Minimalist Shoe Possessions - How Many Pairs?

[try2bfrugal]

Like many other posters here, I am trying to declutter. Most of my shoes really need replacing so I have been thinking about how many pairs I really need. Here is my list - what do you think?

1. Sandals for everyday. I live where it is warm most of the year so I mainly wear sandals.
2. Dressy sandals
3. Casual walking shoes
4. Hiking shoes
5. Dressy shoes
6. Slippers
7. Water shoes for the beach

I have been just been buying one color in each category. What would you do? Too minimalist? Not enough? Do I get two colors in each category? A couple of fun colors? Twenty pairs would be minimalist compared to many women I know. My list of is probably three more than my husband owns. How do you decide?

[Minz]

I think that's a good list, however since you wear sandals most of the time, I don't think it would hurt to have a few different pairs of everyday sandals....but it's whatever you think is best for your situation.

[SteveinMN]

Well, I'm a guy , but here's my list:

- tennis shoes -- my "default" shoes;
- a pair of insulated waterproof ankle-high boots -- what I wear when it's super cold or snowy out or if I am hiking or working in the yard (snakes);
- a pair of plain black dress shoes for suit/sport-coat wearing occasions (frankly, they're not comfortable enough for anything else, but they were a cheap and brand-new thrift-store find, so I can put up with them);
- a crummy pair of old slip-on shoes that I can wear for quick-and-dirty jobs (washing the car, etc.) so I don't damage good shoes.

At the moment, I do have a very-little-worn set of tennis shoes that I had at work so I could walk around over lunchtimes (yeah, that didn't work out.... I should give them away but I'm picky about tennis shoes), the casual-but-newer brown and black pairs I used to wear to Corporate America (they definitely should go), and a pair of non-soled slippers for wintertime (most of the year I'm barefoot inside).

My thoughts are that a couple of categories of shoes in your list could be consolidated, like maybe dressy shoes and sandals, but, of course, there are fewer reasons for me to dress that nicely.

[Life_is_Simple]

try2bfrugal

Your list is very similar to my list. I have 9 pairs of shoes. I wear sandals and tennis shoes all the time, and boots sometimes in the winter. The rest are "just in case," and are dress shoes (3) back-up/sport shoes (2), and slippers (1).

We may be the only women around who have less than 10 pair of shoes.

[try2bfrugal]

try2bfrugal

Your list is very similar to my list. I have 9 pairs of shoes. I wear sandals and tennis shoes all the time, and boots sometimes in the winter. The rest are "just in case," and are dress shoes (3) back-up/sport shoes (2), and slippers (1).

We may be the only women around who have less than 10 pair of shoes.

My husband and I were looking at open houses the other weekend. We would like a new house but many of the newer ones are so big! One had a closet that was literally about 40 times the size I would need to hold all of my clothes. Even now I have books and exercise equipment in half my dresser drawers because I do not have enough clothes to use up all the space.

I like Easy Spirit shoes and their online site has a big sale going on right now, so I am debating how many pairs to order (minimalist, long term thinking versus Wow nice shoes for $25 - I should really hoard a bunch of these while they are on sale)

[Miss Cellane]

Shoes sometimes feel like the bane of my existence. I need to wear them, because of a foot problem, when I'd rather go barefoot. And I have a small closet, so they don't all fit in the closet and I have to figure out other storage for them.

My shoes:

1. House shoes for wearing around the house.
2. Walking shoes.
3. Hiking boots. Double as snow boots.
4. Good shoes for work, for wearing with pants.
5. Good shoes for work, for wearing with skirts & dresses.
6. Sandals.
7. Waterproof LL Bean slip-on shoes, bought on impulse but incredibly useful in snow or rain.
8. Dressier, work-appropriate snow boots.

Where you live and where you work factor into the shoe equation. If I were to get rid of a pair of shoes, it'd be the sandals. I have to have footwear that can handle snow and ice and rain. My job requires a step or two above business casual, so I can't wear sneakers or walking shoes there.

I keep thinking 8 pairs of shoes is a lot. But then, last week, I watched an episode of Clean House. The woman on the shoe had 150 pairs of shoes, down from a high of 300 pairs. That makes me feel practcially minimalist.

At one point in time, I had 3 pairs. Snow boots. Sneakers. Work shoes. But it's tough to find one pair of good looking work shoes that can be worn with everything I own now.

[Tammy]

I own 4 pair.

[rose]

Six:
Croc sandals that are strappy and look nice...very casual or dressy casual.
Merrell black leather winter shoes.
Lands End casual summer mesh every day shoes
Dansko, which I like but find I don't wear much.
Tennis shoes for walking/hiking.
Boots for snow.

[JaneV2.0]

My husband and I were looking at open houses the other weekend. We would like a new house but many of the newer ones are so big! One had a closet that was literally about 40 times the size I would need to hold all of my clothes. Even now I have books and exercise equipment in half my dresser drawers because I do not have enough clothes to use up all the space. ...

I don't need a bigger house, but I drool at the thought of that closet! I think whoever built this house was a minimalist at heart, because the closet situation is pathetic. The kitchen, likewise. But don't get me started...

I'll be a minimalist when I get to the Last Stop Rest Home, so I don't know much about shoe basics except that it must involve different styles and numbers for every individual. I don't need hiking boots or Louboutins, but someone else might.

[Float On]

Oh I don't even want to count how many pair of shoes I have.
Lets just leave it at lots.

.....and I added three pair of clarks just in the last week. Hit a thrift store and there were 3 pair...brand new...just my size. $1 each. Couldn't pass them up because Clarks are my fav.