What to do with tall boots? AKA: I may need a hoarding intervention. - YouLookFab Forum

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What to do with tall boots? AKA: I may need a hoarding intervention.

Staysfit

Veteran

I believe it’s been asked, but is anyone wearing their tall boots? If not, are you holding onto previous pairs for the future?

I have 8 pairs of tall boots that have seen very little wear in the past two seasons. I currently favor booties with jeans and I am wearing fewer skirts in the winter. I thought I could figure out which were best to keep using the Kondo method, but it failed because each pair sparked joy. I decided to try them on to see if there were any fit issues. There were none. I thought maybe color could help the process? I have two pairs of black boots, but almost no black in my wardrobe. The problem is that I love both pairs of black boots! I have 3 pairs of dark chocolate brown boots which used to be one of my best colors. I still have brown left on the sides and in the back of my hair. I still have a few brown coats, so it’s hard to part with the brown boots, However, do I need 3 pairs that I’m not wearing? Probably not, but I really love them, and they make me happy. So, maybe I am a hoarder?

Yes, my conclusion is that I am a hoarder of tall boots, cashmere sweaters and jeans! :-).

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33 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I’m still wearing tall boots- right now mine are mostly above the knee. And like you, I actually prefer booties these days. But tall boots are expensive and can be hard to fit! I would say definitely keep some. If you have a relative or friend who could use a pair or two, maybe share some of the wealth? Or if they make you happy and you have space, keep all!

Molly Mac

Veteran

I have three pair of tall boots that I have held on to even though I rarely wear them anymore. They are all classic styles and are exceedingly well made. They continue to make me happy and I enjoy having them to wear, even if it is only once a season. If you have the storage space, hoard away. You may find that they come back into rotation in a few years.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I still wear tall boots and have you seen the cost of replacing them!I would hang onto them unless they are uncomfortable.

Murph11

Veteran

If they all spark joy, then you have MK’s blessings to keep! I haven’t worn my classic tall black boots in 2-3 years, but they’re staying.

Bennett

Veteran

I'm not often wearing tall shaft boots these days either, usually only with a dress which happens almost never. I narrowed down my tall black boots to two pairs I loved equally, then did a careful inspection and got rid of the pair that looked the most worn. And I'm happy with one perfect pair of tall boots!

Diana

Veteran

I wear mine all the time. It’s warm, and protects me from slush on the sidewalks. And they look good. I think tall riding boots are a classic.

If you still love them and you have the storage space, just keep them!

Edit: I don’t find booties practical in deep winter here. On me, jeans look sloppy tucked into booties, and if I don’t tuck my ankles get cold. And forget about it when there’s snow and slush on the ground! I walk everywhere so this is important for me. Tall boots are also the only way I can wear skirts in below freezing temps without freezing to death.

Anonymous

I haven't worn mine in a few years now, and each winter I seem to be winnowing down my much smaller collection to almost nothing. Even my OTK boots seem dated , or something . I think if you wear yours, then hang on to them, but yes, you do have a fairly big collection with some repeats

nemosmom

Veteran

I have an old pair of Frye Campus riding boots in dark brown that I wear maybe once or twice a year. I echo others and say if you love them, and have space for them, keep them!

kkards

Veteran

still wearing but not that often...maybe every other week or so....

Carla

Veteran

I have one pair of tall boots and one pair of booties. I wear them only because it is cold and there is snow. They are not my favourite type of footwear. The booties are in higher rotation, but the tall boots fill a niche.

Tall boots are 'in' but shown with dresses and skirts rather than pants. I don't really see fashion spreads or bloggers involving snow these days! If your tall boots aren't getting any love, you might want to edit duplicates. On the other hand it seems to me you enjoy working from a large collection of clothing items. If you have the space, and owning the boots makes you happy, keep your boots.

Anonymous

You might try bringing the number of chocolate brown boots down to two, but dark brown is bound to come back sometime soon. Definitely keep your navy and the deep rust co.ored boots and any that would be difficult to replace I am wearing my tall boots more this year for warmth and they look right when there is snow on the ground, but booties and my sneaker hikers are getting the most wear this winter.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a few pairs and I do wear them, but not as often as booties. I am not getting rid of them because they all fit and are comfortable and in great shape. They are all styles that are either classic or fit my style so well that they won’t “date” per se.

Christina F.

Veteran

I replaced some black ones this year. They do fill a niche and won’t go out of style, and I wear them a handful of times each month. I don’t want more, though, right now because storing them is tough for me.

I think it makes sense for you to keep at least some. But hey, if you love them all, there is no rule that says you have to get rid of any! The modern fashion for decluttering be damned.

SarahD8

Veteran

Gosh, I wear my tall boots constantly, they’re by far my most worn cold weather footwear. The boots in the photo look to be high quality and in good condition. I agree with others that tall boots are difficult and expensive to replace, I vote keep them all. If, likely when, you do come round to wearing them again it will be easier to see which ones might be superfluous.

JAileen

Veteran

If every pair sparked joy, then Marie Kondo did not fail at all. She’s trying to get us to eliminate the less than wonderful items. I haven’t worn tall boots either. But maybe I will tomorrow. The weather is nice and a dress would be fine. Don’t you have a big closet? I’d keep them all if I had the space. Why not? You love them and you have room.

Roberta

Veteran

If you have room and are not buying more, keep 'em. They are a sunk cost. Take them out once in a while, try them on with a new skirt, give them a little love with leather conditioner. If the problem were heels that your feet or back could no longer tolerate, I'd say pass them on, but this is a different issue. Well, I say that because my collection is similar. I may have to pass on a few pairs if I can never wear a modest heel again, but I'm not sure yet what the outcome of my knee troubles will be, so they stay. I actually shed several pairs of ankle boots this year because they had higher heels than my tall boots, which were purchased for walking in Chicago winters.

Jules

Veteran

I am an underbuyer by nature with a smaller budget than some here and minimal storage. I have one pair of tall boots currently, I do wear them in the right weather, and I’m personally quite happy with that. But purging for the sake of purging, or even to satisfy some arbitrary goal number (2 pairs rather than 3? who cares) makes no sense to me and even contradicts some of my values around overconsumption etc (these are my own values and only mine, I’m not lecturing anybody here on this fashion and shopping forum!). You’ve done the work, keep your boots and dump the thoughts instead

Marilyn

Veteran

I only have one pair of tall boots at this point. I have no recollection of the last time I wore them but I hang on to them just in case. At some point I decided wearing skirts and dresses in Ottawa during the winter was insane. I'm all about being warm and comfortable now.

K2

I don’t wear my tall boots much either, even in canadian winters. I had a pair that never quite fit right in the calves, but otherwise we’re good. I had my sho maker cut them down to high shafted booties and now have worn them a lot more, even with skirts. Can’t buy good boots for $50, so worked out well. You may want to consider doing that with a couple pair, if you would wear hotties more. That way the joy is still there, but maybe in a more wearable form, espicially as you some of similar colours.

Anonymous

Is there a space issue? If not, keep them until one day they cease to "spark joy" and you are ready to move them on.

deb

Veteran

I see no issues hoarding boots, cashmere and jeans but I need to add bags and hats to the list. I have only worn my tall black boots once so far this year. Just not feeling them. I have a hard time fitting my narrow calf so I will keep the two pair I own.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

Me too ! I’m a lover/collector of tall boots and cashmere sweaters. I also have the space issues so right now they are lined up in my room like how you have it, it makes me happy to look at. I even have quieted black ones too like you have, which I never wear. I would definitely not get rid of the boots.
I do wear them sometimes but the ankle boots are definitely easier to wear. I wear them mostly with dresses and tights.
Do you think maybe you are overwhelmed with decision fatigue? Maybe if you rotated your boots out a few at a time you might be more inclined to build an outfit with them.
You do have a nice collection, should carry you through the rest of your life.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I think "tall boots, cashmere sweaters and jeans" are eminently hoardable, and agree with Jules that thinning the herd wouldn't "unconsume" them. The closest it might possibly come is if someone bought them second hand instead of new. Aliceinwonderland's point about decision fatigue is a good one--even though each pair sparks joy on its own, the entire collection might not.

But you might want to think about if you will ever wear them again, and why you enjoy them so much. Is it simple nostalgie, or is it that you think you will wear them again sometime? You might want to try wearing a pair every couple weeks or so to see if they spark joy on your feet.

Sal

Veteran

I think I would make myself wear them - try them out. Sometimes I then fall in love with an item again. I also think with wide leg crops and midis around they are easier to wear. I enjoyed wearing mine over skinnies again.

Brooklyn had some great tall boot outfits with skirts and skinnies last winter.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Janet said.

Gail

Veteran

I have about as may pairs if not more. I find tall boots hard to fit so I'm hanging on to them all. Some are easily over 15 years old and are still in style. I do wear some of them quite a lot but some are only a few times a year. I like them all and have space so why not.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

What Sal said. I do sometimes try to "make" myself wear something again and it often works.
Looking at my 2 pairs of tall boots (both black) the 2011 pair has been worn I have guessed 59 times- only tracked for 2.5 years of that- but only 3 times 2018. The 2017 pair had one wear that year after buying, shaft was tight, had them stretched, and wore 4 times in 2018. Fave short black booties, 88 wears in 2018. Which I think shows I am not reaching for either tall pair.
That would not make me get rid of them. Sometimes with a dress they are just the right thing? I think it depends on storage space? The cost is sunk.

Anonymous

I have 5 pair, each a different color & never stopped wearing them. I’d definitely keep at least some.

unfrumped

Veteran

If you were really tough on fit and comfort as well as style and they all passed- then keep, focus on another category until next year. No point bashing over it. I find over time , something will rise or fall , you’ll identify a fit issue or style goal or wear a pair and go, hmmph, no bueno any more.

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