To own 40 pairs of shoes?

[ClarissR]

Remodelling the wardrobes and DH thinks so!

I suppose it depends on your lifestyle but I can't imagine ever having that many. I have about ten.

How rich and beautiful you must be

Are you the 40 jeans poster? 40 of any clothing seems excessive, there must be some you very rarely wear.

They’re not expensive shoes! Just bought for various occasions in the many decades it’s been since my feet stopped growing 😂

I have:

Wellies
Hiking boots
Gardening Crocs
Wetsuit shoes
Snowboots
Running shoes

Fashion trainers x 3
Chelsea boots x 2
Kneehigh boots x 2
Sandals x 5
Brogue type shoes x 2
Birkenstocks

Work flats x 3 (black and brown loafers, black ballerinas)
Work heels x 4 (beige, black, brown)

Occasion heels bought for weddings or events in various colours x about 10

Then I’m sure about 5-10 others. I have been accused of being a hoarder. Do people throw away shoes that fit and aren’t broken?

There are many I rarely wear.

Do you like shoes? Do you like having so many? Do you enjoy spending your disposable income on shoes?

If you have the money and they make you happy, it's a perfectly harmless hobby.

There’s nothing at all wrong with that. Buy more

I go for less, but better. I like Russel & Bromley loafers and good winter boots. 40 pairs would be an outrageous sum.

Get rid of the ones you rarely wear, unless they are fora specific purpose such as snow boots or hiking boots.

I've got a lot of shoes. Lots of them were not expensive. I have some nice high quality boots etc for winter but lots of pumps etc that were just a few quid. As I have some that I hardly wear etc many of them last years. I probably do own about 40 pairs of jeans as well and dread to mention jumpers.

Do people throw away shoes that fit and aren’t broken?

They often sell them or donate them to charity.

YABU to redesign a wardrobe around a pile of shoes many of which you don't wear. Whey do you keep them?

I like being able to think of an outfit then find a pair of shoes that go with it.

But I probably buy 2-3 pairs a year and throw away 1-2 if they break or get worn out. Could cost anything from £20 for flip flops to £150ish so I don’t think it’s that unreasonable?

Do people throw away shoes that fit and aren’t broken?
yes although selling via Vinted or donating, I don’t have the space for so many I don’t wear much and I tend to sway towards minimalist where possible.

If a person already has 39 pairs of jeans how different can a new pair be from all of them to make the purchase worthwhile?

40? Amateur. Lol

I've probably got about the same OP. Bought over many years. My list is similar to yours.

Wellies
Gardening shoes
Beach/swim shoes X2 (I swim at a beach 4X PW)
Wetsuit boots X2 (see above)
Walking boots
Walking shoes
Slip on fleece lined boots for beach after swimming in winter

Fashion trainers X 3
Gym/running trainers X 2
Dog walking trainers
Dog walking boots

Flip flops
Sandals x 3
Work shoes X3 (different colours and styles)
Brogues X2
Flat pumps

Ankle boots X4 (different colours/styles)
Knee high boots X2

Heels for going out etc X2

Plus a couple of random pairs including the shoes I wore at my wedding 31 years ago - the only part of my wedding outfit I still fit into! I should probably chuck them out.... .

That makes about 36 pairs and there might be a few I've forgotten to list. I probably buy one or two pairs a year and some, like my DMs, are second hand.

I appreciate I'm.lucky/privileged.

Your list makes me realise I also have DMs and fur lined boots 😅

I don’t think I’m that privileged, some of these shoes I’ve had decades!

I have many more than that, when we moved I had a dressing room designed with two large cupboards on each side of the room. They house shoes of all colours and designs.Underneath I had four large drawers on each side and they house all my bags. These cupboards are flanked by wardrobes. I also have four wardrobes in our bedroom!! I love shoes and bags.

I can't imagine having that many pairs as I wouldn't have the space to store and couldn't cope with the choice each day. I probably have about 15 pairs. Couldn't you cut down where you have duplicates e.g. reduce to 3 pairs of sandals instead of 5, 1 pair of each type of boot.

Is that all?

I'm similar to you and I'm not glam. Most of my friends would be similar I think.

I don't throw out all my shoes. I have some that are in heavy use and some never used. I have a lot of practical shoes:
Waterproof walking shoes
comfy but slightly less well waterproofed very old walking shoes
wellies
water shoes
Flip flops x 3
Walking trainers
Old running shoes kept for garden
Current running shoes
Some reebok gym trainers I could chuck
4 fashion trainers dif styles colours and ages
3 knee-high boots about 10 years old but still good

Plus a million ankle boots
Loads of flat sandals
A few high heels I never wear mainly kept for sentimental reasons
A few good quality court shoes for work reasons but I don't wear them.
Several ballet flats that I do wear all summer

I might sort the shoe collection. Its out of hand. Practical things tend to stay in cellar.

But they’re all different! Eg sandals, one black leather, one brown leather, one multicoloured beach style, one pair of flip flops, one espadrilles

I was curious and counted mine, I have 17 pairs. I only buy good quality ones, so I rarely throw them away, that’s how I accumulated that many. I have a pair of Dr Martens that I bought 19 years ago and I still wear them for at least a month every year.

I probably have a similar number if not more. Off the top of my head I have about a dozen pairs of trainers, 10 pairs of flip flops, a few other summer sandals, 3 pairs of winter boots, plus various brogues / heels / cowboy boots etc.

Your outrage has inspired me to spend this rainy evening counting them. I fear 40 was a conservative estimate…