Santana Boot Review

FlashBack Friday

Santana the Boots

I have several pairs of boots because I love their fit and versatility. Boots truly accommodate everything from skirts, slacks and jeans to thick warm socks or leggings in the wintertime. If you own a fantastic pair of black boots it's like having the perfect quintessential little black dress or perfectly tailored black suit. My Santana boots are undoubtedly the best boots I have ever had the pleasure of wearing. These Canadian made boots, sadly, are no longer in circulation. As my pair nears the need for replacement it seems harder and harder to find another pair that I trust to make me as happy. These Santana boots have spoiled me with their thick and deliciously supple top grain waterproof leather. They sport a low heel so I can walk and walk in them with ease. The shaft has some slouch to it giving them a look reminiscent of the 80's but the rest of their styling is so classic that they remain timeless.

They have received admiration and compliments for over 10 years now and I still feel well-dressed when I pair them with a skirt. I have had these boots re-heeled twice and lovingly polish them with Meltonian shoe cream in black/noir regularly. I aim to make them last as long as possible knowing that when the time comes to give them up, they will never be forgotten, and always hold a place in my sole. Thank you Santana.

Wolky Roll Clog Review

Must Have Monday

Wolky Roll Clog Blog

If I want to be reminded of how good balance feels- when everything else is chaotic- I simply slide my soles into one of my pairs of Wolky's. They are truly the perfect balance of firm support and cushion. I can feel the smile ease onto my face just thinking about them...my feet hugging the arches...my heels kissing the cushioning...my body finding postural bliss. Aaahhh...

Undoubtedly, my favorite pair of Wolky's are surely the most eccentric wearable style of shoes in my collection. They have an odd enough look to garner stares and unrestrained comments in grocery store lines. I smile with the satisfaction that my quirky shoes continue to steal attention from the check stand tabloids. Some folks expect me to be offended, but I just grin and wiggle my toes in the giddy-ness of my own little love affair with these shoes.

The Roll Clog looks like a pair of elfin closed-back, box-like clogs with the toes squared off (and I mean really squared off) with the leather rolled into a thick base of polyurethane. The soles are chunky looking but are so light weight and they lift my feet a good solid two inches off the hard ground, carrying me in a namesake cloud-like walk (Wolky means cloud-like). Added to their element of eccentric “cool” is the way they fasten to ones feet. A full coverage heel strap wraps around the heel and closes with velcro and a snap. And if I am not smitten enough, I own them in my favorite shoe color...one the novice might call reddish while the shoe professional will toss about shoe color lingo like cordovan or oxblood, but I prefer to describe them as a delicious shade of cabernet. No matter what anyone calls them...they always make my day. Thank you Wolky!

If your local shoe store doesn't carry Wolky, or you can't seem to find the style or size you're looking for, you can often find Wolky's at Zappos, PlanetShoes, SierraTradingPost, ShopWiki and other online retailers.

Fitting Notes:

European sizing. A size 39 fits like a womens 7 ¾ perfectly. Good for folks with average depth insteps with medium to wide feet. When they fit properly they should have a bit of slip in the heel since they are clogs that simply have some heel protection. Be careful not to make the back strap too snug as this will push your toes too close to the end of the shoe and push the arch too far forward. They should have an overall loose fit and feel. The footbed is not removable, and therefore not orthotic friendly.

Pikolinos Alhambra Boot Review

Pikolinos Boot 'em Up Review

There they were in the shoppe window...beckoning to my soles. How is it that the brand Pikolinos always has me at hello? I was thrilled to discover that the darling boots in the window were in fact made by Pikolinos and I do happen to own two other pairs of shoes from this brand that I adore.

I have always lusted after boots and am also drawn to circular motifs. What is a girl to do when faced with a gorgeous set of boots made by a brand she is already thrilled with sporting large circular grommet embellishments? Dash into the store, make nice with the shoe sales person, pray they still have a size that is perfect and TRY THEM ON!!! Attention to charming details and comfort are the hallmarks of this brand and these boots pack a full punch of both. Oh goodness me, another pair of Pikolinos that feel so wonderful I can't bring myself to take them off. With a spring in my step and a pivot toward the cash register, I make them mine.

Notice the waxed cotton stitch detail down the center of the vamp and the way the buttery leather has been runched a bit around the ankle area making these boots feel as though they won't require any break in at all...Good thing too because I didn't wear any other shoes for a week straight. Thank you again Pikolinos!

To really appreciate and fall in love with Pikolinos, head to your local shoe store and get your feet into them...if you can't find them locally, they are available online too.  At the time of this post, 6pm still had the Alhambra in stock.

A note on brand loyalty: It makes sense to revisit and support brands that your feet love but be careful not to turn your brand loyalty into blind loyalty. Brands make many styles and not every style may be a great fit for you. Also, brands may change where the shoes are made, change the last on which the shoes are made and/or change the materials used to make the shoes and this may alter how the shoe works for your foot. Also, if you have normal feet, you will find that your feet change in shape, length and/ or width over the course of time. This will certainly affect how your favorite brand may fit you. The most important thing to remember is to buy the best style for your foot at that particular point in time.

Fitting Notes:

European Sizing. Consistently great cushioning and a well shaped foot-pleasing last make them a great fit considering how stylish these shoes/boots are. Pikolinos generally run a little on the wide side. If a pair feels too spacious, find a different model that fits the volume of your foot better, or buy their boots and enjoy the hidden comfort of thick cozy socks. Pikolinos also accommodate thin dress orthoses pretty well, and are a top choice if you want comfy dress shoes.

FlashBack Friday: El Naturalista

El Naturalista Fashionista

My significant other had to go all the way to Argentina so that I could buy a pair of El Naturalista sandals from Spain...at least, that was the rationalization for the purchase. Even better is the fact that this was one shoe rationalization I hadn't initiated myself (though I am a master at devising why I, and everyone else, should buy wonderful shoes). You see, “he” got invited to a week long wine tasting and gastronomical adventure in Argentina and I was not. Granted, I pouted a bit (okay, a lot) about the wine, food, fun and culture I would be missing out on. In a sly manner, “he” suggested that I soothe my woes while he was away with a local trip of my own to my favorite shoe store (Hilton's Shoes). Very smooth, eh? In fact, it worked out brilliantly.

I knew exactly which shoes my heart was set on! Enter El Naturalista, a company known for making shoes that boast unique styles, superb comfort and are even earth friendly. They use vegetable tanned leather and dyes and use recycled materials (like plastic bottles and tires) for their outsoles.

My first pair would be those in the window--right there!!! A classic tan hue with an embossed southwest design across the vamp (top) made these unique beauties stand out. Also, their clog-meets-sandal, meets flip-flop, meets heel design easily draws admirerers like me. What I didn't expect when I stepped into them for the first time was the incredible amount of arch support offerred by these sandals mingled with a perfect layer of cushioning, and the words that leaped from my mouth in that very same moment, "Check please!" 

While “he” still has a picture of a tango pose with a sultry Argentinian dancer, I am still feeling the love of my El Naturalista's. I know you'd rather be in my shoes! Thank You El Naturalista for your stylish support.

Since this is FlashBack Friday you know you won't find this particular style for sale any longer but you should head to your local El Naturalista retailer to check out what new styles are in season. You may also find this brand at Serria Trading Post, Zappos and other online retailers.

Fitting Notes:

European Sizing. Consistently great cushioning and usually a goodly amount of arch support considering how stylish these shoes/boots are.

If you are trying on any open-toed models and feel they are a bit roomy...it will probably be alright to go down a size since your toes won't be squished or hit the end of the shoe. Do not use the same tactic with the closed-toe models...if these feel to spacious find a different model that fits the volume of your foot better. El Naturalista's often have removable footbeds making them orthotic friendly as well.

Bogs Boot Review

Blogging in my Bogs

Rainy, mucky,wet, freezing days are no longer an excuse to pull out the blues! Now, I pull out my Bogs nearly knee high neoprene boots in chocolate brown and give the leafy paisley pattern a wide grin. Puddles, trails, lakes, streams and dance floors here I come! Yes my Bogs have kept me warm and dry and helped me stomp it out on an outdoor dance floor with sass to spare.

I know that there are plenty of rubber boots, Wellies, slicks, muck-abouts and rain boots on the market that boast a whole range of colors, patterns, heights and comfort levels but none have put it all together as well as Bogs have. Rubber boots will keep you dry but not warm. Bogs use neoprene (think wetsuit material) and rubber so you stay dry and warm. Also, Bogs uses a thick grippy sole to separate you from the elements with a huge helping of cushion that actually puts a bounce in my step. Cut-out handles at the top of the boots make pulling them on easy in a very satisfying way. Tug these babies on and you feel like you can take on whatever mother nature can dish out. The handles are also great for when you want to grab your boots a go! Bogs continues to create wonderful color palettes and patterns that speak to your puddle jumping inner child. Each time I reach for my Bogs I feel thrilled to have them and that they never let me down. Thank you Bogs for all the adventures and puddles to come!

There are many local retailers that carry Bogs, from independent shoe stores to hardware & garden stores where you are likely to get the most service. You can also find them online at retailers like Cabelas & Zappos.

Fitting Notes:

American whole sizing. They run a little wide but definitely not long so if you are in between sizes opt for the larger size. They also have removable footbeds which is great if you wish to change out the insoles or perhaps you have a high instep that needs more space. Perhaps you will want extra space to wear thicker socks. When these boots fit properly they absolutely should have a bit of slip in the heel and room to wiggle all your toes.