sneaker-lickin' good

[cimorene]

Keen's suede "Ventura".

waxjism's family, simply because they are slobs and because it's my hobby to talk about shoes, have this annoying ide fixe that I am some kind of Imelda Marcos. Despite the fact that they have only seen me in high heels at a wedding, because I otherwise invariably wear sneakers or ballet flats, when a commercial for Paris during Eurovision last night consisted of someone filling a suitcase with about 8 pairs of fugly high heels Brother Windows thought it was quite witty to quip "It must be Cim going on a trip!" And he acted surprised when I pointed out that I don't even own more than two pairs of them (I'd certainly never take them on vacation).

When I pointed out a coupla years ago that at my age 15 pairs of shoes (of which 6 were sneakers, one were galoshes and one were snowboots!) wasn't very much, they were all "Oh, only fifteen!" Whereas 15 is totally standard for any sort of adult woman who cares about fashion, regardless of whether she is particularly into shoes.

* Indicates ones that I wear at all often, say, more than 3 times a year.

1-3. Sandals.
(no picture)
Imitation Birkenstock sandals: didn't get warm enough for these at all last summer in Finland, because I have extremely poor circulation. Sequinned flip-flops: I wouldn't count these at all, especially as they were bought for $6 USD at Target in 2002, but I'm sure Brother Windows would. Brown wool felt Birkenstock Boston clogs: rarely worn anymore as they can't get wet.
4-5. Heels.

Metallic bronze spike-heel formal sandals from H&M: worn twice, at Brother Linux's wedding and to a restaurant in Paris the night my Dad fell into a coma on vacation. Retro red leather MJs purchased for kitten_head's wedding next October; never worn.
6-10. Ballet flats.

Embroidered cotton MJs from a Chinese grocery. Black €2 slip-ons from H&M*. Red leather MJs*, gold jeweled flats*, white patent flats*, all from Indiska, each under €10.
11-14. Boots.

Ankle galoshes*. Dr Martens Vondas (my winter boots)*. Wedge-heeled black leather urban hikers by Kenneth Cole*, bought at after-Xmas clearance 8 years ago for $80 USD (I rarely wear these anymore as waxjism has claimed them for winter boots and refuses to buy a pair with actual insulation). 3"-heeled leather kneeboots, same age & price as the former: I almost never wear these because heels this high cause my insteps to cramp, but they're in decent shape and have a nice sturdy heel.
15-20. Sneakers.

Marimekko apple-print Omena*. Vans butterfly-skull print velcro Prison Issue*. Keds baby cabled slip-ons*. Keds buffalo plaid slip-ons*. Aerosoles red tweed driving mocs*. Puma Mystere Chevron*.

21. Wax's shoes which I often wear: Custom green converse with neon green animal-print tongue:

Comments

[norah]

Dude, I think I maybe have more shoes than you do. No, I'm sure I do.

Of course, I have my home/work shoe split because of the type of job I have, which wasn't a concern for you even when you were working. But Now I'm feeling all...excessive. *counts* 2 flip flops, 3 flats, 2 gender-neutral business shoes, 2 house slippers, 2 boots, 5 fancy designer heels, 1 workout shoes, 1 sneakers. 19!

And three pairs heeled sandals which I really need to get rid of, as I no longer wear heels in casual situations because it fucks up my knees, so I don't think they count.

I think that's it?

...There are at least 3 pair of the others that I rarely wear, but they are of colors or styles that I need in case there is That Outfit or That Occasion, which is another thing that boys do not understand about shoes. Also I need some really nice blue shoes, but haven't found any yet, wah.

[cimorene]

Hee. I also have 1 pair of sheepskin slippers, and there was a much-mourned pair of fur-trimmed winter boots that just died this January (the zipper broke) and two pairs I've bought but had to pass down to Wax cause they're just SLIGHTLY too small and pinch my toes. If I had a job that required business casual I'd probably have you beat, though, because I don't really have any shoes right now that could work for that. (I used to, but they pinched my toes, and the heels were too high anyway. Well, there's one of the aforementioned slightly-too-small pairs.)

[alafaye]

I think for any woman there should be a standard set of shoes.

Two heel shoes--one black, one white

Two sandals--again one black, one white

Boots for winter

Shoes for work (depends on the job--for me it's a set of classy black shoes that have lasted a couple of years)

Flats for any occasion

As with norah, though, the heels shouldn't be standard because some of us can't wear heels. My mom can't because numerous surgeries have made it impossible for her ankle to bend. But a basic set of shoes as I've described I think should be standard. Because there will be occasions that call for them and if you have them on hand, you don't have to panic and look for the right set. ;)

(Needless to say I've also get a standard set of what a woman should own in her closet ;)

[cimorene]

I can't agree with that. There's an infinite variety of situations in life, and every person is exposed to different sets of them, so I don't believe in any such thing as a universal wardrobe. There can't even be a universal wardrobe within, say, the continental US (which would already exclude me, so I have little interest): too much climate variation. I don't think even a majority of women have any need of high heels: there's nobody that heels are good for.

The concept of base color can be useful, though. In my house, that'd be black and red, but I think for most people just black is sufficient. Most people will not encounter any situations where they are required to dress all in brown or all in white or, say, all in pastels, which would make black shoes inappropriate.

Debating in a fun way; not meant in a argumental way

[alafaye]

*makes mental note to have a thesaurus and dictionary by her desk* Standard I mean able to use for whatever occasion should arrive. Black and white go with anything hence using them. Some clothes don't go with black shoes and vice versa, hence both.

Again heels for those comfortable with them, not that they should be for everyone.

Again...I've got to learn to look up words before tossing them out *headdesk* Standard wardrobe means clothes that can be worn for different occasions, whatever they are and whenever they are.

This is not to say that the wardrobe should be limited to these. Freedom of color, I say, and freedom of preference! But...instead of standard...maybe basic?

[torachan]

Wow, really? I have one friend who is really into shoes and I know has a lot, but I wouldn't have guessed that many being average. My mom wears Birkenstocks only (one pair in black), and I don't think I've ever looked at the feet of any other women I know well (which would only be like, my aunts, my grandma, and my one friend, anyway).

[cimorene]

Welll I don't mean it's normal for every woman, just every woman who's interested in clothes or shoes, either one. A lot of people treat it like a hobby.

[aethel]

This post prompted me to look at my closet. 15 pairs of shoes sounded like luxurious indulgence, I thought. But I have 12, just to cope with all the terrain, weather, and social situations I'm likely to encounter.

[pineapplechild]

see, i'd like to be able to say i only have two pairs of shoes, one for the winter, and one for the summer. but i'm one of those people with very distinctly different wardrobe styles which thus demand different shoes for the various different situations. and i'm a sucker for shoes.

so i have, here in my dorm room: keen sandals, flip flops, two pairs of black heels, one a fairly season generic three or four inch peep toe, the other a strappy summer sandal with five inch spike heels, black low top converse, knee high boots (no heel), bike shoes (blue! mens! mountain biking, recessed clips!), navy vans, doc marten brouges, hiking boots and running shoes. I know there are more at home, including more heels. (which are for the most part black. i know a good thing when i see it.)

[zanzando]

Man.

When I still lived in Brazil, I had a dozen flip flops in a variety of colours, and a pair of sneakers. That was it.

Now that I'm living in Berlin, I have: 3 pairs of flip flops, 6 pairs of sneakers, 1 pair of boots, 2 pairs of high heels, and 3 pairs of sandals of varying heights.