Well, to be honest, they look more like FitFlop slippers to me, but it’s true.  The company that made a name for themselves with a fancy-dancy, super-duper (although as-yet-unproven-to-me) method of giving you a workout just by walking has expanded from their initial flip-flop design to the rather exclusive limited edition gladiator sandal to the current offering: booties.

Yes, folks.  Welcome the Billow.

This is an indoor-outdoor FitFlop that can either be worn as a cozy slipper (it’s shearling lined… I’m clearly craving the sweet fleeciness of shearling these days, huh?) or as a warm bootie that’ll work your leg and butt muscles while you walk outside in the snowy cold.  Roll the cuff down (as shown), or keep it up to get some ankle warmth.

The Billow comes in 4 different neutral colors.  And, if I may be frank here (and I may, because, after all, I’m sitting here writing, aren’t I?), they all of them have the same lack of style and clunkiness.

If this doesn’t bother you, though, you can pick up a pair near you with FitFlop’s where to buy page, or here’s one site that’s selling them for about $125.

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As we enter firmly into winter, I am reminded that cold, moist weather (at least in my household) often results in dry, cracked skin.

One of my problem areas during dry weather - be it winter or summer - is the issue of dry, itchy, heels. No, I will not inflict a photo of that on you, dear readers.

Rather, I just wanted to take a moment to rave about the product I use to effectively and affordably prevent, or in some cases, correct, this problem.

I simply must rave about O’Keefe’s Healthy Feet* treatment cream for dry, cracked, or splitting skin.

• First of all, based on my own experience from using it for the last 2 years: it really works. 
• Second, compared to many other creams, lotions, and moisturizers that I have encountered for treating dry or splitting skin, it is very reasonably priced: O’Keefe’s will set you back about $10.00/3.2 Oz. jar or $42.00 for a package of 6 jars  at Amazon.com, less if you shop around.
• Third, O’Keefe’s is widely available: from drugstores and grocery markets to outdoors retailers, and strangely enough, feed and tack stores (Believe me, the things that turn up in feed stores can be surprising).

Now, if I notice that the skin on my feet (Or hands, it’s all really essentially the same dry skin issue), I will do a bedtime treatment on the problem skin area and then just make sure to wear socks while the cream absorbs into my skin while I sleep. (I also like to wear socks since the consistency of the cream is a similar to cold cream and has a slightly greasy feeling when it is first applied.) By the next day I never have any more itchiness and the affected skin is noticeably less dry.  I have found that several days of use quickly results in much more supple and healthy skin.

Luckily, I generally do not get deep, dry cracks on my heels, (thank goodness) but have in the past had occasional need to use the (nearly identical) Working Hands cream that O’Keefe’s also makes on deep cracks that I would get on my hands. One warning, if your skin has areas with very deep cracks, the first one or two applications may sting.  In my experience, the improvement and quick healing that results is worth the brief discomfort I may feel during initial application.

I am not a doctor, so I cannot say this is right for everyone. But, if you are looking for an inexpensive and effective moisturizer for problem areas such as dry feet, I have to give O’Keefe’s two thumbs (or maybe toes) up.

Warm wishes for a cold winter snuggled up with a cup of hot chocolate - and, of course, healthy skin. After all, fabulous holiday footwear best shines when worn on a pair of healthy and perfectly pedicured feet.

* Yes, the jar I purchase a couple of months ago is labelled ‘Working Feet’. It is the same product, simply a new name - either packaging may be in local stores.

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Hey, foot fashionistas! There’s a new set of tootsies in town. I’m TrainingHeels, and I’ll be sharing my secrets for keeping it stylish on a budget, sassy in boring business zones, and comfortable and upright on difficult terrain. I split time between San Francisco, LA and New York, so I’m always prepared for a walking, dining, driving, stairclimbing, running to an appointment, see and be seen challenge. (More on my tips for walking, driving and dancing properly and stylishly in each city in a later post).

I have an interesting shoe heritage, having grown up in my parents’ shoe sales and shoe repair shops, watching the most beautiful Prada heels and Gucci loafers shuffled in bruised and broken and paraded out proud and gleaming, good as new. If you’ve got repair questions, I’m your gal, and if I don’t have the answer, I will inquire with the best of cobblers.

I’ve had the unfortunate diagnosis from a host of podiatrists (I kept hoping one was wrong and seeking another opinion!) of having plantar fasciitis, also known as the bubonic plague that wipes out your stilettos in one fell swoop. I haven’t let that stop me from participating in the art of shopping for and wearing delectable foot candy.

First off, I stretch my feet regularly and roll them over a foot massager nightly. For the long dashes across the Meatpacking District’s cobblestones or Russian Hill’s slopes on nights out, I place a pair of Scoop ballets, Born arch support flats, French Sole leopard slippers or Tory Burch Revas on my feet (which one depends on how big my bag is that night) with fantastic Pedag insoles, then put the 4-inch curvy Chloe black leather crosshatch-strapped toe cleavage stilettos that have been dangling from my hands back on. How many of you ladies do this bait-and-switch on going out nights or even before and after work? Here are some of my bait-and-switchers:

If you’re dedicated to funky statement shoes that take the outfit’s cake like I am, you’re in luck, because tis truly the season of the shoe. “It seems like the shoe is really the fetish item that has taken the place of the ‘it’ bag,” Mickey Boardman of Paper Magazine heralded at the closing of the Spring 2009 fashion shows. “It’s all about who has the sickest shoe.”

Hallelujah! The shoes at the shows were incredibly creative and I’m sure some of that will trickle down to pret-a-porter and bargain basement!

Even the fiercest Iman would need a set of training heels to teach her how to walk in these Spring 2009 Dior embellished platform heels with a fertile goddess figure on the heel. You can’t be lukewarm on these babies if you love shoes! So what do you think? Would you wear them? If not, because of the height, the likelihood of snagging someone’s dress on the heel, the appearance, or something else? I’m not saying what I think of them till you do!

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The fitness craze shoes of yesteryear are certainly MBTs.

But to be on top the latest rage in toning your gams while you walk, you have to be sporting Fitflops.

As a resident of a bustling metropolis full of people who (admit it, it’s true) will cling to ANYTHING trendy, not to mention anything that will supposedly help tone the bod with a minimum of effort, I am seeing these sandals everywhere.  EVERYWHERE.

They’re for sale in chichi designer shoe boutiques.  They’re on ads in the subways.  They’re on every third person’s foot flip-flopping down the sidewalk.

I have no idea if they’re effective.  I imagine that uncertainty is pretty widespread.  But I do know people are adopting them like Ugg boots.

And just like Ugg boots have the iconic Classic Tall in chestnut to lead the masses, so Fitflops have the WalkStar II in silver (here for $60).

Ladies, if you want to be the cream of the Fitflop trend crop, this is the pair for you.  This is the one I see probably twice as frequently as any of the other styles.

Of course, if I were about to go in for this shoe trend, I’d opt for something a little more outside the box.  Say, the diva-licious Electra in gold.

Or, if you really want to be a gal in the know, stick yourself on Net-a-porter’s mailing list for the release of the Aurelia, the gladiator-inspired Fitflop that’ll be available online in early August in limited editions in black ($150) or snakeskin ($165).

Good luck getting your hands on a pair, though.  They sold out at Kirna Zabete (the NYC store whose owners had a hand in bringing the Aurelia about) faster than your firm calves and thighs could get you in the door.

Gotta say, those are almost funky enough to make me want a pair.  Almost.

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This Friday’s shoes are of the kind that you can actually acquire–if you are a size 6, and possess $200:

Vintage Art Deco black silk and gold metallic lame shoes dating back to 1920s–2 1/2 inch heels, and ribbon ties. I’d say, they look quite modern!

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