I had to face my shoe problem. No, it wasn't the Carrie Bradshaw "too many shoes, too little savings" problem. After cleaning out my closet, selling cute shoes I didn't wear at Wasteland and Crossroads, then donating the rest to Goodwill, I had exactly 11 pairs of shoes in my closet -- including 2 pairs of tennies, a pair of hiking shoes, flipflops, and bedroom slippers. That means I had exactly 6 pairs of regular shoes.

This is what they looked like:

My pair of brown sandal slingbacks didn't make it into the picture (check them out here), but the problem's pretty evident -- I had no flats. All six pairs had heels higher than 2.5 inches.

And while I get most of my shoes second hand -- thereby retaining a better savings account than Carrie Bradshaw while wearing the same labels (from left to right: Marc Jacobs, BCBG, Jimmy Choo, Charles David, Prada) -- I realized I was spending the bulk of my shoe money on the shoes I wore the least.

Or to be more accurate, I was wearing heels all the time -- and slowly developing knee and foot problems.

What is it about impractical heels that makes them so -- irresistible? After getting a referral to a podiatrist and physical therapist from my doc, I did what any heel-challenged girl would do: Go shopping. Funny how this shoe problem could be resolved so enjoyably!

The result: Some comfy red Steve Madden shoes, and some equally comfy but more dressy black flats from Cole Hahn. Best of all, I got these shoes used. Steve Maddens: $5.99 at Goodwill. Cole Haans: $30 at a nearby consignment store.

I've been so happy with my purchases I've been pretty much living in flats. In fact, I wore them to see my podiatrist, then my physical therapist -- both of who told me that my knee and foot issues have pretty much nothing to do with my love for high heels. Apparently, I just need to stretch more -- and strengthen up my hip muscles.

Still happy with my flats though. Lately, I really think people who buy new shoes -- excepting stuff like tennies or bedroom slippers -- are suckers. Pretty, barely-worn shoes are available aplenty at consignment stores, Crossroads, Buffalo Exchange, or any vintage clothing store. And finding cute used shoes aren't any harder than finding cute new shoes.

In fact, I think that the reason why barely-worn shoes are so readily available is because girls keep buying new shoes that don't quite fit, then sell them back. I suppose that all works out well for me, what with the larger selection of used shoes and all -- but I urge you BlogHers not to get suckered by sales! Get shoes you love and will wear, often :)

The eco-friendly family behind Nothing New In 2008 opines, "As a culture, we can change the thinking that getting items used means you must not be able to afford it new. Let’s make it cool to re-use someone else’s stuff!" Just an Idaho Girl bought her kid some gently used shoes -- to have a rather mean friend make her feel guilty for not buying new! Luckily, her readers chimed in and sided with JAIG's decision. Kori of ShoeBlitz says she can't get herself to buy used shoes -- but her readers, according to a poll, appear to disagree!

Now, I've put a shoe moratorium on myself. 13 pairs of shoes are plenty for an environmentalist -- though I find myself obsessing about how really, I sort of need shoes in the mid-level. You know, the ones with heels between 1-2 inches....
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs for the Los Angeles Times at Emerald City, and at greenLAgirl.com.