It's safe to say most women realize deep down inside that they have
way. too. many. shoes. For me, variety is the spice of life, especially when
it comes to fashion, but the truth is having so many options can create some
issues. Whether you're trying to stick to a budget or simply running out of
storage space, taking a close, hard look at your closet can be daunting, but
also rewarding because it gives you a chance to get reacquainted with the
things you love. During my time at home, I took major stock of my shoe
inventory and quickly realized that in light of current events and budget
considerations, I needed to focus on finding ways to maximize my wardrobe, so
I could wear and enjoy more of what I already have. I'm really happy with the
results and have a newfound excitement about my shoes. So put down your credit
card and let's dig into your shoe situation together! Here are a few ways to
make your current shoe collection feel like new again.
First, Inventory
This step is semi-painful, but very important to the process. You cannot wear
what you have unless you know what you have. As you do this, keep in mind:
-
Do whatever you need to do to really take a good look at all your shoes,
then toss the ones that are worn or no longer fit your style.
-
Eliminate duplicates (shoes that are really similar) and prioritize pairs
you wear more often as opposed to those you rarely wear. I vote to keep
special occasion shoes as long as they're comfortable because it's better
to have a pair on hand that are already broken in.
- Zero in on the shoes that have literally caused you pain — this is the time to be cutthroat. If you avoid wearing a particular pair due to how uncomfortable they are, take a deep breath and throw them out. If they're just a little tight and you think they're worth salvaging, try stretching them out. I recently tested Formé Shoe Shapers on a pair of pointed toe heels that were too tight in the front and they worked like magic. They now feel a half-size bigger and I can wear them without getting piercing pain in my toes.
Organize
Once you've finished taking inventory of your shoes, it's time for the fun
part! Sorting by style and occasion will help you find what you need when
you're putting together outfits. I group my shoes this way:
- flats
- heels and professional/work-appropriate shoes
-
sandals and "house shoes" (the pairs you throw on to get the mail, do a
quick errand, etc.)
- sneakers and tennis shoes
- special occasion
- boots and cold weather shoes
Once you sort your shoes into groups, identify the space(s) around your
house where you can store them. My main closet is certainly not big enough
to hold all my shoes and clothes, so I have shoes in different areas of my
apartment, including in my closet, under the bed, inside a storage bench at
the foot of my bed and in over-the-door organizers. Pro tip: the doors
around your house offer well-hidden, often under-utilized storage space.
Over-the-door organizers are great for all kinds of things, including shoes!
For example, put just one over your closet door and you now have space to
store 20+ pairs of shoes! Here are a few different types of organizers I use
for my shoes.
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| Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer |
Shoe Tower Rack |
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Shoe Organizer Bags (which I then put inside my storage bench) |
Under The Bed Shoe Organizer |
Accessorize
You may not realize it yet, but some of the shoes in your closet can be
transformed into a totally new style in seconds using a cool product called
Straplets. This ingenious invention quickly and easily changes the look of your shoe
and solves the problem of annoying shoe slips. Straplets come in four styles
and I'm obsessed with how effortless they are. They also expand the number
of ways you can wear your favorite shoes — using Straplets, you can style
one pair of heels in four other different ways for a total of five unique
looks! That's a lot of fashion bang for your buck. Check out how easy these
are to use in this quick video and then
shop Straplets here.
I hope these tips help you makeover your shoe collection, so you can more
fully appreciate the beauty and potential of what you already have in your
closet. Let me know how it goes! :)