Step right up, step right up! My semi-annual footwear review and inventory update is back in town. Twice a year I open the closet, shuffle the boxes, and count the pairs. And every time, the results are part spectacle and part reality check.
If you appreciate stats, I’ve got those as well. Anyone who knows me isn’t surprised to discover that I have my footwear inventory cataloged on an Excel spreadsheet and that I’ve color-coded the shoe boxes as well. Space for my vast footwear collection is limited and not really well laid out for my storage needs. The entirety of it 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 is located in two different closets as well as in shelving units 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. The photos below should give you a sense of my storage space challenge.
As I’ve already alluded to, the quantity of my footwear likely also plays a part in my closet space limitation problem. I’ve done significant purges in the past (see Fall 2022 Footwear Review: What’s Out, What’s In from 3 years ago), but there’s been a slow creep back to those numbers. While I’ve been doing a semi-annual rotation for much longer, the first time I’d ever actually counted my footwear was in Fall 2021.
Before I get to the numbers, I should note that my footwear story isn’t just about quantity; it’s also about change. My style has evolved over the years, and what I reach for today isn’t always what I would have chosen a decade ago. Trends and needs shift, comfort becomes more of a priority, and I’ve learned that certain pairs just don’t earn their space, no matter how pretty they look in pictures.
Storage, too, is an ongoing consideration. I’ve tried to maximize the space I do have with plastic boxes, clear labels, and rotation strategies, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t still daydream about a walk-in closet worthy of a magazine spread. For now, it’s a juggling act, but at least a functional one. And, happily, unlike in some previous years, there were no unpleasant surprises. No lurking fungus, no shoes beyond saving, just some dust to wipe away and the occasional scuff to buff out. Small victories, but I’ll take them.
Next, let’s talk about the process and how much time it takes. I started mid-afternoon by pulling all footwear from its present locations, inspecting them, and then grouping them by ‘type’ (as assigned by me). Each type has a corresponding colored dot that I’ve affixed to the boxes. This makes it so much easier to group them and reconcile the counts for each type against the inventory spreadsheet. I’d had an a-ha moment in Spring 2023, as time came to do my footwear rotation/count, that I should record it on a spreadsheet rather than a text note. Anyway, this is also when I make my initial assessment of which pairs I’m considering for culling. Any newly purchased footwear that hasn’t yet been added to the spreadsheet is stacked separately (see photos below). It took a little over an hour for me to pull/inspect/assess, and another 15 minutes to reconcile the type counts against the inventory.
After a break for dinner, I began adding the information for the new purchases you see above on the right to the spreadsheet. Data points on the spreadsheet include type, brand, color, description, date bought, and cost. There’s a tabulation section on that tab that shows totals by type. It took about 45 minutes to update the inventory with the new purchases and to make a final decision on what footwear I would be culling. The spreadsheet has two tabs: one labeled ‘current’ and the other labeled ‘removed’. For every culled pair, I cut the data row from ‘current’ and paste it onto ‘removed’, noting the date removed as well as whether it was donated or put up for sale.
Are you ready for the stats? Sure, you are. Shown in the table below are the types and counts going back 4 years. Across the top are the month/year, and the out/in counts on the right side are the changes since April of this year. Overall, my footwear inventory grew by a net of 5 since April, with a majority of my purchases being casual sandals and casual low-heeled shoes. No surprise there. The shoes/boots that were culled were ones that I hadn’t been wearing and seemed to be redundant. Hard choices had to be made.
| Type | 10/21 | 4/22 | 10/22 | 3/23 | 9/23 | 4/24 | 10/24 | 4/25 | Out | In | 9/25 |
| Ankle Boots | 21 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| CLH Shoes* | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 22 | -5 | 5 | 22 |
| C Sandals* | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | -1 | 7 | 17 |
| D Sandals* | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Dressy Shoes | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 1 |
| F Sneakers* | 9 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | -2 | 2 | 12 |
| Flip flops | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Heels | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| House Shoes | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| MH Boots* | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | -2 | 3 | 11 |
| Tall Boots | 13 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | -4 | 1 | 6 |
| W Sneakers* | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 111 | 111 | 90 | 90 | 93 | 97 | 109 | 102 | -15 | 20 | 107 |
* CLH – casual low-heel; C sandals – casual; D sandals – dressy; F sneakers – fashion; MH boots – mid-height; W sneakers – walking
At this point, I’d spent 3½ hours on this endeavor, and now I needed to figure out where their respective new ‘homes’ would be. It’s rather like putting together a jigsaw puzzle but without a picture to guide you. It took about 1½ hours, but I got it worked out, and every pair but four has a designated spot. The reason for four without a designated spot is that they don’t have boxes. I’m working on a solution for that, and then they will no longer reside on the floor in front of my dresser. In total, I spent just about 5 working hours on this latest semi-annual footwear assessment and inventory update.
Those numbers only tell part of the story. While the stats table shows a net gain of five in the casual low-heeled shoe category, it doesn’t capture the fact that every one of those additions was a loafer. Clearly, I’ve been leaning into a comfort-meets-classic vibe, and loafers tick both boxes for me. They’re versatile enough to wear with jeans, trousers, or even dresses and skirts, easy to slip on and off (a must when shopping 😉), and polished without being fussy. Different colors, textures, and details keep each pair from feeling like just another repeat. Plus, loafers actually fit my feet better than some of the more trendy styles like suede clogs, slingbacks, or ballet flats, which never seem quite right on me anyway.
Naturally, one pair from the new lineup found its way into my outfit photos. These silver beauties are such a standout, adding a punch to any everyday look (see photo on left below for a close-up of them along with the other noobies). Paired with cuff-rolled jeans, a brightly hued polo-collared sweater, and a thrifted blazer, this was the perfect ensemble to wear after tackling that closet chaos. The whole look strikes just the right balance of polish and practicality, proof that the true reward for a successful closet shuffle is stepping out in style.
Speaking of new-to-me, another highlight this season is the trio of pre-loved finds that was added to the mix (see photo on right above). The boots in the middle were featured last week in On The Hunt: Black Boots. I thoroughly enjoy the thrill of thrifting and secondhand shopping, and these three pairs prove why: they’re unique, gently worn, and came at a fraction of the original cost. Buying secondhand not only stretches the budget but also keeps good shoes out of landfills, which makes me feel even better about bringing them home. Each one fills a gap (real or imagined 😂) in my wardrobe and brings a touch of personality with it.
And that’s a wrap on this season’s spectacle of stats, boxes, and pairs. The closet shuffle may have taken hours of effort, but the payoff is having my favorites ready to step into as the season progresses. Step right up again in six months when the Spring 2026 edition makes its debut, because you can always count on me for another round of stats and stories.
Now I’d love to know: do you rotate your footwear (or wardrobe) with the seasons, or do you keep everything at the ready year-round?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Photo credit: MMPerez
Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program, where I earn a small commission for each click at no additional cost to you.
20 Comments
Makes me all warm and fuzzy cuzz !!
Perhaps you could pass along a kind reminder to your cousin that having so many shoes is a good thing 😂
I always love these types of posts. After your last one, I counted my shoes and I was right around 50. My kids were shocked! I really love that cow print pair of loafers!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I’m glad you like the post. I was a bit surprised that my number had gotten so high but what’s a gal to do when a great option comes along. The cow print ones were a very recent acquisition and I just couldn’t pass them up.
Best Wife Ever!!!!🥰
I feel the love. Thanks honey! 😊
As a fellow shoe lover, I enjoyed this post! When I swap out my sandals for boots seasonally, I do purge, but I’ve never counted them. I’m not sure if I want to know what the numbers are though!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you! I can always tell a fellow shoe lover when I see one. Doesn’t it feel like swapping sandals for boots is the real start of the season? I totally get not wanting to know the exact number, sometimes ignorance really is bliss, but I’ve found counting helps me see patterns (and to rein myself in a little).
I just finished my seasonal wardrobe switch from summer to fall/winter and wrote about it on my blog this morning! Footwear has yet to be done though. I can’t begin to imagine having 107 pairs, but now I’m curious to find out how many I do have.
Oh, I’ll have to pop over and read your post, I love seeing how others tackle the seasonal switch! The footwear part always takes me the longest. I didn’t plan to reach 107 pairs; it just sort of… accumulated. You might be surprised when you start counting, it adds up faster than we think!
I’m not sure I want to know how many shoes, etc I have!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Haha, I completely understand that! There are definitely days when I wish I didn’t know either. But once you start counting, it’s hard to stop, kind of like buying the shoes!
I need to do a footwear purge soon! Love the boots that you have. You have inspired me to organize my closet!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you! A good purge always feels so satisfying once it’s done. I’m glad to hear you’re feeling inspired; organizing your closet can be its own kind of reset for the season!
My goodness, you have a shoestore! You are keeping to much, lol. You need space for new ones. What a amazing hair you still have btw!
LOL, it does look a bit like a mini shoe store, doesn’t it? I keep telling myself it’s all about having options! And thank you for the sweet compliment about my hair, that made my day.
Fascinating to read about your shoe collection. I do rotate mine, although I keep a couple of pairs of ankle boots at hand in case I need them for a particular outfit. I’m very impressed at your data! I know there are some pairs I didn’t wear at all last year but I’m loathe to get rid of them. Thanks for linking at #TuesdayTwirl
I enjoy hearing how others handle their rotations, keeping a few ankle boots handy sounds smart. I know that feeling about the pairs that don’t get worn much; it’s so hard to part with them when they still might be perfect for something!
Wow that is quite the collection! I’m almost afraid to count up how many pairs I have. Living with all boys/men they tend to give me a lot of grief for having so many since they each have 2-3 pairs.
Thank you! It definitely adds up faster than we realize. I know the feeling, the guys in my house (one in particular) are the same way! They can’t quite understand why we might need options beyond sneakers and dress shoes.