Sale PSA: A very cute cotton sundress from Frame, now 40% off, fun burgundy loafers from Jil Sander, now 40% off, and easy pull on denim shorts from Madewell, now 40% off.
Happy 4th of July (for those in the US)!
I recently did a post asking how many shoes people had. The answers varied. A LOT!
I really need to redo my shoes. I’ve realized that not only do I have too many shoes (for my size of closet) but I actually don’t have the ones I need. So I’ve been going through a process of getting rid of as many as possible, and then hopefully after adding some more useful pairs. Notes on the culling below:
Comfortable (but not so great looking) walking sandals: I have a lot of these, probably because I’m in them the most. Which means one thing – I have to stop buying Birkenstocks (and Tevas). I need to wear down my existing ones first. I have a lot of Birks. And yes, it’s because I wear them but now…I have enough. I still basically want to wear comfortable shoes all the time, so now I think I just have to get a better looking pair or two. More to come on a later post.
Going to the Real Real: Most designer pumps, and for sure the ones which don’t fit me anymore because of my feet. I feel like my feet grew about 0.25 sizes larger in pregnancy. I was a true 6.5 before. But you know…6.75 feels more comfortable in a size 7 than a 6.5. Anything that felt even a little uncomfortable (which was most of my heeled pumps) went to the goodbye pile.
Keeping even though I don’t wear them because they might come back: YSL Tribute sandals. I have two and even though I feel like they are not “me” right now I feel like there may be a time when they are me again. And they are comfortable. I have good memories in them! Maybe I should get rid of one pair?
Keeping because I like looking at them: My wedding shoes and a pair of Miu Mius that I just love even though I never wear them – I just like looking at the design. These are the only two I’m allowing in this category though. I could have way more in here.
So far I’ve sent seven pairs of shoes to The Real Real, and donated about six pairs more. I have more to go. I’ll keep updating as I go!
Have you done a shoe clean out? I’d love to hear any tips and tricks (as well as new favorite pairs…yes I also need new ones).
8 Comments
Gayathri
July 4, 2022 at 9:33 amPost links to your shoes on TheRealReal! You have great style and those would be the perfect size for me
Elaine
July 4, 2022 at 9:42 amYay for getting the shoe closet cleaned out! I did the same several years ago when we moved. I got rid of almost everything including my wedding shoes but kept one pair of shoes for sentimental reasons and they’re comfy (my Valentino rock studs). Also for Birks, you can also have them resoled once they get worn down and they’re basically brand new on the bottom sole and yet broken in. So theoretically Birks can last you forever.
JY
July 4, 2022 at 8:31 pmI’m having the same problem. I love shoes and can’t stop adding to my collection. I started collecting heels but my lifestyle is completely different now (I’m a mom; I moved to a tropical location) so I am finding new categories and styles to add (particularly 100mm for sure) but feel a little sad that they don’t retain value so well. Interesting to hear you think tributes will come back – I’m not sure whether to get rid of mine either!
S in the US
July 4, 2022 at 9:04 pmI’m happy to see those Miu Mius- always liked them and am glad they survived the great purge 😉
Anna
July 5, 2022 at 5:07 amI need to. I have so many pairs of tall winter boots for work but I’ve been working from home and haven’t had a chance to wear them. Part of me think I’ll be going back to the office one day and wear them but part of me wonder how I used to wear such uncomfortable things… We’ll see!
Christine
July 5, 2022 at 12:39 pmI got rid of all my heels except for a handful (one black Chanel in leather, one black Chanel in satin, one grey Chanel mid-heel, one nude Louboutin, an aubergine Roger Vivier, and a stacked platform Fendi which I don’t wear but have fond memories of). All the rest went to the RealReal. After I stopped working, I didn’t wear heels except for a wedding– and several years later I felt like I couldn’t even shove them on so why hold onto them. Next were the flats that should have been comfy but gave blisters (read: my whole Vara collection). Lastly, I tried everything on again and got rid of anything that I wouldn’t want to walk around in, say, for a morning of errands or a vacation. Surprisingly, that included a bunch of cute sneakers and other boots and flats which might look fine but which I had to do mental gymnastics to justify. I’m down to about 90, which is still far too many but…
A V A
July 7, 2022 at 1:44 pmDear Kat,
I remember those MIU MIU’s when you first posted about them years ago!! Aww, I am so glad they are amongst those you kept! They are STILL STUNNING! 🙂 What amazing upkeep you do!
You know, with your very loyal readership, I bet you could have just done a blog sale, have a final-sale policy, and get paid directly via paypal, venmo, zelle, etc. sans middle man and their cut of your potential profits. Yes, there would be the annoyance of having to pack and ship them but you could put a time limit on the sale e.g. August 1-5 (just using random future dates), no holds and first one to pay in full is first one to get the item, with everything sold being packed and shipped on August 6 and then on that same day you send to the RealReal whatever didn’t sell. Just a thought for future fashion purges. 🙂
I admire you for doing the closet cleanout, something most of your readers probably need to do, too, myself included! Would love to see a follow up post on “what I kept” with photos of your wedding shoes, Tributes, and any others you saved and why as I am guessing you might discover some more pairs hidden here and there and who knows maybe you will have acquired some new ones to your collection by then! 😀
Definitely a very smart idea to keep the Tributes, both of them! Why? Well, I guarantee when your babies are older you will want a reliable pair of comfortable heels that give you that height boost and makes your legs look fantastic and worst case scenario, lets say you never wear them ever again, your daughter will inherit them! And if she doesn’t want them THEN go about selling them, but I bet you will wear them again!
Most of my shoes and boots have been resoled and maintained by a well loved cobbler in our area, so that’s been extending the life of my shoes – that and the pandemic and not needing them as much! Nothing has sparked any interest coupled with the fact that I’m more after comfort. I also maintain the shape of them with shoe trees when I can as I have some loafers that run tight in patent leather.
Can’t wait to see what you ended up saving of your fancy shoes and casual shoes! I don’t own any birks or tevas (yet) but I am told they are very comfortable so I suppose those are on my radar….!
Hope you had a happy 4th!
xx
A
Melissa at Welcome Objects
July 23, 2022 at 2:56 pmMy shoe purge tip is to wear a pair of shoes out, especially the ones that you haven’t worn in a while, out on an errand. Sometimes it becomes clear in two blocks whether a shoe is comfortable. Sometimes it takes a little longer to realize that a shoe is causing aches and pains. I don’t keep anything that’s not comfortable. But I can see why you’d want to keep those Miu Mius. They’re darling!