6.0 - Trying to optimize the model

Info:

I will use this note to track the optimizations that I was able to make on my model. This will going to be a tough task.

1.0 Beginning:

The initial high poly model, is:

Without the floor
Without the feet and the nails

is 95.982 triangles.

2.0 First Optimization step:

Optimized ONLY the rivets by deleting half of the edges.
Without the floor
Without the feet and the nails

the result is 74.178 triangles.

Optimized (top) vs un-optimized (bottom):

Even when they are optimized, just only the rivets are 21.920 triangles. So this is not very easy to optimize as a model to a very low value. This firken shoe just has too many details! Pfff! Getting lost. Keep concentrated.

Third optimization step:

All the optimizations above.
Disolved a bunch of edge loops from the surfaces.
Deleted many unseen faces. Can be further improved but not by much.

The result is 49.674 triangles.

Optimized (top) vs un-optimized initial model (bottom):

Wireframe of optimized (top) vs un-optimized (bottom) model:

Other shots of optimized model:

Fourth optimization step:

All the optimizations above and:

Deleted extra edge loops.

The result is 43.021 triangles.

Optimized model:

Fifth Optimization step:

All the optimizations above and:

Reduced some edge loops to a lower number with the methods found on internet. Resulted one or two n-gons and shading issues, but they are not really visible, so kept them like that for the sake of less triangle count.
Deleted the bottom surface of all the rivets, as they should not be seen since they are laying on top of the layer surfaces.
Deletes some more edge loops where I could.

The result is 37.658 triangles. I feel like I can not reduce it any further without ruining the look. I still have to make/model a small logo on the sole since on the original shoe there is a prada logo there.

Optimized model:

Copmarison of optimized (top) vs un-optimized (bottom)

Below is the comparison photos of optimized - 37.658 triangle version vs un-optimized - 95.982 triangle version.