April 7 - teal sneaks

What:  size 8 turquoise slip on sneakers
From:  Talbots in Providence, RI
Purchased:  summer 2003
Cost:  $14

Another pair never worn stuffed in the bottom of my closet.  I was at a work meeting in Providence, and our hotel was connected to a mall, and right by the entrance of the mall was a Talbots!  So I snagged these, along with a short sleeve shirt with thin, vertical, black, green, and turquoise stripes (like pinstripes, I guess).  I don't know why I've never worn these.  I think I was originally going to return them, as I really do need a shoe with some support, and then maybe I couldn't find the receipt, or who knows, but they've just lingered.  I like the color, and I could get some wear out of them in spring/summer.  Also, like another pair I recently showed, once you wear these a time or two the wear will really show, so I've probably been "saving" them.  No more saving!  For Pete's sake, they were $14, I can certainly wear them a season or two and toss them!

Bottom line:  keeper! 

March 24 - blue peeps need fashion advice

What:  size 8.5 nude peep toes with blue suede band and gold buckle
From:  Talbots (outlet)
Purchased:  fall '08
Cost:  Hmm.  $35

Last week I was writing about what I thought was the last of the shoes in the shoe wardrobe, but then these caught my eye.  So now finally here are the last of the shoes from my shoe wardrobe piece of furniture.  I liked these a lot from the spring '08 line at Talbots, and watched for them at the outlet.  The 8s were waaay too tight, and even these 8.5s pinch a wee bit on the sides, but they're definitely wearable.  I bought another pair of shoes from this line at super discount the next spring. 

Last week I wrote they matched a pair of pants that needed to be hemmed, and I was going to wear them, but big surprise did not get around to hemming the pants.  But I really thought I had the makings of a good outfit, so gathered it all up together.  Taupe pants, navy tshirt, and taupe jacket with gold thread (a 100% Talbots outfit, which I actually try not to do, but you go with what you have - oh I'd also wear gold jewelry and that's not Talbots, so whew.).  But now I'm not sure, so I need fashion advice.  The taupe of the shoe, the jacket, and the pant are slightly different.  (Taupe is a color that bedevils me and my trying-to-surpress-matchy-matchy mindset.)  I think the shoes might go with the pant (though it's a little questionable), and the shoe does go with the jacket.  But not sure the jacket and pant go?  

Maybe I need to hem the pants and put it all on and see?  Because they're all just neutrals that cancel each other out, letting the navy and gold pop?  Because if it does work it is a great outfit for Spring (hmm, Easter?).  I think it might work better (though certainly more casual) with jeans.  So if these pants aren't the right pants for the outfit, what would work?  Slightly more khaki-colored pants?  Not navy pants, then I'd need a different top?  What friggin' color would the top be, then, with navy pants?  (White dress shirt?)

What do you think of the outfit?  And if not that outfit, how would you wear these shoes? 

Bottom line:  shoes are keepers, though not sure how to wear

And a big PS.  I am starting to get nervous.  So by the end of February, I had shown 157 pairs of shoes + 24 days so far in March = 181.  The big shoe sort is scheduled for April 8, so 15 more days.  Will I finish going through the shoes in 15 more days?  I am not sure I will.  Off the top of my head I can count at least 12 more pairs, easy, and that's not all of them!  Do I have 200 PAIRS OF SHOES IN MY HOUSE??!!  Gulp.  Even with the 25+ already discarded, that is a freaking large amount of shoes.  I half-watched an author on the Today Show this morning talk about her new book, Lost and Found: Unexpected Revelations about Food and Money.  I may have to get this book (from the library!). 

Ok, but when I think of this more calmly, I think of spending $600 a year on shoes, and in the grand scheme of things, that's not really all that terribly much.  Not chump change, but as TSM tells me, if this is my hobby, I'm not spending more than many other people on their hobbies.  And, given that I never get rid of anything, the accumulated piles should not be that surprising.  But it does make me pause in that we live in a 1600 square foot house (not counting attic or basement, which pushes it up to probably close to 2800 square feet).  I will get through these shoes, eventually.  And then I will commit to decluttering again.

March 17 - more slides

What:  size 8 slides
From: adidas
Purchased:  late 90s
Cost:  free to me!

Finishing off the hanging shoe organizer in my closet, so found the one shoe, who knows where the other shoe is.  Lost in the bottom of the closet, probably.  OK, so here are the shoes Rich bought for me, to replace a pair of slides I had that totally broke (and were a hand me down from my sister).   These have never been really comfy, but they are fine shoes for going to the pool.  Eh. 

Bottom line:  keeper

March 5 - blue strappy

What:  size 8 blue strappy sandals with rosette strap
From:  Unisa (bought unknown)
Purchased:  2001-02
Cost:  don't remember.  A bargain, though - you can still see a tiny bit of red sticker on the right shoe.  I kinda have this feeling I got these at a place like Nordstrom Rack, but really don't know.  Let's guess $20

Love these shoes!  Wore them for my friend Kdot's wedding.  (Love that Kdot let us chose our own shoes, so I could wear something snazzy!)They are great.  Well, they are mostly great.

Can you see, in the picture above that my pinky toe does not quite fit in the strap across my toes?  It sort of almost sneaks in there, but really, it's not contained by the toe strap.  Sigh.  The only thing worse than wide feet is narrow feet, as my friend Elaine can confirm.  I still like them, and they still work fine enough.

Bottom line:  keeper

February 19 - blue pumps

What: size 8 navy blue pumps with lizard accent and bow
From: Ellen Tracy
Purchased: January 2009
Cost: $28

Since I wrote about my kinda crappy blue pumps, I thought I should pull out my nice new blue pumps that hav never been worn, bought in my shoe extravaganza of 2009. These are really nice, and were a great buy, even if I've never had the occasion to wear them. Maybe this spring I'll try and busy out more blue. These are too nice to remain in the box.

Bottom line: Keeper

February 14 - blues

What: size 7.5 navy fabric pumps
From: Nina (likely Hechts or Lord and Taylor)
Purchased: hmmm. Late 90s
Cost: another guess, hope I didn't pay more than $30 for them!

Cleaning off the rack in E's room, and pulled these off. These are old - the shoes are stiff and dry and maybe don't have any life in them. But they also fit ok, and there's nothing objectively or specifically wrong with them, other than I never wear pumps anymore (and didn't even when I worked in an office, I'm just not really a pumps person anymore). I can't believe how many failed blue shoes I own (or once owned, as I've discarded many). Good lord! 4 pairs discarded! Clearly I have a problem with blue. I think I used to wear more blue, and now no longer do? Or given how many pairs I discarded that had barely been worn (if at all!), I think I think I should own blue shoes but I don't really need blue shoes. For example, I know I have a very nice pair of blue shoes still in the box purchased in my Jan '09 shoe frenzy (5 pairs in less than 30 days all from L&T - I write about this a lot because I think that was the first time I ever really thought I had a shoe problem). They are low heeled pointy toe, stylish navy blue, and I've never worn them, and quite possibly they might be the only navy shoes I would ever need, as they'll work across the seasons and with a variety of outfits, should I ever need to wear blue shoes (they are similar to these grey shoes, but not identical). I'm trying to type myself into discarding these, as my original intention was to keep them.

OK, I've come close to the discard line, but I think I'm going to put these on the fence. I think I need to look at the shoes altogether, at the end of this process, with observers, and then my bet is these will go.

Bottom line: on the fence

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

December 18 - slippers

What: light blue size 8 velour slippers
From: charter club
Purchased: Christmas gift in 2005 or 06
Cost: gift!

Slippers count as shoes, right? Well, as often as I wear them. I have 2 pairs of cozy slippers, but I'm not sure where the older ones are right now. Shoved someplace deep in my closet, I suspect. I got these as a present a few years ago and didn't wear them since I had slippers I really liked. But I busted these out last winter.

We had a holiday open house on the 18th, and I had these on doing prep work and they were so comfy I just left them on for the party. But I disappointed a few of my shoe fans. So later I put on my party shoes, but they didn't last long before I went back to the slippers.

Bottom line: keeper

December 2 - so I keep these too, I guess

What: size 7 duck shoes
From: who knows
Purchased: ~1986
Cost: free to me

I've had these shoes since high school. My friends at college, especially Kdot, used to laugh at me when I wore them. Because my foot is wide, and these are size 7, Kdot would say these made my foot look absurdly small, while simultaneously making my foot appear as wide as it is long.

I continued to wear them anyway.

They've been in the closet in E's room for years. I've been convinced for years they were too small, but couldn't bear to part with them because they made me smile. (My tendency to imbue objects with memories disturbs me.) I think my mom has said she'll take them on a couple of occasions, but they've remained. December 2 was a nice day, after two crappy days, but I pulled these out, thinking they'd go in the discard pile and I could wear my grey boots. I did wear my grey boots, but surprisingly, wearing thin trouser socks, these things actually fit. Well, that settles that, then. There's no way I can get rid of shoes that make me smile if they actually still fit. Whether I'll wear them much remains to be seen. Actually I did wear them for years, and the bottom tread is really wearing, so they don't have much life left. But a lot of smiles.

Bottom line: I am pathetically weak and destined for a life of hoarding, or perhaps death by falling shoe stacks, but these stay

November 21 - blue ankle strap

What: Size 8 navy ankle strap pumps
From: Naturalizer (outlet)
Purchased: ?? early-mid 00s
Cost: They still have the sticker, $60 with a red tag, which means they were either 60 or 80% off. I am pretty sure it was 80%, so that would be $12

I bought these as part of my I should wear more blue phase, and I think they were super cheap. But they have also sat in their box on the top shelf of my closet for years, completely unworn. Their box has no lid so that's dust in the picture above!

Bottom line: time to go goodbye, I don't think it's worth trying to sell

November 19 - navy discards

What: size 8 navy pumps
From: Parade of Shoes
Purchased: around 2000
Cost: $24

I go on a navy kick every once in a while, so that must be why I bought these. But I never wear much navy, and so these shoes have never been worn. Is Parade of Shoes still in business? There used to be a location by my office, but at least that location is gone. No idea about the chain. Anyway, goodbye box that takes up too much space in my closet. Time to roll up my sleeves, admit my bad ideas, and move on with my life.

Bottom line: donation

November 18 - dyed to match

What: Size 8 dyed Navy blue pumps
From: unknown bridal shop
Purchased: 1993? 1994?
Cost: ? $40? Can't remember

I am a bad friend for many reasons, but right now because I cannot remember what year my friend Fred (college nickname, long story) got married. Augh, this is driving me crazy. I don't think Fred reads this blog, but our friend Kdot (another college nickname) does, so she will correct me. Was it 95? No, definitely '93 or '94 as I was living in Silver Spring at the time. I have to wonder if K. still has her shoes? The dress was a lovely navy velvet, and I still have it.

I had a blast at this wedding, but I do not think I need these shoes any longer. I also think I never gave Fred a wedding present, about which I still feel guilty. Perhaps she would like some shoes?

Bottom line: donation

October 25 - following advice

What: size 7.5 blue suede pumps with 2.5 inch heel
From: Nine West - maybe bought at Hecht's
Purchased: 1993 or 94
Cost: $32 - guess

The other day on Facebook someone posted an except from Clinton Kelly's new book, Oh No She Didn't. The post shared The Top 10 Mistakes We Make. #10 - scuffed up heels. I love Clinton Kelly, and he's right - at 42, owning well over 100 pairs of shoes, there is no reason why I should hold onto shoes that are this beat up. I loved these shoes. I wore them to Rich and my first valentine's dinner. Also wore them to my job interview at SW. I really like the heel, the curve is almost Louis XIV, but not quite. But I've not worn them in years, maybe a decade, because they are just too worn. So, it's time to say goodbye, especially since they've been living on the shoe rack in E's room and I really want that thing cleared.

Bottom line: discard

Today starts NaBloPoMo - National Blog Posting Month. So I'll catch up on October and then be a more regular poster this month. Have to run out to the grocery store to shop for this week, too.

October 8 - blue flats (sorta)

What: size 8 blue and white ballet flats with gold buckle
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: spring 09
Cost: $10

So this post is a wee bit of a lie. I got dressed (cuffed jeans, blue/white shirt) and taped up my heels, still hurting from Wednesday and put on these flats. Took the pic, and then took two steps out of my bedroom and decided it was just not going to happen. So while I had the best intentions, and am still counting these as worn, I ended up wearing blue flip flops instead. I just had too much walking to do and my heels were still too tender. And karma paid me back, because it turns out the blue flip flops, with that flower, are not so flexible and end up causing some twinges along the tops of my feet. So I ended up with pain anyway. At least this solves the mystery - I talked about pain in my foot on August 6th, two days after I first wore those blue flip flops. So now what to do about the super cute blue flip flops, but I'll deal with them next year, I think.

Anyway, these flats kind of verge on the too much category - too many colors, too bright/big buckle, too crazy a pattern. I think they'd have to be paired with a fairly neutral outfit. But there is still something appealing about them, so I will find something to wear with them. I bought these at the same time as these, my first flat purchases.

Bottom line: keeper

Agust 4 - new flops

What: Size 8 light blue flip flops
From: Talbots
Purchased: Aug 1, 2010
Cost: $20

I simply spent too much time thinking about these cute flower shoes from Talbots, and could not resist them, even if $20 is really too much for flip flops. Sure enough, the very next day (Monday) they were marked down to $12 (original price: $49! are they insane?). Oh well. Pair #13 for the year, and they are super cute.

Bottom line: Keeper

July 27 - blue

What: size 8.5AA, 3.25 inch navy blue strappy sandals
From: Talbots (outlet)
Purchased: late summer '08
Cost: $30

OK, the final pair of the same sandal (I have bronze and silver). Obviously, I love them. Bought these at the same time as the bronze ones. (and one pair was $25 and the other $35, who knows why, so split the difference and called them both $30).

Note these are NARROW width. If I can wear narrow shoes, this company is not truly offering a narrow width. If I had narrow feet I'd be annoyed by this sizing! Seriously, I had to examine all these shoes to figure out which were the narrow ones.

Bottom line: total keeper

July 23 - blue sandals

What: Size 7.5 blue strap sandals with silver buckle
From: Ann Taylor LOFT
Purchased: early '00s
Cost: $30

I had totally forgotten I had these - they were in the closet in Elizabeth's room. I started in on a blue phase and snagged these on sale. I like them, but there's something not quite right about them. I can't tell if it's my feet or the shoes. The strap is too far forward - it needs to back on the shoe by at least an inch to securely hold my foot. I want that strap to be around the widest part of my foot. But I don't think it's because my feet are too wide - there's no room for my foot to go more forward. I think it's just a weird design. They're fine to wear as long as there is not much walking anticipated!

Bottom line: keeper, though these are not the best shoes in the world

July 20 - another discard

What: light blue size 7.5, 2.5 inch heeled pumps
From: Naturalizer (outlet)
Purchased: late 90s
Cost: $18

I was sick on Tuesday, so never put on shoes, so needed a pair for the discard pile. And, boy, these will fit the bill. They've never been worn, they're now too small, and they are not my style. I bought a light blue suit once at the Talbots outlet (one of the few times Rich has been there with me during a big sale and witnessed the frenzy (of other shoppers! the crazy checkout lines! not me!) for himself). And so of course I guess I thought I needed the shoes to match? I don't know why I wasn't persuaded to part with them earlier. Perhaps because they represent a total waste of my time and money. Bleah.

Bottom line: discard

see, decluttering is supposed to make you feel better, right? More freeing? Liberating yourself from bad decisions? Well, since I never thought about them, they weren't bothering me, but now they are bothering me. Oh well, they'll be gone and then I really won't ever think about them again. I should declutter that blue suit, which is stashed in an armoire in the hallway. Sigh.

June 27 - more slip ons

What: size 8 blue suede scuffs
From: ? Not sure – I think from outlets in Florida
Purchased: ~’98?
Cost: ? not sure – I think around $20

My memory fades as the shoes age. I do remember my sister once was about to throw out a pair of slides from Adidas, when I stopped her – they were perfectly fine scuffs, if a little worn. So she ended up giving them to me, and I literally wore them out until the strap holding them together broke. This was pre-Cros, but those rubber slides, that she wore to swim practice, were awesome, in the way that crocs are awesome: ugly, but hugely comfortable. Knowing the slides would die eventually, I had a short quest for replacements in the late 90s (including the first and only pair of shoes Rich has given me). So, these. There is something……oddly stiff about the white fabric at the front and back of the top piece. It doesn’t give. At all. These shoes should be super comfortable, and they aren’t. They were fine for the pool today. They’d be awful for any period of walking.

Bottom line: sigh, keeper. I don’t know why.