how-to hints #4: regarding shoes

Managing and maintaining your shoe collection. I thought that topic deserved a how-to hints post. And since I'm on the topic of shoes already, why not.

A great way to maximize your shoe collection is to know exactly what you have, at a glance. How many shoes in your collection go unworn all season because you forgot about them? How much money do you waste buying new shoes that are exactly the same as the old ones you forgot you already owned?

It is time to start enjoying and making the most of what you have. It is time to catalogue! Photograph every pair you own, on a white backdrop. You will love this trip down memory lane, believe me. What girl doesn't love her shoes in a far too precious way? During this exhaustive process, you can dust off the cobwebs, give some pairs a polish, assess the damage, weed out the duds, create a "to-be-reheeled pile" and add up all the protective shoe bags you will need to buy, going forward.

Shoebox method
Make 2 copies of each photograph. Tape one photo onto the box; organize the other in a look book. Do this with your belts and bags too. This way, you can coordinate outfits at a glance and really maximize your minimalism!

Shoe bag method
On the plus side, the bags take up far less room than the boxes. On the minus side, the at-a-glance idea doesn't really work as well. Label the bags and let the labels show. You can attach a photo here as well. The important thing is that your shoes are dust free and protected. Take a look through your look book more often so you don't forget what treasures are hidden in the bags.



Here are pages and pages of products to help organize and protect your shoes, from the Container Store. Happy browsing. Now get photographing!

mini archive
how-to hints #1
how-to hints #2
how-to hints #3