There is a kind of revolt occurring in your closet, and quite unexpectedly, it is led by the boots. It is time we addressed the issue of hoarding in disguise. Twenty pairs of shoes, really? When you actually wear only three of them.
First of all, you, as a grad student in your late twenties or early thirties, are supposed to live a life which is rather chaotic. Seminars, part-time jobs and whatever social life you are trying to pretend to have – you need to be versatile in this situation. You definitely do not need a shoe for each emotional phase, you need shoes that can handle rain, seminars and sometimes dive bars.
Let us start by saying that those neon running shoes that you have purchased back in 2018 are totally outdated. The lack of cushioning and smell that resembles an average old gym locker are enough proof. Please, be assured that there are alternatives to handling your emotions that do not require blisters. Throw those shoes away before your roommate files an official complaint about their odors.
The first pair of shoes you have to buy is your every day warrior. Purchase something elegant and comfortable at the same time such as Common Projects Achilles Low or Koio Capri. This way you will be able to handle any guest lecture as well as your study session in the library. They match perfectly with chinos, dark blue denim and even the pair of trousers which you finally managed to iron. You just need to keep them clean and they will take you through 80 percent of the week.
The second pair of shoes is going to stand any weather and tough terrain conditions. Get yourself some Blundstone 500s or Doc Martens 1460s; they will be perfect for puddles, gravel and horror of writing a dissertation. They will add some rock star vibes to your outfit without looking exaggerated. And, what is most important, they will last forever since, obviously, you cannot afford anything better.
The third pair of shoes is going to make you prepared for any formal occasion you might have. You need a classic leather Oxford or Derby such as Allen Park Avenue or Cole Haan OriginalGrand. They will instantly elevate any blazer and demonstrate how serious you are. Spend your money on them wisely, because you know, cheap leather looks like plastic under light.
The concept is rather simple. You have a shoe for grind, a shoe for weather and a shoe for occasions. Everything else is just overcrowding your already crowded closet. And everything in that heap is just expensive dust collectors.
Yes, it hurts me to advise you to throw away those fancy espadrilles that you purchased once but wore only once. But holding on to those items is nothing more than hoarding in disguise. Your closet and you both deserve a chance to breathe.
Give away the unnecessary shoes, sell the more expensive ones on eBay and move on. You will have one less thing to choose from and one more hour to write a thesis. Trust me, it feels liberating.