I recently found out that one of my sisters is reading our blog when she recently asked me via e-mail  “How are those fuzzy boots working out?“.  Now that she is following our site, she has also started campaigning to convert me over to Clarks, which is her absolute favorite shoe brand.  Apparently, it took me moving to a different state to find out that she loves looking at and trying on cute, sexy, or funky shoes almost as much as I do.

In this recent message, subject line: ‘My New Shoes’, she shares with me her brief summer sandal search. The siren-call that she was hoping to answer was for one of these two pairs of Frye sandals.

Frye ‘Dara’ T-strap $192 at Zappos

Frye ‘Grace’ Sandal $227.95 at Nordstrom

Unfortunately, she laments that “she couldn’t walk in them”.  And, since the primary purpose of shoes is to protect our feet in the everyday action of walking, this was an obvious deal-breaker.

So, where did she turn instead? Surprisingly, not to her fave brand Clarks, but to this shoe by Pikolinos:

Pikolinos ‘Romana’ mule $144.95 at Nordstrom

This is a unique little slip-on shoe that manages to be comfy and funky while still retaining a solid feminine flare. I love the attention to detail on these; they are also a wonderful way to get a boho-styled shoe that won’t be on the feet of everybody else around.

Now, the ‘Romana’ is definitely more Sis’s style than mine. But, it is refreshingly different and eclectic. So, after receiving her e-mail, I just had to go peeking around online to see what other styles Pikolinos might offer.

Here are a few that caught my eye:

This one is a wonderfully quirky interpretation of the still-dominant gladiator sandal style.

Pikolinos ‘Formentera gladiator sandal’ $174.95 at Nordstrom

And, if gladiators are not your thing, the Formentera is available in a simple slide variation as well:

Pikolinos ‘Formentera’ sandal $149.95 at Nordstrom

Another  Pikolinos shoe that I love is this charming Maryjane.

Pikolinos ‘Genebra’ Maryjane pump $81.90 $164.95 at Nordstrom

Now, I am undeniably a fan of Maryjane styles, so I was somewhat biased at the outset. But the leather on this is so yummy and I love the overall quilted effect of the stitching as well. This is one fantastic shoe with wonderfully whimsical artistic appeal.

On an unrelated note, I challenge you to say the title of this article three times fast.

5 Comments »

Ahhhhhh ASGI, producer of extremely comfortable footwear, we are quite fond of you. For those of you who have been with us awhile, you may remember that this Science-of-Shoewearing brand showed up here on Shoeblog last spring when Shoesense reviewed their “Joy” Mary Jane. She went through their amazng Soleplex technology, but since it’s always a good time for good news, I am going to tell you about it again. Here is the first major reason to get interested in this brand, and fast:

ASGI claims to design their shoes “from the inside out” and in this image of the heeled version of their 3-tiered Soleplex design, you begin to see why. In this image, tiers 1 and 2 make up the “Footbed and Stabilizer” level. It is a contoured base that conforms, memoryfoam-like, to your your foot so that you almost feel like the shoe was made for you. It is then reinforced to provide extra support. The bottom tier is a combination of the “Chassis” and the “Pods” that are seperated in the flat version of the shoe. The Chassic is the stong durable foundation that gives you stability even on cobblestones and uneven ground. The “Pod,” or in this case, the heel, is carefully placed to distribute weight. Even though this is a heeled shoe, you are in no way balancing on your toes. For more information on Soleplex technology, check out the ASGI website.

The CLAIM: ASGI shoes are designed with comfort first and then wrapped in the latest fashion designs.

The TEST: Twinkletoes will wear the Carina Bootie all over the streets of New York and render her decision.

The VERDICT:

Here is a photo of the Carina bootie in which I did, indeed, traipse all over Manhattan.

CLAIM 1 RESULT: COMFORT. I found that ASGI totally lives up to the hard sell on the Soleplex technology. The shoe does actually feel like it molds to your foot. The longer you wear it, the more comfortable it gets. On top of that, New York is incredibly hard on shoes. Virtually ever pair of shoes I own looks like it has been in a streetfight. In the past I have found that the heel caps on my shoes can wear down with one wearing. ONE! But the polyurethane Chassis and Heel scoffed in the face of the NYC streets. Subway Grates? Sure, I got caught in them (I am not the most graceful of girls), but they came right out with nary a nick on them. Questionable puddles in the street? No problem! The leather was not damaged at all and any grime just washed right off! These babies are amazingly street savvy.

CLAIM 2 RESULT: FASHION. On this level, I feel that ASGI has a little way to go. I paired these with several different looks to see how they worked.

Business:

Casual:

Dressy:

I think that it definitely works best with the work look. It is a sturdy, comfortable work shoe but i think it needs a bit of tweaking before it can be called full-on Fashion. My main issue with it is the toe box. The squared off toe looks a little old-fashioned to me. Tweaking it just a little by making it either rounded or pointed would go a long way for the look. I understand that it is supposed to loafer-esque, but I think the look needs a bit more streamlining. However, I stand firm on the idea that if you are looking for comfortable, good-looking work shoe, these are perfect.

I did spend a great deal of time perusing ASGI’s website and found that the Daisy Ballerina shoe is super cute! Based on my time with the Carina Bootie, I am also 100% certain that it is incredibly comfortable. In addition to the black style, it is available in gold and silver, a perfect fit for the new Spring trends.

You can find the Carina Bootie ($102.00) and the Daisy Ballerina ($104.00!) on Footwearetc.com.

1 Comment »

Hello All!

I know it’s been several weeks since I introduced you to the pet-able ‘Tsar’ shearling-lined boot (brand-new and out of the box):

Now, here is what they look like after a bit of casual wear & tear. I’d like to think that hint of slouch is just starting to give them even more character:

Oh, and I did promise you a review.  So, on to the details.

First of all, I have managed to wear these in conditions ranging from temperatures hovering just at freezing (32F) to a crowded trade-floor with temperatures approaching the high 70’s to low 80’s (which I was only able to do since I had otherwise dressed lightly, I wouldn’t recommend making this a habit).  So, I think I can give you a fair idea of how these babies performed and exactly where their strengths and weaknesses are in everyday settings.

Reasons to Love ‘Love from Australia’:

1. These boots are cozy and warm.  In most temperatures at the 40F to 60F range, these are warm enough that socks are simply not required.  At about 34F outside during soft hail (poofy tiny snowballs), I was able to tolerate 45 minutes of open-air soccer-momming before hitting a point where I actually felt the cold begin to penetrate my toes. Conclusion? These are not meant to replace anybody’s ski boots, but they are perfect for errands around town on chilly days or as super-fun ski-lodge wear.  The shearling lining is warm enough for most indoor/outdoor winter errands while the sheep’s wool acts to wick away moisture. An added bonus is that the lanolin content of the shearling acts as a natural moisturizer against the skin - incidentally helping to combat the dry skin that many of us encounter during the colder months.

2. The boots are gorgeous. They are not for folks who are trying to blend into the crowd. As evidence, I simply need to let you know that while I attended my annual pilgrimage to the Puyallup Sew Expo, I became ‘the lady with the fabulous boots’.  I am even now uncertain if any of the women who approached me ever noticed my face … But comments such as “I love your boots”, “Where did you find your boots. They’re fantastic!”, and ”Those boots are amazing!” will follow you wherever you wear these. These are, no question, an attention-grabber.

3. These boots are low-maintenance.  It wasn’t until after a third day of wearing these that I was able to get to the store and pick up some suede cleaner and suede protectant (Rain was predicted).  Before applying the protectant, I noticed a slight dirt smear over the toe area. Horrors …  and fears of permanent damage were on my mind. However, a touch of cleaner and a damp washcloth were all it took to restore the original color and nap of the suede. Since applying the spray-on protectant, I have noticed no other dirt or blemishing on the suede.

4. These boots are comfortable and reasonably supportive for a flatter boot and have a generous tread. The interior shearling lining extends onto the foot-bed and acts almost like memory foam; compressing at the side of the foot, the heel, and toe areas while keeping its original shape in the arch area. This resulted in a touch of gentle arch support and a remarkably comfortable fit  …  appreciated since I usually have to add monster inserts into the majority of my shoes to accommodate a medium-high arch and prevent foot fatigue.

5. These boots are wardrobe investment. At $450 they are not inexpensive; but they are well-crafted to last you many seasons of loving wear.  And, with many designer dress shoes increasing this season to record highs of $750-$2000 for a pair of special-occasion pumps and $1500-$6000 for a pair of designer boots, the purchase value on these becomes even more obvious. Oh, and for those with simpler tastes, there are plain styles at a lower entry point starting at $175-$195 for the ‘Cosy Short’ and ‘Cosy Long’ styles:

Australia Love Collective ‘Cosy Long’ $195

Now, I just need to mention a few things to be aware of, though they aren’t stopping this gal’s fuzzy-boot love-fest.

1. There may be a break-in period for these boots.  The length on my right foot is about 1/4 shoe size shorter than my left foot. As a result, I experienced a small amount of heel ’slippage’ with the right boot.  On the second or third day wearing these boots, when I had a chance to wear them continuously for about 8 hours, I did develop a very small abrasion (about 2mm around) at the back of my right ankle. It was nothing a little circle band-aid or medium weight socks didn’t fix.

2. This style may not fit wider or excessively slender calves. If you are below or above average calf circumference, one of the lace-up styles in this collection may be more appropriate for you. My calves (mentioned previously) are right at the edge of standard circumference fit by most boot manufacturers. On the ‘Tsar’ I can put 2-3  ‘fingers’ worth of space between my calf and the boot while they are being worn; that is a bit of extra space where the shearling has a touch more room to compress.

Australia Love Collective ‘Party Nomad’ $395

3. These boots will stretch. This is important when determining size. Australia Love Collective boots are made from natural sheepskin and require you to get the right size (your size or the next size lower if you normally wear half-sizes) to allow for normal breaking-in and stretching to occur.

4. These boots are not for the shy. If you are not comfortable with people approaching you to comment on your appearance, you will likely be interested in a more conservative style like the ‘Fame’ or ‘Vixen’:

Australia Love Collective ‘Fame’ $300

Australia Love Collective ‘Vixen’  $425

5. You may find yourself needing a new pair of skinny jeans. Okay, maybe this isn’t a bad thing per se. I’m not much of a tunic and leggings gal, so skinny jeans are the next best thing to tuck into a pair of lined boots … and I don’t own any; too many memories of skinny rocker-boys from my high school days, perhaps.  While It is possible to to the boot ‘fold and stuff’ with straight-cut jeans, that seems like a lot of work and bulk. Me, I just wore them with my normal just-below the knee skirts and hoped that I didn’t look too much like a Russian Nesting Doll; at 5′-2″ there’s always a little chance that bold styles will make my look fall more on the ‘cute’ side.

All in all, the experience of wearing these boots has been thoroughly enjoyable.  If you are at all like me, you might find yourself being a bit less reserved than normal while wearing boots like these.  They are simply not something that allows you to be shy when they are on your feet.

If any of this has you curious about more boots from the Australia Love Collective, you can view their current collection here.

10 Comments »

Image from: Glitter Graphics

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Folks!

Are you wearing your green today? I certainly wouldn’t want to see anybody getting pinched. And why is it that this is one habit that most so-called adults that I’ve known have never outgrown?  There really are few things less dignified than adults being gleefully pinched by coworkers. Oh well ….

I’m wearing my green …. My kids made certain of that. My outfit today is primarily courtesy of my four-year old son’s foray into my closet this morning. Given that knowledge, it is not nearly as cartoonish an ensemble as one might imagine.

So, in the theme of green, here are a few earthy-green shoes for your consideration:

Boots:

French Connection ‘Holly’ $146.25 $298 at 6pm.com

Booties:

Dolce Vita ‘5173-18′ $88.92 $167 at 6pm.com

Low Sandals:

Everybody by BZ Moda ‘Opal’ in Avocado $179.95 at Endless.com

And Heels:

Exchange by Charles David ‘Web’ $52.65 $99 at 6pm.com

Heels:

Kors by Michael Kors ‘Talulah’ $249 at Zappos.com

And more Heels:

Pour La Victoire ‘Pascale’ $319.99 at Heels.com

As for me, I am wearing my patiently stalked Pour La Victoire ‘Penelope’ oxfords - which I picked up on clearance at Amazon last Fall:

3 Comments »

One of the things that has sadly been lost a bit in the madness of the recent ready-to-wear season is one of things I like to do most here at Shoeblog.  Namely, ferreting out shoe lines that mesh both chic and comfort.  Much as I might love to drool over John Galliano and Viktor & Rolf and all the other beautiful footwear on display on the catwalks, there’s no way in hell I’d ever actually put my body through the pain of wearing those shoes.

So, in this season of particularly painfully high heels that no woman should have to wear to feel sexy and confident, I’m going to turn to Dana Davis to save me from the agony and bone-damage.

Who is Dana Davis, you might ask?

She’s a woman who, after spending much of her life as a Type 1 diabetic and dealing with multiple resulting foot surgeries, finally decided to take matters into her own hands and started a shoe line intended to offer women stylish, sleek shoe options that wouldn’t send them hobbling to the hospital after a night out.

She’s worked orthopaedic technology into her collection, which includes both flats and heels (up to about 3 1/2″), and she hasn’t sacrificed the style.  In fact, she’s hitting the classic vintage 1940s-inspired look really well with some of her shoes.

For example, the Volterra, which may look familiar to those of you who (like me) found your eyes caught on Anne Hathaway’s feet during her Frost/Nixon-aping performance with Hugh Jackman during this year’s Oscar ceremony opening number.

You can snap up your own pair of Volterras in several colors, but my favorite is this beautiful pink textured leather with chocolate accents.

The Campania in matte gold and metallic bronze will add some sizzle to your spring/summer wardrobe.

Or if you’re after a walkable sandal that’ll be low-profile in the way of sleek styling but high-profile in the way of fashionability, either the Elba or the Veneto will keep you (and your feet, of course) taken care of.

There are some pretty jewel tones coming for the fall 2009 collection, so keep an eye out.  But in the meanwhile, as the weather in some parts of the world starts to warm up, here are some ways to be well-shod for the upcoming season without killing yourself with blisters in the process.  OK, so they’re not cheap (they run in the $400-500 range).  But that’s what many designer label shoes cost, and I’d have a hard time buying a justification that dropping that kind of dough is worth it for a certain brand name but not for a shoe that’ll actually keep your feet supported and well cared for.

1 Comment »