I know many women who have a shoe problem. I honestly never thought I was one of them. I mean I have shoes and I like them fine, but I’ve never been the Carrie Bradshaw type. Recently my dry cleaner, who I’m particularly friendly with since I’ve been retaining his services for the last 23 years, made a comment to me about my sneakers. He said his wife, who also works the intake counter, noticed that I never wear the same pair of sneakers twice. Which obviously isn’t the case. But it gave me pause and I had to wonder… Exactly how many is too many when it comes to shoes?
Since just prior to the pandemic, I’ve been working from home exclusively. And in my book, home is a place of bare feet, slippers or socks. And I definitely throw on sneakers instead of heels, boots or shoes to run local errands– like the dry cleaner. But I don’t really pay attention to the pair that I grab. I don’t favor corporate work outfits either on any sort of a regular basis because I don’t have to. My onscreen image for video calls shows only head and shoulder shots, so viewers can’t really tell if I’m in pjs or a suit. So many of my drycleanables are not making the rounds outside of my home either. And as for my shoes… well I guess have a lot of lost soles.
I used to be the quintessential city chick with umpteen pair of black boots. I was usually suited and booted. Chelsea boots. An over the knee style with low heels. Mid-calf boots that tie in the back. Suede boots with a stacked heel. A tall, clingy patent leather number. All black. All worn in rotation. All thought to be permanent staples of my wardrobe because for so many years they were my reliables. And I spent a pretty penny on each pair. My reasoning was that I commuted on foot instead of by car, so comfort and style were at a premium because I’m not the change your shoes when you get where you’re going kind of gal. I averaged three plus miles a day on foot getting to and from work. So I probably spent per year on footwear what the average suburbanite spent on gas and car maintenance. And that was a-okay with me.
But now when I open my closet, the majority of the black boots seem to literally be collecting dust, while the athleisure section has seen some substantial growth. I even have several (gasp) unworn pair of new sneakers. One pair I got in Chicago while I was visiting a friend. They are super cool wiggly velcro hightops and we both got the same ones. I just haven’t worn them… yet! One colorful pair I snagged in Paris because they were so much cheaper there than here. And I convinced myself that they go with everything, but so far they are unworn and await their debut. I told you about the fabulous score I made at the duty free shops at CDG back in June, right? Those are so gorg and I will be wearing them this spring about town I’m sure. And then I did nab a pair of throwback 80s slim Nike that I’m low key obsessed with. Jeez. That does seem like a lot.
I also hold onto a few oldies that look brand new since I throw them in the machine to keep them looking fresh. But it might be time to part with the orange pair that is ripped at the heel and another whose bottoms are seriously worn. But I just don’t know if I can say goodbye. The neon yellows are so comfortable and Nike doesn’t make Flyknits like that anymore. And the orange ones I just love! Deep sigh.
My shoes do have sentimental value sometimes. And although I go for kicks that have curb appeal because I walk so much due to my City lifestyle, they must be ultra comfortable to make them closet worthy and regularly be selected for outings. So I feel badly for the boots and booties that are languishing in the back. They are still loved and the heel taps are of course on point– maintenance is a non-negotiable. But they do seem like lost leaders for the moment. I’m not ready to part with any of them at this point. So I’ll wait out another boot season and see how I feel then.
jenslittleblackbook.com 