I own 105 pairs of shoes… But I only wear 5 (Here’s what I learned)
I am a shoe designer, so I am never been ashamed to say I love shoes. I live for them. But I also have not done a proper count in over a year, and I figured I had around 60 pairs on two metal shelves in my dressing room (there were also pairs of shoes quietly hiding behind my coat closet, tucked under my storage ottoman as well as those shoes living inside my media console in the sitting room.
At the start of the project, Michelle asked me to leave the room while she worked her magic. Twenty minutes later, she called me back in. Every single pair of shoes I owned — unboxed, spread out, lined up across my dressing room floor. My mouth dropped wide open because I was not expecting these many pairs of shoes that I had accumulated over the years.
One hundred and five pairs.
I stood there staring, thinking: I have one pair of legs… and 105 pairs of shoes.
And then the real gut punch hit me immediately — I only actually wear about 5 to 8 of them.
And if I am being completely honest? Most of those are either my own designs (because I made them to be genuinely comfortable and versatile for real city life), or my running shoes for the gym. The rest? Beautiful. Expensive. Impulsive. Forgotten.
I have not even started on my heel collection. I have stunning pairs that I genuinely love — but wearing them now means I have approximately 15 minutes before my feet start screaming, and I am left waddling around clenching every muscle in my body, trying to look poised and confident on the outside while suffering quietly on the inside. We have all been there, and I know I am not alone.
More isn't better — It's just… more
That day forced me to confront something I think so many of us quietly experience:
We buy more, thinking it will make our lives better. More options. More outfits. More confidence.
But in reality? We end up reaching for the same few things over and over again.
I found heels I once loved but could barely stand in. Cheap pairs bought on a whim that did not last more than a few wears before the insole material turned powdery. Even expensive leather pairs — some costing several hundred dollars — where the outsole had cracked or the fit was so painful I had to clench my hands and jaw just trying to make it through the night.
And standing there surrounded by all of it, I thought: why did I accept this for so long?
Why This Feels Especially Personal During Earth Month
This was not just about decluttering. It made me think about how much we consume — and how little we actually use. Especially in fashion.
April is Earth Month, and it usually gets us thinking about buying less — and yes, that absolutely matters. But for me, this moment was about something deeper:
Buying better. Choosing intentionally. And taking care of what we already own.
Because the most sustainable wardrobe isn't the one with the most pieces. It's the one you actually wear, love, and keep.
Why I started designing shoes differently
That moment on my dressing room floor? That is exactly why I design my shoes the way I do today. Not for trends. Not for seasons. But for real life.
If you could only own 3–5 pairs of shoes — what would they need to do for you?
That's the question I design around. And it's the philosophy behind every single pair of Yvonne Liao shoes.
Here's what makes my shoes different — and why yes, they cost more:
1. I design in small, intentional quantities
I do not mass produce. I think about the woman living and working in a fast-paced city — running between meetings, dinners, travel, and everything in between — and I design for her real day. That is why my heels are no higher than 3 inches. That's why every pair is meant to actually be worn, and to be worn frequently.
But here is what most people do not realize: producing in small quantities actually costs more per pair at the factory. Unlike big brands that order thousands of units to drive costs down, I produce in limited runs — which means every pair costs more to make.
And because I keep quantities small and intentional: once a style sells out, it is gone. No overproduction. No excess inventory. No waste.
2. I do not chase trends — I design to last
Trends come and go. Your life doesn't.
I design shoes that feel fun, expressive, and a little different — but still timeless enough to wear for years. Think the heart detail on my Essex heels, or the rhinestone and mirror accents on my Mercer mary-janes. These aren't "of the moment" pieces — they're the kind of design details that will still feel special and intentional years from now. Classic, fun details that showcase your personality. That is the Yvonne Liao sweet spot.
Because the most unsustainable thing you can do? Buy something you stop wearing after one season.
3. Every pair is designed from scratch — and made right
This is the behind the scene part most people do not see.
Every design starts as a sketch and goes through multiple rounds of prototyping and revisions. I do not just create one sample and move on. I test. Adjust. Rework. Refine. Again and again — until it feels exactly right. Because designing a shoe that is both beautiful and truly comfortable takes time.
And yes — those prototype revisions are expensive. But I go through that process anyway, because I care deeply about getting it right for you.
Some designs, such as the Yulia rhinestone flats and Chelsea floral heels take 4–5 hours just to customize one pair. Hand-sewn details. Extra padded insoles. Thoughtful construction from the ground up. I use high-quality vegan materials because they are built to actually last.
This is not fast fashion. This is intention, craftsmanship, and care. And that's a big part of why my shoes cost more.
4. I offer a level of service most brands do not
If you live in New York City, I have personally brought shoes to clients' homes and offices so they can try them on and find their perfect fit. I help with sizing. I offer care advice. I stay connected long after the purchase — because buying shoes shouldn't feel transactional. It should feel personal. I personally pack each order with a handwritten thank you card because my shoes are little love letters to your feet.
5. I design for comfort — without compromise
Slightly wider toe boxes. Soft, sweat-absorbing vegan suede insoles. Heel heights you can actually walk in — all day, on real streets, in real life.
These are shoes made to move with you, not slow you down.
Because confidence isn't just how you look. It's how you feel walking through your day.
So here's the question I am asking myself — and maybe you too
What if you do not need 105 pairs of shoes?
What if you only needed a few… but they were the right ones?
The ones you reach for again and again. The ones that support your life — and do not just sit quietly in your closet waiting to be rediscovered by a professional organizer.
I am not here to tell you to do a dramatic closet purge. I am sharing what I learned standing in the middle of my own excess:
Buy less — but buy better.
Choose pieces made with intention. That you'll actually reach for. That are built to last beyond one season — and look great doing it.
That's the whole philosophy behind Yvonne Liao shoes. And honestly? It took 105 pairs of shoes for me to fully understand why I started this brand in the first place.
Ready to explore the collection? Not because you need more shoes — but because you deserve ones that actually work for your life.
→ Explore the Yvonne Liao collection here