Not that long ago, the shoe closet was bursting at the seams. No so anymore. In fact it is looking rather bare.
I finally faced the fact that somewhere between the winter after my 50th birthday and now (1 month before my 52nd birthday) my feet have grown and are not likely to return to their former size. Oh I realized they had grown; how could I not? I had to buy bigger shoes. Whereas my feet were a solid 8 1/2 in flats for 20 some years (since shortly after my 30th birthday), they are now quite solidly a 9 1/2, which is really not at all unusual for my height.
But I kept hoping all those old favorites would somehow stretch to fit my growing feet.
Finally I gave in and eliminated anything that was not comfortable. There are still a few pairs that are probably questionable, pairs that seem comfortable in the house and pull too strongly at my heart strings to be abandoned quite yet. The entire purge was traumatic enough. Yet the proof will be in the wearing.
Of course, I can't refill the entire closet right away, and I am not even inclined to do so. In order to ease the trauma of looking at a sea of empty shelves, it has occurred to me that I could easily convert this closet to accommodate shoes and handbags, freeing up space elsewhere.
In the meantime, there have been a few shoe purchases, mostly practical and functional and one more frivolous. I'll start with the frivolous pair because you can also see them up there in the shoe closet photo. (photo from Zappos.com) I love these shoes and they are comfortable to wear all day, at least in this suburban area where transportation is primarily by automobile. Besides, I am rather partial to cone-shaped heels.
Here there are on me during the great purge. It was nice to have something new to put on the shelves as so many shoes were taking their leave.
My other recent purchases have been completely practical; replacements of missing or worn items.
My favorite converse slips. I still get a thrill when I wear these without the laces. It is juvenile I know, but they make me happy nonetheless. Something happened to my pair near the end of last summer and it was too late to get the light color in my size. Just as well, I was probably somewhere between my previous size and my new size and would have had to replace them again anyway.
And another pair of converse. Lovely worn with "nicer" pants, they also work well with rolled up jeans. Yes, it is true. After saying I didn't like rolled up jeans, or ankle length pants on me, I bought a pair of converse and changed my mind.
A woman's prerogative, right?
Comments
10 responses to “New Shoes and Empty Spaces”
cute shoes!! I love the frivolous ones AND the converse (both versions)
cute shoes!! I love the frivolous ones AND the converse (both versions)
I´m clapping my hands for you. Well done! Now, when you are really at it, why not get rid of the rest you feel unsure of? I have only six pairs of shoes and then three pairs of winter boots, plus the boots I use at the stable. And I have to add, that of the six pairs, a few are worn only for special events. And there are not many of those. Have you considered placing your shoes in boxes? There are lots to choose from. I have my six bags in dust bags as well.
I´m clapping my hands for you. Well done! Now, when you are really at it, why not get rid of the rest you feel unsure of? I have only six pairs of shoes and then three pairs of winter boots, plus the boots I use at the stable. And I have to add, that of the six pairs, a few are worn only for special events. And there are not many of those. Have you considered placing your shoes in boxes? There are lots to choose from. I have my six bags in dust bags as well.
I like those new ones–frivilous and funky. I did a purge recently too. Somehow, I now wear a 6.75 and there are 7s that are just too big now. I keep my shoes on shelves too. Boxes just got too unwieldy to deal with.
I like those new ones–frivilous and funky. I did a purge recently too. Somehow, I now wear a 6.75 and there are 7s that are just too big now. I keep my shoes on shelves too. Boxes just got too unwieldy to deal with.
Ohhh, those Zappos shoes won my heart! They are so elegant and look great on!
Ohhh, those Zappos shoes won my heart! They are so elegant and look great on!
Nice shoes! what brand are those from zappos?
Nice shoes! what brand are those from zappos?