Inside: Curious how many pairs of shoes minimalist women actually own? Here’s my four season minimalist shoe collection, curated for my casual, work from home, homeschool mom lifestyle.
Last year, my tall Crocs yellow rain boots finally bit the dust.
These were by far the most commented on pair of shoes I’ve ever owned. People called me the “Morton Salt” girl and just standing in line at the grocery store drew compliments. I was sad to let them go, but a decade is a good amount of time to own a pair of shoes.
My Target fake leather booties were also cracking in several places, and the pair of cheap pull on sneakers that I adopted from a parking lot (true story) were also falling apart.
Since I was replacing a few pairs of shoes in my minimalist shoe collection, I decided it was a good time to share exactly how many pairs of shoes I have as a minimalist because I’ve always been curious about how many pairs other minimalists own.
I might have a slight obsession with buying things to last (exhibit A: my agonizing two day long washing machine search). I recently discovered the Buy It For Life Reddit forum, and I love it there.
How Many Pairs of Shoes Do Minimalist Women Own? Here’s My Collection (for a Casual Lifestyle)
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I’ve never been a girl with tons of shoes, so decluttering shoes was never a huge problem for me. But I’ve always wanted to invest in quality shoes that will last a long time.
When I worked at a school five days a week, I loved THESE black patent leather Danskos. And if I had to go back to work, I would probably buy another pair.
But today, I’m a stay at home, work at home homeschooling mom who lives a pretty casual lifestyle. I live in jeans, THESE black joggers and sweatpants.
I don’t need a lot of shoes. But even if I did work outside the home, I would probably only add maybe one pair to this collection, and I would definitely wait it out a couple of months to see if what I had would suffice.
1. Bear Paw Short Boots
I like my feet to stay SUPER warm in the winter, but I don’t want to pay Uggs prices.
THESE mid-calf Bear Paw boots fit the bill. I bought them two years ago, and they are still going strong through another winter.
I am considering getting inserts because the internal padding does wear down with daily use. Also, a cleaning kit is essential for keeping these in good shape for the long run.
I hope to update this post years from now saying that Bear Paw boots last a long time for ⅓ of the price of Uggs.
2. Merry People Bobbi Rain Boots
I bought these Merry People rain boots in the fall to replace 1) my worn out tall yellow Crocs rain boots and 2) my snow boots that starting leaking after 5-6 months of daily wear.
I saw them so many times on social media, and I wanted a classic, attractive short pair of rain and winter boots. They are definitely pricey, so I will write a review in the spring after they’ve hopefully survived and thrived through the winter and spring.
I loved them for fall soccer games! Perfect for battling muddy, wet soccer fields as a soccer mom. I’ve also used them in the several snow storms we’ve endured this winter so far, and they’ve been great for me.
My only complaint so far is that when it’s warmer out, my feet do get a bit sweaty. I will probably try different socks (wool instead of cotton) to see if that makes a difference.
They have so many fun colors! THIS is the other color I was considering.
3. TOMS Booties
These TOMS booties are my only dress shoe. I got them because I wanted something I could wear year round for any dressy occasion – weddings, parties, funerals.
I rarely dress up, so I only wear these a few times a year. Because they’re my only dress-up shoe and borrowing shoes feels weird to me, I keep them.
They have a small heel, and if I could go back, I would probably choose a dressy bootie like THIS one with no heel.
4. Converse Sneakers
These low top Converse sneakers are my everyday fall and spring shoe. I’ve wanted a pair of Converse for a while, so I finally got a black pair last year.
What I didn’t know at the time was that you can easily get a pair of Converse in kids’ sizes! A friend at my co-op has them, and they look more comfortable. They have a lot more padding around the ankle.
So when they need replacing years from now, I will likely get the kids’ sized option or a barefoot shoe version. But for now, I’m pretty happy with them.
One Note: They are NARROW. I expect mine will stretch out more and more with time, but if you have wider feet, I’d probably choose a different shoe.
Related: A Minimalist Mom’s Ridiculously Simple Spring Daily Uniform
5. Birkenstock Sandals
I wear my Birkenstock sandals every single day in the summer! As long as they don’t get wet, they hold up well over time.
I’ve had two pairs of Birkenstocks: THIS thong style sandal and the more classic slide.
On my second pair, I chose THIS metallic pair because it felt like it could be dressy OR casual. I will say that the thong style felt a bit dressier, and I might go back to that style when these wear out.
6. Running Sneakers
I run about three days a week, anywhere from three to eight miles. Supportive running shoes are essential.
My favorites are THESE sneakers. They have a super wide toe box and lots of cushioning.
I buy them from my local running store, which I highly recommend if you have one nearby. They can assess your stride and help you choose the best shoes for you.
7. Crocs
I have a hand-me-down pair of Crocs from one of my kids that I use for things like trash runs and quick errands when it’s not winter.
I also bring them to the beach because Birkenstocks don’t handle water very well, and I don’t love flimsy flip flops.
Maybe one day, I’ll replace them in a color of my choice, but for now, they work just fine.
Bonus: Slippers
I should probably add in my slippers to this minimalist shoe collection because I wear them all day, every day around the house.
Only in the blazingly hot summer months do I reluctantly put them away until fall.
You can read my full review on my Kyrgies slippers HERE.
Thankfully, Post-Pandemic, Casual Seems to Be Trending?
Since the Pandemic, have you noticed that people seem to care a lot less about what they wear in public? Just me?
It used to be that I only saw people in flannel pajama pants, sweatshirts and slipper-like slides on my college campus, but now they’re everywhere.
Not that I cared about fashion before, but I was pretty delighted to see that wearing comfy clothes in public was trending (despite Scott Bessent’s plea that we all dress up to travel – kick rocks, Scott). It’s nice to finally feel not totally out of sync with my not dressy, super casual wardrobe.
Then again, now that I’m 40, I care less and less about what people think and simply wear what I enjoy wearing and what makes me feel good about my body.
So here’s to capsule wardrobes, daily uniforms and a small, carefully curated minimalist shoe collection. Cheers!
Read Next: The Daily Uniform: The Ultimate Way to Simplify Your Mornings
If you’re a minimalist or on your way to being minimalist, how many pairs of shoes do you own? I’m curious! Share in the comments.
