Say what? How many?

If one of those national statistics people came up to me in the street and started to interrogate me about how many shoes I had, I really would be stumped.  It's one of those statistics that they do routinely and then the press like to run articles ridiculing women who spend their dosh on shoes such as this piece in the Times based on the  recent survey done in October which told us that women over the age of 40 have over 19 pairs of shoes but 5% have 100 pairs or more.  I would be stumped because I have never really counted or cared to count.  Nor am I one of those people who think of themselves as having 'Carrie Bradshaw' shoe syndrome.  You know those people who seem to live manically for shoes and like to declare proudly that they have well over 1000 pairs of shoes Imelda Marcos-style.  In my deranged mind, I really thought I was not at all a shoe gal and that the number of shoes I had was pretty average and mediocre.

So in a bored moment whilst packing for Hong Kong, a stroke of randomness impelled me to count my shoes.  So I sorted, counted, lined them up and the results?  71 pairs of shoes.

Oh...my...dear...god....

And you know what's really bad?

That's not including boots (knee length).

Or trainers/sneakers.

What's even even worse?

That's not including the shoes I have back at home (my parents place) and also back in Hong Kong.

Or the ones I regularly take to the charity shop.

Oh....crap....... *mumbles to herself whilst rocking herself in the corner* 'I'm not a shoe gal, I'm not a shoe gal, I'm not, I'm really not.......'

Comments

[Ambika]

Just have a nice hot toddy and repeat to yourself that acceptance is the way.

Just kidding. In reality, I am full of envy over here. Not at the number but at the picture. Because of your 71 pairs, there are some amazing shoes in there.

[lachipie]

no worries, I assume there's a capital of way less than 40,000 $ here, you're safe and you far from the 1000 pair. And anyway if yours shoes are all this cool , its worth it

[Juliet]

Where do you keep them all? I probably only have about 35 pairs of shoes and they threaten to take over my room.
Also, once I told some of my male friends how many pairs of shoes I had and they went into shock, totally couldn't believe it, because most of them had about three pairs of shoes, one for work and going out, one for everyday, and a pair of flip flops for the summer.

[b.]

Haha! Now we know!!

[yas]

ah, you have the pink miu mius! they are gorgeous. i can't find them anywhere, only the cream ones :(

[Amy]

Ach, I am going away to college soon (hopefuly) and live in daily terror at the thought of cramming my astounding 20something pairs into the tiny dorm closet! How do you stow yours in a savvy way, when they are off-duty?

[Stephie]

Now you can't deny it anymore - 71 pairs?! You're definitely a shoe girl

[Miya]

I like to think of them as my personal fleet and myself as a footwear archivist. I almost bought a pair of Adele Clarkes 3 sizes too large simply because of their flawless design
http://minirobot.wordpress.com/2006/05/30/minnys-militia/

[Lexx]

You are not going insane. This is more of a phenomonal triumph! Us followers of your blog applaud you for such a great achievement! *applause*

<3
my room doesn't even have a walk-in closet- if I had that many pairs, i would be drowning in shoes!

[lloyda]

i am drooling over your shoes collection susie. i am a shoe gal myself. my dad reckon that i'm so materialistic/shopaholic that my room looked like a warehouse/stockroom. hahaha. i tried counting my shoes before but after i reach 50 i gave up. ;) i think women can never have too many shoes/bags/clothes.

[E]

Trust me, it's glorious, not a bad thing.

[SwanDiamondRose]

oh oh...

[Ryan]

Don't fret Susie! I too recently counted my collection and was shocked at what I found. They just accumulate - but seriously, one never knows when they'll need to call on that special pair at the back of the closet....

[Helen]

Whao...I'm shocked..XD There're some really nice ones in there, I'm jealous..

[La Norteñita]

ha ha ha!

[Piggy Trotter]

Ha ha... Susie the shoegal.
Don't fret, though, none of them look superfluous since you put them all to excellent use with clothes.

[anette]

So gorgeous and so many! Eeek! I just want to pet them or something... Made me feel like buying new shoes :)

[penny]

sigh. I only have 25 pairs of shoes.. I'm jealous.. lol.. I mean, among those 25, only 6 of them I wear all the time. I'm sad and I'm slowly drifting away. I want new shoes.. *sobs* how come you have 71 pairs of ultra gorgeous shoes.. unfair. how unfair.. hehe

[morgen]

may you be the next emelda marcos! i have 32, im working up to that 350 number. ;)

[sweetie1103]

just think of your "cllection" as an accomplishemnt. self acceptance is the only route to go. would LOVE if you ever did a show and tell of your closet and shoe collection organization how-to blog! my room desperately needs someone to show us how to stash and store the lovelies as the shoes are literally spilling out of every nook and cranny!

[La Principessa]

I always denied being a shoe person as well, until I hit the 50+ mark.

Now, though, I feel much better! So thank you ;)

[punky]

i dont think of myself as a shoe person either, but when i counted i had 59...thats crazy...i think all girls must have alittle "shoegirl" in them

[susie_bubble]

Please don't ask me how I stow my shoes as I'm a complete wardrobe abuser. I don't treat my shoes or clothes with the respect they deserve.... that's probably why I buy so much - to replace the stuff I have wrecked....

[Theresa]

Being a "shoe gal" I can just say - congratulations on joining the club! My friend and I have concluded recently that we are not "addicted to" shoes but rather, we are "shoes users". Because we do use all those shoes that we buy. See, these are completely rational, calculated moves. Nothing impulsive here... We're not addicts, we're users... ;)