Wardrobe audit: boots - YouLookFab Forum

I'm looking at boots, booties, and shooties today. Boots are generally workhorses for me. I've always loved boots, and am still kicking myself in the arse for letting Becky talk me into getting rid of my combat boots, my cowboy boots, and my ariat competition series ropers because they all would have been heavy hitters for my life as it is today.

I don't think I'm having as much trouble with boots as I was with those "summer only" shoes earlier this week; however, it never hurts to get objective opinions. Do any of them need to go?

* stiletto booties. These don't get worn often because high heels are just not practical for me. I'm ok with the higher cost per wear associated with the rare use. When I do want to wear them, I feel invincible and bad ass and empowered. They also just look nice on display (and I will have a closet capable of displaying them soon).
* my slouch boots. Christmas gift from DH a few years ago. These mostly get used during cooler (not cold) months, and mostly just for lounging around the house. They're starting to look beat, but they hardly ever leave the property so I think it's ok to keep them?
* the two piece ankle booties were an experiment, and they're the ones I'm most unsure about. I like the 2 piece bootie look, and I like the fraying on these. I recently got a pair of light brown Chelsea boots of higher quality that just might replace these. These strike me as more of a summer bootie anyway, maybe because of the perforations. I don't know if I want to keep them or not.
* black ankle boots. These could use a good cleaning and especially a good polishing, as they are looking a little tired on the surface. I wear them occasionally because I like how easy it is to tuck them up inside skinny jeans to keep that elongated leg line. I really really like them, but I'm not emotionally attached to them, so if y'alls consensus is that they need to go I'm ok with that.
* harness boots? Total workhorses. When they have to be replaced, I'll definitely be looking for the same style just perhaps with a taller shaft. These get worn to work a lot, so they definitely need a good cleaning and polishing, but are otherwise in decent shape. The picture in the find is a stock photo, mine are nowhere near that pristine LOL
* tactical boots are not going anywhere until they fall apart. Period end of sentence there will be no further discussion on this matter These and the Chippewa boots are the backbone of my weekends during fall and winter. They're so comfortable (which says a LOT since I have high arches and these are flat), they're well made and stand up to the abuse, and if I'd just clean and polish them they would be consider to be in really food shape.
* next up, Chelsea boots. These are leather, and I really like the higher shaft on them. We just had a discussion about higher shaft ankle booties a couple months ago, and these will be practical for my life so when yoox sent me a "we miss you code for a discount & free express shipping I decided I missed too too LOL. I like how they make my feet look less wide, if that makes sense.
* the tall black boots see quite a bit of wear on my not-work days. They're in really good shape once I wipe the dust off of them that they collected over the summer LOL
* rain boots. We're in drought conditions right now, so they have yet to be worn. When it does rain, they'll come in handy for sure.
* the coolways aren't actually part of my boot collection until after santa brings them but they're for casual days when I want my fit to be dystopian
* the knee high army green ones are looking a little tired on the surface but they're not going anywhere because they are workhorses and comfortable. They are "snake boots because the shaft is Kevlar or something, and if I'm headed into snakey brush any time of year these are the default regardless of foot sweat. They were gifted to me for work boots, so they stay. They just don't get worn in public as dress boots anymore, although they get worn to my job.
* lastly, my YEP shooties. Found at a consignment for $8, all they needed was heel caps. These aren't as outrageously inappropriate for my lifestyle as the edmundo Castillo ones, and they're quite comfortable. Even if I never wore them, for $8 I can look at them and smile when I walk in my closet LOL

As always, your advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Dummy check me and tell me what needs to go, if any; I'll love you forever for it

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6 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I like RATE so I like all of these boots! It sounds like they all have very specific uses, and the ones that look a little questionable are worn only around the house, so I don’t know why you would let us be Beckies and talk you into giving any of them away. I can see why that still grates on you.

rachylou

Gee. I don’t see a reason to give any of these away. They’re all very different and in keeping with your style and life style. But if I had to boil it down to three - I’d keep 4, lol: the low cowboys, the double strap brown, the combat, and the rain boots. I’d cry a little bit, tho. Lol!

Janet

(website)

It really sounds and looks like each of these still plays a role in your style (or is practical for around the house). This is not a huge collection, so I'm not sure I'd be urging you to let any of these go. It seems the other collection you posted had more extraneous things. Boots are quite practical for your lifestyle!

cindysmith

I guess the collection only SEEMS huge to me because of how much storage space there ISN'T in an RV. This is why I love you guys, the wisdom you share helps me get a new perspective: -)

Aida

If you can manage the room I think these are all worth keeping. Maybe put the rain boots in a less-accessible storage area since you're not anticipating rain so as to free up some more valuable accessible storage.

Do you have a door side free? You could hang these next to or on top of eachother—8 pr of boots in one, each in its own pocket, and the shoes in the other. The thongs might have to double up in a compartment together. Grand total of $10. You don’t even have to be guilty if you only use them til the move (and then repurpose them, maybe like this https://goo.gl/images/wCMK72 )
https://m.ikea.com/us/en/catal...../60306272/ https://m.ikea.com/us/en/catal...../00300032/
I’m not much good at fashion, but want to be useful other ways.

Fashiontern, I don't have a space to hang those in the RV, but will be adding them to my list of stuff I need in my walk in closet
They'll make it easier to find my shoes for sure

What? You made my face sad. Aren’t your shoes going to be in display-storage in your house?

Joy

I'm joining the chorus of keep them all. As hard as your work is on clothes, you will eventually be losing some to hard wear. Maybe wait and reevaluate next spring. Or, if you buy something, decide that a pair or two have to go.

Style Fan

I love boots. I vote to keep them all. You have a purpose for all of them and a plan to store them.

Fashiontern, yes, there is a brightly colored shelving unit that I plan to use to display some of the occasion shoes (the expensive or beautiful ones that don't get much wear because heels or whatever). Some boots will also go on the top of that shelving unit. I'll be putting functional shoes (slip on sneakers and other casual shoes) on a metal shoe rack (similar to pic). I'll probably have to get some of those hanging things like you linked to hold any overflow (and sweaters because I'm tired of digging hough drawers lol)

So yes, the shoes will be displayed in my new place. For reasons

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Anonymous

Cindy -- I haven't had time during the week to read your posts. I hope to come back over the weekend and catch up on your wardrobe audit. I love these types of posts and am sad I can't contribute real time.

Sterling, these will be going on for a while, and I haven't even gotten close to moving day, so if you can make it back to weigh in later, that's perfect.

If you can't make it back, that's perfectly okay too because I know how life can show up. All of it. At the same time. For days on end. It's like the houseguest from h-e-double hockey sticks

Bijou

Cindy, boots are my favourite type of footwear too. I think you have a good collection here and so unless something is worn out, I would be keeping all of these (or at least put them into a holding zone to make sure that you don't miss them).
We don't want another combat boot situation to arise!
I did read your other post and really congratulate you on being so methodical in your wardrobe clean out.

RobinF

I love boots and probably have way too many. BUT, these all seem different from each other and have specific purposes so it seems reasonable to me to keep them all. I am sure storage is a challenge though but only for a little while longer right?

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