How to Makeover Your Shoe Collection Without Buying Another Pair

It's safe to say most women realize deep down inside that they have way. too. many. shoes. For me, variety is the spice of life, especially when it comes to fashion, but the truth is having so many options can create some issues. Whether you're trying to stick to a budget or simply running out of storage space, taking a close, hard look at your closet can be daunting, but also rewarding because it gives you a chance to get reacquainted with the things you love. During my time at home, I took major stock of my shoe inventory and quickly realized that in light of current events and budget considerations, I needed to focus on finding ways to maximize my wardrobe, so I could wear and enjoy more of what I already have. I'm really happy with the results and have a newfound excitement about my shoes. So put down your credit card and let's dig into your shoe situation together! Here are a few ways to make your current shoe collection feel like new again.

First, Inventory

This step is semi-painful, but very important to the process. You cannot wear what you have unless you know what you have. As you do this, keep in mind:

• Do whatever you need to do to really take a good look at all your shoes, then toss the ones that are worn or no longer fit your style.
  
• Eliminate duplicates (shoes that are really similar) and prioritize pairs you wear more often as opposed to those you rarely wear. I vote to keep special occasion shoes as long as they're comfortable because it's better to have a pair on hand that are already broken in.
  
• Zero in on the shoes that have literally caused you pain — this is the time to be cutthroat. If you avoid wearing a particular pair due to how uncomfortable they are, take a deep breath and throw them out. If they're just a little tight and you think they're worth salvaging, try stretching them out. I recently tested Formé Shoe Shapers on a pair of pointed toe heels that were too tight in the front and they worked like magic. They now feel a half-size bigger and I can wear them without getting piercing pain in my toes.

Formé Shoe Shapers

Organize

Once you've finished taking inventory of your shoes, it's time for the fun part! Sorting by style and occasion will help you find what you need when you're putting together outfits. I group my shoes this way:

• flats
• heels and professional/work-appropriate shoes
• sandals and "house shoes" (the pairs you throw on to get the mail, do a quick errand, etc.)
  
• sneakers and tennis shoes
  
• special occasion
  
• boots and cold weather shoes

Once you sort your shoes into groups, identify the space(s) around your house where you can store them. My main closet is certainly not big enough to hold all my shoes and clothes, so I have shoes in different areas of my apartment, including in my closet, under the bed, inside a storage bench at the foot of my bed and in over-the-door organizers. Pro tip: the doors around your house offer well-hidden, often under-utilized storage space. Over-the-door organizers are great for all kinds of things, including shoes! For example, put just one over your closet door and you now have space to store 20+ pairs of shoes! Here are a few different types of organizers I use for my shoes.

Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer	Shoe Tower Rack
Shoe Organizer Bags (which I then put inside my storage bench)	Under The Bed Shoe Organizer

Accessorize

You may not realize it yet, but some of the shoes in your closet can be transformed into a totally new style in seconds using a cool product called Straplets. This ingenious invention quickly and easily changes the look of your shoe and solves the problem of annoying shoe slips. Straplets come in four styles and I'm obsessed with how effortless they are. They also expand the number of ways you can wear your favorite shoes — using Straplets, you can style one pair of heels in four other different ways for a total of five unique looks! That's a lot of fashion bang for your buck. Check out how easy these are to use in this quick video and then shop Straplets here.

I hope these tips help you makeover your shoe collection, so you can more fully appreciate the beauty and potential of what you already have in your closet. Let me know how it goes! :)