If the Shoe Fits, You Still Probably Don't Need It

On average, women own 17 pairs of shoes and spent, again on average, $49 on each pair, according to ShopSmart Magazine, a publication published by the company that produces Consumer Reports.

But here's the recessionary twist: Just four years ago, women owned 19 pairs, so they clearly are shopping less for shoes to decorate the closet. By the way, 13% of all women own more than 30 pairs of shoes, not counting athletic shoes. That's a lot of shoes.