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Purge these shoes?

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. Not really enough shoes to eliminate even one of my shoe baskets, but a start right?

So...

#1 & 2 - Crazy green ankle strap platforms. I call them my Alice (in Wonderland) shoes. They have a wavy shape. But they're comfy and good for a house party.

#3 - Shoes I agree to get rid of right away: 1 pr Chucks, 2 low-heeled courts (a bit worn), black two-toned round toe shoes, the perfect navy patent pumps (scruffed up and needing a heel tap) (*big sigh*).

#4 - Shoes I should probably give away. Back row (left to right) - Boho shoes, including my Target Missoni shoes (*big sigh*). Middle row: RATE librarian chic shoes. Front row: Hipster kitten heels (a bit uncomfortable) (and I do have something comparable and comfortable).

#5 - Hard to give up: Flashy orange satin fancy-party shoes, really unwalkably high tassel loafer pumps that work really well for extremely fine dining in SF. I do have my Prada pumps that would do, but they're a little discreet (read boring for a special night out).

#6 - Shiny catwoman boots in front, knee-high similar boots in back (not shiny and they come off very black).

#7 - Heeled knee-hi's with square toe. They're kinda boho and the square toe is pretty dated. On the other hand, they're perfectly good and not so black as the ones in #6. It's Berkeley (#7) v. Oakland (#6).

Arghhhh! I'm thinking:

keep #1/2,
toss the lot in #3 & 4,
keep the orange satin in #5 and toss the unwalkable shoes,
toss the knee-hi's in #6 but keep #7 (or find an alternative? I think a heeled knee-hi is kinda a basic...).

What do y'all think?

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General

27 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm no good at encouraging people to get rid of things but I'm commenting just because I laughed out loud at the Berkeley vs Oakland comment!

Also, you should keep the shoes you like in #1 and #5 because it sounds like you really like them AND can imagine uses for them.

Liz A.

Veteran

I'd say they can all go with the possible exception of missoni for target.

Oh and 7 looks too scuffed to keep.

E

Veteran

I'm no help at all with purging advice, but I love your descriptions RachyLou. And I must have a bit of Berkeley in me, because I was admiring the sensible looking sole of the boots in 7!

Perhaps you could try a top-down approach? Think of all your different situations, what kind of shoes you need for each, and how many pairs (either for variety or to switch off so they last longer). Then keep whatever matches the list and purge the rest.

rachylou

Veteran

Greyscale - It's like celebrity deathmatch between my boots. Ha! Just what I need: claymation boots.

Liz - Iron-willed! But like the Missoni Target - collectors item, right? Lol.

Anonymous

What E said. Do you have any outfits that you build around any of these shoes? Definitely get rid of anything uncomfortable like the hipster kitten heels in 4.

rachylou

Veteran

E, Joy - Ok. I have to talk this through. The biggest dilemmas: The green/tan ankle straps (#1/2), the orange satin, and the unwalkable tassel shoes are basically all part of single outfits that I trot out for specific, but infrequent occasions that do come up. In corresponding order: House party, fancy party (but not event), and the hushed French meal. So I have a series of these one-off outfits. Maybe too many all considered.Also, I probably don't want to wear the same dress and shoes every year for my birthday for the rest of my life... so maybe I have my answer right there.

If I give away the shoes, I should probably give away the dresses too. Heh. Didn't think about that!

Knee-hi boots are maybe something I wear late spring, early fall. They're sort of a fall back for me. Faux wrap dress, knee boots. Heel lets me take it to the office.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

You made me laugh out loud

This is what happened to me (not sure if it goes for you too). I am brilliant at finding reasons for keeping things & re imagining how I would use them so I had to find another way to cull. For me it was asking the question: Is this my best look or even how I want to look? Most of the time the answer was a big NO especially if it meant discomfort. Honestly if something belongs to a sometime, one-off outfit unless you really, really love it what is the point?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think your conclusions are solid, but those boots in 7 do look a bit worse for the wear and the square toe gives me pause.

Good work! I kept a few pairs that are of very limited use, but having too many shoes that only complete one outfit would drive me bananas feeling like I'm surrounded by clutter and waste. Does it feel good or anxiety-producing to let these go?

ManidipaM

Veteran

Do you feel like the special shoes need a last hurrah? Sometimes that happens to me when I purge something beloved or pricey but not terribly practical. Make that party really count then... and give them a thumping farewell.

I prefer 7 to 6 because somehow it seems to have more character, scuffs and all. I have a tendency to equate scuffs on leather to wrinkles on an interesting face though.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

All sound good but get rid of #7. Square toes are dated and scuff is scuff so out they go.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Rachylou. You are always worth reading.

I am with you on all your reasoning except, like citygirldc, I say get rid of 7. You can find something better to serve the same purpose if you need to.

Beth Ann

Veteran

You are an excellent purging. You actually classify and sort before you let go -- very good idea!

I actually like the tall pointy toed boots, but I agree with Suz -- let 7 go.

Love the shoes in 1/2!

rachylou

Veteran

caro - You are so right. Thanks for the push/back up. I need it.

Janet, citygirl, Suz, Beth Ann - Ok. I will give up the #7 boots. I won't think about it. Appreciate the push. Anyways, they're a boho kind of RATE. I'm still RATE, but not boho RATE. But what about "Oakland"? Should I just chuck and be without heeled knee-hi boots? Thoughts?

Manidipa - I agree with you about character and the brown boots. The scuffs would be solved with polishing too... but maybe I should just update. I don't know even what an au courant pair would look like; gives me something to think about. Both pairs are from really long ago. Really long ago. I also think you are devastatingly right about a last hurrah for the party shoes. One for the road!

unfrumped

Veteran

I think you are doing great so far! And so fun to read.

Toss 3 and 4 right now before you weaken.

Are the unwalkable shoes just so fantastic that you could not enjoy your French meal without them ? I say, your feet may still hurt while sitting and then you can't enjoy. Toss and find something better.

The orange shoes ARE special, but as you say, is it like eating off of your special birthday plate each year ? And are they so memorable that it drives the outfit, which itself needs to evolve with you?

I say toss the brown boots because you need to update them, and there should be a lot out there. UNLESS you are wearing them right now and need to keep them as place-holders until you find new ones.

I have no idea what to do with black pointy boots.

rachylou

Veteran

Had to laugh, unfrumped. I so do need to toss them RIGHT NOW. Or things will be sneaking back.

The unwalkable shoes... *sigh*. They don't hurt. I just can't walk. They are that high. I have to take little mincing steps. They're meant for drifting slowly between conversations at a big brunch party.

I'm thinking to just toss the brown boots now (without looking and decidely) because I see the jury is decided that they're totally dated.

I'm not sure about the pointy black boots either in that they don't sub for the brown boots in my *at home* looks. Or if I did just switch them out, I'd get that Spiegel look, which I don't do. And the thoughts aren't coming this morning. My head is fuzzy...

DonnaF

Veteran

I'm Oakland. Get rid of #7 and keep #6. Get rid of the unwalkable shoes; they are a twisted ankle and aching back ready to happen. Get rid of the uncomfortable shoes as well; life is too short for unnecessary pain.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote keep #1 and purge the rest.

E

Veteran

You're doing great! I'm gearing up for a closet sort out, and clearly I'm going to need the forum to help me be ruthless, because I can come up with a million reasons to keep something.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Absolutely get rid of all shoes that are not comfortable. And I don't mean that they have to be all-day comfortable, but "I can stand up and walk across the room" comfortable at least. If you have a spot for them, I would keep the square toes in #7 (if they're comfy) because they will cycle back in style, and I like them, in style or not. I would also keep the knee highs in #6 (again, if they're comfortable) because they're cute.

Sara L.

Veteran

Well, shoes are something I have a hard time purging. It's so easy to find a reason to keep them. I think you're doing great so far.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Rachylou, for those dedicated-outfit shoes, what if before purging you set yourself a challenge to come up with one new or different outfit you can wear with each pair of shoes. If you like it, there's your answer. And if you can't find one or don't like it enough to wear it, there's your answer too.

You may not have many "special occasion" opportunities to actually wear them in the near future. On the other hand... Valentine's day is coming up. And February always calls for a "let's pretend it isn't still winter" party, or is that just here in the frozen north?

rachylou

Veteran

Angie - Ruthless!

Donna - Lol. Oakland, eh?

E - Seriously. Sometimes peer pressure is needed (!)

Ok. But now in all this she frenzy... the catwoman boots (short and tall) have both gone off somewhere to hide...

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Toss the square toe boots, stat.
Also the tasseled loafers.
I kinda like the orange shoes.

Shirley

I think the square toe boots can go but not sure about the others.

rachylou

Veteran

Karie - It's nice to see a little love for "Berkeley." Hehe. I've been looking at heeled boots online, for a replacement pair. I'm not loving it so far.

L'Abeille - I like you! A nice little party, I'm in!

Anna - Haha. That made me laugh re. the square toes. But what's wrong with the tassel loafer pumps? Hehe.

Shirley - Guess not many are feeling the dated-ness... Golly olly!

shiny

Veteran

If it were me, I'd not purge the knee-high boots until I found suitable replacements. The reason: I'm so short it's very very difficult to find knee high boots these days -- they can't be any higher than 13 inches. For this reason, I have not bought a new pair of tall boots in over 5 years. If I find replacements, then I will let go of my older boots, but despite lots of looking, no luck yet.

If however you are more normal height and shaft width, this may not be a consideration.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. I've got skinny legs. That is a problem with finding knee boots. Heh.