For some, shoes become an obsession, with a prime example being the former First Lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, who was the owner of 3,000 pairs of shoes during her term in office.
© RPM.Photo / Shutterstock.com
Her huge collection was amassed between 1965 and 1986, equating to 142 new pairs of shoes each year. Now aged 94, she finally retired from politics in 2019, after spending nine years as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives.
The whereabouts of her massive shoe collection today has often been the subject of media speculation. According to reports, 720 pairs are now owned by the Marikina Shoe Museum in Manila. Only around one-third are on display, with the remainder being in storage. They include top designer brands such as Gucci, Christian Dior, Charles Jourdan and Oleg Cassini.
It was claimed hundreds of pairs of her designer footwear were ruined by damp and mould due to poor storage conditions.
Celebrity shoe hoarders
Amazingly, a modern-day celebrity has outdone Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection by hoarding a staggering 10,000 pairs of training shoes!
American DJ and record producer DJ Khaled, 48, has been named by Public Desire, a fashion brand, as the owner of the world’s biggest collection of trainers, valued at £6.3 million.
When it comes to proper shoe storage, plastic boxes are a popular solution, but for New Orleans native Khaled, his massive collection needs its own walk-in closet that’s about the size of an average bungalow.
No-one can beat him when it comes to sheer volume and value of footwear, but second on the list is Nike brand ambassador Mark “Mayor” Farese, who has amassed 3,600 pairs of shoes, valued at around £800,000.
Hailing from The Bronx, the 51-year-old shot to fame in 2016 after appearing on the TV news to discuss his massive collection, which began at the age of ten with a pair of Nike Air Force 1 training shoes.
A love of rare trainers led to his new career as brand ambassador for sports shoes and he’s now become a fashion icon. When he gets bored with his old shoes, there are plenty of fans ready to snap them up on Urban Necessities, where he has launched Mayor’s Collection, selling at up to £12,000 a pair!
How much money do people spend on shoes?
Aside from the celebrity shoe collectors, the average woman in the UK owns 34 pairs of shoes, while the average man has around half that number.
Based on the figure of £87 per pair, this means the average woman has a shoe collection valued at almost £3,000 tucked away in her bedroom. She will spend an estimated £34,000 on shoes in a lifetime, which could buy two cars and a fortnight’s holiday in Spain.
A survey by Promotional Codes suggested the most common items in a British woman’s shoe collection included three pairs of flat shoes costing £60 each, three pairs of high-heeled shoes at £45 each and two pairs of boots at £80. She will also have in her collection two pairs of £50 sandals, one pair of training shoes at £60, a pair of flat pumps at £45 and a pair of £10 flip-flops.
The study points out there are significant variations in these figures when it comes to the cost of a special pair of shoes, such as for a wedding or a prom, for example. The most popular designer brands of shoes are Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel, according to Kallista, citing their “exceptional craftsmanship, enduring legacy and iconic styles” as the reasons they have remained at the top of luxury fashion.
Fans describe Gucci as the “epitome of Italian opulence”, while Chanel is the “quintessence of French elegance,” and Louis Vuitton provides “timeless sophistication”.
At the Gucci online store, a pair of women’s heeled pumps with a beaded fringe costs £2,030, while Chanel’s summer 2024 range includes embroidered low heel slingbacks at £2,400. At the Louis Vuitton online store, you can snap up a pair of LV Sunset platform comfort sandals for £1,010.
Sadly, all three designer brands would be out of the price range of the average British woman, according to research, with the majority saying they would feel “guilty” spending more than £150 on a pair of shoes.
Importance of shoe storage
Storing shoes correctly is of the ultimate importance, as they can be easily damaged beyond repair if they are stored in damp or dusty conditions.
You only have to look at what happened to Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection, when hundreds of pairs were reportedly ruined by damp and mould, to realise the importance of using airtight and watertight storage when they’re not on your feet.
A popular choice, clear plastic shoe storage boxes will help keep your footwear in pristine condition when you’re not wearing them. This is particularly important if you have a large collection, or for when you’re putting away your summer shoes for winter and vice-versa.
Choosing clear plastic means you’ll be able to see straight away what’s in each box, making it less time-consuming and frustrating to find the pair you need.
Also, if you have 34 pairs of shoes, like the average British woman, plastic under-bed box shoe storage can be a useful space-saving choice, keeping your floor free from obstacles and freeing up wardrobe space for clothes.