I should mention that although my feet are wide at the front my heels are very narrow and so I can't wear regular court shoes (pumps) or ballet flats or anything that doesn't have a strap across the front of the foot or I just walk out of them.
I also want to mention that when I buy shoes on eBay I buy new, unworn shoes, not used.
Okay, so here is what 40 pairs of shoes looks like - I left some out for this photo, and didn't include my boots, Crocs or flip-flops:
Let's start with the boots, of which I have 10 pairs.
#1
Brand: Clarks
From: Clarks outlet store
Price: £65
Notes: I never usually spend this much on shoes / boots but I really wanted a classic pair of leather boots to last forever. I had a cheap pair last winter that I wore to death. They only cost £18 but only lasted one season. These were at the outlet store so they weren't full price, so even though they were relatively expensive they were still a bargain. I love that the calves of these boots are adjustable to allow for wearing over leggings / jeggings (or, let's be honest, weight gain).
#2
Brand: Clarks
From: Boundary Mill outlet store
Price: £70 I think
Notes: I adore these boots - they are casual enough to be worn with leggings and dressy enough to wear with a skirt to church. So comfortable. Again, relatively expensive but still a bargain as I didn't pay full price.
#3
From: Shoemarket
Price: £2.99!
Notes: Total cheap bargain and they are crap quality but I like the cutout detail and heel height and shape. The pleather is peeling already so they won't last long but hey - bargain!
#4
From: Shoemarket
Price: £2.99!
Notes: They were so cheap I had to get them in black too!
#5
From: TJ Hughes
Price: £11 I think
Notes: Inexpensive, plain ankle boots to wear with jeans and trousers.
#6
From: TJ Hughes
Price: £11 I think
Notes: Again, bought the black version too. I like the crossover strap at the ankle.
#7
From: TJ Hughes
Price: about £12 I think
Notes: Very comfortable.
#8
From: TJ Hughes
Price: about £18 I think
Notes: This fake leather is so good that it took me ages to figure out if it was fake or not. I like the faux suede detail at the top.
#9
From: Topshop
Price: about £20 I think
Notes: I can only zip these up when I'm at my thinnest. Which I'm SO not right now. Hence invisible model.
#10
From: Asda, in the boys' department
Price: £4.50 in the sale
Notes: Bargain wellies. I like to check out the kids' departments as I'm a size 5 (European 38, I think that's a US size 7½) and I sometimes find cute things. These boots are great because they can pass for regular boots, they don't scream rain boot. You've seen me wear green wellies before but they were a size too big and I no longer have them.
Okay, moving onto heels of which I have plenty (14 pairs). I'm really into colourful shoes - if I have a black skirt with pink, red and green flowers on, I'll look at my pink, red or green shoes before I even think of wearing black. But I have plenty of black and brown shoes too.
#11
From: Tesco
Price: £4.50 in the sale
Notes: So cute and trendy, these are genuine suede and lined with sheepskin.
#12
From: Tesco
Price: £4.50 in the sale
Notes: Duh, at that price I had to get brown too! These are leather, not suede.
#13
Brand: Lime
From: Next outlet store
Price: £18
Notes: I like the little cutout details and the way the heel is completely round where it touches the ground. They are purple but are dark enough that they don't scream PURPLE and they actually go with a surprisingly lot of my clothes.
#14
Brand: Topshop or New Look, can't remember
From: eBay
Price: I can't remember but it was probably less than £7 including shipping as that's usually my limit
Notes: Love the white piping and button detail. The strap is very low but surprisingly I don't walk out of them.
#15
From: Shoemarket
Price: £5.99
Notes: Love the little cutout details, the scallops around the top and the quirky shape of the heel. These are very comfy.
#16
From: Asda
Price: £18 I think
Notes: If you gotta go with straps, why not big it up with three of them! Love the shiny patent.
#17
From: Tesco
Price: £15
Notes: Love the super shiny patent and the straps which look like two together. I'm kind of obsessed with red shoes.
#18
From: Tesco
Price: £18
Notes: I adore these shoes. The buckle in the middle of the front, cutout detail, stack heel - love them.
#19
Brand: Marks & Spencer
From: charity shop (thrift store)
Price: £3.99 I think
Notes: Okay, these weren't new but looked like they'd only been worn once or twice. Love the cutout, embroidery and stud details.
#20
Brand: Tesco
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £5.99 including shipping
Notes: I adore my turquoise peeptoes and wanted something similar for winter when I don't want an open toe. I like the black elastic front, it's different, and love that they are patent.
#21
Brand: River Island
From: charity shop (thrift store)
Price: £8 I think
Notes: Love these, they make me feel all rock-chick when I wear them. They have a hidden platform in the front so they aren't difficult to walk in.
#22
From: Shoemarket
Price: Can't remember, less than £10 though
Notes: I like that they have a strap and a T-strap for interest. I can really enjoy them now that the reek of petrochemicals has worn off (ha ha! Gotta love cheap shoes!)
#23
From: eBay
Price: I can't remember but it was probably less than £7 including shipping as that's usually my limit
Notes: Bright silver? Why the heck not! I love the eyelets on the holes.
#24
From: eBay
Price: I can't remember but it was probably less than £7 including shipping as that's usually my limit
Notes: These are brand new and unworn, but as you can see the straps have been scuffed so I can't wear them with anything except jeans which cover the straps. Grr.
Okay, let's go completely opposite and move onto casual shoes, of which I have 10 pairs.
#25
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £4.99 including shipping
Notes: Like I said, I'm kind of obsessed with red shoes. I like that these are kind of a cross between shoes and sandals and are super comfy.
#26
From: eBay
Price: I can't remember but it was probably less than £7 including shipping as that's usually my limit
Notes: See? Red shoes are just sassy and cute. I like the cutouts and the comfort.
#27
Brand: Clarks
From: Clarks outlet store
Price: I can't remember - I want to say £18?
Notes: I like the zig-zag strap which is a little different.
#28
From: Asda
Price: £12 I think
Notes: I've worn these to death and they have a hole in the heel that little stones get caught in and rattle around but they are SO comfy that I can't stop wearing them. I wear them with and without socks.
#29
Brand: Caravelle
From: Brantano
Price: £30
Notes: You'll notice I only spend more on shoes that are a good brand, classics, leather and I'll wear loads. (Except for one pair, which you'll see soon.) I like the zig-zag strap and the slight wedge.
#30
Brand: Padders
From: TJ Hughes
Price: £18
Notes: Classic leather Mary Jane style shoes. Can't have too many! These look a little frumpy so I wear them with bootleg jeans that kind of cover them.
#31
Brand: Coolers
From: A whole stall of them at a car boot sale (new)
Price: £15
Notes: SO SO comfortable. I like the details, velcro strap and mix of leather and suede.
#32
From: Asda
Price: £12
Notes: I bought these to replace the ones a bit further up, the ones I wear to death. But I still prefer the other ones. I need to wear these in and comfy them up. I wore them once without socks and they ripped a hole in the back of my heel and I had to take them off and walk the rest of the way home from school barefoot with blood pouring off my heel. True story.
#33
From: Tesco
Price: £12
Notes: Okay, they're looking a little rough right now but I wear these all the time (with bootleg jeans). I love that they are metallic, have velcro straps and are so comfy.
#34
Brand: Asics
From: Local sports shop
Price: £80 - most expensive shoe I own!
Notes: I really want to get into exercise and got properly fitted for these and everything but ... I just don't know what to say. Ironic that my most expensive shoes are the least worn. I'm determined to change that in New Zealand and I'm sure my friend Nic will
Ooh, let's go back to heels again and look at some peeptoes. I don't have many (only 4 pairs) but the ones I have are adorable.
#35
Brand: Matalan
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £5.95 including shipping
Notes: HOW CUTE?! Because the strap is so low I have to wear silicone heel grips with these but then I can walk in them okay without them flopping off. I adore the satin, the polka dots, the heel and the little strap. Cuteness!
#36
From: eBay
Price: I can't remember but it was probably less than £7 including shipping as that's usually my limit
Notes: My friend Rachel said these look like Vivienne Westwood shoes. Okay then! I like the T-bar, the heel height and shape and how comfy they are, and of course the pinkness. So girlie.
#37
From: Asda
Price: £12
Notes: I think these kicked off my colourful shoes obsession and I ADORE them. Definite favourites. I love the satin, the patent heel, and how foxy I feel when I wear them. I always get compliments when I wear them.
#38
From: TK Maxx
Price: £18
Notes: I love the vintage feel and the cutout and wrapover detail.
Let's talk about wedges. It took me a long time to like wedges and even longer to like them on me ... but now I'm nothing short of obsessed. I have 9 pairs, most of them recent purchases. I'm still not keen on wedge shoes, but wedge sandals are great - casual, but still heels. Although in super-casual New Zealand I'll probably be horribly overdressed turning up at a BBQ in wedges when everyone else is in jandals (flip-flops).
#39
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £7.74 including shipping
Notes: I've been after a nice pair of white wedges since last summer and I love these.
#40
Brand: Clarks
From: Clarks outlet store, and on sale
Price: £7
Notes: I adore these and am cursing myself for not buying the white ones which were only £5. I bought these black ones, loved them, went back a couple of days later for the white but I didn't have cash and they were having trouble with their card machine. Grr, I should have drawn £5 from the Tesco cash point next door but I was feeling rushed as G and the kids were with me so I just left. The worst part is Grant told me to draw money and go and get them, he told me I would regret it and he was right. Anyway, I love these wedges as they are so comfortable. I like the casual canvas fabric and the sisal on the wedge. These were my first pair of wedges.
#41
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £6.25 including shipping
Notes: I couldn't resist them, even though I already have a pair of black wedges. Very comfy.
#42
From: Asos, in the sale
Price: £10, no shipping
Notes: I love, love, love these. Love the design, love how comfortable they are, and hello - they're red!
#43
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £6.50 including shipping
Notes: I love me some green! These are dressy wedges rather than casual wedges.
#44
From: eBay
Price: I can't remember but it was probably less than £7 including shipping as that's usually my limit
Notes: Sunshine on my feet! How cute?!
#45
Brand: Next
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £7.77
Notes: I adore these - so cute, casual and feminine. I love that they are leather and I like the little studded flower detail.
#46
From: eBay (recent purchase)
Price: £8.49 (I got a little carried away)
Notes: I like these, but I don't love them. Don't get me wrong, I like these wedges, but I'm not keen on the way the heel bows out at the back - I didn't see that when I bought them. I think it's weird. I might sell them on eBay - I won't wear them until I decide as they'll obviously sell better new (they're unworn). Easy come, easy go! I've actually turned a profit doing this before. There are shoes you've seen in my what I wore posts that don't appear in my collection here, and it's because I've sold them.
#47
Brand: New Look
From: eBay
Price: £5.70 including shipping
Notes: These look pretty high but they are so comfortable and easy to walk in. I love all the strap detail and the fact that the straps are kind of padded so they are very comfy. I love metallics.
Okay, lastly we have sandals, 6 pairs of them. Two pairs are packed somewhere and I can't find them, so excuse the old pictures. So glad we're moving to a warmer country where I'll actually get more wear out of my wedges and sandals!
#48
From: New Look
Price: £15
Notes: I adore these, I feel so foxy and feminine when I wear them. Love the bronze colour and the sexy heel.
#49
From: New Look
Price: £3 in the sale!
Notes: Fluorescent pink? Yes please! I think these are so cute and will be hot with a black dress or a black and white patterned dress. I bought them at the end of summer so I haven't worn them yet.
#50
Brand: Hush Puppies
From: Stead & Simpson
Price: £40
Notes: Remember how I said I'd spend out on classic, well made and branded shoes that I'd wear forever? This is one of those pairs. Exceedingly comfortable.
#51
Brand: Pierre Cardin
From: Pavers outlet store, Freeport
Price: £30
Notes: Super comfy, goes with everything, wear-forever sandals. Worth every penny. I wore these one day when out shopping on a girlie weekend with my friends Rachel and Rebecca. When I took them off they both oohed and aahed when they saw "Pierre Cardin" written on the insole. I was like, I've been wearing them all day, do you feel differently about them now that you know they're Pierre Cardin? LOL
#52
From: New Look
Price: £15
Notes: Super comfy, cute and red! Love these. They seem to go with everything.
#53
Brand: New Look
From: eBay
Price: I can't remember but it was probably less than £7 including shipping as that's usually my limit
Notes: I love my red ones so much that when I saw these new on eBay I had to snatch them up!
And that's my entire shoe and boot collection. I also have a ratty pair of pink slippers, a weird pair of black "Crocs" from Ikea, hot pink "Crocs" that have paint on, a pair of black flip-flops that are too big and a pair of pink flip-flops ... but I didn't think you wanted to see those!
So, which of my shoes are your favourites?
Do you own any that are similar?
Are you surprised at how little shoes can cost?
I'd love to hear from you!
I'm thinking of doing a separate post on buying shoes on eBay, so if you have any questions about that, now is the time and place to ask them.
I loved this post! I feel inspired to buy a couple more pairs of colourful summer shoes. I LOVE my green shoes from last year and now feel the need to increase the colours in my collection! xxx
ReplyDeleteYour shoes are so cute. I love all the red ones. I own like 7 pairs of shoes, no joke. I should adopt your method of using ebay!
ReplyDeleteOooooo. Sooooo puuuuurdy! :-) Favourite? About 20 of them! I have horrible big fat toes, so don't wear anything that shows them off unless it's REALLY hot and I am wearing trousers to help disguise them. I do tend to wear flats and you have inspired me to maybe go and buy some pretty ones with a bit of a heel. Jude.x
ReplyDeleteI have a smile on my face! Such a delightful collection of shoes! What a fun thing to share!
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are your red shoes - love red. I also strangely love #10, the bargain wellies. I need a pair of those today! It is raining buckets at my house, and those would be perfect!
Brilliant post.
ReplyDeleteHowever...Thats it......i am not...i repeat, i am not going to purchase another pr of black or brown shoes until i first purchase a pr of coloured ones.
Every time i see you in your shoes i say that to you.....but today i am setting myself a goal to go out and buy a pr of bright coloured shoes. My only bright ones really are my red Irregular choice ones and i need more!!
That is my mission this week............:)
gosh so many shoes, love how you have different colours. I have about 7 pairs and 3 boots and all are black!
ReplyDeleteStunning! Wow, you have such a gorgeous collection of shoes, I am quite envious! I have a few bog standard pairs of black shoes that get worn daily in the winter and some thongs that get worn daily in the summer but nothing gorgeous and sexy like you have. I feel inspired!
ReplyDeleteAack! Um, can I come over and borrow some shoes?! Beautiful collection. And I'm sorry, some people may think it is wasteful or extravagant like you said, but I just think we as humans appreciate beauty and must collect it! I have quite the earring collection myself!
ReplyDeleteLovely collection! I'll echo what everyone is saying - inspiring! And yes, I concur. The red ones are gorgeous! My question - how do you store them?! ;) (Wouldn't you know - it had to be an organizing question. lol)
ReplyDeleteIts a good thing green is my colour, cause I'm all covered in it at the moment. As an incentive, I'm not allowing myself to buy any new clothing or shoes till I've lost this baby weight. Sigh. It hurts.
ReplyDeleteLove your shoe style! Great post! I'd like to see your tips on buying shoes on ebay b/c I'd like to do it but the idea of buying shoes w/o trying them on makes me nervous.
ReplyDeleteI am JEALOUS! How can you be depressed with so many shoes??? Lucky girl! And I'm also jealous that you're moving to NZ. I have a friend in Australia and have been dying to travel down there. Enjoy!
ReplyDelete~ Maggie...your blog stalker from Arizona :)
Oh my. I can't choose. They are all so cute! I need more color in my closet- I have way WAY too many black ones. I am a sucker for details and cut outs too- so any of your pairs that had cut outs- oh, those would be my favorites!
ReplyDeleteLove your collection...makes me want to buy in every colour now(I usually buy the boring black/brown...sigh). Would love your tips on how to buy them from ebay. Can you recommend some sellers on ebay. I did a search on the ebay UK site but none came up as pretty as the ones you got or for that price. Maybe I am missing something here. Oh..and you wont find those faboulous shoes for that price in NZ so another reason to add to your collection.
ReplyDeleteI want some purple shoes!
ReplyDeleteThat is an IMPRESSIVE collection. My big question is how do you organize them all? I need some great solutions for storing all my shoes and would love to hear how you do it. Thanks! :)
ReplyDelete