another shoe post: the old order changeth. Or not.

I recently disposed of an embarrassingly large number of pairs of shoes that no longer fit - either my feet or my life or both - and then picked up a few pairs of cute but comfortable things, since barefoot is not an option. It went like this:

First task: disposal. Many of the shoes were clearly garbage, so no problem. Out! However quite a few are still wearable, although they could be best described as "suitable for running errands on a rainy day when everyone you know is out of town." One pair of such is ample for me, and the rest were put into individual clear plastic bags, and pair by pair, quietly dropped into trash bins around town where they might be grabbed by some desperate soul who's having a bad winter. Kind of random, but thrift shops turn their noses up at this kind of stuff, so at least this way the shoes are no longer in my closet. Oh, and I took 2 pairs in to be repaired and "refreshed." I've had terrible luck with resoling, I find it expensive and the shoes never feel quite the same, but fixing heels and toe tips has worked for me.

This left me with a few pairs of "special occasion" shoes - ditched one, kept bronze metallic strappy sandals which go with just about everything, kept cute little wine-colored suede slingbacks with unsueded dots which are too cute to pitch right now but really only go with a few long skirts.

I remain astounded by how I can waste so much money and energy on shoes, and still want more. Just in case those glass slippers chip or crack while I'm waiting for the next gala, I kept my Chies.

I kept some Madewell buys from a few seasons ago (anyone else fall hard for the Sidewalk Wedge?), I kept a pair of Clergerie nude calf mid-heel pumps... I tossed 3 - yes, 3! - pairs of practically new J.Crew shoes, each pair worn once, each pair clutched in my hands while I rode back upstairs, barefoot, in the elevator. Hard to believe that my 4th grade teacher told my parents I was a "fast learner!" I didn't put the JCs in the streetside trash bin. Just because someone's down on their luck doesn't mean their feet should hurt, too.

I decided that future shoe purchases would be cold calculated decisions rooted in need, practicality, and comfort.

and then these happened along, reduced, plus another % off, and they met all my criteria. I ordered both colors, wanted to see which would be more practical. Sessun at Madewell. Comfortable, nice wedge, lovely suede, leather lined, beautifully made.  Baaad move, I've decided to keep both, since I now have room in the shoe closet. On the bright side, they feel like they'll last for years, and I treat dark green as a basic.

I foresee terrible times ahead.