Every day possible I walk my two dogs for 90 minutes through nearby Cherry Creek State Park. They get to run around and exchange sniff-sniff pleasantries with other dogs. I trudge along in my Timberland boots, battlescarred veterans of a million all-weather miles.
I think when I walk and today I started wondering,”How many shoes do people own and how many do they regularly wear? And, of course, why do we wear some but not others?”
There are six billion people in the world but only 4.54 billion wear some sort of foot coverings, which tells me there are still far too many barefooted people.
We are different in America, the per capita consumption of shoes here is four pairs per year. There are 309 million of us, so math says twice as many pairs of shoes are sold each year as McDonald’s sells Big Macs. With flip-flops to spare.
For a man, shoes exist to serve a function. For a woman, shoes are far more important–or so statistics seem to indicate.
A couple years ago Consumer Reports National Research Center surveyed 1,057 women while researching a feature story for one of their magazines, ShopSmart. The findings are intriguing.
Women overall own an average of 19 pairs of shoes, four of which they wear regularly and one-fourth of which they’ve worn just once. The reasons for the “just once” are, to me (a guy who looks forward to tugging on muddy Timberlands) surprising.
“Women are serious shoe collectors,” said editor in chief Lisa Lee Freeman. “Women obviously love their shoes and are willing to go to great lengths for them–including risking injury and hiding their purchases from their significant other.”
Dare say! Hiding shoes? I was startled to learn that 13% of women have hidden shoes from their beloved! Such deception is appalling; I only do that with fishing tackle.
Based on the numbers, hiding shoes properly can be complicated. Teenage girls 13-16 own about 15 pairs. From 16-21 young women demand more options for the same pair of feet: 25-40 pair. Many women 25-50 have 40-60 pairs of shoes, the total often influenced by a job or career. Since no woman ages over 50 regardless of her number of birthdays, it’s safe to assume totals apex there and decline slowly thereafter.
Most women wear sizes between 5.5-9.5, while men wear sizes ranging between 7-12. I wear a 13, which is why my Timberlands are so special. They actually fit and are impervious to the elements. They are the only consistently good thing I can rely on while trekking through the park, regardless of the weather. I never guess right with jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, or gloves….but goshdarnit….my Timberlands are fly!
Shoe sizes vary by maker. Nike, for example, is notorious for small shoes. And Nike sells a lot of shoes. With 20,000 retail outlets in the USA and distribution networks in 140 countries, swooshes wallpaper the globe. Nike even recycles a lot of shoes, about 1.5 million pairs a year, 25 million since starting a recycling program in 1990.
Because of fluctuating sizes and varying fits, six out of seven women (86%) consider buying shoes a combat sport. Only 14% purchase on-line, which may account for why many shoes are worn just once. Regardless of the price, if the shoe won’t fit, the pain to try and make it do so outgoverns the practicality of the effort.
While it’s true I broke my foot during a timeout of a high-school basketball game, I have not been injured by a shoe, unless you consider a blister an injury. Shockingly, injuries are a very real part of the game in the world of women’s footwear.
Nearly half of women (43%) have been injured by their shoes. Eight percent (8%!) have suffered sprains or breaks. These are sad but fun for a man to witness: 100% of men will piggishly and unfairly chuckle at these accidental dance routines.
Why do women love shoes? For some, they’re easier to find than stylish, perfect fitting clothing. Others believe that looks start from the ground up. Toss in the “feel good” factor and matching options and there are clearly lots of excellent reasons.
AskMen Fashion Advisors opines that every man requires just five pairs: a sneaker, a casual shoe, black and brown dress shoes, and ankle boots (for versatility). They omitted Timberland mud boots, but for now I’ll let them slide. Nor will I mention the other 26 pairs in my closet.
Women are smart. They know a lot about men and a lot about shoes. Blend the two together and a smart woman realizes that judging a man starts from the ground up, too. Cheap shoes = cheap guy. Quality shoes = quality guy.
So guys, it’s up to you. Shop smart, but stay in your half of the closet. Don’t poke around looking for clandestine high heels. If they’re hidden, they’re hidden for a reason. But if you find a pair, don’t try them on. You’re bound to get hurt.