Why Are Shoes Treated Differently Than Shirts?
How many shirts do you have? Most people I ask this question answer with a double-digit number. However, when I ask about their shoe collection, the answer is usually a single digit, often low. Many people stick to just one or two pairs of shoes they are willing to wear, and that’s it.
What’s wrong with that? Well, first, there's nothing wrong with it. Everyone can do whatever they want, including choosing their fashion and footwear. So why am I writing about this? Because I believe most people don’t decide to have only one or two pairs of shoes; they do it just because.
People own dozens of shirts because they want variety in their outfits—they prefer not to wear the same shirt day after day at work, and they have shirts for different occasions like going out or vacations. Some even have multiple colors of the same shirt because one color might not always match the entire outfit they want to wear. People want options.
But it seems like most people don’t want options when it comes to shoes. "I'll just wear my white sneakers, and that’s it. Why would I need anything else?" Well, why would you want anything more than a white t-shirt?
A few years ago, I realized the same thing—I had two pairs of shoes: one black-and-white sneaker for daily use and one pair of running shoes. Considering myself someone who values aesthetics, I realized I had neglected the shoe part of my outfit for no reason. That's when I started treating shoes just like any other fashion item I own, and as such, I wanted to have options. So, I bought new shoes in different shapes, colors, and styles.
I’ll admit—shoes are not shirts. They are generally pricier, get dirty much quicker, and are not as easy to clean as clothes. I’m not saying everyone should have dozens of shoes and become a sneaker-head (like I eventually did, but that’s for another time), but I think it’s a point worth thinking about—shoes are a part of your outfit whether you like it or not. Do you ignore them by choice, or just because?