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Splitting wears: how to remedy

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

So, I’m realizing that several of my spring shoes are duplicating the same purpose (whoops— I really love shoes...). For example, multiples of silver shoes, mint/blue shoes etc. I’m splitting wears! I don’t like the feeling because it makes it harder to get dressed in the morning- have to decide on blue shoes, then choose WHICH blue shoes to wear. Know what I mean?

So when you find yourself in this position, what do you do to solve it? I could:

Pick the best example of each and purge the rest (this seems wasteful as they all have plenty of wear left and I like them all)
Pick the best example of each and put the others in storage till the first pair wears out
Or.....??

Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Ha! Same problem!
I don't purge easily. I have tried hard these last 3 years not to buy too many dupes, even though I have still been known to do it eg my 2 pairs jewelled flip-flops/jandals from Bali last year. In my new wardrobe, I am putting the slightly less favoured to the back of the shoe racks, so that I will be able to easily choose from my favoured ones.The favored ones do begin to look less pristine over time and if I then find I've got newer ones I am wearing more, the old faves can go to the back. If then after another year or two they're hardly worn, I'd consider purging. Tracking helps with deciding, and the age/datedness/how sick of something I am is the other reason. I managed to ditch the 1996 lace-up shooties and the 2008 zip-up square toed ones in mid 2017 with the forum's help...https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....ld-they-go I was a little annoyed soon after when square toes seemed to be coming back a bit and I had just got rid of those. But really, the "new" square toes were a bit different 10 years later, and I was sick of the others after staring at them for years. I have to be realistic that shoes are my thing and I will continue to buy them, but to try and moderate that urge. The best way I've found is to keep a good 20 or more pairs on my Styletread wishlist. There is no way I would be buying 20 pairs at once for both space and budget reasons, so having them there to look at sort of satisfies that need in a weird way. Some get sold out or I decide they won't suit my need for practicality eg, not buying slides and mules because of the likely " slapping" on the floor problem. https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....the-ground After that thread I decided not to buy any of those. Some are still on my list because I like them, but they are unlikely to get purchased.
So I think my recommendation is, move them to a slightly less accessible place, but where you still could get them if it were a very specific shade of blue you wanted, for instance?

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Jenni you are so wise. It’s good to know I’m not alone in my obsession with shoes.

Gigi

Veteran

My first choice would be to try to sell some on consignment.

My second choice would be to continue wearing them as you are doing, and see if the situation sorts itself out. You might find that as time goes by, a certain pair becomes more practical or useful to you, in which case that is the one you will want to keep.

I wouldn't put any in storage, because if you pull out a stored shoe a year or so later, you might not be attracted to it anymore. Sometimes our likes and dislikes in clothing can change within a year's time. That is why I rarely buy anything off-season--I am often not interested in it by the time the appropriate season rolls around.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

You’re right Gigi- I’m always surprised at how much my “eye” changes over a year. Preferences shift with the styles and with life circumstances. And the body changes a bit too- just enough to make things uncomfortable.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

That problem is a familiar bugaboo.
I bet that if you decide to wear just one pair from each set for a whole month, you’ll realize while deciding that you do have favorites/preferences you hadn’t noticed before. Or you could let “the market” decide; put them all up for sale on line, and when a pair goes, they’re gone.
Where in your purchase decisions can you put in a check to avoid this coming up again?

anchie

Veteran

I don’t think it is a problem at all. I would like to have more of the similar shoes so that I can split wear, give them some rest and don’t ruin my favorite shoes so fast.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I wouldn't get rid of good shoes if you can store them like jenni of gigi suggest, I'm just amazed that you have trouble choosing. That must mean you truly have no favorites (which is what happens to me when I get duplicates - I play favorites or I get favorite combo's).
Just maybe try not to add more if you're already unhappy with decision fatigue :).

The Cat

Veteran

I love shoes and would love to choose among blue shoes.

But I. think I know what you mean. I sometimes experience a similar challenge with other items, like skirts, pullovers, blazers and scarves, that I have in multiples.

My solution (apart from analysing which ones still deserve a place in my closet, and purging those who look too worn or no longer suit my style) is to choose which ones I find most appropriate for the present season and then store the next for the following seasons. This makes it easier to make daily choices (as the options will be fewer) and provide pleasant variations from season to season.

LaPed

Veteran

I'm with Anchie on this one. I think it's okay to have a back-up pair in a particular style or colour if it's something you reach for a lot. I try not to wear the same shoes two days in a row if possible, so that they get a chance to air out. Maybe make a no-repeats rule just to even out wears? If there are any that don't fit or that you don't love the looks of, those should go, but I think a little duplication with shoes is okay. And maybe a one-in-one-one-out rule for new additions going forward?

lyn67

Veteran

No advice here, BUT. Are you sure you could really not differentiate between them? I have 3 black patent loafers. Two are higher wamp & pointy toes but one has a gold buckle, other is plain. The first is great with uni black ankle pants, the other is great to glenncheck cigette pants. The third one is more rounded/almond toe and lower wamp so find them better match to my knee length work pencils.

Anonymous

I don't think it's a problem per se, since shoes get worn out so quickly, if they're workhorses.
But-you called them spring shoes. If you have very short springs and can't wear them other times, your Pupy (potential uses per year) will be low. Especially if they're ones you can't wear to work. For me, spring only non work shoes would have a Pupy of 3 max-so no more than 1 pair needed.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Honestly, I don’t mind this “splitting wears” thing if it means a beloved item gets a bit of rest and therefore has a longer life in my closet.

For instance, I now have two pairs of rose gold sandals. They are distinctly enough different styles that I can clearly envision how they will give a different finish to outfits. I also remember that I wore that first pair a LOT last summer so I’m happy that old favorite won’t be worn out by mid-summer this year.

But I also have only as many pairs of shoes as I can store and see all at once — I do a clean out before I buy new shoes so I know I will have room and not be getting myself into a situation where choices overwhelm me and my storage. I’m also quite decisive when it comes to picking shoes for an outfit — I rarely take more than a minute to sort out that decision.

If the storage and decision-making factor is stressing you out, I think it’s reasonable to see which pair you reach for next — and give the other ones away (or sell them).

RobinF

Veteran

Another shoe lover here! I'm like Liesbeth in that I develop a favorite and then the others don't get worn much. What if you take turns with the similar shoes? Decide on blue for the day and then it is blue #1's turn, next time blue #2, etc. No decision to make.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Reading again, this jumps out at me:

(this seems wasteful as they all have plenty of wear left and I like them all)

I say why fix what isn’t broken. If you like AND WEAR them, then I think a method of storage that helps you feel more organized may be the solution.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

You’ve all pointed out some important things: the “issue” is mainly that the season is short so I seem to have too many shoes for the brief time period. Then I feel a somewhat silly stress about not wearing them enough! And the other issue is storage. I don’t have much space so they’re too crammed in.

Solution going forward: do not go to Nordstrom Rack! So many great shoes at low prices, and I rarely get to go there, so when I do, I get into a “stock up” mentality. Even better solution: recognize that ankle-baring shoes do not get much wear because of my seasons, and don’t add more. Stick to boots and sandals which cover most of my needs.

Sal

Veteran

I agree with others - don’t remove them if you like them and do wear them. I occasionally bring something forward that I am not wearing to prompt me.

Moving forward - roughly one in one out seems to work for me.

smittie

Veteran

I think you could reframe this problem: you could assert that your blue shoes are your signature! With this new mindset, you cold keep and wear them all proudly, without a second though.

If there is a space issue, I would look at your whole collection of shoes to find the ones to donate.

I split wears between most of my shoes, as I have a pretty mix-n-match wardrobe. My strategy is to not think about it too much and let the cards fall where they may.

I think the best solution is to have a firm grasp of what you own when you go out shopping so that you can avoid purchasing duplicates to begin with.

Rereading what I just wrote, I see how unhelpful I’m being. Whoops!

Runcarla

Veteran

You found your own solution - stay out of shoe stores until there is a real need!

Christina F.

Veteran

Shoes take a real beating, especially is the city. I agree with other above that splitting wears isn’t a problem; space is a problem though. I guess you could compare ones that split wears and try figure out if there is one you reach for less.

Good luck! Shoe storage is tough. Mine is very scattershot by necessity.

SarahD8

Veteran

I was going to say something similar to lyn67 — can you figure out when/in what types of outfits you like to wear each of your pairs of similar shoes? Maybe it’s these blue shoes with wide leg pants, and those blue shoes with midi skirts. Then the decision is already made once you’ve settled on blue shoes, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every morning.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Along the lines of lyn67 and Janet’s posts, are you sure they serve the same function? I often make the discovery coming from the opposite direction that two things that look different (maybe silver shoes and white shoes) serve the same function in my wardrobe, so I don’t need both of them. Maybe do as Robin suggests and start with the shoes for a while, to see if you build different outfits with different blue shoes.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

SarahD8, jinx!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh no you are not alone in your shoe obsession. Just as one example, I have several pairs of black booties - flat smooth leather, flat textured leather, slight heel suede, kitten heel woven. I do favor the flats but wear them all over the course of a winter month. When I have similars I put both on with an outfit and almost always one is clearly a winner. And no I will not get rid of comfortable shoes I like. (Almost) no way!

Joy

Veteran

I do a little of this on purpose as I have come to realize that my feet are happier and healthier if I do not wear the same pair two days in a row, but , being a diabetic, I must really pay attention to my feet.
I also try to nip the duplicates at the buying stage. I have started to ask myself, “ If I did not have this ( shoe, bag, skirt...etc,, what could I wear instead.” It also helps to make a list of what you really need or want and stick to it when shopping. Why buy another pair of summer brown sandals when what you would love to have is yellow? Ask yourself if the piece you want to buy really fills a need. Maybe you have a few black jackets but none of them would work for a funeral or dressy capsule.
A buying limit also helps. If you limit yourself to a certain number of items per year or month, you will be less likely to get more of what you have. You will prioritize. I hope something here helps.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Joy! Prioritizing is definitely something I need to work on.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I’ve had more thoughts, as I always do with shoe posts I had a similar realisation to you regarding non-boot, non-sandal shoes. I really need very few. I live in boots for months and then it gets hot quite suddenly and I want the socks off and the toes free. Consequently my Styletread wishlist has a lot of pretty loafers on it, which are just for looking at. I have 2 pairs of loafers and their wears are small compared with favourite boots and sandals. This is the opposite to Angie who loves closed toe shoes. I also often try to take my list of my 44 pairs of shoes B and M shoe shopping, so I can do Joy’s suggestion: either if I buy these what won’t I wear instead, or if I don’t buy them what do I already have with a similar feel. 2 years ago I had 52 pairs and I have bought several pairs so I have been editing out older, less favoured or uncomfortable ones. So far I am not really missing them. I just had that minor thought about wishing I still had the square toes shooties, then remembered they were boring!
I have bought 13 pairs in past 2 years but numbers are down by 8, so must have edited out about 21. It sounds a lot, but several dated back to the 90s. Only one of the 13 new pairs was a definite mistake, sandals that were too tight. Don’t know how I made that error but I did.

Anonymous

High 5 Jenni NZ

Anonymous

I am no help because I love shoes, don’t mind duplicating styles, don’t worry about shoes ‘dating’ if I love them and don’t mind splitting wears but the idea of wearing one to death then moving on to a similar style you have, sounds pretty practical.