How many pairs is enough?

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#61
papertiger said:
Please try not to feel guilty and don't measure yourself against anyone else. What is a lot for one person is not many to another. If you've never had a problem with your shoe collection before don't worry about it.

If you want to 'relieve' yourself of some of your shoes then either get rid of any one pair you know you'll never use again (and then perhaps repeat). One pair isn't a big deal so long as it makes you feel better. OR for a major clear out designate a day when you have time to the job and try on any shoes/boots you haven't been wearing for a while and think about if there are any reasons why you don't. Any uncomfortable, too-high, too-low, shabby, need-repairing or ill-fitting shoes in a line and go through each pair to see if any are not worth keeping or what you'd have to do to make them useable again.

I have plenty of shoes and boots (even a few multiples) but only a couple for somewhere I don't have to walk far and only 1 pair (Roger Vivier pour Christian Dior 1956) I can't wear at all as they are teeny tiny and bought just to look at.

Having lots of shoes is not a problem. Having lots of shoes that are unwearable is another thing altogether
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Thanks, that is helpful. My goal is to eventually reduce my entire closet/wardrobe, including shoes, and it's hard sometimes with sentimentality!
 
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#62
As long as your collection of shoes, bags, clothes, or what have you doesn't adversely impact your budget and you have the room, I wouldn't feel bad about it. When you tire of something you can always sell it. You might not get a lot, but it's better than being idle. Some people with substantial means simply don't care to have a large numbers of things. It's all personal preference and priorities.
 
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#63
With handbags I can be satisfied with a certain number for some reason, because for my lifestyle bags are more versatile than shoes....one black leather bag may go with a million things, but with shoes for me it's like certain shoes are going out shoes only, certain shoes are for the gym only, certain shoes are everyday shoes & other shoes are more special--thus I can justify buying a ton of different pairs.
 
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#64
hmm if it just shoes ---> it depends if you are the kind of person who likes to switch based on your outfits or if you are a minimalist.

Am a minimalist (but have around 20 pairs of designer shoes !) and i keep using 4 to 5 shoes that are classics. So it depends.
 
#66
I think 50 pair is the MINIMUM needed to cover one's lifestyle (from yard shoes to evening stilettos) as long as you USE them. I'm really careful now and only buy shoes I use. No impulse (or clearance sale) buying for me. Now I have less shoes of better quality with no duplication and use each one regularly.
 
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#68
Shoes are my weakness! I happen to believe shoes " make" the outfit. I dress very classic, so I like to make a statement with my shoes. If I love a style ( Valentino Rockstud, Aquazzura Sexy Thing, YSL Tribute...I buy them in several colors), I love flats, ankle boots, knee high boots, thing high boots, 3- inch heels for business looks, but higher heels for formal or dress up clothes, sandals for Summer...
 
#69
I am obsessed with shoes, and have been for as long as I can remember (I loved them as a small child; bought my first pair of Choos when I was 15 with Christmas money I'd saved; that kind of thing lol).

My personal 'check list' is 1) Can I afford them? 2) Do I have space for them? 3) Will I wear them? Provided that criteria is met, I'm fine.

At the moment I have about 80 pairs I think: 30 high-end designer, about 15 or so mid-range get (LK Bennett/Kurt Geiger/similar) and then the rest high street or active wear.

My bare minimum (think 'capsule wardrobe') is about 20-odd pairs: flat practical boots, knee-high boots, OTK boots, tan ankle boots, black ankle boots, 2 pairs trainers, nude flats, nude pointed toe courts, nude round/almond toe courts, black flats, black courts (as above), 2 pairs flat sandals/thongs, 2 pairs heeled sandals, wedges courts (for work), wedge sandals. And that allows for barely any variety, no different/fun colours, etc.

Funnily enough I'm quite happy with just a handful of bags; I think I'm now up to about 10 I use regularly, none of which are high-end (typical range I go for is around the £100-400 range). Likewise clothes, I have some nicer pieces but the most I've ever spent on a single item is £175, and I have pretty regularly clear-outs
 
#70
I've never been much of a handbag girl but shoes.... oh SHOES... now we're talking! I have about 40 pairs, which isn't a big collection compared to some shoe lovers, but they all get used fairly often and are of good quality so they last for a long time.

The number of shoes depends on each person's preference, and it's great if some folks have the room and/or the lifestyle to have a museum-like collection.

However I'm not a fan of having a huge collection of shoes that don't get used, so donate/sell the ones that haven't been worn in a year or more and that helps keep the number pared down. My husband still thinks I have way too many though. ;)
 
#71
I just counted. I have 24 pairs of fall/winter shoes (including boots). And I have 24 pairs of spring/summer shoes. I share a closet, so I am very strict in putting clothes that are not in season, in storage in the basement. Every March I bring out everything spring/summer (including makeup shades), then in September I put all that away and bring out fall/winter clothing and shoes. I'm at capacity in my closet, so I buy very carefully.

My definition of "too many" shoes is any shoes I don't wear anymore. Away they go! I even still continue to wear my wedding shoes, though only for special occasions! So if you wear all your shoes and enjoy them, then you don't have "too many"!
 
#72
I do a purge/donation each November. I try to keep the number of shoes I have to no more than 120. But I will admit that just about every shoe purchase is a spontaneous purchase. It depends on what's on sale or what unique shoe I happen to come across. I end up purchasing at least one pair of shoes per month.
 
#73
Have as many as you care to have. I tried to limit myself to 100, I believe I'm over that number, I don't even count anymore. The are stored in a bedroom closet and foyer closet (the tall boots). Actually my trainers are neatly stacked against a hallway seat in the foyer. I am in the process of purging now because I've run out of space and some I'm simply not going to wear again. Some are stored in their box on shelves or on the floor underneath clothing. Those stored out-of-box are arranged for optimal space and according to style. Heels on the high shelves, then mid-heels to flats (business) and lower shelves summer shoes.

I don't wear my shoes as often as I'd like as I work from home now. I wear my heels when meeting friends for dinner or happy hour. Oh and I have a collection for the symphony. That is why one can never had too many shoes.
 
#74
It's interesting that my old thread popped up again, because I've had many of the same issues on my mind. Last week I brought every pair of shoes I own into one room to see/sort/purge. If I had 2 or more pairs that served the same purpose, I let all but 1 go. For me, I realized that having so many shoes was not bringing me joy. I still have too many that are just "okay," but I don't love them. It's definitely a struggle not to buy more, and to find a number that works for me. I appreciate everyone else's opinions, because this really is a personal topic.
 
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