Shoe Review: Very Volatile Wedges

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I have been wear-testing the following 'Very Volatile' wedges for roughly the last month.
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8370" title="shoe4" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe4.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="706" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://www.volatileusa.com/products.php?pid=807" target="_blank">Volatile USA's 'Nobu' ($74.99 @ volatileusa.com</a>; the <a href="http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?p=EC1153550" target="_blank">Nobu is also available at shoes.com</a>, <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2321118-10273706?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zappos.com%2Fn%2Fred irect.cgi%3Fq%3Dvz352985380z2%26zcj%3D1&amp;cjsku= 75214953" target="_blank">Zappos</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2321118-10475705?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endless.com%2Fdp%2FB 001H9N4O2%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B001H9N4O2846948%3Ftag%3D endlesscj-20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creativeASIN%3DB001H9N4O2&am p;cjsku=B001H9N4O2" target="_blank">Endless)</a></em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">They are a great spring-summer sandal in one of this season's more popular colors - turquoise. These also have an appealing organic design that really works with a spring wardrobe; particularly if you are like me and have a lot of cooler tones in your wardrobe.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">These sandals are available in whole sizes 6-10 B US sizing (37-41 EU). Sizing was my first challenge. As a size 7.5 medium who prefers a lot of toe room, the choice on whether to try a 7 or 8 is the first challenge I encountered.** So, I actually tried a size 7 in the turquoise, and a size 8 in black suede.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The good news is that both sizes adjust fairly well in that the buckled slingback and suede material allow for a lot of fine-tuning and comfort on the initial fit. However, the size 7 had more than enough space to accommodate my anything-but narrow size 7.5 feet.* And, while sometimes slingbacks feel like the strap is about to slip off your ankle, these stayed secure through multiple wearings.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">How comfortable are they? Well, they did have a brief breaking-in period of about 2-3 wearings of 2-5 hours each.* Each wearing was successively more comfortable than the last; there were no blisters thanks to the soft suede and roomy shape, but I did get a bit of a workout re-learning how to walk on a platform wedge; these have an almost 1" lift under the toe and about a 4" overall lift at the heel.* The footbed it lightly cushioned, and after several wearings, this padding started to form to the shape of my arch - an absolute necessity if you have a higher arch like I do.* If you are not 'blessed' with high arches, you may have little or no break-in period with these.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Here are some pictures of how these bamboo-wrapped wedges actually look on the foot:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em>(Yes, I need a pedicure - fast!)</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The turquoise color really is fabulous!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8371" title="shoe1" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe1.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="627" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">You can see here that the size 7 in turquoise is definitely roomy enough for those of us who normally wear a 7.5. And, while it looks like my pinky toe is trying to escape, it never has. The straps and cutouts are placed perfectly to avoid that happening on my feet.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8372" title="shoe2" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="350" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">You can see in this next picture that the size 8 is super roomy. I would definitely think someone who is an 8-8.5 would have no problem with this size working for them.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe6.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8375" title="shoe6" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe6.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="394" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em>(If you feel the need to put on your sunglasses to view these, I understand - I really am quite naturally pale.* My hubby has joked that since I don't tan, I actually bleach in the sunlight. But, I digress).</em></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe5.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8374" title="shoe5" src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoe5.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="434" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">If I have piqued your interest at all, you can find many other styles of* 'Very Volatile' shoes at<a href="http://www.volatileusa.com/" target="_blank"> volatileusa</a>, <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2321118-10273706?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zappos.com%2Fn%2Fred irect.cgi%3Fq%3Dvz354884716z2&amp;cjsku=1143" target="_blank">zappos</a>,<a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2321118-10482593?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endless.com%2Fs%2Fre f%3Dcj_bb%2F%3Fboutique%3D1%26brands%3DVOLATILE%26 tag%3Dendlesscj-20&amp;cjsku=dummy+sku" target="_blank"> endless</a>, and <a href="http://www.shoes.com/Shopping/Results.aspx?brand=VOLT&amp;c=Juniors" target="_blank">shoes.com</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I have to admit, that although Volatile shoes are a well-known regional brand in the areas such as the Southeastern United States (A 'go-to' for <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2321118-10475705?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endless.com%2Fdp%2FB 0023RSG4K%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B0023RSG4K846948%3Ftag%3D endlesscj-20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creativeASIN%3DB0023RSG4K&am p;cjsku=B0023RSG4K" target="_blank">wedges</a>, <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2321118-10475705?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endless.com%2Fdp%2FB 001LNOD12%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B001LNOD12846948%3Ftag%3D endlesscj-20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creativeASIN%3DB001LNOD12&am p;cjsku=B001LNOD12" target="_blank">flip-flops</a>, and <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2321118-10475705?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endless.com%2Fdp%2FB 001LNOAUQ%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B001LNOAUQ846948%3Ftag%3D endlesscj-20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creativeASIN%3DB001LNOAUQ&am p;cjsku=B001LNOAUQ" target="_blank">animal prints</a>), I was unfamiliar with them before<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/blog/moschino-knock-off/" target="_blank"> I stumbled across them several months ago</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">As a brand, Volatile has competitive pricing, current styling, and reasonable comfort.* This is particularly remarkable in the current climate of ridiculously rising shoe prices. This makes Volatile shoes a nice value, particularly for ladies on a budget.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">And, if you can get both comfort and style on a reasonable budget, I'm all for that.</p>
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