March 21 - metallic loafers!

What:  size 8W silver loafers
From:  Talbots (outlet)
Purchased:  March 19, 2011
Cost:  $21.25

OK, yes, I bought three pairs of shoes over the weekend.  There is no justification.  But you know what?  If I wasn't doing this shoe blog, I would have bought another pair - a very cool - and comfortable - pair of low heel peeptoes covered in gold sequins and glitter for $25.  Now, those were completely unjustifiable, and I knew it.  I liked them because they had a lower heel and were comfortable, and that's hard to find in a dress shoe.  But some on, where in the world would I wear them?  (dammit, I still want them, though - if they make it to the 80% off clearance you know they're mine!) 

But these!  I saw a bunch of mocs, ballet flats, and loafers on the clearance racks and then I noticed the tag on these were 8W = SCORE.  Wides are hard to find at the clearance center, so I grabbed them first thing and tried them - totally, perfectly comfortable.  Let's see, very comfy wide shoes (typically hard to find), metallic (my love of metallic is well documented), and silver/pewter/grey (my current favorite) for just over $20?  Um, yeah.

Ok, well, yes, technically I have these, which are functionally quite similar.  But! Silver/pewter ballet flats are great without socks, but you look like a dork wearing socks.  Silver/pewter loafers?  Socks, baby, plus a sturdier structure and heel put them in an ever-so-slightly different niche. 

Bottom line:  keeper! 

March 18 - dusty black blah shoes

What:  size 8 black loafers
From:  Easy Spirit (from who knows where)
Purchased:  Yowza- late 90s?  maybe early 00s?
Cost:  No idea - let's guess $32

Wow - so tucked in the very bottom pocket of the closet shoe organizer in my closet I found these, totally covered with dust.  I had completely forgotten I had them.  Uh, though now cataloging all my shoes, it seems I have a fair number of fairly boring black loafer-type shoes.  These, these, and these.  Know how I found those links?  Searched on "boring." Whoa - and there's also this pair of black loafer style.  These kind of remind me of these red ones, which I think I got at about the same time, maybe.  I think I got these after the first pair I linked.  Hmm.  Does anyone need this many pair of vaguely unsatisfying black shoes?  No, of course not.  I should get rid of these, especially because the AK Anne Klein ones from '09 are nicer, though they have stitching and a buckle so not quite a simple as these.  But come on, functionally they are the same shoe.  Ok, I am going to discard these, but I do want to see them all lined up together on April 8th, jsut to see it all in totality! 

Bottom line:  discard! 

February 27 - red loafers

What: size 8 red leather tassel loafers with heel
From: Ann Taylor (outlet)
Purchased: '02-03
Cost: $30

I bought these at an Ann Taylor outlet store in Gilroy, CA! Business trip to Monterey, oh I miss those. The business trips, and the old AT outlets. Ann Taylor outlets used to carry old product from Ann Taylor (and LOFT) stores, but now they've been branded Ann Taylor Factory Stores and they carry products made specifically for the outlet store. Hate that! Where do they sell all their left over merchandise now? I used to get some good bargains, but alas no more.

Anyway, these were always a hair too tight, so I'm going to actually get rid of them. And look what I've done:
The shoe rack in Elizabeth's room is done! Totally cleaned off! Wohoo!

But look what else I've done:
The discard pile right by the door in our bedroom. Making me crazy. I've got to get this stuff donated.

You know why it's (relatively) easy to get rid of these? Because I still have these. I don't even need TSM to see the overlap here.

Bottom line: discard!

February 13 - another quest for casual comfort

What: size 8 light tan loafers with stitching and bow
From: Jennifer Moore (a Hecht's store brand, I think)
Purchased: '02 or '03
Cost: $25

A guess on cost. But yet, after the past few shoes I've put up, it's clear I've been on a long-term quest for casual yet comfortable. Here's attempt #184, it seems. I just cannot figure out the right casual, yet comfortable and walkable, dressier than sneakers shoe.

I remember I took these on trip to visit my friend K in Virginia Beach in early spring 2003, and she suggested we go for a walk on the boardwalk. And when my friend K walks, she walks. Several miles. I hadn't brought many shoes with me, so when I came downstairs with these she suggested I try something else. I think I might have borrowed sneakers from her for our long, cold walk.

Undecided on these. They aren't super comfortable, but do fit. There is something a little interesting about them. Any thoughts?

Bottom line: keeper, for now. Am actually really starting to look forward to lining up all my shoes for an audience (of one right now - TSM), because I think that might help cull.

February 11 - blue loafers

What: Size 7.5 blue hush puppies
From: Hush Puppies (hechts)
Purchased: 1996 or 97
Cost: $32

In the fall, I showed the red version of these, so time for the other pair. They really are a hair too tight, but they are cool, so I can't ditch them.

Like the other pair, I'll move them into long-term storage (under the bed?) and only wear them rarely - they'll be my vintage shoes.

Bottom line: keeper

February 8 - brown loafers

What: size 8 brown loafers
From: Karen Scott (Hecht's in-house brand)
Purchased: early 00's
Cost: $24

Guessing on cost. These are yet another pair to fill my "I need casual shoes" niche. I swear I have the hardest time with this niche, and never get it right. On What Not to Wear, they call it the mom on the go look. Well, I bought these before I was a mom, so it's been a long-term struggle. On WNTW, I think the mom on the go shoes they demonstrate are generally awesome shoes, but they would still make you look like an asshole on the playground (too fancy) and they aren't comfy enough for the urban mom on the go who walks and takes the bus. Maybe a suburban mom who drives a lot of places, but not one who might walk over a mile to the playground.

Anyway, these are kinda fine, though kinda ugh at the same time. The heel is too high for real casual wear, but they are too frumpy for dressy wear. I still don't see what's wrong with my easy spirit penny loafers (though they are frumpy too, at least they have a little bit of styling).


Bah, I guess they stay.

What do you wear for casual, comfortable shoes? Should I keep these?

Bottom line: a keeper, I guess

December 1 - cold and rainy needs bright red shoes

What: shiny red size 8 rain shoes
From: chillmark
Purchased: Hmmm. Can't remember. A while ago. Late 90s?
Cost: no idea. I do know I wouldn't have spent more than $20, so we'll go with that, though I bet it was cheaper

December 1 was a gray, rainy, pretty crappy day, so I pulled these out. I actually thought they no longer fit (so why do I keep shoes for years and years that don't fit and i never wear? Who knows?) but they turned out to be kinda comfy. I think my orthotics don't fit in them, so I stopped wearing them, but just for a short rainy jaunt they were perfectly fine to wear. Good to know, I'll keep them and maybe they'll get a ltitle bit of wear.

Bottom line: keeper

November 30 - I love my clodhoppers

What: size 8 wide, umm, I'm not even sure how to describe these. Loafers?
From: Naturalizer (outlet)
Purchased: October '03 - possibly '04, but I am fairly certain 03
Cost: $10

Oh these shoes make me laugh. My friend KG suggested we take advantage of a mid week day off and drive to Rehoboth for some shopping. I encouraged her to buy a gorgeous dress at Ann Taylor that she still wears. I got pink gloves at JNY, and I really think I got at least one other pair of shoes, but am not sure which ones now, so maybe I did not. I got a great jean skirt, and a cool cord skirt. It was a good shopping day.

You know what, it was 2004. I checked - I had Kanye West's The College Drop Out, and she had LL Cool J's The DEFinition, and we listened to both several times on the drive down and back. And The DEFinition wasn't released until August '04. OK, glad we cleared that up.

Anyway, near the end of the day we hit Naturalizer and I was going through the discount racks when I saw these and popped them on. KG immediately said, take those clodhoppers off! But I was smitten. Yes, they were ugly, but kind of in a vaguely cool-ish way, and best of all they were CHEAP. And I had nothing like them. KG was - and still is - appalled by them. She brings it up to this day. I completely concede they are not stylish, but my point was they had a niche and were a good buy.

And sure enough, on my maternity leave with E? I wore these shoes nearly every freaking day. The per wear cost of these is less than penny. The bottoms are also getting quite worn, though, the rubber tread wearing smooth, so they won't be so dependable for much longer. They've got some wear left, though.

I, um, actually haven't worn them in a while because, well, I can't believe I am admitting this, but they were once pooped on by Aggie. One night, suffering from intestinal distress, the poor dog went into our closet and pooped. We were not happy, but there were no lsating damage. I cleaned them off but somehow the magic was gone, so they've been under my dresser for a couple of years. But, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfy they are, and on a crappy day, they are great to wear with jeans and a sweatshirt.

So, bottom line: Keeper

November 29 - camel

What: size 8 camel loafer pumps with small buckle
From: Enzo Angiolini (Lord and Taylor)
Purchased: ~2003 - 04
Cost: $35

Remember these? Camel heels that over time had become two different colors? I wrote I had acquired another pair of camel heels I liked better and the two toned ones were shoved to the back of my closet. These are the better ones. Love these shoes. Love the color, love the heel, love the fit. Love them so much though they are showing a little wear. I walk on the outsides of my heels (I over pronate? Under pronate? Who knows, bottom line I wear my shoes out from the outside heel in).

See how the outer edges of the rubber heel are almost worn to the wooden part of the heel? So what would typically happen is I'd notice the wear on these, start looking for another pair of camel shoes, and rarely wear these so as not to scuff them up any more. But now that I'm aware of that pattern, I can maybe stop doing it, and either just wear a wider variety of my shoes or perhaps even get these repaired.

They could use new rubber heels and a professional polish, but they're also fine enough now. I used to wear these all the freaking time with a pair of black pants with a window pane pattern in camel, a black t, and camel jacket. Love that outfit. One size too small right now. Sigh.

Bottom line: keeper

November 17 - brown croc loafer pumps

What: size 8 3 inch heel brown croc loafer style pumps with brass chain
From: Nine West (macy's)
Purchased: 02-03-ish
Cost: $15

Do you know waht this shoe challenge is going to do? Wipe out my last remaining Nine West shoes. I bought these years ago, because they were super cheap and I was thinking I used to wear a lot of loafer style pumps and why didn't I do that anymore. And then I never wore them.

I have them on Craig's List for $20. No takers thus far. If none by Christmas, I'll donate.

Bottom line: gone one way or another

November 3 - a brown thrift store find

What: size 8 brown and tan loafers, 2 inch heel, with bow
From: Naturalizer (bought at thrift store)
Purchased: October 2010
Cost: $17

And here's #18 for the year. I saw these earlier this fall at the thrift store that is one block from my house. This thrift store is in a totally Dangerous Location. Walking to Target? walk right past it. Headed to the Metro? Walk right past it. Library? walk by it, though it's on the other side of the street, exerting its magnetic pull. In short, it is too close to my house. TOO close. (Luckily, Elizabeth's school and the bus downtown - well, 2 of the 3 downtown bus options - are the opposite direction.)

Anyway, I liked these when I saw them, but the thrift store prices all shoes at $24. That's a great price if they're Kate Spade (an awesome pair of funky yellow green sandals that were unfortunately too big for me, sigh). But come on - my average price for completely brand new Naturalizer shoes is less than $18! There was no way I could buy used (slightly used, but definitely worn by some stranger used) Naturalizer shoes for over 20 bucks. But when they ran their $24=$17, now, that was a different story. These shoes are great. Love them. Perfect height. The thing I've been learning in reviewing my shoes is that a good mid-height heel will get a lot of wear. High heels, as much as I love them, just don't fit with my life right now. These would be getting a ton of wear if I wasn't trying to work my way through all my shoes.

I have a good friend in the neighborhood and we try to get to the thrift store every couple of weeks. My sister is coming by and I want to take her there. TSM, when are you going to come visit and go shopping with me?

Bottom line: keeper

October 23 - red loafers

What: Size 7.5 red-tan hush puppies
From: Hush Puppies (hechts)
Purchased: 1996 or 97
Cost: $32

Another from the old shoe files. These have been hanging in Elizabeth's room since 2003 without being worn once. You know that adage if you haven't worn something in a year, throw it out? I pretty much bust that wide open.

I used to wear these a fair amount, but...I don't know. Just sort of outgrew them? (In terms of maturing my wardrobe, I mean.) They are also a wee bit pinch-y. But I got a ton of compliments on Saturday, and one very preppy woman even asked if they were Hush Puppies. I think after all these years they've moved into vintage territory, so I can't get rid of them!

Bottom line: keeper, though they will probably never get much wear. I'll move them into archival storage and bust them out on special occasions.

October 19 - black patent slingbacks

What: Size 7.5, heeled black patent platform slingback loafers, 3 inch heel, .25 inch platform
From: Talbots
Purchased: fall '07
Cost: $44

Saw these shoes in a Talbots store and knew I had to have them, and doubted they'd still be around to make it to the outlet. I managed to resist them until the 3rd markdown ($98 to $55 to $44), but then I had to grab them. More than I wanted to pay, but I've worn them a lot so the per wear cost is pretty low. They're great.

Bottom line: keeper

October 13 - new purple passes approval

What: size 8W brown/purple with buckles flat loafer
From: Lands End
Purchased: July 22, 2010
Cost: $9

Finally! A cool day so I could break out these shoes I bought way back in July! I could not pass these up at $9, so they were the 11th pair I bought this year.

Rich had an early morning meeting, so Andrew and I walked Elizabeth to school. We were running late, so I was hurrying them along the sidewalk when Andrew bent down and said, "Mommy?! Shoes. Shoes! Good!" Which caused Elizabeth to walk back to us and cast her critical eye on my feet, whereupon she said, "I've never seen those before Mommy, I like them!"

Starting 'em young, that's what I'm doing. They've got good taste.

Bottom line: keeper

And finally I'm caught up this month, so I have a few holes in the month of October but it's daily shoe blogging from here on out. Whew.

October 7 - boring black

What: Size 8 black loafers with stitching and a silver buckle
From: AK Anne Klein (L&T)
Purchased: January '09
Cost: $25

And another pair of my infamous January 09 shopping spree (5 pairs in one month, though 1 was bought in 08, and I had no job at the time). These were just too practical and standard to pass up and you don't often find the very basic black shoes on the discount racks. After I wore my streamlined brown penny loafers, my friends commented they were too plain and stodgy for me. I fully admit they are plain and stodgy, as are these. But sometimes you need just a plain shoe for everyday wear.

My heels were seriously torn up from the day before, so I needed something super easy, loose, and comfortable because I had a fair amount of walking to do, including to and from soccer practice. You just can't stand on the sidelines of the soccer field in wild and crazy heels. Mostly cause it's either dusty or muddy, and certainly not worth ruining your fab shoes!

You know, it's taken until just now to realize I scored so many good shoes in Jan 09 because of that little financial meltdown thing in 08. I really was irresponsible buying them all, but I couldn't pass up the cheap basic ones. There were so many available because everyone else was more responsible. I've never even worn one of the pairs (they're basic blue, a great buy but I don't often wear blue), and another is definitely a heavier, cool weather pair so stay tuned.

September 15 - sort of penny loafers

What: size 8 brown penny loafers
From: Easy Spirit
Purchased: ’03-‘05
Cost: ?? 35??

Hmm, I don’t remember much about these shoes. Fairly unremarkable loafers. I needed a basic pair and this is it. I don’t wear them that much, but they are good to have as a basic shoe, so they’ll stay.

Bottom line: keeper

June 4- professional day

What: 2.5 inch heeled tasseled pumps, size 7.5
From: Bandolino, downtown store
Purchased: summer '09
Cost: $20!

Work meeting today, so pulled out professional shoes. I had a meeting last summer downtown that went well, and walking to the Metro after I passed the Bandolino store and went in to check things out. Found the sale rack, and it was an extra 30% off - these were marked 29.99. Could not pass up this bargain, and while they weren't plain black pumps, they were definitely great, comfortable, good heel height for walking shoes. With the tassels and the loafer-esque look (plus white stitching), I wear them with pants, so they didn't entirely fill my "I have no black pumps" need, but a great purchase nonetheless.

Bottom line: total keeper