As much as this is an addiction to many people, do not own a million pairs of shoes!
The general rule of thumb for elegant dressing suggested seven pairs of shoes. This is as many as the number of days in a week; that is seven shoes-for-7 days.
While this may seem old-fashioned, it does make sense regarding several factors. For instance, changing your pair of shoes will be fashionable and prolong the life of the shoe.
It would be best if you allowed your shoes to rest between every wear despite the upholstery. This means that materials like organic leather tend to be delicate to humidity and pollution, hence the need for rest to breathe.
Read on.
How Many Shoes Do You Need?
Let’s dive deeper and see how many shoes you need besides being a necessity and hobby for others. Yes, shoe shopping is a hobby for most people, and they end up with shoes they have never worn.
So what is the average pair of shoes you need? Regardless of your financial ability, some statistics back up the number of shoe pairs you should own.
These surveys show the average to be about 12 pairs, with women owning twice the number of men’s shoes. Indeed, away from fashion, men and women usually own shoes they don’t even wear, which is approximately two-thirds of women and half men). Moreover, 20% of wealthy women have over 50 pairs of shoes, in contrast to just 4% of men.
Another study shows 2.4 billion pairs of shoes sold annually to about 300 million people, totaling eight pairs for each person annually. This is a possible number because it consists of footwear bought for work rather than just user spending on any footwear.
How Many Shoes Is Too Many?
The number of shoes one should own is like beauty; it lies in the eyes of the beholder. As much as fashion experts and statistics recommend several pairs for both men and women as ideal, you can’t stop yourself from a good treat.
As for women, they need to own as many pairs as their moods. Besides, shoes define more of a woman’s moods than any other fashion statement on her body.
So, what’s with the shoe obsession? Your shoe size is the only honorable thing as other sizes tend to change with weight gain or loss. Hence, your feet will always look good despite the other body parts. What’s more?
However, if you wear only a handful of shoes in your closet and the rest have never seen the light of day, then it’s probably because you have way too many shoes. Do you think you fall in this category? See the signs below of someone with many shoes;
You Buy Shoes to Cheer Yourself
Well, buying shoes can make you happy, hence the term “retail therapy.”
However, with this habit, your shoes are likely to pile up quickly in your closet. Besides, a study shows 1 in 5 women go shoe shopping to get out of a foul mood.
You Hide Your Shoe Purchase from Your Partner
If you get yourself in a position of hiding your shoes from your significant other, then you might have too many shoes. According to a survey, 14% of those surveyed admitted to hiding at least a single purchase to avoid their partner’s disapproval.
Obsession of Online Shopping
Without a doubt, the internet has become a source of convenience in shopping for beautiful shoes. But it has also grown to be an addiction which makes it so hard for people to resist buying more and more pairs all the time.
Besides, nearly 29% of women buy shoes online annually, and the number continues to grow respectively.
You Consider Shoes as the Major Component of Your Outfit
People magnify different parts of their outfits. 28% of a survey stated that they consider shoes to be the essential part of their outfits, hence having many. This also shows that they will strive to get the shoes in their brains, maybe from what they saw with other people, and have them in their closets.
Buying Shoes Even If They Hurt
Sometimes, women beat the sense out of their shoe shopping. Because of the survey results, state 46% have experience buying ugly footwear for comfort while 39% like flats.
Conversely, 60% admitted that they are ready to put up with pain for the sake of fashion. So, if you happen to buy killer heels, wear them once, and then store them in the back of your closet, do not feel alone.
You Always Carry a Change of Shoes
It’s advisable to have an additional pair of change shoes with you anywhere you go. Besides, 61% of women do. However, always having an emergency pair in your car, purse, and even in the closet is a sign of owning too many shoes.
Funny enough, most people have the extra change pair to get out of heels which are not always as comfortable as they are beautiful.
Do you think you have too many shoes? After reading the above signs of someone who owns many shoes, it will be okay to make the following points;
- It is okay to own some stuff, and it’s even more okay to have some nice stuff.
- Never feel guilty for owning stuff.
- However, too much stuff is a problem.
- Most people own so many things.
- Make things more comfortable in your life until materials do not have control and ownership over you, but you don’t have to live miserably.
How Many Shoes Should A Man Own?
There’s a wise saying or advice that says that one should spend money on stuff that separates them from the ground, such as beds, tires, mattresses, and now shoes. This is because there are shoes that every man should own.
Men will always love shoes. It is not something that they will toss and drink as to how many pairs one owns, but the passion lives on. It may go against the iota of an ancient gender stereotype, but prowling deep inside most men is a relish for footwear.
Men have strong, rigid opinions on brands and styles for diverse occasions and what shoe is right for getting the job done. Also, they make deliberate decisions about the daily shoe rotation. Besides, there’s the part where they dish out advice to friends on what shoes they should purchase next. For those who love shoes, they know the exact type and quantity they should own. This type of shoe-maniacs prefers talking shoes like talking weather.
However, it is hard to define footwear. This is because it depends on the various activities a man does, the occasion, and also the weather he encounters. Different sports have specific footwear like cycling, football, running, rugby, and even walking. Every man is different with different needs. So how many pairs are adequate for a man?
Those with a large budget and the clothing inclination might think of owning a pair of each type to always have the exact right shoe for a specific outfit and an actual event.
But what about those fellows who, for either financial or logical reasons, do not wish to purchase many pairs of shoes and prefer to keep things simple? What’s the least number of shoes a man can survive with while still maintain to look sharp and show up dressed suitably in various circumstances?
The answer is three, without counting the specifically designed shoes for particular activities like sports. But three is the primary number of shoes to wear on a regular daily basis. The bottom line is, every man needs to have a pair to change daily and give breathing space for the other.
Tips to Consider When Buying Shoes
Do you have a habit of buying shoes that you don’t end up liking or using anymore? Well, a great pair of shoes can change your life in more than one way. Besides completing your outfit, it will also boost your confidence and make you feel great about yourself.
Without a doubt, various types of shoes have individual qualities and purposes. Also, the market is flooding with many kinds and claims of outliving the rest. Hence it becomes a challenge to make a perfect choice. So how do you settle on the right one?
See below the tips from the experts.
1. Basic Advice
Always bear in mind that the shoes you want to buy should take in the shape of your feet, and not vice versa. As a result, a new shoe should perfectly fit your foot when it comes to length and width.
Above all, since your toes move about 0.5 cm when you walk, they must get adequate spacing in the shoe. However, the case is different for the heels, which need firm support. For women who love wearing heels, firm support is critical to ensure they have perfectly fitting shoes. A pair of heels that is not firm may be risky for the wearer.
2. Perfect Fit
Did you know that about 80% of people buy shoes that do not fit well? While this is an outrageously high number from a study conducted by the German Shoe Institute, it is also authentic. The study noted women’s tendency towards buying smaller pairs and men buying larger pairs than their feet.
This becomes a concern and also a factor to take in mind while shopping to avoid spending on shoes that will not serve you as expected.
3. High Expectations Is Mandatory
It would be best to buy only leather shoes even though they tend to be expensive. The production of shoes needs to be of soft leather, everywhere possible to give your feet plenty room – in all the three dimensions of height, width, and length.
Immediately the shoe begins to rub your toes; you know it is not the perfect match for you. Most marketers only want to make sales for their cut in commission; hence tend to use the classic lines like “they will wear in” or “they will widen overtime”; do not fall for these.
If the pair of shoes does not fit correctly right away, do not buy them. Besides, you owe it to your healthy feet.
4. Take All the Time When Buying
When going shoe shopping, don’t be in a hurry.
It would help if you checked the inside of the shoes for any uncomfortable seams, bulges, or even hardened areas. Many shoe manufacturers do not line their footwear because they are after reducing costs; for instance, you will find in most shoes that the lining stops at the area, which is not noticeable. Consequently, the seams, bulges, and edges are visible.
Checking the fully lined shoes will ensure the consumer enjoys the ultimate level of comfort. Most of these shoes are of high-quality leather and tend to be more expensive, but these are way better and worth every penny you spend on them.
5. A Flexible Shoe Sole Is Essential
Once you have the width and height perfectly fitting, one thing is essential to verify; the leather sole’s flexibility and softness.
Flexibility is the ability to bend. Often, many people confuse the flexibility of the sole with the softness of the inner cushioning. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out the ‘bending’ test. This involves bending both the heel and the toe sections to ensure the sole takes a V form. Achieving this comfortable bend shows that the shoes have classic flexibility.
6. The Flatter, the Better
One of the significant recommendations when purchasing shoes is to ensure you get as structurally and orthopedically flat as possible. The inside movement of the foot will only take place appropriately in flat shoes. This is because there is proper weight circulation at the arch of the foot and the metatarsal bones.
Well, don’t get it twisted if you are a fan of heels. However, it would be best to wear them in restraint and only as long as your feet can endure high heels’ pressure. It is also essential to balance this style of footwear and comfortable shoes every day.
7. Fit Both Shoes
Usually, feet vary in length and width. Right-handed people tend to have a dominant right foot, which is a bigger size than the two. This is the contrary case for left-handed people. That is why you should always fit both shoes to ensure a balanced and perfect fit.
Moreover, shoes tend to gain length and width with age. Consequently, the shoe size can vary with age, which is why you should be liberal when buying shoes. As long as a shoe fits you perfectly, it shouldn’t matter if it’s a size bigger or smaller than your standard fitting.
Besides, manufacturers tend to make shoes differently. But what matters is how the particular shoe of your choice feels on your own, individual foot.
8. The time of day
The time of day can affect your feet’ size and shape; for instance, hot days tend to make most feet swell. Therefore you should buy your shoes in the evening and preferably jog a little earlier so that your feet reach the level of a “working temperature.” Then you can try on the shoes when they have some bit of swelling.
9. Beware Of the Leather Finishing
It would be best to neglect whether the shoe is of a synthetic or leather finish. Humans discharge about 0.1 cl equal to a shot glass of sweat from their feet every day. It is, therefore, vital that the shoe is breathable and can absorb dampness.
Leather is an organic product with unique material properties. Compared to other materials, leather tops, due to their flexibility and straightforward rate, absorb and release moisture. It is advisable to have shoes with real leather or high-grade breathable microfiber to have a healthy foot environment that avoids sweaty feet.
10. Know Your Manufacturer
The manufacturer of the shoe plays a significant role in your decision of the right shoe. With a good and renowned manufacturer, you will be sure of both the craft and the materials’ quality, for instance, the tanning of the leather used.
Consumers are becoming increasingly mindful of the source and durability of their leather. Conversely, it is becoming more difficult for a consumer to ascertain the quality of the materials. Lately, faux leather is becoming well-polished, that only experts can tell the difference in comparison to genuine leather.
Therefore, look for reviews and recommendations of great manufacturers that will not disappoint their products’ quality even though they tend to be costly.
How to Care For Your Shoes
- Ensure you spray your shoes with a water-resistant. This will ensure the surface does not stain even if they soak in the rain.
- Add half-soles and taps of rubber on the undersides as reinforcement for durable shoes.
- Alternate between pairs to allow them to breathe and prevent comfortable wearing and tearing.
- Allow your shoes to dry for several hours after cleaning before storing them in the closet or shoe racks.
- For those with a feet odor problem, regularly clean the insides. Wipe them with alcohol, a drop of tea tree oil, or an antifungal. Be careful not to splash to prevent staining the leather.
- Always wear sock liners. This will safeguard against sweat, which wears down insoles.
- When storing the shoes, use shoe trees to help maintain the shoe’s shape.
- For your leather shoes, ensure you polish leather after cleaning. Sweat has salt, which tends to dry out leather eventually. Therefore frequent polishing retains its flexibility.
To sum up, there is no specific answer for the number of shoes whether a man or a woman should own. Relatively, the number should be subject to your lifestyle, wants, and budget.
