Last summer, we introduced you to Beth Shak and her magical shoe cupboard. Now the poker star’s ex-husband is suing her for 35% of the value of her 1,200-pair-strong shoe collection, estimated to be worth as much as $1 million.

The shoe custody battle got us thinking: how many pairs of shoes is too many? ELLE staffers are no strangers to extreme shoe ownership. Here are our confessions as to how many pairs of shoes we own—and where we draw the line.

Anne-Marie Curtis, Fashion Director
Shoe count: 60 pairs
‘I only tend to keep things that are either iconic or classic. I also don't keep things once they past their best. My silver Manolo wedding shoes are the ones I would rescue first if there was a fire. I’ve only worn them once but will keep them forever.’

Stacey Duguid, Executive Fashion Editor
Shoe count: about 100 in storage, 50 at home
Actually wears: about three
How many shoes are too many? ‘None is too many.’

Alice Wignall, Features Director
Shoe count: around 60 pairs
Actually wears: four
How many shoes are too many? 'I would say when you start to feel guilty about it. Which I sort of do.'

Carrie Tyler, Online Editor
Shoe count: 50
Actually wears: four
How many shoes are too many? ‘When you do a charity-shop drop every six months and never miss a pair.’

Bonnie Rakhit, Market & Merchandising Editor
Shoe count: about 50 pairs
Actually wears: about 10 pairs 'But the others look nice decorating my living room.'
How many shoes are too many? ''When you buy shoes so often, that they are all hidden in boxes and you accidentally buy the same shoes again which you already bought last summer. This happened.'

Susie Wong, Deputy Chief Sub-Editor
Shoe count: More than 20, less than 50.
Actually wears: about 10
How many shoes are too many? ‘You've probably hit the limit if you buy shoes you've forgotten you already own. Luckily, I'm nowhere near that.’

Amy Lawrenson, Beauty Writer
Shoe count: 80+
Actually wears: 10
How many shoes are too many? ‘For me a woman can never have too many shoes. Which exactly why my boyfriend now has a one in, one out policy for my shoes. Of course I don't follow it—I've just started housing pairs under my desk at work instead.’

Andrew Falconer, Managing Editor
Shoe count: 23 pairs
Actually wears: ‘I never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Shoes need a rest. They need to breathe—especially if you walk everywhere like I do. I have footwear for all eventualities, from snow to sand and everywhere in-between. However I dream of having a pair of shoes made just for me.’
How many shoes are too many? ‘Depends. How big is your closet?’

Jo Usher, Art team
Shoe count: around 60 pairs
Actually wears: two or three
How many shoes are too many? ‘Probably when people start naming your bedroom “the shoe graveyard”, which happened a while back.’

Amy Bannerman, Senior Fashion Assistant
Shoe count: 50+ pairs
Actually wears: seven in summer and six in winter
How many shoes are too many? ‘When they are everywhere—under the bed, in a trunk, on top of the wardrobe, by the door... probably in the dishwasher.’

Alice Watt, Fashion Assistant
Shoe count: probably 100+
Actually wears: not that many
How many shoes are too many? ‘Most don’t get worn, but they all serve their purpose – from being comfortable, pretty or bonkers, or purely nostalgic. And yes, I am a hoarder.’

Hannah Swerling, Commissioning Editor
Shoe count: 30 pairs
Actually wears: five or so
How many shoes are too many? ‘In my case it's 30! Having said that, I'd be sad if I only owned 5 pairs. I may not need many more but I certainly want the option. It's all about the possibilities.’

Ivy Storvik, Chief Sub-Editor and Production Manager
Shoe count: 50 pairs. ‘Serious detox needed.’
Actually wears: 10 pairs-ish
How many shoes are too many? ‘When your shoe habit makes Imelda Marcos look restrained.’

Sophie Gridley, Junior Sub-Editor
Shoe count: 30 pairs
Actually wears: 10 in summer, two in winter
How many shoes are too many? ‘When you're still hanging on to a pair of cork wedges you're convinced are going to come back into fashion, you've got too many pairs.’

Chimere Cisse, Acting PR Manager
Shoe count: 40-plus. ‘I have removed all the books from my bookshelf and replaced them with shoes, that’s how many I own!’
Actually wears: 10
How many shoes are too many? ‘Most of my shoes are horribly too small, too uncomfortable, way too high and totally impractical. But I can’t bear to part with them.’

Natasha Ryder, Assistant
Shoe count: 40 pairs
Actually wears: 20
How many shoes are too many? ‘There’s no such thing unless you can’t see the bedroom floor at all—then it's just a health hazard.’

Alice Parfrement, Acting Editorial Assistant
Shoe count: 30 pairs
Actually wears: five flats and three heels
How many shoes are too many? ‘There’s no such thing as having too many shoes! Same goes for clothes, bags and chocolate.’

Anna Vitiello, Intern
Shoe count: 20 pairs of 'notable' shoes, 40 pairs of 'less notable' shoes
Actually wears: four pairs
How many shoes are too many? ‘You know you have too many pairs of shoes when they cost £2,000, and you tell your other half they were £20 because you already own 200 "unnecessary" pairs.’