How Many Shoes do Women REALLY Own?

It’s official, a new study has finally answered the question on all our minds: How many shoes does the average woman REALLY own?

A recent survey of 2,000 women in the UK, conducted at the beginning of this year, concluded that the average woman owns 24 pairs of shoes.

24 pairs of shoes? That sounds like a lot! The number has been on a steady increase over the past few years, three years ago the number was 20 pair of shoes, and five years ago it was 18.

The 2017 shoe survey also showed that around half of a woman’s shoe collection goes unworn. It’s revealed that Impulse buys and stiletto heels are the worst wear-once-and-never-again shoes hogging the back of the cupboard. Over a third of women confessed to buying shoes that they didn’t need just because they were on sale. Who hasn’t done that?

It is reported that shoe sales have soared a whole 5.4% in 2016 than it did in 2015. The dramatic rise of shoe shoppers indicates intriguing patterns that certainly begs consideration. 

Why are women buying more shoes than EVER before? 
What’s happening sociological that’s changing the amount of shoes the average woman is willing to purchase? What’s intensifying the world’s desire to buy more shoes?

There are several factors that could be influencing women to purchase more shoes. For example, over the past few years internet shopping has become more and more accessible that you can buy new shoes with just a click of a button.

Psychologically, researchers say that women are more likely to buy because of their primary care-giving responsibilities, which means that they not only buy for themselves but often buy things for the people they love around them.

Women also nest. You’ll notice this when a pregnant woman is expecting a child, she’ll decorate, prepare, and stock up on goods in eager anticipation for the arrival of her new baby. Okay, but what about shoes? This ‘nesting’ mentality may indicate why women purchase a larger quantity of things like clothes, shoes and so forth. It’s the nesting mindset that tells women to stock up on things they like to keep them prepared and safe.

Hoarding shoes is also often associated with nostalgia. Women often report keeping their old women’s work shoes, party shoes and other shoes that have perhaps seen better days, because they remind them a good time in their lives. Perhaps that pair of women’s ankle boots remind you of a great night out, or maybe those kitten heels make you think of that job promotion you got a couple of years back… Shoes, and clothes, are connected to certain memories. 

What shoes were women buying in 2016? 
2016 was certainly an interesting year for shoes.

Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 saw avant garde platform boots, spandex thigh-highs and curiously shaped heels conquer the catwalks, whilst questioning our expectations on how shoes should be worn. There was also the unexpected revival of Crocs, Birkenstocks and other unusual shoes that labelled 2016/17 the year of the ‘ugly shoe trend’.

2016 also saw trainer sales overtaking heel sales for the first time EVER. With sports brands releasing ranges with a more fashion-conscious approach, the nature of women’s casual shoes have started to change. Sports shoes are no longer just for the gym.

Women are overall investing more in flat shoes, with 59% of women saying that they prefer wearing them over heels. Only 12% of women, in a survey conducted at the end of last year, reported preferring the wear heels.

Not Just Women… 
It’s not just women who are filling up their wardrobes with new shoes. The men’s shoe market was also expanding with an impressive rise in sales during 2016.

Sales in men’s footwear has grown a whole 9.7% since the previous year. Women’s shoes may still be dominating the market, however the men’s footwear sphere is said to be rapidly growing every year.

It has also been established that men actually spend more money on shoes than women. As with a lot of high-quality clothes for men, it’s hard to buy them cheap. Buying a well-cut suit or a well-made coat will always require investing a bit of extra money. This is the same with men’s shoes - getting high-quality leather brogues will cost more than getting a pair of going-out heels. Well, that’s certainly food for thought!