Storing my shoe collection - it's complicated

My shoe collection is pretty big. I haven't counted the pairs but it's safe to say there are a LOT. Ideally, I'd love a giant walk in closet a la sex and the city where the shoes are all out of their boxes and lined up beautifully and somehow staying dust free. That's the dream. Being that we're a little restricted space-wise and that I've spent all my money on shoes already, that's not really an option right now. Or maybe ever. However, this weekend, driven by desires to actually see my bedroom floor again and to not break my neck falling over rogue shoes, I decided to get it all sorted out. Here's how they all (just about) fit in...

Apologies for the truly shite blurry pic. I took it and didn't realise how bad it was until it was on the computer. And I am lazy! Technically, this wardrobe is Mr Scribbler's. However, I have wangled a shoe rack and a couple of jackets in there. This "hangy thing" came from Ikea and is ideal for squishing in flats and, to be honest, shoes that are maybe a bit past their best that you don't mind not being in boxes. You can get a prettier version here. At this point I should tell you that piles of shoes in the bottom of a wardrobe makes me cry on the inside and feel a bit sick. It's just so wrong! Care for thy shoes! Which kind of goes some way to explaining this...

The tremendous shoe cabinet of awesomeness. AKA the home of my favourite and designer shoes. I update the contents fairly regularly cause I'm fickle and change my mind all the time about my faves. If you've been reading a while, you'll have seen the cabinet before, so proud of it am I. If you haven't you can check out it's transformation from orphan rescued (for free! FREE!) from a rainy street, to tremendous shoe cabinet of awesomeness -> here. It's a touching story.

Observe though, that the storage above does not finish with the TSCoA. Oh no. We also have stackable transparent shoe boxes. These things are genius: they're clear(ish) so you can see what's in them, they stack and slot into each other so you can pile 'em high, they're smaller than a lot of shoe boxes so save space AND they fold so if you have spares they stash away neatly! Just google 'transparent stackable shoe boxes' or similar and do some price comparison. I think mine came through eBay in the end but do make sure you look for the ridgy ones that slot together!

Along with the TSCoA, I also do actually have a walk in cupboard that has boxes of shoes stacked up in it. It is called the shoe closet. Like the normal person's version of the SATC scenario. The washing basket lives in here too so it is a bit of a jam but it keeps this little lot out of the way. Some of the shoes aren't in their original boxes but in smaller boxes I have, with their name/description written on the front. Every centimetre counts! And so does ease of shoe finding. There's a shelf on the wall in there too that takes a surprising amount of shoe weight:

My, so tonal!

One of my latest storage solutions is this over the door (hanging into the shoe closet) hanging thang with pockets from Argos. It fits 10 pairs of shoes in (mine are mainly size 7s) but you could probably get pairs of flip flops or smooshed up flats in one pocket if you felt the urge. I got it today for £6.99 (here it is - man I am helpful with my links) and am pleasantly surprised by it as a few of the reviewers said it only fit kids shoes in. It doesn't. Yay! You wouldn't get heels in or anything but it does the job for flats.

 

And finally, in a rare glimpse into the man side of my life, here are Mr Scribbler's shoes:

Yup, he's nearly as shoe daft as me these days (which makes my habit SO much easier to justify) and I finally had to get him some more rack space. The ones on the left we got today in Argos. It's actually two stacked together and they were £4.99 each. Bargain! They're nowt fancy but totally do the job. And, as I type this, he's actually filled them up.

So, now we don't have shoes lying about the bedroom and living room but we do have them on racks in the hall, in the wardrobe in the spare room, in a cabinet in the bedroom, hanging over a door and inside the shoe closet. Neat, non? If you have any space saving shoe storage tips, feel free to share them with me. Otherwise, I hope some of this was useful for you if, like me, your collection is somewhat unruly!

Loub at first sight...

Hello! I'd like to start this post by saying thanks a massimo millo for not all unfollowing me while I've been absent. Life has rather got in the way of blogging of late, blah, blah usual excuses, so it was lovely to come back on and see that people are still here. Yay!

So, you may know me best for my cracking shoe collection (that and my biting wit and winning way of 'posing' in the same doorway for every pic). Therefore, I figured the best way to break back into the blogging was probably to bust out my recent AMAZING shoe purchase. Warning: this is picture heavy.

SQUEEEEE!!!!!

Ta-da!

Now, I know they're not the most exciting shoe ever at first glance. BUT, they're Louboutin. My first ever pair. And I deliberately went for a pair that are understated and classic and wearable. Well, as long as you're not talking about the giant, spiky heel. I'll admit that's a challenge. Aside from that, a low cut, burgundy plum platform shoe boot is gonna go with plenty stuff. Plus, now I totally get the designer shoe thing: the leather is so soft and smells amazing, the insides are padded and squishy underfoot so they really are that bit comfier than your average shoe, even in spite of the aforementioned heel. And look at the sole!

And here they are in their rightful home, in the shoe cabinet. Next to the adidas x Jeremy Scott Jed-rat panda trainers. Damn Jedward.

 

Oh yes. Oh, SO yes!

If you've been reading this shizzle for a while, you may recall that I've, er, passed comment on some of the Jeremy Scott for adidas product in the past - here and here. Let me begin by saying I'm not really taking the piss ok, I am a little bit because, unless you're a magician, you ain't goan wear this stuff down the gym. I think this stuff is immense. IMMENSE. 

Observe, if you will, the black hoodie (yes, this is touted as fitness wear). "But, Little-Scribbler", I hear you cry, "what's so extraordinary about a black hoodie?" Aha! This is no ordinary black hoodie, oh no. It's sequined. And has tails. And lapels. And is for dudes. I'm thinking maybe it's the kinda thing Fiddy might get married in.

I can SO see Louie Spence busting out a spin in this! And check out the trousers! Oh yes, if there's anything that could add to the genius that is that sparkly, shiny, twinkly hoodie, it HAS to be the matching jogging bottoms. Natch.

Now, I know what you girls are thinking at this time...why has Jezza left us out of all the excitement? Why does he see fit only to clad the menfolk in our lives in tasty Jeremy Scott for adidas goodness? Why can't we too join in the fun. Oh we can. We so can...

Screw aeroplanes - I'm gonna fly myself to holidays now. For that matter, I'm gonna fly to work every day too. I'll be the one hanging bum first from the sky as my boob wings desperately try to keep me up.

If, IF, you want any of this stuff - it's all on sale at the adidas website. Can I get a woop, woop?!

all rise for the wing-king

Dude, are you serious? Whilst on a recent fact finding mission for the awesome Jeremy Scott teddy bear adidas trainers, I came across these beauties. What the actual flying fuck?

Technically these pants (yup, I am going ALL American on your ass here. Punk) are for dudes. Click the pic to buy 'em for £95! I would die if I saw a real life man mincing (oh you reckon a dude could do anything but mince in these babies, do you?) down the street in these. Of happiness you understand. Sheer happiness and tickledness. But, I'm also thinking about these guys for myself a bit here. You see, I suffer a devastating lady condition. One that flicks the finger at bodycon, pretty much rules out pencil skirts and skinny jeans and renders hareem pants a vile impossibility. Yes lady friends, we're talking saddle bags. Saddle bags are a bitch. Why, pockets of fat, why must you sit oh-so-wobbly right at the outside edge of the top of my thighs? Don't you think big thighs are enough on their own?! So what could these creations possibly do for the 'bagged' among us. Simples. Imagine, if you will: I pop down the gym and some particularly nasty type asks "gosh, aren't you embarrassed by those enormous saddle bags?" I can simply say "Honey. Those aren't saddle bags, those are wings". Reason enough to invest? You decide.

And for anyone suffering from back boobs, here's your solution...(a mere £120)

Jeremy Scott for adidas gives you wiiiiiiiings. Oh, hang on...

I don't tend to do acronyms but OMFG!!!

OMFG indeed. adidas, with these trainers you have all at once wowed me and blown my tiny mind! What have you done to teddy bear!? What have you done to my hi tops. Who knows? What I do know is I WANT THESE TRAINERS. In pink if you please. Size 7.