Firstly, please accept my sincere apologies if you are someone who loves handbags and shoes – it is a big mean to do one straight after another, but you are so good at this now!
So how do we decide what stays and what goes?
Revisit the criteria you created during Week 1 of our challenge to assist you in making decisions about your shoes and set a limit for each sub-category. Your categories might be based on season, function, style or colour, it is really up to you.
If they don’t fit, out of (your) style, are damaged beyond repair, unloved (or too loved) or just haven’t been used in years they should go. If they are collecting dust in the bottom of your robe, dust them off and pass them forward if they are still in good condition so you can reclaim some space. And as for those shoes that we drag out and admire and wonder why we haven’t worn them for so long? Well, if you are like me, it is probably because they looked better than they felt and I always get caught because I then decide to wear them out somewhere and within a short time of leaving the house I quickly remember why! Definitely time for those to go!
What do I do with the keepers?
First and foremost, make sure that everything has a home. Whether you have a defined space in the bottom of your wardrobe, use a specialist storage unit or just use drawer like me (yes I use drawers for my shoes as crazy as it sounds!), utilise the physical limitations of your space to also guide the volume that you keep. I use one of the metal mesh style freestanding drawer units in the bottom of my robe for shoes. If I don’t stick with my “one-in, one-out rule” and the drawers can’t close, it is a quick reminder that something has to go.
If you like to keep shoes in their original boxes, take a photo and stick it on the end of the box so you can quickly see what is inside without having to rifle through them all to find what you need. Alternately, you can pick up some clear shoe boxes for a reasonable price these days. If you have a special pair of stillettos that you only pull out for special occasions, they can be stored up high in your wardrobe out of the way.
What do I do with the ones that no longer have a purpose for me?
If your shoes are in good condition, you could sell, swap or donate them.
- Sell or Swap:
o Swap with your friends or family
o Gumtree
o Facebook Marketplace (or some of the myriad of buy, swap, sell and fashion exchange groups)
o Garage Sale
o Second hand/consignment stores such as the Designer Op Shop or Material Pleasures in Canberra. It is worth noting that many of these stores want current styles.
- Donate options:
o Shoes in good condition can be donated for the Comms@Work Clothing Program which provides clothes and accessories for people to attend job interviews or start a new job. Drop off locations are listed on their website here.
o Sport shoes can be donated through the Shoes for Planet Earth program. They work with local and international communities to provide recycled running shoes to those in need around the world. You can view their list of drop-off points across Australia here. You can also start your own shoe collection but please contact them first to make arrangements.
o Charity shops such as the Salvos or Vinnies
o Green Shed (Mitchell or Mugga Lane)
o Let’s Recycle Canberra (Hume)
How did you go?
Feel free to share your successes, challenges and tips on our Facebook page.
Happy decluttering!
Melissa x