Sofft FiorenzaMy parents grew up in during World War II and the Depression.  But instead of talking about being poor, they instilled in me the importance of knowing what you should spend money on when you have it.  High on this list are your feet and your teeth because both are very expensive to replace and directly impact not only the way you feel, but how others perceive you.  Growing up, my mom cut corners on other things but I did not have a pair of cheap shoes in my closet. 

That being said, there is definitely a price range for great comfortable shoes.  So try on a lot of shoes and find what works for you.  I think online shopping for shoes is brilliant.  The good online stores have so much to choose from and with free shipping both ways, you can really look at shoes at home with your clothes to see if they are right for you.  I always try on shoes in the evening when my feet are at their largest size.  I walk around in my house, careful not to scuff the shoes.  I try them on with clothes to see how they will look.  If they don’t fit the bill, I send them back. 

Yesterday, I talked about ASGI.  They are a great brand that is stylish and well constructed, especially women who have issues with their feet.  They come with built in orthotics which can be removed for custom inserts if needed.  My good friend, Caroline is married to an orthopedic surgeon.  Its a good thing because she is his probably his best patient!  She is a huge fan of ASGI and finds Taryn Rose to be a disappointment.  Another friend is a runner.  She has no issues with her feet but is so very careful.  Her feet are very narrow.  Her shoes of choice are Ferragamo and Taryn Rose.  I have always had trouble because of my very flat feet and prefer Cole Haan, Think!, Helle, Dansko and Donald Pliner.  I also love Sofft, which is the brand I will talking about today.

Sofft has flat shoes which are fairly ordinary.  What they really stand out for in my book are their low and mid heel pumps with a ton of arch support so that they look and feel great all day.  A few of their shoes are trendy but most are more of a modern classic.  And for anyone with flat feet or other arch support issues, you will never want to take them off.  A couple of years ago, I made Thanksgiving Dinner for 20 wearing a pair of their low heeled shoes…and wore the shoes all day.  The only tragedy was that I dropped a big glob of turkey gravy on them so they were stained forevermore. 

The Fiorenza is a bold Mary Jane with an oversized strap, patent leather binding, a two-piece squared button and a stacked heel. Available Colors: Black Patent Leather, Chianti Patent Leather, Black Leather.

Check out the Fiorenza by Sofft at Shoebuy.com

Faith Loafer by ASGI at Endless.comThere’s nothing that pulls me out of late-in-the-season-been-there-wrote-that writers block like a great Facebook conversation.  And today, it happened!  My college buddy and glamour gal, Faith was threatening to throw in the towel and start wearing “teachers shoes!”  Holy Wardrobe, Batman, That Would Be a Fashion Emergency!  Fortunately, her true friends jumped on in support with lots of great ideas and fashionable balance is being restored to the universe via online shopping…

To listen to the fashion media, there is Jimmy Choo and Uggs.  No middle ground.  For those of us who live and walk in the real world, there’s a whole underground of reasonable shoes that are fun to wear. 

Upon later reflection, it occured to me that it has been quite some time since I jumped in on the topic of “Cute Shoes That Won’t Kill You”  So, for the next few days, I am going to look at some great fun and fashionable shoes that your feet will thank you for wearing. 

My favorite comfort brands, which include a wide range of styles and price points are Sofft, Think!, ASGI, Cole Haan, Pikolinos, Helle Comfort, Dansko and Taryn Rose.  In honor of my friend, Faith, I believe I will start with the ASGI Faith Loafer

ASGI is a great blend of classic style, fashion forward and comfort.  They have great classic loafers and ballet flats, a trendy line of booties and pumps that will make your feet feel better than barefoot.  Every pair of shoes has built in orthotics. 

The ASGI company philosophy in their own words…

“ Most shoe companies design a look and then place a sole on it. At Asgi we started our shoes from a different place. Your feet. We call it foot-centric design and it means simply that we focused our design efforts on the foot first and then built our shoes from the inside out. We’ve pioneered a totally new way to support your foot. In total comfort. It’s called Soleplex and it’s the most advanced comfort system you will ever see in any shoe. We use only the finest, comfort-enhancing materials available. We love shoes as much as you do. That’s why we integrate the latest colors and patterns into the pods, chassis and the uppers so every part works together to form a comfort-fashion masterpiece.”

And the Faith Loafer…

Little Miss Preppy just let out her s-s-sassy s-s-side! This Faith loafer from ASGI has a reptile embossed leather upper with a sparkling chainlink vamp accent, twin-goring for optimal flexibility, and Soleplex technology, which means this shoe will be with you and then some every step of the way. The orthotic footbed will conform to the anatomical shape of your foot, the chassis will cradle your foot with utmost care, and the “pod” outsole will provide maximum shock-absorption.

Click here to learn more about the Faith Loafer by ASGI at endless.com

HOBO Elisabeth Satchel from EndlessI often check in at Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style when seeking inspiration.  The other day, I happened upon his three accessory essentials:  a classic purse, a good watch and basic black pumps  I have to agree except that I don’t wear a watch and use my Red Blackberry Pearl as my timekeeper.  Its a practical matter:  I just seem to break watches even faster than cell phones! 

I talk a lot about purses so here’s a quick summary:  a purse should be of high quality but not have the price tag of a vacation; should be large enough to carry essentials but not so large that it adds too much bulk to your stature. 

 This purse from HOBO is a good value for an investment bag because it has the important classic essentials:  the patent leather is true leather, it has high quality hardware, classic styling that will endure and the choice of a strap or a strap.  It is on the larger side of acceptable, giving it plenty of room for the daily essentials to be organized.  ASGI Mary Jane

Shoes must be beautiful, functional and comfortable.  The Marcy Mary Jane Pump is well worth the price because it gets high points for all three of these in my book.  It is actually constructed of a perforated patent leather upper for a fun and trendy look.  The sole is orhopedic rubber.  Check out the shoes on the Endless.com website to learn more about the company and how they built their shoe. 

ESQ Watch from Diamond.com

This is a beautiful watch from ESQ, which is my favorite manufacturer of the everyday watch.  It is a Swiss watch and has many great qualities generally found in watches with a much higher price tag.   It is constructed of Stainless Steel with a Mineral Crystal; Quartz Movement; Pink Mother of Pearl Dial; and Diamond Set Bezel.  With its jewelry clasp, it is not likely to slip off of your arm and is water resistant. 

 With these pieces and a nice set of earrings, you are ready for your day.  No additional accessories required. 

 

Click Here for More Treasure at our Shopping Site…

 

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