Stepping forward into the Spring/Summer season with my semi-annual footwear review and inventory update. I did my usual closet-switcheroo at the end of March before our trip to Washington but with other items already on my editorial calendar, today was the first opportunity for me to this onto the blog.
Even though this is the third post that I’ve written on the matter, I’ve got a little surprise in store this time around but you’ll need some background information to truly appreciate it. Space for my footwear is limited and not optimally configured for my needs. The space includes some not so easy to access locations, mainly high shelves that require a stepladder to reach as well as some back-of-the-closet ones. Also, the space I have is located in two different closets as well as in a shelving unit in our bedroom.
Due to this configuration, I’ve made it a habit to “rotate” my footwear twice a year as the warm days of Summer give way to Fall and when Spring emerges after the dark of Winter. In doing so, I place the footwear that I’m most likely to want to wear in the upcoming months in the most accessible and visible locations. The out-of-season items are relegated to the high shelves and the other more out-of-reach areas in my closets. I provided a more detailed description and photos of this setup in my post from a year ago, Last Week, This Week: The Ol’ Closet Switcheroo.
One thing that I haven’t mentioned yet is the quantity of my footwear may also play a part in my closet space limitations problem. As of my last update (see Footwear Review: What’s Out, What’s In), I had done a significant purge, but I still have quite the collection. The first time that I’d done an actual count of my footwear was during the Fall of 2021 rotation.
I was quite methodical about it. After pulling out all of my footwear from their respective locations, I first sorted them into 12 general categories and then did my tally. The count was 111 and that was after deciding to sell/donate about a dozen or so. I hadn’t expected it to be that high although I’d guessed that the count would be over 100. Last Spring, the count was again 111 (after culling out 9) but there were a few changes in the tallies for specific categories not all of which I could account for with new purchases and eliminations in the interim.
When it came time to do the rotation last Fall, I tried to rectify the tallying challenges I’d had in the past by color-coding each box based on category. When I couldn’t find colored dot stickers, I resorted to using some inexpensive glitter paint pens that didn’t work as I had hoped. But, it did help me with my sorting/organizing this time around so it was helpful in that regard. As time drew near for my latest rotation, I pondered on the challenges I’d had with this periodic updating of my inventory and then I had an “ah-ha” moment. Why hadn’t I thought of it before?
Shh 🤫, don’t tell The Husband. He thinks that I’m a bit nutty as it is. You can call it a new level of left-brain crazy but I went and created a footwear inventory spreadsheet in Excel. Why I hadn’t thought of it before is a puzzlement considering all of the spreadsheets, charts, and graphs for numerous purposes that I’ve created in my life.
The spreadsheet has a fairly simple setup with just six columns; brand, category, description, color, date bought, and cost. The twelve categories are shown in the table below and the descriptions are just a few words about the style. As for date bought, I have receipts for about 75% saved in their respective boxes. For those that I no longer have the receipt, I was able to look up some in my purchase history at a few stores. For the rest, I used a placeholder with the date of January 1 in the year I am fairly certain that I bought them.
As seen in the table below, my current tally is 90 which is the same as it was last Fall. However, this is after accounting for 10 outgoing pairs that were replaced with 10 new acquisitions. From my inventory spreadsheet, I now know that over 1/3 of my shoes are fully or predominately black and about 1/6 are a white/beige neutral.
| October ’21 | April ’22 | October ’22 | Out | In | March ’23 | |
| Careerish shoes | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dressy shoes | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Tall boots | 13 | 13 | 9 | -3 | 1 | 7 |
| Ankle Boots | 21 | 21 | 19 | -2 | 1 | 18 |
| Mid-Height boots | 10 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Higher heel sandals | 11 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Lower heel sandals | 11 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Casual low heel shoes | 14 | 15 | 11 | -2 | 3 | 12 |
| Fashion sneakers | 9 | 9 | 11 | -3 | 0 | 8 |
| Flip flops | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Walking sneakers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| House shoes | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Totals | 111 | 111 | 90 | -10 | 10 | 90 |
For today’s look, I’m stepping away from the neutral palette of my Style Remix: Gotta Be May collection and going with pops of color. Paired with my black barrel-leg chinos from the remix collection is my Chico’s B/W striped trucker jacket bought in 2019, this recently acquired pink v-neck top, and my “new for Spring” mustard mules first seen in Blazing Through Spring. The other pops include my little silver cross-body purse that was purchased from a thrift store about 18 months ago, a white belt, and a green pendant.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. Today’s featured post from the last link-up, April’s Monthly Musings: 2023 was contributed by Joann over at Slices Of Life. Besides sharing a few of her favorite denim jacket ‘fits, Joanne also included photos of some delicious-looking recipes. Her collection of chocolate/peanut butter ones had me doing some serious drooling.
Although there wasn’t as big a change to my footwear in the past six months as there had been in the prior six months, I do see my style and choices evolving. This latest footwear review has led me to greater insights into those changes. I’m finding it easier to get rid of the shoes whose style I like but aren’t very comfortable which means I tend to not wear them. There’s more to come in this ongoing saga but until then, how have your wardrobe choices been evolving? What changes have you made to your closet lately?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
Photo credit: MMPerez
22 Comments
I have been adding way too much! I’ve been buying dresses…so many dresses! I love to wear dresses so I need to get busy and go places to wear them! In the middle of summer, I do wear them everyday. At this point in the year, I’m still as likely to be wearing layers. I am hesitant to count my shoes/boots. I don’t think I have that many, but who knows? I love reading your posts that contain various analyses of fashion! Thanks for the link party! I hope you’ll come visit on the 10th!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
It’s music to my ears to hear how you meticulously record your clothes and shoes, I do it too, and have done for a few years. I don’t have as many shoes as you but I’ve done the “switcheroo” and now see I have a couple of gaps for sandals in certain colors.
Love your method Rena and no your no bonkers it’s a super organised way xx thanks for hosting the link up xx Jacqui.
I need to practice what I preach, it’s time for a serious sort out in my wardrobe! So your detailed audit is inspiring!
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
Love the excel spread sheet idea for your shoes! My husband is planning to do something similar with his bourbon collection. Lol! I couldn’t think of a better way to get use out of everything you own. You won’t forget what you have. The contrast of the pink top with your jacket is so pretty. Thanks for the link up!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Oh Rena, I can relate! I recently did a huge shoe purge. Why do I keep shoes that I don’t wear? Once I was ready it was easy to let them go. I also organized the ones I do have – nowhere near as organized as your spreadsheet! I really enjoyed reading the post!
xo,
Kellyann
I love the pink and yellow together in your outfit 🙂 I don’t do a big shoe switchover but I do have 3 pairs of boots that only come out when it starts to cool down, haha! I mostly just have basic boring neutral shoes, handbags though, that’s something I have a lot of! 🙂
Thank you for the link up 🙂
I love the yellow slides in this post. Maybe one day I’ll do a spreadsheet but for right now ignorance is bliss.
I just bought a pair of sandals, but this year I’ve definitely bought less shoes. I think that might be the first pair. It has helped me figure out which I wear and what I would like to add. Love the spreadsheet!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravlemom.com
So very organized! And I love this colorful-ish outfit. The shocking pink is a great color on you. I am not as organized, though I’m trying to get there. I purchased a lot of different styles over the past several years trying to determine *my* style. While it’s ever a work in progress, I am finally getting there. So I am in the midst of a big purge.
Michelle
https://funkyfashionstyle.com
Thank you so much for the link up. You look amazing as always.
http://www.melodyjacob.com
Welcome to the spreadsheet tracking club! I keep a spreadsheet with most of my categories of shoes and accessories – when you’re an analytical person, it’s just so much easier that way. I bought one pair of shoes this year for an indoor shoe/boot total of 70 pairs (I don’t track my snow/rain boots or walking/hiking shoes so my total-total is probably around 80.)
Love the pops of color, metallic, and white in this outfit! The white belt is really making me smile.
Years and years ago I did a closet inventory and found it so interesting! You are motivating me to go back and look at it and see how numbers have changed. I would bet my overall shoe count is about the same as yours, although I don’t count my running/gardening shoes. Maybe I should?
I try to swap out my shoes each season too; and I’m pretty ruthless when it comes to purging them (but not so much when it comes to flip flops! I finally bought a huge basket and put every pair in there to keep them contained). Thank you so much for featuring my post!
Sounds like a very organised way. I do love organised things but don’t do that with my clothes and shoes. Perhaps I should give it a try.
Love your mostly neutral outfit with the bright pops of color! The shade of pink of your top is a great color on you. As a right brained person, your level of organization is so admirable, enviable, and way beyond my capabilities! I manage a level of tidyness by using labels and doing a seasonal closet switch out to help keep things under control. Enjoy your week and thanks for the link up!
Shoes are my weakness. I did a rough count in the fall and had just over 100 pairs too. You’re so organized keeping track in a spreadsheet. I should really do that!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I have way too many pairs of shoes, and the frustrating thing is, whenever I want a pair that I don’t wear often, I can never remember where I’ve stored them. I have thought about creating a spreadsheet with the location on, because like you, mine are stored in various places. I love the mustard mules, they look great with the hot pink top!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
What fun to wear a pop of colour like that on your feet! I can’t where shoes like that, I find I step out of them too often and it drives me nuts. I did giggle at your shoes excel sheet lol!!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Very cool kicks. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
WOW! That’s an amazing collection of footwear! I like the pops of color in your outfit. The hot pink top and the mustard mules really stand out against the black/white/gray colors in your basic apparel pieces. Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 64.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
nice
http://alyinwanderland.com