> > ~Mina "a long, long way to go yet before I
> have too many shoes" moon
>
> Whatever you say, Imelda.
>
> Gri" :oP "shny


I'm here, and I totally understand (I am with ya, Sistah), but I've steered clear of this conversation for many reasons.

First, while I have way more than twenty pairs of shoes, I definitely have fewer than probably 98% of my friends. I'm the last person anyone in my world would consider a clothes(shoe)horse. I'm incredibly particular about shoes. They must have the perfect toe shape, perfect heel height, perfect amount of naked-to-covered-foot ratio, perfect shape, perfect color, etc. I don't fork over money for footwear all willy-nilly. And I don't follow fashion trends like heel or toe shape. I like what I like and if the fashion turns to square toes, you can bet I won't pick up a new pair of shoes until fashion turns around again to something un-ugly. Still, my number is way higher than anyone here has mentioned.

Second, I didn't want to get involved because I'm not sure how much of the size of my shoe collection can be attributed to the fact that I'm the oldest female participant around here. Lots of the shoes I own are shoes I've collected over the years -- years which many of the ladies here haven't had in which to accumulate a collection. I tend to buy classics that stay in style no matter what the latest trend is, so I can keep shoes over many years and not feel like they're wasting space in my closet.

Another part of the reason I have a lot of shoes is because I'm so particular about them. If I do finally come across a pair I like, I usually buy them because I know there will be six other times I go shopping for shoes and can't find a single thing I like. I know from experience I'd better pick up something I like when I see it.

And I'm just as particular when it comes to wearing them. The shoe can make or break an outfit. For instance, I probably have five pairs of black heels. Some have open toe, some closed, some straps, some not, some thicker heels, some pointy. They all get worn. Let me tell you: there are some things you just can't wear a round toe and a thick heel with. There are some things you need to wear an ankle strap with. It's all got to go together, and one general pair of black heels doesn't cut it for me.

Additionally, I have a few pair that only go with one or two outfits. They are the perfect shoe to go with one or two things in my closet and not anything else, nor would another pair look right with the particular outfit. It's the price I pay for being picky.

Now, on a day-to-day basis, I have probably three different pairs of shoes I rotate throughout the work week, and two or three from which to chose on the weekend. Technically, I suppose, I could just as easily get by with six to ten pair. But life would hardly be any fun if I did that.

And still, I maintain I am not a "shoe person." I can see, however, how easy it would be to fall into that lifestyle.

Mou"I know I'm not consistent with the s on 'pair' but sometimes it sounds right and sometimes it don't"sie