Renate's closet diaries #1 Shoe collection

Hey, guys!

Whoa, you really make my day with your sweet comments and lovely feedback! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Since all of you were really supportive of my fashion reinvention and thought it was a good idea for me to share the process, but none of you helped me with the name, I went with my own, cheesy, embarrassing title of the series and I blame you. (Damn, lack of creativity. Damn you.)

I was in doubt about today's post, but since some of you appreciated the shoe picture I put up on my last post, I decided to roll with it. Hope you enjoy!

So this is basically it! Minus my boots, that were still in the basement at the time and what I'll just talk about now, since I have packed them away already, because summer is really over as it seems, are the sandals.

Last row, first pair from the left - a pair of H&M sandals - this year's buy. 170 dkk, if I remember correctly. I was actually very impressed by them, to be honest. They were surprisingly comfortable (sometimes completely flat shoes are even more painful and uncomfortable than killer heels, I swear), lasted really well and were quite soft and all around a good pair of summer shoes. I thought they were cute and I got some compliments on them, not the cheapest you can get, but in this case I think it made sense.

The almost invisible, black pair of sandals next to it are a toned down version of the gladiator shoe. Also an H&M buy a couple of years back, wore it once this summer, I think and don't think I'll keep it for very many years to come. We had our moments, though.

The pair next to them are my pride and joy... naaah. My boyfriend hates them a little, he's not the biggest fan. But I can't help it - they're damn comfortable and extremely good quality. They're like the nokia 3310 of shoes! Nobody's particularly proud to have it, but deep down you are! Because there's something about it that's just reliable and impressive... Ok, now I'm just being plain weird. I wear these when I travel, hike in the heat or have to be on my feel walking in the summertime for the entire day. They're really awesome. Not Victoria Beckham's first choice, I'd reckon, but I, for one, love to look like an overgrown child sometimes. (I don't.)

Continuing with the comfort we have the casual girl's reliable sneaker trio. From the left - my Nike free runs 2, which I've had for about a year now. Fun fact, I've worked as a waitress at a cocktail bar (meaning, night shifts and weekends only) for 3 years. I like to say, that Danish drinking habits put me through college! I also worked at a restaurant, so sometimes, if I happened to be double booked I was on my feet for 16 hours at a time. The restaurant's kitchen was downstairs, the restaurant - upstairs, we had to run with every single plate up and down every time. After a few painful shifts I noticed that all of the other waitresses wore running shoes. I decided to try and invest and, believe me, these babies saved my back. Great support, great comfort, cute also, so I'm very glad I got them. Now, I use them for exercise. I think they were about 600 dkk at Stadium. 

The Converses is a recent buy, probably a couple of months ago and a very long wish come true. I just think it's such a staple peace and I love how it goes with everything I have. I'm also one of those people who like it either way - brand new and really trashed, so I'm looking forward to wearing them in even more. 500 dkk from Maibom Eurowalk, but you can get them anywhere and the prices are pretty much the same either way.

Lastly, my Puma tennis shoes, quite an old buy, but trusty and very low maintenance - I've machined washed them a few times and they always come out looking brand new. They have a weird, tight fit, but before I got the Converses, I used to run around doing errands with them all the time. Sometimes I used to also exercise in them, but they're not the best for that, to be honest.

Still onto comfort - here you can barely see have my flats! From the left - a pair of brown leather granny shoes I bought in Latvia on my trip a couple of months back. They were less than 200 dkk and are soft as can be. They were discounted, because the lining inside is detached at the top, but I just arrange it before I put the shoes on and it doesn't bother me, although I should probably get it fixed. A cute, super comfortable shoe, which I'm glad I got.

In the middle we have another pair of in-Latvia-bought flats - I love them, because they're super comfortable and very flattering. They go with everything and I lived in them last summer, but I have to say, as soon as I find and buy a pair of good black flats, they'll go, because, unfortunately, they're not leather and they... stink. Yes, I know, its gross. I clean them very well and it's not like they stink all the time. Its just that my feet sweat in them and after a long day - I need to clean them, burn my socks.. (just kidding) I'm just saying - gotta hand it to my mom, who told me never to buy non-leather everyday shoes and boots, she was right. Not worth it.

On the right we have a very recent purchase from my visit to a second hand market this past Saturday. The girl had bought these Zara Woman's shoes online (for 900 dkk, she told me, but I couldn't find them online) from their website and found them too big. Thank God for my large feet! Because I fell in love with them the moment I saw them although I'm fully aware, that men's tuxedo inspired, long toed shoes are not everyone's cup of tea. I got them from 200 dkk, which I thought was still a bargain, although it was my most expensive purchase there. I have yet to wear these out and I look forward to it very much!

Onto heels, blacks first, obviously. From the left we have a nice pair of leather wedges, that I bought a couple of years ago in Denmark. I'm not a big wedge person, I don't think they're the most flattering shoe on me, but these were a very nice in-between flats and heels, that I have used a lot going out for dinners or drinks in the summer time, wore them with dresses and to a couple of my exams and school presentations. I haven't worn them in a long time, though, because (very weirdly) they got less comfortable in time and mostly because I've totally destroyed the brown heel - it looks very messy and I think I'll throw them out as soon as I repurchase something similar. They were quite expensive, as far as I remember, my guess would be around 400 dkk.

The middle heel is probably some good 3 years old and have (surprisingly) gotten MORE comfortable in time. It's very important to arrange my toes properly in the shoe while and after I put them on and that determines how long I can keep them on for. A nice, classic staple heel, very flattering and, what can I say - the boy loves it also. My feet - not so much :) They were 200 dkk and can still be bought at Deichmann shoes.

Lastly, a fairly recent H&M purchase, I think they were 250 dkk and seemed comfortable, but as I've discovered - the opening of the toe is a bit too big, compared to the height of the heel, so my big toe (and I mean it, my toe is noticeably bigger than any of my other toes and adds an extra size, I'm not kidding) slides out of the shoe and I got nasty blisters after a night out. Haven't worn them since. Maybe with stockings (I had bare feet) and some silicone pillows or pads under my feet would help. Anyway, they look nice and I like the chunky heel - prevents my legs from looking like carrots, when my fairly big legs suddenly end in a delicate, unexpectedly tiny shoe. Am I weird?

Moving onto to something lighter, literally. The nude heel is a staple in most wardrobes, I think and these I bought hours before my sister's wedding a bit more that a year ago, because my original option proved more and more painful as my feet swell up (summer wedding, crazy heat, what can you do).  They were the only ones that were available in my small town, could work with the dress and was something I was willing to use unexpected money on. They're Tamaris brand, which is my mom's favorite (for good reason, they have some quality shoes), most likely around 300 dkk, but the shoes themselves are not super comfortable for me. Despite the relatively low heel, the rounded toe part hurts my toes (they're big, I've told you) - especially the big one and the small one on the side - there's just no space. I have worn them only a couple of more times, but maybe I'll try to stretch them out soon using a bit of alcohol or whatever the method is. I'll look it up before, don't worry.

The middle shoes are relatively recent, a purchase from either April or May. I got them at Havana shoes in Aarhus for 300 dkk, I think and found them very comfortable and the first pair of heeled sandals, that had enough support for me to walk in. I figured, that I'll be able to wear them throughout the summer going out and they seemed stable enough to even walk in. I wore them to my high school reunion in June, but had stockings and found them impossible to walk in as my feet were slipping. My mistake for not foreseeing this and buying some silicone pads. I wore them out recently on bare feet and sprayed some hair spray, which did the job just fine. We walked considerably a lot that night, but I also have to say, that the heel is so chunky and so high, that it tends to lean backwards when I step on it, if you know, what I mean. Like, the middle part of my feet press down on the shoe and the sole bends, which makes the heel give in and not hit the ground perpendicularly. Gosh, this is difficult to explain. I hope you know what I mean. They're not the most delicate to walk in, is all I'm saying, especially walking fast, so I have to watch it, otherwise I look a bit like I'm hammering down the street.

On the right is also a recent purchase and a total steel. 95 dkk at Bianco shoes and the most comfortable heel I own. The heel is just the perfect height of being easy to walk in and high enough to be flattering. The color is so pretty and the design is very chic, I think. I even don't mind the golden heel and the shiny finish, with a very simple outfit like I had for my friends wedding, it's a very nice stand out peace and I can't wait to wear them more.

Moving onto some outerwear. The brown Chelsea boot on the left is also from Bianco and although I bought it before the summer, April I believe, they are still there in the shops, if that's interesting to some of you. Leather, I got them for a discount subscribing for a member's card, I think, 500 dkk, if I remember correctly. Have worn them a lot, very comfy, very simple, goes with everything and basically a very good staple everyday boot.

In the middle - another Chelsea boot, last Sept. or October from Maibom Eurowalk, 350 dkk as far as I can remember, still there, I saw it recently. A very good every day heel - gives me a bit of height (not that I need it, I'm pretty tall, I meant more so confidence wise), very classy, very comfortable, I've walked lots with these, long distances, been out, spent long hours wearing them - nothing ruins them, except my horrible handling. They're suede, so I usually just brush the dirt off and have a light hand with some water and a wash cloth, even though I know that's not exactly the ideal treatment.

Lastly we have my New Years 2013 shoes. I bought them at Havana shoes in Aarhus for 400 dkk, I think and although I love them, they're also quite uncomfortable (I did NOT dance all New Years night and wait for a bus barefoot, because I couldn't bear to have them on for a second longer). Every now and then I wear them out, when I know I won't have to be on my feet much, but even then its pretty sweet to come home and take them off.

Getting there, guys. Home stretch. Boots! On the left we have a few year old pair from Deichmann shoes (which are NOT held up by a wine bottle hiding inside), a last pair, partly leather, my size, I remember seeing them and putting them on just for fun (since it was my size unusually enough) and getting surprised by how comfortable they actually were. They were discounted 700 dkk from 900dkk and after a long and hard inner battle thinking I ended up deciding to go for it, as they are a classic, looked amazingly on and for once, I did have a job and the money on my account. Imagine my surprise when I paid 150 dkk for them at the check out. I have no idea, to this day, whether that was a mistake or luck, but since then I have worn them loads, as you can see from the ruined heel, they're trusty, relatively comfortable for a heel that high, super flattering and very elegant, I think. Not made for winters, though, because they slide easily. But if I figure out how to fix the heel, I'll gladly continue to wear them.

In the middle, another Deichmann shoes wonder (I used to really only go to that store in Denmark, I can see now!). But they're also real leather, last pair, my size, 200 dkk or even 150 dkk, I can't remember, bought it last Autumn and wore them religiously during the season, also in the winter (they can take a thicker sock as well, which is nice), comfy, classic, a bit of a pain to get into due to the non-existant zipper.

Lastly, a pair of second hand market finds - 50 dkk! I love these, because they make me feel so bad ass wearing them, they're comfortable, easy to wear with everything, a staple peace in my opinion and very versatile - I wore them out the other night downtown and the next day - watched a football game at the stadium.

So, there you have it, guys! My shoes! What do you think? Am I missing something? Which are your favorite styles? What do you consider shoe staples to be? What can you not live without? Leave me your input down below, I would love to hear from you!

On a side note, cheers to my boyfriend and I for being together for two years now :) I know some people say - time flies, I can't believe we're together for so long, I feel like I just met you yesterday! But I seriously feel like I've known him for my entire life and it's actually a bit surprising its only been two years, because it feels much, much longer. We've been though some hard times and I believe have come out on the other side and the best is yet to come. I love him more every single day and feel like the luckiest girl in the world.Hope you guys have had an amazing start of the week and I'll talk to you soon!Renate ❤