There have been a few forum posts lately where different YLF'ers have described how much difference a better range of shoes have made to how flexible and funtional their wardrobes are. I am fascinated by this because it reflects my own experience as until a few years ago I probably had typically about six pairs of shoes, other than workout shoes, and they were all black.

If I recall correctly I generally had sandals, a loafer or mary jane type flat, a low work pump, dressier pump, plain ankle booties and oh there was a non-black pair - a brown knee high boot.

Now I have a lot more pairs in a variety of colours and those which are black are a lot more interesting where before they were probably just matt black leather or patent if I was feeling really adventurous.

But it begs the question, what sort of shoes have made the biggest difference to people's wardrobes in improving the overall flexibility of items?

I think for me the pair I would hate to lose most is currently (ironically) black ballet flats with an almond toe and an interesting angled line of round oxidised studs on the toe (see pic). They've turned out to be a great shoe to wear on a casual friday with cuffed jeans, as MOTG, as a dressier flat with work dress on a day where I'll be doing a lot of walking, with a maxi-dress, with capri pants... etc etc. In fact I'm starting to worry about replacing them as I'm not sure I can get another pair now...

Obviously it will be different for different people but is there one outstanding pair of shoes that would be the last pair that the revolutionaries would prise from your cold dead hands in the event of some kind of fashion revolution?