Entries in Working Wednesdays (18)

Wednesday
Jan112012

The Vegas Melting Pot of Shoes...

Workin' Wednesday

I have just returned from a work conference in Las Vegas and WOW were there a lot of shoes to look at! While standing in line at guest reception I shoe-watched and realized that Vegas draws in shoes from every walk of life and corner of the world. Stillettos of towering heights clicked by while Ugg boots quietly made their way around business oxfords and flip flops adorned with sequins. Boots were abound in every shaft height imaginable from teacup ankle booties to thigh highs that would make Captain Jack Sparrow blush. Perhaps the sway of the high life in Vegas made me swoon over that pair of Prada boots ahead of me on the escalator.

I often hear that it's fun to people watch in Vegas but I suggest a bit of sole watching as well...Thanks for humoring me while I let my “shoe freak flag” fly.

Wednesday
Jan042012

Train of Foot Thought...

Workin' Wednesday

When riding a train you may encounter some interesting people. For instance, you might run into somebody like me who travels with a Brannock Device and a desire to make the world a better place one happier pair of feet at a time. A travel weary but charming family shared the same train car with Mom and I on the way to southern California. Our train was running hours behind schedule giving everyone a chance to get to know one another. We exchanged eye rolls when the conductor announced another delay as well as our names and stories of other travel adventures. Naturally we got around to the “What do you do?” type of conversation and I happily busted out the Brannock and offered to measure and talk about feet. After getting over the initial shock of the oddness of it all, my new found friends shared their feet, concerns and experiences as our train moved slowly south.

The “Mister” has very strong arches that appeared to be quite static...in other words...not very flexible. This usually means that this type of foot requires more cushioning and less arch in a given shoe. He mentioned that he used to actually go for runs barefoot and I wonder if that played a role in the shape of his arch. He has also found that he likes the cushioning in his New Balance shoes that I admired when I first boarded the train. I also recommended that he check out Brooks brand athletic shoes for their excellent cushioning.

The “Missus” has a dynamic/ flexible arch, an overall nice foot shape and fun green socks. She is also quite active on her feet and needs to make sure she gets enough arch support. She likes her local running shop for their selection of quality shoes and a staff that still measures feet. She and her husband had a baby not so long ago and she wondered if her feet had changed with the pregnancy. It seemed as though her arches had lengthened and she agreed that her shoe size had gone up a bit. We talked a bit about Dankso clogs and their purposely loose fit and she may try them again.

Now, Baby just flat out had the “CUTEST” feet ever not to mention a smile that exuded the love and happiness of his parents. We all wondered about how his feet might develop and if his feet would be more like Mom's or Dad's.

It's not often that I get to see a family of feet all at one time and I truly enjoyed getting to know this lil' family from the sole up. Our train eventually stopped at the station in Los Angeles and we all had to finish our trips via charter buses. We parted ways with smiles and well wishes and I couldn't help but feel lucky to have met these folks. Perhaps our footpaths will cross again one day.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday
Dec142011

Shoes Made in America...Really!

Workin' Wednesday

Made in America...Few shoe brands can say that their shoes are completely made in the U.S..  Munro American, established in 1972, has been making their shoes in Arkansas with quality and an unsurpassed size range offering. They employ over 500 people and the company is still run by the Munro family.

If you have a hard-to-fit foot you may already be familiar with Munro and if you aren't; you'll be glad to know about them. Munro offers a range of sizes 4-14 in 4A to 2E in widths for women. That means that for every style that they offer in their entire size range; they have to make 74 versions/lasts of that style. Each small variation means a better fit for you. In order to maintain quality control over such nuanced shoe-making Munro keeps every part of the process in-house...in their three production facilities in Arkansas.

Many of the styles offered are orthotic friendly...having removable footbeds, adjustability, and solid deep heel counters. Munro is a great choice for those of you who are tired of feeling stuck only having white “tennies” to wear with your orthotics. Most of the Munro line has a classic, clean, professional look. One of my favorite styles is called the “Evie”. If you happen to have a narrow foot and wear orthotics you will likely be impressed with the fit of this shoe despite the fact that it doesn't have laces and do look smart with jeans or a pair of dress slacks.

You will mostly find the Munro brand in local, independently owned shoe stores where the focus is comfort and fit but zappos.com  and Nordstroms do offer a wide selection of Munro shoes as well. As always, I recommend your local shoe store...especially when you can be measured and actually get a great fit.

I appreciate being able to buy American not just for the sake of buying American but because the quality and awesome size range is the real deal. Thank you Munro for making it happen!

Tuesday
Dec062011

SuperFeet: It's All In The Arch

Working Wednesday

Wednesday
Nov302011

That Metal “Thingy” They Measure Your Feet With...

Workin' Wednesday

As a bonafide shoe geek, I must share my thoughts on the good 'ol Brannock device....that metal thingy I have always used to measure your feet. These days folks are shocked to see that the Brannock is still around. They think it is quaint at best but surely archaic and of little practical use. Indeed, you don't often see the Brannock actively employed at most footwear retailers and if you ask for it by name you will likely got an odd look or perhaps you might get a shoe veteran who will smile wistfully about the days gone by of true customer service, but shake their heads “no” indicating none to be found here.

Recently, I was trying to help a visiting friend whose feet had changed and were causing her a bit of grief. I wanted to measure her arch length and check the width of her feet. We stopped in two high-end shoe stores asking if we could use their Brannock device and the first shop employee was puzzled until we said “...ya know, that metal thingy used to measure feet”. She quickly dismissed the notion and let us know they didn't have one because it isn't relevant anymore. We didn't have any better luck at the second place we tried though the shop owner at least knew what we were asking for and he replied...”We might have one somewhere in the back but no one has asked for a Brannock in years”. He made no move to find “the one in back” no doubt covered in dust along with other tools of the trade like shoe trees and shoe horns. The whole experience was disheartening considering that most podiatrists acknowledge that 80% of foot problems are directly related to improperly fit shoes.

So, can the Brannock device help? Is it still relevant? YES! YES! YES! The Brannock is fundamental and relevant in more ways than you might imagine. Revealing more than just length and width the Brannock device opens the door to foot shapes, conversation, trust and education. This enduring piece of metal offers insight to the very foundation of your skeletal structure and opens doors to lasting sole-full relationships. There is a good chance that if I have measured your feet--you remember it...it is so professional and personal at the same time. I hope you will join me in the movement of supporting stores that still employ the Brannock and offer knowledgeable service for the good of your feet.

The Brannock device offers three tangible measurements; heel-to-toe length, arch length and width.

Heel-to-toe Length: This is the measurement most folks are familiar with (though not the most important) and measures the length from your heel to your longest toe which is usually your first (big toe) or second toe.

Arch Length: This is the length from your heel to the point at which your foot naturally bends sometimes called the “ball” of your foot and is crucial to fitting your shoes properly. One set of feet may measure the same as another set in terms of heel-to-toe length but have very different arch lengths resulting in a different size needed for seemingly similar feet. Most folks have a longer “arch” length relative to their heel-to-toe length...for instance, my feet measure a 7 in heel-to-toe but an 8 in arch length and I usually wear size 8. Getting the arch fit correct is most important and means that the shoe will flex at the same point as your foot and allows for ample toe space resulting in optimum foot bliss.

Width: This measurement accounts for the horizontal spread of your forefoot. This tends to be a very loose measurement and is most useful at the extremes of narrow and wide. Most shoe manufacturers offer very few width variations compared to what appears on the Brannock because it is very expensive to make a “last” for each width and shoes with laces, buckles or stretchy material can often accommodate the smaller width variations.

What I love best about the Brannock has less to do with it's specific measurements and more to do with letting me get a good look at your feet in a socially acceptable way. If I just asked you to take off your shoes and show me your feet you might think I am a bit odd and resist. If, however, I offer to measure your feet with the known Brannock instrument, you are much more likely to cooperate and even take an interest in your own feet...they do carry you about and keep you upright after all and feet usually get very little appreciation/attention until they hurt.

When I measure your feet, I get to see all the nuances of the shape of your foot, the curve of your arch, the height of you instep, the layout and curl of your toes, the placement of your ankle bones and so on. These are the things the Brannock does not specifically measure but allows me to see and share with you. Learning about your feet is good for both of us in finding the best shoes and fit. My goal has always been to make the world a better place one happier pair of feet at a time and the Brannock device has provided a perfect venue for that effort.

Recently, I was given a Brannock device...a gift that will truly keep on giving and I am beyond excited about it. I am giddy over the fact that I am armed with my own Brannock so that I won't have to hunt for one when I come across feet in need. I look forward to all the feet I will measure and the friends I get to make along the way. Thank you WMKGG from the depths of my sole/soul.

always,

abigail dagmar