What should my final capsule wardrobe shoe count be?

[NoraOH]

I’ve been trying to reduce my wardrobe to a true capsule collection, but I keep getting stuck on shoes. I own about eight pairs and can’t seem to whittle it down past five without worrying I’ll regret it later. How did you decide on your final, functional number?

[BrandonAM]

I treated it as a capsule and started by listing my weekly outfits and the weather I actually face. Then I narrowed to four options I wore most: a versatile sneaker, a black ankle boot, a waterproof shoe for rain, and a comfy slip-on for quick errands. Five felt like too many and two fewer felt almost scary, but getting to four eased the decision.

[Adam.J]

I tried to cut to five and ended up keeping a gym shoe I never wear outside, because I worried about workouts and gym days. In reality I wore it twice in six months and regretted the space it took.

[Charles_A]

Is the real problem the rest of the wardrobe, not the shoes? I kept a couple of outfits that need a very specific heel and when the rotation changes, those shoes sit unused.

[Aaron_W]

I did a month-long one-in-one-out test and found it cut decision fatigue but left me with gaps when something wore out. Not perfect, but it was real.