also currently look for a pair of "event" shoes--- something a bit sexier, but am having a hard time finding a style that works for many occasions, so these might turn into 2 pairs. I do like a closed toe/heel so I can wear year around though. Something to wear to jazz up a LBD for a date night, gallery opening, or wedding.

So, that is 4-6 pairs not including gear, house shoes, summer shoes, or strictly "dress" shoes.

Elly

Veteran

For your specific needs I would go for a pair of flat-ish dressy but stylish ankle booties to wear under dress slacks (maybe charcoal or tweedy brown slacks to be worn with a soft blouse? for buisness casual), maybe a pair of oxfords as well, and a pair of tall equestrian style boots to wear with slim/skinny trousers worn with jackets for a denim-less smart casual look (more akin to polos and kahkis). These boots could also be worn with skirts and warm tights/leggings depending on how the calves fit.

Then I would probably pick up a pair of booties or booties and tall boots that are a bit funkier and more practical for wearing outside for MOTG things like running errands. Things that look good with jeans or casual clothes. Also, a pair of converse or ballet or other flats to wear inside on MOTG days when you wear your sorrels outside.

rachylou

Veteran

I think I could actually get by with a pair of patent pumps, patent flats, and chucks + trainers and snow boots.

But that would leave me awful unsatisfied. I also like having rain boots, slip on walking shoes (for walking the dog), knee boots, booties/ankle boots, lots of pumps, pretty sandals, walking sandals, heeled oxfords, clogs... LOL.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think it depends on lifestyle, climate & your particular clothing. If you wear the same length pants & flats then you need fewer shoes than someone who wears skirts, dresses, wider pants & skinnys. I think it comes down to having something to wear with all your outfits for all seasons. Then of course there is shoe lust.........

Anonymous

It's hard when you can't wear heels much, because they are so pretty! Since you wear Sorrels to and from the office, you can wear any kind of flat shoe that goes with your work pants. Do you need to wear socks to keep warm? You might wear a ballet flat in summer without socks, but in winter it's a different story. Flat booties, loafers or slipper flats might be fun to try (wear your work trousers when you go shoe shopping).

I have a very casual lifestyle, and I keep about 12 pairs of shoes at a time. Anymore than that and I start to forget what I have. One thing that's new for me is I'm trying to accumulate a higher percentage of summer shoes since that's my dominant season. The summer ones wear out, but the winter ones never do, so if I'm not careful, the winter shoes will take over my wardrobe.......maybe I should stop buying them, lol!