Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › I really think I have a problem v. shoes
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

I really think I have a problem v. shoes

post #1 of 74
12/4/11 at 4:18pm
Thread Starter 
Now I have a minor shoe collection compared to most of you (about 18 pairs of dress shoes in total), but lately I can't stop buying dress shoes.

I tell myself I have more than I could possibly need, but I just keep finding good stuff. I don't even buy super expensive shoes ($200 to $500 usually), but the volume is problematic.

Currently on the fence about these marteganis:

93971l.jpg
93971_2l.jpg
93971_3l.jpg
93971_4l.jpg

They're only $300, but I need to draw the line somewhere. How are you guys with 30+ pairs justifying these things to yourselves?
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 74
12/4/11 at 4:43pm
just buy the shoes they are beautiful...

look for me it has gotten to the point that my wife doesn't notice if there is a new par... so as long as she doesn't see me carrying/delivering new shoes but the time they make it to the closet is all good... satisfied.gif
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 74
12/4/11 at 4:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anginaprinzmetal View Post

just buy the shoes they are beautiful...
look for me it has gotten to the point that my wife doesn't notice if there is a new par... so as long as she doesn't see me carrying/delivering new shoes but the time they make it to the closet is all good... satisfied.gif


It's quite possible you have a legitimate problem. Maybe you should talk to someone?

Reply
Reply
post #4 of 74
12/4/11 at 4:53pm
I bought these several years ago. Great pair of shoes, but they were slightly big on me. The leather is fantastic on these. Definitely run 1/2 size big. Go for it!
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 74
12/4/11 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cuponoodles View Post


It's quite possible you have a legitimate problem. Maybe you should talk to someone?


lemme think about it ... nah...biggrin.gif
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 74
12/4/11 at 4:54pm
I used the following justification for myself........It will take me 20 years to wear these shoes out so as long as I have twenty more years of work ahead me all is good. They are a valid investment, not a frivolous expense.

My problem now is that I could technically retire at any point and even if I work until official retirement age I only have 15 years to go. So it is unlikely that a huge collection will actually see their 'full wear'. This is not appealling to my frugal and patrician upbringing.

So now my personal justification is that I've worked hard all my life, can easilty afford all and plenty more if I really want them, buying handmade shoes keeps some dedicated craftspeople in jobs, etc. etc.

Money is like manure.......................


All that being said, don't go into debt over shoes. If you are not maxing out your 401k etc. etc. Then put a grip on it.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:04pm
I agree with Gdot here - it's your money. If you can afford it, and you really enjoy the shoes, then go for it. My only word of caution would be to look back at your previous purchases and evaluate the pleasure you're getting out of them. Does it give you satisfaction to put them on in the morning, see them on your feet throughout the day? Do you enjoy looking at your collection and observing the fine craftsmanship and quality materials embodied in these shoes? Do you care for your shoes properly and lovingly? If so, you're doing it right. The pictured pair is gorgeous and you are a worthy owner. If you get most of the thrill from the purchase itself, and after that forget them and don't care for them or value them, then you want to think about whether this kind of temporary fix is filling in for something else in your life that isn't as you'd like it to be.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gdot View Post

I used the following justification for myself........It will take me 20 years to wear these shoes out so as long as I have twenty more years of work ahead me all is good. They are a valid investment, not a frivolous expense.
My problem now is that I could technically retire at any point and even if I work until official retirement age I only have 15 years to go. So it is unlikely that a huge collection will actually see their 'full wear'. This is not appealling to my frugal and patrician upbringing.
So now my personal justification is that I've worked hard all my life, can easilty afford all and plenty more if I really want them, buying handmade shoes keeps some dedicated craftspeople in jobs, etc. etc.
Money is like manure.......................
All that being said, don't go into debt over shoes. If you are not maxing out your 401k etc. etc. Then put a grip on it.

yeah, its not a money issue (although I guess it could become one if I was buying dozens of $1k+ shoes), but more a psychological block of "why do I need or want so many"

I think I need to get this last pair and take a 3 month+ hiatus.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:09pm
Lucca 2 are some of the best bluchers anywhere. $300 is a great price.

Shoes are far from the worst hobby. Most can be re-sold for more than 50% value if you have to. If you are the typical SFer and look for deals, they can be sold for the same price you bought it for.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadcammer View Post

yeah, its not a money issue (although I guess it could become one if I was buying dozens of $1k+ shoes), but more a psychological block of "why do I need or want so many"
I think I need to get this last pair and take a 3 month+ hiatus.

I've thought about this issue a fair amount...this was one of the first threads I ever started on SF:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/249121/satisfaction

I've come to the conclusion that, given my means, I can afford to spend a fair amount on clothing, and I really enjoy doing it, learning more about it continually (reading books, reading on SF and on too many excellent blogs to list). It's a hobby for me and therefore has a higher reason for being than "need". Barring drastic changes in my body, I could almost certainly not buy a single non-undergarment clothing item for the next 20 years and never be short on something to wear. Yet I currently have 4 bespoke commissions in the works. And I have decided not to feel guilty about it (again, realizing that I can afford these things, care for them properly and derive satisfaction from working with the skilled artisans that create them and wearing them every day), and instead enjoy it as much as I can, and feel lucky and grateful in the process. Grateful both for having the means to engage in this hobby, and having the ability to appreciate these items, in the same way I feel grateful for my sense of hearing and musical abilities when I listen to a transcendent piece of music, or even better, play it myself.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:38pm

Nobody thinks it's that strange to have 20 pairs of pants or 20 shirts, so what's wrong with 20 pairs of shoes? Shoes are more durable, sure, but they also take far more abuse than any other article of clothing.

 

My rule is that I don't own more than fits in my closet. This limits me to a maximum of 20 pairs of shoes currently, but i'm redesigning my closet this christmas so I'll have a second shelf for shoes...that lets me have 40 pairs.

 

This isn't that expensive of a hobby anyway. Unless you're buying 40 pairs of $5000 bespoke shoes or something, you're realistically looking at a fully loaded cost of maybe $15-20k. That's cheaper than a lot of other hobbies that people have. Assuming you have similar quality clothing in general, it's still probably less expensive than buying a nice luxury automobile.

Reply
Reply
post #12 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anginaprinzmetal View Post

just buy the shoes they are beautiful...
look for me it has gotten to the point that my wife doesn't notice if there is a new par... so as long as she doesn't see me carrying/delivering new shoes but the time they make it to the closet is all good... satisfied.gif
+1
Quote:
Originally Posted by pebblegrain View Post

Shoes are far from the worst hobby. Most can be re-sold for more than 50% value if you have to. If you are the typical SFer and look for deals, they can be sold for the same price you bought it for.

+1
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:43pm
If these are new from a retailer, link please.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 74
12/4/11 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadcammer View Post

yeah, its not a money issue (although I guess it could become one if I was buying dozens of $1k+ shoes), but more a psychological block of "why do I need or want so many"
I think I need to get this last pair and take a 3 month+ hiatus.

I completely understand. It's about the question 'whose in control, me or the shoes?'.

I think you and I are a lot more alike than you might imagine.

I personally couldn't commit to three months off however.

How about I offer up some 'enabling behaviour' and suggest one month?

Or, you can join the rest of us and give into it! It's pretty fun!

fight[1].gif
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 74
12/4/11 at 6:00pm
Personally, I'm past the "investment" justification. It became a hobby about 50 pairs ago. If you have the money and the room, not really a problem.

May I suggest setting an annual shoe budget either by $$$ or by a discrete number of new pairs to help your focus on what you REALLY want and whether or not you really will want it down the road. There's probably six pairs of shoes in my collection that were in the same $200-$500 wheelhouse that I still enjoy just enough not to sell, but would have in hindsight preferred allocating the cash toward a couple of nice splurges in the $600 to $1,000 range. Having a plan instead of just grabbing what caught my eye on the way would have avoided some of the impulse purchases.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Men's Clothing
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › I really think I have a problem v. shoes