# Shoes and gender: a poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728 "2011-06-08T12:56:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/141 "2011-06-10T03:54:53Z")
Dude, about 5 pair that fit. My feet are growing, at age 50. Pisses me off. In college, I wore a 8.5. I am up to 10.5, and they seem small now. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/142 "2011-06-10T06:08:29Z")
Female, probably about 20 or so. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/143 "2011-06-10T06:50:31Z")
Male. 38. Probably about 4 pairs, one of which I wear about 99% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/144 "2011-06-10T07:02:36Z")
Female, and let me think. (1) old tennis shoes (2) new tennis shoes (3) running shoes (4) walking shoes (5) low-heeled tap shoes (6) cuban-heeled tap shoes (7) jazz shoes (8&9) hiking boots (10, 11, 12) black sandals, varying heights (13-17) various really dressy shoes… All right, I will stop here, and I haven’t even gotten into shoes worn into the office, I forgot the new Skechers, and do I even count shower clogs? Maybe 50. Or so. I’m a little short on shoes at the moment on account of having got a puppy last winter. ETA: But a lot of these shoes are really old, since I generally only wear out the athletic shoes and the fancy ones will come back in style someday, if they ever went out. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/145 "2011-06-10T07:19:24Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > 1. > > 3 pairs of dress shoes (burgundy captoe, black wingtip, black captoe). > 1 pair of army boots. > > People with more than a dozen pairs of shoes: What’s the marginal gain of another pair? When you’re buying your 31st, do you think about the other 30 pairs? All right, I started by enumerating my shoes, but here’s an example. I have a pair of dressy black boots with 2" heels, but the heels are solid and kind of clunky, so if I wear them in actual icy conditions, they won’t work. I need either very sharp high heels that I can kick into the ice (really, I’m not kidding, it works for me), or some useful snowboot thing with a Vibram-type sole, so I have those in black, too. But sometimes I need the boots to be brown to go with what I’m wearing. And then I have a pair of purple suede boots, which I hardly ever wear but there they are, they caught my eye. Now, the puppy I mentioned in my previous post gnawed on the black boots with the clunky solid heels, which were my most often worn boots. So I kind of need to replace them. I will do it without thinking about any of the other pairs of boots, because they aren’t as commonly worn, but they all have their place. The marginal gain is, they will look good with what I’m wearing, while none of the other shoes I own would look quite that good, and lots of them wouldn’t work at all. For instance the high-heeled black boots work with a certain outfit, but if I’m taking public transportation (i.e., lots of walking) then the clunky-heeled boots will be better since I won’t have to worry about scuffing them when I walk through the rocks on my short-cut to the train, but if I’m driving…yeah, it’s a lot to think about. I also lost a pair of very strappy black platform sandals. I wore those a lot in the summer, and if I had anything like that I wouldn’t need to replace them. The sad thing is that I will probably buy two or three pairs of shoes that don’t really replace them before I find the perfect pair that will. I have friends who just wear those plastic things. With everything. ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/146 "2011-06-10T10:32:42Z")
Female. Eight pairs: 1 Clunky, Canadian-appropriate winter boots 1 Men’s sandals 1 Casual but vaguely feminine Puma sneakers 2 Formal heels 1 Fuzzy slippers 1 Checkered canvas sneakers 1 Secondhand combat boots All except perhaps the heels get ample use. In the summer I’d say maybe 90% is divided between the sneakers, sandals and combats, and in the winter the clunky boots monopolize it. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/147 "2011-06-10T10:41:49Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > And then I have a pair of purple suede boots, which I hardly ever wear but there they are, they caught my eye. I have a pair of purple suede boots, too. They were extremely difficult to justify (c’mon…who \*needs \*purple suede boots?), but I love them. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/148 "2011-06-10T10:47:10Z")
Male 3 brown casual 1 black casual 1 brown dress 2 black dress 1 sandals 1 golf 1 tennis 1 running 1 yard work (ex-tennis) 1 hiking So that’s 13. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/149 "2011-06-10T12:21:49Z")
I’m male, 36, and I own a pair of sneakers, a pair of dress shoes, a pair of flip-flops and a pair of army boots. What would I do with more? ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/150 "2011-06-10T23:47:44Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > All right, I started by enumerating my shoes, but here’s an example. I have a pair of dressy black boots with 2" heels, but the heels are solid and kind of clunky, so if I wear them in actual icy conditions, they won’t work. I need either very sharp high heels that I can kick into the ice (really, I’m not kidding, it works for me), or some useful snowboot thing with a Vibram-type sole, so I have those in black, too. But sometimes I need the boots to be brown to go with what I’m wearing. And then I have a pair of purple suede boots, which I hardly ever wear but there they are, they caught my eye. Now, the puppy I mentioned in my previous post gnawed on the black boots with the clunky solid heels, which were my most often worn boots. So I kind of need to replace them. I will do it without thinking about any of the other pairs of boots, because they aren’t as commonly worn, but they all have their place. > > The marginal gain is, they will look good with what I’m wearing, while none of the other shoes I own would look quite that good, and lots of them wouldn’t work at all. For instance the high-heeled black boots work with a certain outfit, but if I’m taking public transportation (i.e., lots of walking) then the clunky-heeled boots will be better since I won’t have to worry about scuffing them when I walk through the rocks on my short-cut to the train, but if I’m driving…yeah, it’s a lot to think about. > > I also lost a pair of very strappy black platform sandals. I wore those a lot in the summer, and if I had anything like that I wouldn’t need to replace them. The sad thing is that I will probably buy two or three pairs of shoes that don’t really replace them before I find the perfect pair that will. > > I have friends who just wear those plastic things. With everything. Yeah, I have that dog too. He’s not a puppy by a long shot, but he gets all pouty when daddy goes to work without him, and takes it out on my shoes. He has an unerring instinct for my favorite, most comfortable work shoes too. Also, I’m a sucker for cute and not entirely practical shoes. My black and white polka dot wedges go with about 4 or 5 outfits, and my lime green peep toe pumps go with 2 or 3 outfits. They make me happy, though, and they fit, even if I’ve gained 10 pounds. And I feel sexy when I wear them. I have the space to store shoes that I only wear rarely, so why shouldn’t I treat myself to two or three new pairs per year? Most of us have a pet indulgence or two. Mine is clothes and shoes. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/151 "2011-06-10T23:49:46Z")
dude, 34, four pairs. one dress, one black casual, one brown casual, and sneakers. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/152 "2011-06-11T00:07:34Z")
Female. 12 pairs (recently down from 13). ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/153 "2011-06-11T00:19:17Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Chick > 200 > > Yah, yah, yah… WOW! That’s a whole lotta footwear! Do you collect them or do you really wear them all? How do you store them? I am fascinated! Okay I really don’t have a foot or shoe fetish or anything but it’s really cool. I’m just a flipflop or tennie type of girl but deep down inside I love shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/154 "2011-06-11T00:50:05Z")
I’ve got foot and ankle issues that currently require prescription orthotics and may soon require surgery #5, so I am perpetually trying to find things that don’t leave me horrendously uncomfortable. It’s even more fun when we’re talking about dressy shoes. Combine that with an inability to just donate things randomly (especially sometimes expensive things that have only been worn a few times - I don’t always know by trying on shoes in the store how well they are going to work in real life), and orthotics that change configuration slightly every time I get new ones made, which is every couple of years, and that leaves a lot of shoes. Luckily, my mom wears the same size as I do, so I can give her any shoes that I wore without orthotics, and any shoes where the orthotic is more or less the same size as the shoe’s original removable insole. But we don’t always have the same taste, so I still have a few pairs looking for a good home. Things I wear all the time, depending on weather (and around here that can range from 110F to -40F): Black leather Mary Janes Black leather Merrell slip-ons Lightweight, meshy sneakers Black leather sandals (2 pairs: one with good arch support that I can wear all day at work, and another that I wear as house slippers), plus another couple of worn-out pairs Pale beige leather sandals with good arch support - these live at my office Silver sandals - I wear these at work all the time and for dressup, plus another pair that are worn out but I can’t make myself get rid of Brown Birkies (worn primarily as house slippers) 2 pairs winter boots: 1 pair warm toasty Uggs that aren’t waterproof, and one pair of lace-ups that is waterproof, but not nearly as toasty Hiking shoes Slippers: one pair shearling-lined with mediocre arch support, and one pair with fabulous arch support that aren’t nearly as toasty Things I don’t wear quite as often: Red Dansko slip-ons Brown Dansko loafers Red sandals that were really comfy a few years ago when my feet weren’t so cranky Purple Merrell slip-on sneakery things Turquoise Keen sklip-on sneakery things that have kind of an annoying elastic strap Silver ballet flats, that actually fit my orthotics! (These were my wedding dancing shoes.) Things I wish I could wear, but have to face up to the fact that I can’t except for dressup occasions when I don’t actually have to stand up for more than a few minutes at a time, but I keep them because I will have to dress up now and again, and it’s a PITA to find shoes that come even close to working: Blue leather Dansko clogs: ditto, and I can’t wear them with orthotics Blue suede Merrell mules that haven’t fit with any of the last 3 pairs of orthotics Red patent kitten heels Irridescent pink kitten heels (blame my sister, who picked the Pepto-Bismol pink bridesmaid dress!) Low-heeled black pumps Higher-heeled black pumps that I would give away if I had a good home for them Pewter T-strap heels: ditto Black leather riding boots - haven’t tried these on with the current orthotics Black toe-strap Chacos: need to make my mom take these because the toe strap doesn’t work for me at all Kitten-heeled black leather booties: they work with my orthotics, but I can’t wear them for very long anyway Bronze flats - one never knows, right? Kitten-heeled black pumps covered in black lace - worn to a black-tie wedding, and hey, one never knows! I’m probably forgetting a few, and I shipped off a large box last winter to my sister-in-law, who had a pregnant destitute client whose only pair of shoes was falling apart, and needed a size in which I had several pairs that didn;t work for me anymore. Anyone wear a women’s size 6-ish? Wouldn’t mind giving some more to a good home… ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/155 "2011-06-11T01:24:56Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Black toe-strap Chacos: need to make my mom take these because the toe strap doesn’t work for me at all The ones with the criss-cross toe strap? If so, I’ll bet they won’t work for her either. That’s a bad design. I’ve got a pair that feel great when I first put them on, and then as I walk those straps work up and pinch my big toes. Doesn’t matter what I do. It’s a shame, because the sole and arch support on those puppies rock my world. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/156 "2011-06-11T01:28:11Z")
> [@StuffLikeThatThere](#): > > The ones with the criss-cross toe strap? If so, I’ll bet they won’t work for her either. That’s a bad design. I’ve got a pair that feel great when I first put them on, and then as I walk those straps work up and pinch my big toes. Doesn’t matter what I do. It’s a shame, because the sole and arch support on those puppies rock my world. Yeah, that was exactly my problem. But they’ve made those for years, so they must work for _someone._ Someday I’ll give in and buy the kind without the toe strap. It’s just frustrating, because they were expensive! I should have returned them before it was too late. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/157 "2011-06-11T13:00:47Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Yeah, that was exactly my problem. But they’ve made those for years, so they must work for _someone._ Someday I’ll give in and buy the kind without the toe strap. It’s just frustrating, because they were expensive! I should have returned them before it was too late. Yeah, I’ve been having my own little thing with Chaco sandals. The sole, for me, just can’t be beat, but the straps may or may not work for me. These ([Chaco zx 1 unaweep black + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos](http://www.zappos.com/chaco-zx-1-unaweep-black)) are fantastic, while these ([No results for Chaco local ecotread chocolate brown | Zappos](http://www.zappos.com/chaco-local-ecotread-chocolate-brown)) look much the same as the first pair but can’t be adjusted well, so I’m sending them back. The reviews on Zappos have been helpful for me. When I ignore them (when I think, oh, surely that criss-cross strap won’t pinch my toe, for instance), I am sorry. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/158 "2011-06-11T13:28:21Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > I’m probably forgetting a few, and I shipped off a large box last winter to my sister-in-law, who had a pregnant destitute client whose only pair of shoes was falling apart, and needed a size in which I had several pairs that didn;t work for me anymore. Anyone wear a women’s size 6-ish? Wouldn’t mind giving some more to a good home… I do! I’d rather you give them to destitute people, but if you really need a good home for them…I’m a good shoe mama. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/159 "2011-06-11T14:19:24Z")
Great Og! I need to make a Goodwill donation. 😛 Without actually checking the shoe inventory, I would have said ~15 pair. Wrong! Checking the shoe rack and closet today, I found tan topsiders brown penny loafers brown kiltie loafers black kiltie loafers black velvet ballet flats blue slip-ons with a clunky 2" heel black FMPs red flat slip ons tan loafers red sandals green and gold sandals blue sandals dark blue canvas slip-ons an old pair of white canvas lace-ups hiking boots steel-toed boots for riding a motorcycle cowboy boots black and tan loafers brown Rockports black Rockports tan Rockports (the Rockports were chosen with an eye for going through metal detectors on a daily basis) 3 pair of slippers then the _coup de grace_…14 pair of sneakers:smack: I regularly wear about ten pair of these, now that I can wear sneakers most days at work (tech production enviornments rock!) I still need to bag up a few pair for charity. ETA: Female ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728/160 "2011-06-11T15:53:53Z")
Female, let me think - 25-30? **Shoes I wear regularly:** knee high back boots knee high brown boots short brown boots (dark brown) short back boots short brown boots (tobacco) Brown sandals with a flower Brown sandals, gorgeous with scalloped edges and elegant stitches, from Spain that I paid too much for and wear infrequently to keep them nice as long as possible Brown sandals, just regular Black sandals with a braided strap Creamy sandals with a twisted knot Navy blue sandals Pink Clarks sandals with a flower, very comfy but nice looking Black chinese slippers (leather, not cloth) Workout shoes **Less frequently worn, but memorable:** Gorgeous blue/aqua strappy sandals with a kitten heel, matches one dress in my closet but I love them Cream sequined slippers (worn once to my wedding) Chunky black Franco Sarto heels Gorgeous brown suede strappy heels (goes with my fancy brown suit I wear to formal work stuff) 2 pairs of strappy “fancy occasion” black dress sandals 2 pairs of “dress” comfy shoes from Naturalizer black/brown (I wear them to work events like the Consumer Electronics show where I have to be on my feet on uncomfortable floors for hours) Mid height black boots with straps, pretty funky, I rarely have the occasion to wear them but I like them Hot pink strappy sandals, awesome sale at Sundance but havent really had much occasion to wear them Black velvet ballet flats, super pretty but horribly uncomfortable, took them to the cobbler to be stretched, they still hurt like crazy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shoes-and-gender-a-poll/584728.md?page=7)