LOL. You are not alone. Shoes and boots, sigh, especially boots.

Oops. Boots are in another closet. Forgot to count then. Fortunately, with large calves, I only have a couple pair.

I am laughing here, "Fortunately my husband is a saint and won't really ask me for a divorce. But if he did, I could have his closet too....insert evil laugh here."

When our children left home I took over their closets! Would love DH's closet, but not by divorce!

I probably have more shoes than I should too. My excuse though is that I am hard to fit and when I find something, I get extras, some I hoard, some I wear.

That said, I keep them all in their original boxes and they all fit in my hall coat closet. Except for a random few that are upstairs. These are shoes that I don't seem to wear and if they are not worn for a year, I will donate.

The thing is, shoes really do make the outfit. But if you feel that you really don't have the storage space, it is time to let some go.

I just laughed out loud at the comment about using DH closet post divorce...hahah! But also, thank you for helping to put my minor problem into perspective for my husband. My issue is more with workout clothes and shoes. I promised today to get rid of some of those tanks I have replaced but not exactly replaced, KWIM?

It's a problem, but things could be worse. If I didn't have to work, I could transform my office/closet/sewing room into a tribute to my clothing friends and sewing meca.

I dream of how I can use one of these (pulled from google) and still have a desk. Did I tell you the room was 10'x10'?

...stupid career-that-provides-the-funds-to-shop.....

I envy those of you who can have a lot of shoes. I wear a size 11M- sometimes 11.5. There are a few brands I can turn to reliably and they are not particularly inspiring. The good news is that the really expensive brands are completely off limits to me. Italian shoes are not made for my battleships! I am thrilled if I have between eight and 10 pairs of shoes I like, excluding sneakers.

I used to have my shoes in a cabinet very similar to the last one above. `It didn't hold enough for me at the time (though to be honest, I am down to about 5 pairs of shoes (not counting flip flops, etc) a season now. I have more.. but I just don't wear them.)

I'm slowly taking over the house with my sewing stuff, but don't tell my DH. Mine is a saint, too. He says I can't have any more sewing machines ( he seems to think four is plenty), but if I really wanted another one he wouldn't object. :)

Donna

I have five machines. One is a 50/60's era featherweight 221 with a ton of accessories, including the folding table. It was my grandmothers and I want to sell it, but mom won't let me. It just takes up space.

I now sew on her old Bernina but can't give up my Viking because it's an old metal one. Plus a serger and a cover stitch that were both gifts. I use the serger, never tried the other one.

i did show DH the box of vintage metal zippers found at an estate sale and he was impressed. Both his parents were in the garment industry, so I have a tremendous amount of leeway.

Oops, this was supposed to be about shoes!

Rita, that was pretty much me not long ago. I wear a 12. Then I started finding some fun shoes again and have expanded -- but I'm not giving them up! LOL I haave been deprived too long.

Shoes mean little to me. Twenty handbags - you're a beginner.

Jackets, jackets are my downfall. I love my jackets so much that I can't bear to be separated from them so I don't put the seasonal ones that I'm not wearing away in a dark closet not to be seen for 4-5 months. I put handtowels around the shoulders to protect them, I give them breathing space in the closet, I do like my jackets.

ROFLMBO!!! I spent almost the entire day today pulling out my Fall and Winter clothes, purses, and shoes... and packing away my Spring and Summer ones, as I'm getting ready for our upcoming Oregon vacation. And, I just confessed to DH at our (late) dinner tonight that it seems that I have an obscene amount of clothes and shoes. This was not said to him or you with pride, but rather with chagrin. He just laughed and said, "You've just now noticed that?".

I've moved a moderate amount to my "donate baskets", but I'm ashamed and appalled at how much I still have. I don't have time before we leave to sternly go back and sort further, but I desperately need to. I can easily match your numbers, Spanish. And, I very much need to divest myself of at least half of them!

For example, I have short, somewhat wide feet (6.5-7W), and just bought 3 new pairs of Fall shoes ( 2 pairs of flats and a pair of new REI hiking shoes) in the past week. These will fill in "needed?" spots and should do me for this season. All will be worn a lot in coming months, but I'm having a heck of a time parting with any old ones. Or clothes .

Like you, I have a gem of a husband. He doesn't encourage me, but he does understand my affinity for new, pretty and comfy shoes. "Pretty but comfortable" is very important to me, as I have high arches, and aching feet are what I deal with daily. And, yes I have arch supports made specifically for my awful feet. Clothes are another matter, and equally a sore spot, especially on days like this.

Why do I always end up reshuffling wardrobes when I need to quickly sort and pack for a trip? When I don't have time to actually rethink, sort, and purge?!? Well, to be frank, it's still Summer here and I'm wearing shorts and sandals every day still, but I need my warmer Fall clothes for this trip to the Oregon Coast.

Your thread here today is, sadly, very painfully timely for me, Spanish!

I too have a shoe problem and a very understanding DH. He and the UPS guy laugh at the number of Zappos boxes that get delivered to our house. (Little do they know about the Nordstrom boxes that contain shoes too!) Since retiring a couple of months ago, I have been purging a good portion of the dressier, higher heeled shoes that I just know I won't wear ever again. It's hard and I am not Kondo'ing very well where my shoes are concerned. Still working on it though.

I am jealous of you alls understanding husbands...mine has threatened divorce if I buy another purse or pair of shoes!

I don't have a shoe issue. I have about 2 dozen pairs, not including boots (still packed away) or things like sneakers, spin shoes, water shoes, and, oh wait, a few pair under my desk at the office. And at least one pair DD1 stole and took to school, hrrrmmph.

I tend to favor two types of shoes. Wedge or platform sandals in the summer. Wedge mules in the winter. I like heels but I like to be fully ambulatory. I like mules because I can easily slip them on or off. I could actually use some new shoes.

I have about 30 bags, not including small clutches and such. I just got rid of some, and I have not bought ANY despite SueB's enticing thread.

PS As for DH, he says I don't buy enough for myself and I am to cheap with what I do buy. Good for him, because I find the idea of a husband approving or disapproving of an adult women's purchases unpleasantly retro.

PPS I think this commercial is funny

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/APP4/justfab-com-its-insane

MtnRdRedux I fully agree with you. As long as I am not getting my families finances in trouble don't tell me a grown, working (in the home or out) what to do with my money. And I do love good shoes, along with chocolate, traveling and eating out.

Well.....the finances part...I do seem to have a bit of credit card debt...so, yea, he is justified I guess....sigh

Back in the 80s I was married to a woman with a shoe/purse/jewelry problem. I never said anything until I realized we no longer had a savings account. Toward the end of the marriage I got a bit bitter and admit I am still a bit bitter about it. I made a spreadsheet going back a year and going forward a year to the end. She spent $300 per month, every month, on her habit. The problem here is that she was in the military and wore the same pair of uniform shoes every day. The $300 per month was just for fun shoes/purses, and jewelry. She had absolutely no sense of humor about it, either. She did not recognize that she had a problem and resented it greatly when I suggested she cut back. Again, our savings account had been depleted. I finally got upset enough to mention it to her when I saw she was taking a bag to Goodwill. On top of the bag, upside down for anyone to see, was a pair of shoes with the paper price tag still stuck to the bottom of the obviously unworn shoe. By that time the divorce (for many reasons) was just a foregone conclusion.

Totally agree Mtn. Obviously I was joking. In our house, I contribute more than half the income. We live considerably below our means and save a fair amount every year.

My DH will raise an eyebrow if I want something totally ridiculous that fits the life I want to have (not the one I do) or if I accumulate so much that our small closets are bursting. On both counts, I think he's totally right to insert himself to my right brain.

Given a 9 1/2 narrow shoe size, finding a shoe that fits is a chore. Finding a shoe that fits in a style and color that I want is near impossible. Oh, and the fact that I can't wear heels really limits my choices. So I have a closet full of sneakers.

ok I actually went and counted shoes lol. 34 pairs(including everything-flip flops, water shoes, jelly shoes, sneakers, fall boots, snow boots( even though I don't go anywhere near snow anymore) and heels I can't wear anymore but can't part with them still)

bags..two normally looking everyday bags, two very worn everyday bags(like, worn to the point even I'm slightly embarrassed..), two more-night-out bags, one travel tote, one travel backpack, one carry on, and one clutch for summer nights on vacations or something.

I think I'm on the peak of owning stuff..never ever I had more in terms of things that I have now. Couple pairs-a mistake, frankly. My wishful thinking and all.

Many though are very good buys and I have them for years.

My record with shoes was 14 years I think. (yeah by the end they looked the part) With jeans-15 years (great pair. by some Arden B? don't remember). A jacket-twenty two years(actually I don't wear it anymore but my DD does. It was Topshop by the way. Very hard to believe they'll make anything like that now..probably will get ruined very fast)

I do have a mild problem with throwing away bags or shoes that are too worn out or ripped beyond repair. It's like, my inner goodbye to them takes longer.

Removing them out of my sight usually helps some.

1929, I know you are joking, and I know Dschall was very serious; I was responding primarily to them.

I love shoes as well, however..........

Two years ago I purged most of them. I found that I was wearing the favorites and others hardly at all.

I have just a few bags that i use all the time and maybe half dozen fancy evening ones including antique/ vintage on display in the cabinet with the antique fans, gloves, etc.

I don't miss those shoes and some I only wore a few times anyway. A few I never did. Lesson learned.

My SO is also a shoe fanatic. They all look the same to me, white athletic shoes. But he swears they are all for different purposes.

I started reading this thread feeling a little smug thinking I don't have a lot of footwear. Just went & counted the contents of 2 closets. 26 pairs of shoes, sandals & boots. Not including the 7 pairs in the garage just for yard work or riding. Plus 2 pairs I put in donation bag last week. So "hi, my name is Bothell & I have a shoe problem."

According to Huffpo, 20 pairs is average

About 5 pairs of shoes here. Size 10.5 men's, wide. None of them glamorous, just functional.

Just one purse, altho there may be a couple more hidden in drawers I haven't yet gone through prior to moving.

Apparently, my weakness is tops ... blouses, t shirts, regular shirts, sweaters.... a lot more than I thought I had!

I have no intention of counting but a hundred+ would be average, counting everything. I buy a pair of shoes, wear them once or twice and they hurt my pinkie. Or big toe, but I keep them anyway to wear to events that are all sitting down, little walking. Probably one third of my shoes fit this category. I have shoes, boots, sandals, flip flops for every occasion. Plenty of space so no need to get rid of something iffy.

Last I counted I think I had about 45 pair in my closet plus maybe five pair of outerwear shoes in the coat closet plus maybe five or so that I leave at our weekend lake place. I have a lot of dress shoes from when I used to wear professional business attire that I never wear. I guess I'm saving them until I retire and am sure I won't need them. I have one handbag for each season plus a travel crossbody and one smaller older bag that I rarely use. Oh plus one more that I impulsively purchased this year - cute and only $30.

I can't stop thinking about that 20 pair being average..I guess if I get myself to get rid of very worn out shoes plus heels I can't wear anymore-I'd get there...