Vivaia Shoes Are Machine Washable

It takes a different kind of shoe for me to consider shoes that are not real leather because I always have trouble wearing man-made, non-leather shoes. Either they are too stiff and I can never break them in, or they are too hot, or they click and clack with every step. In fact, I've sworn off so-called liberated leather shoes.

Then along comes Vivaia shoes (established in 2020), a sustainable shoe company on a mission to make quality, comfortable and stylish footwear using recycled materials that are sourced from nature. Believe it or not, Vivaia shoes are made of recycled plastic water bottles. Plastic water bottles are turned into spools of flexible thread that is knitted into form. According to the merchant, Vivaia flats feel like sneakers. Their signature sustainable material is not only soft, cozy, and breathable, but they will last for years to come, and they are reasonably priced too!

Indeed, Vivaia shoes and boots are super fashionable: classic and understated, as well as, ultra-modern with vitality and pizzazz. The fashion-forward shoes won't go out of style.

Moreover not only is attention paid to the exterior design, but also to the interior of the footwear. The inside heel is cushioned to avoid blisters, and insoles are added to provide high rebound (or bounce), and arch support.

The over-the-knee boots are made with recycled plastic water bottles plus wool for warmth in cold weather. They pull up like thick socks and stay put (as in don't fall down during the day). Furthermore, all Vivaia shoes and boots are machine washable. Now that's different, it means they're easy to clean!

Moreover, the retailer says their shoes are perfect for people with wide feet and bunions. In Vivaia shoes, "your feet won't be squeezed, pushed, pulled, or bent out of shape."

For comfort is the main reason to buy Vivaia shoes. As for sustainability, sources such as the Harvard Business Review argue that sustainable fashion is a myth. Once a plastic bottle is turned into fashion, it's no longer recyclable, but goes into a landfill. In fact, the best way of saving our environment is to buy less and re-use (i.e., shop 2nd hand) fashion. I must confess to never buying 2nd hand shoes, but I only buy the footwear I need and stop buying until I need replacement shoes or boots. That said ...

Enough colors and styles are offered for a day of work, a night out on the town, or a walk through the park. Certainly, Vivaia shoes are worth a browse, an open mind, and some serious consideration.

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Bite The Bullet For Vionic Shoes

Vionic Desiree Quilted Ballet Flat - meet my new fall shoe!

If you have high arches, there is nooo way around buying shoes with solid arch support if you ever want to wear ballet flats or sandals, including flip flops. I do wear Old Navy rubber flip flops around the house and my neighborhood, but never, ever if I plan to walk more than a few blocks on city concrete.

Memory foam never works for me for more than a day. With wear rather than forming to the shape of my foot, the form decompresses flat as a pancake. Naturalizers, always stylish and moderately priced, are made of leather too soft to hold my feet in place as I walk, and without steadiness, my feet feel tired at the end of the day.

So far the most supportive shoes I've come across with excellent arch support are made by Vionic. Unfortunately, they are expensive, although "cheap" compared to many overpriced designer shoes, as well as, foot surgery and pain!

Also consider this truth: We're ALL falling apart every year of our lives, wearing out various body parts day-by-day!😅🦶🦷 As we age, we lose the fat layers under our feet; and our muscles and tendons lose elasticity which can lead to foot pain. Good supportive shoes prevent futher damage and pain. Paying the piper for a proven benefit is a must. For happy feet, do it!

They have a Chanel look if you think about it.

Have you noticed how many brands of shoes are no longer made of leather uppers? I'm open to fake leather for jackets or purses, but shoes are the one item I really need to stick with real leather over man-made materials if they're going to be problem-free. Leather shoes mold to my feet and let my tootsies breathe. Often man-made materials have no give, and they buster. The shoes are stiff and hot, not so with genuine leather.

Luckily I got the last pair of Vionic ballet flats in my size with 30% off of the full price of $119. Let's say like me, you wear a US size 8 - 8 1/2 depending on the shoe brand: Vionic recommends going up 1/2 size (order 8 1/2) for their closed-toe shoes, and go down 1/2 size (order an 8) in their sandals. With choice galore, I wouldn't have bought a quilted look, however, I think the style will grow on me. What I love is the upper Nappa leather with the dressy patent leather toe and what Vionic calls a "biomechanically designed" footbed to hug my arches. It's some sort of orthotic comfort arch support -- and that is why customers bite the bullet for Vionic shoes.

Vionic Tide Aloe Toe Post Sandal - Bite the bullet if you can't find a sale. 

I just ordered Vionic's thug sandal based on how good the ballet flat feels. They are podiatrist approved (per my research over the years) "if you must wear thongs." The foot doctors say don't wear them exclusively, switch off. Ideally, you want shoes to stabilize your heels, yet most sandals with heel straps aren't much better than these strapless thongs. With the end of summer sales + an extra 10% off promo, I paid $30. A steal! Normally they are as expensive as the shoes. Know that I was flexible on the style of both pairs of Vionic shoes to find discounts in my size. Both shoes had to be leather as discussed. The sandal had to have one additional characteristic -- a dark interior footbed and sole so the sandals never look dirty. (I was open to black, navy, or pewter colors.)

So these are my shoe tips for feet with high arches + how to score a good price. Vionics are the bomb in comfort!!!🧨 And perhaps one expensive pair with good arch support (per season) is always the way to go. A lesson we often forget when tempted by cuteness, right?


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Design Your Own Shoes

Have you ever had a certain shoe style in mind, but after a day of shopping came home empty handed? Shopping for new shoes without finding what you're looking for is frustrating, right? 

Well as it turns out, there are online shoe companies who are set up to let you design your own shoes. Craft your perfect shoes part by part. You pick the material, color, toe, heel and embellishments. You end up with shoes that are uniquely yours ... well almost.

I can see a bride going this route for bridesmaids who are different heights, or have different tastes. You can create shoes with elements that are uniform yet individual, so that each member of your wedding party can wear their shoes after your wedding; or you may have a special occasion and need a very specific style and color of shoe that you can't find in stores. So to own it, you will have to design it yourself.

Prices range from $150 to about $300, depending on the details you choose. It isn't dirt cheap, but still affordable for what is essentially customized shoes.

Retailers include:

Milk And Honey - Fashion shoes

Shoes of Prey - Fashion shoes

The Shoe Design Studio - Fashion shoes

iShoes by iTailor - Men's shoes

NikeiD - Sports shoes

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No More Vegan Leather Shoes For Moi

Take a look at the last pair of vegan leather shoes I expect to ever buy. I'll consider imitation leather for handbags or articles of clothing, but not for shoes. In my experience, ''liberated leather'' just can't match the fit or comfort of genuine leather shoes. There's always an unexpected issue with them.

To the left is exhibit A, my JBU walking shoes: Adorable style ... and for short walks, they are fine. But, the vegan leather is stiff, and it never softens. After a summer of wear, the shoes haven't conformed to my feet fitting like a glove as real leather tends to do. Fake leather doesn't seem to stretch or give to accommodate a toe ... and the sides of the shoes puff out when I take a step, not hug my feet as leather does. 

Luckily they were a T.J. Maxx find, so a bargain. Certainly, I like the brand, JBU, which makes a quality orthopedic-approved footbed, but in the future, I'll always pursue this retailer's and all shoes carefully to ensure I'm buying real leather. These shoes in leather would be perfect!

For the lesser ticket price I paid at TJ Maxx I'll get my money's worth, yet I want shoes to do it all, i.e. carry me over short and long terrains so I can own fewer pairs of shoes.

Still, I gave it a try. I wonder how people who wear only vegan leather shoes manage? Are they mostly in sneakers? Do they avoid hard concrete pavement? Are they the taxi and Uber set? Hmm, I would miss the sights, sounds, and easy exercise of walking all over Manhattan.

Next let's look at another brand, a leather shoe I may buy next time! Technically a sandal -- a hybrid, closed-toe walking shoe, if you will. Customers rave about them: The Keen Women's Rose Sandal has tons of glowing customer reviews on multiple sites! Similar to the JBU in style, support, and rubber soles.

Two brands to keep on our leather-preferred radars! What's more, both companies bring back their popular walking styles season after season (with minor tweaks) and you won't miss out by not ordering them before you need a pair. Should you need a pair though, the sales are on!

Teva Leather Omnium 2 for men

Another company, Teva, with a similar type of walking/sporty shoe is perhaps superior in quality -- but has only a leather option for men right now. Check back in the future to see what comes out for women. Not everybody needs waterproofed shoes all the time, which may explain why leather is disappearing as the material for these types of airy walking shoes.

A closed-toe-airy-walking shoe is versatile. Not only will it take you from summer to fall, but you can wear them when open-toe sandals are too slight or casual. They are sandals bumped up a notch to casual smart. Make them in durable leather, please!

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A Shoe Company On A Mission

Isn't Blake Mycoskie a hottie? [You know you're thinking it.]

This morning The Today Show featured a story on TOMS Shoes. Blake Mycoskie, its remarkable founder, is showing all of us how to make a difference.

Mycoskie started his company in 2006 because he wanted to do something to help children in impoverished countries who have no shoes to wear. The idea came after he visited Argentina and observed that without shoes, poor village children are susceptible to cuts and sores that are painful, plus dangerous if infection sets in. They also suffer from podoconioisis, a soil transmitted disease that gets into their systems through the soles of their feet and leads to very serious health problems. In addition to disease, Mycoskie noticed that barefooted children are not allowed to attend school. So he created TOMS, short for “Tomorrow's Shoes,” as a sustainable company with the important goal of donating shoes to those who need them. With every pair of shoes you buy, TOMS gives a new pair to a child in need.

TOMS Shoes are patterned after traditional Argentinean shoes. Often made of canvas with rope and rubber soles, they are light, airy and comfortable. There are 100 different styles, and many sell in the $45 range.

According to various media reports, to-date the company has provided over 600,000 pairs of shoes to children in the United States, South America and Africa. And if you thumb through celebrity magazines, you'll catch well known faces like Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley and Brad Pitt wearing their TOMS. You can find TOMS Shoes online and at Norstrom and Whole Foods.

Just in time for Spring

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Ally Pain-Free Dress Shoes

Ally Shoes are one of the few luxury shoes worth their asking price IMHO. Definitely expensive (on par with men's shoes) yet not outrageously so, and you get a lot for your money. If you look, you'll also find promo codes to reduce their cost by as much as $20. What makes them worth considering?

The shoes are made with lambskin leather uppers, Italian leather soles, suede linings, an ergonomically designed insole, proper arch support, and strategically placed padding for comfort. 

According to its founders, Ally Shoes is a company run by women to empower women. 

The shoes are engineered with the help of a podiatric surgeon to create a flexible structure that secures your foot without sacrificing style. Its innovative design makes everyday pumps and flats that do not hurt. Available in sizes 4.5 - 12 with 4 different widths, the shoes are scientifically engineered to give structure with flexibility and support to a woman's feet so you can wear them from boardroom to ballroom.

All the pumps are 3 inches tall. Block heels are the bomb! I like the dressy pointed toes, while also hoping Ally Shoes launches a rounded toe in the future.

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5 Walking Sandals With Arch Support + 2 for the Pool

Merrell Women's Sandspur Rose Leather Sandal

No longer do I make the mistake of wearing unsupportive sandals. Sure, I aim for cute and stylish, yet I've become a sensible shoe woman. I've crossed the rubicon, and there's no turning back! All my shoes, including my sandals, must be fit for walking miles on unforgiving concrete and thus support my feet. It's the numero uno quality I look for in footwear and will forgo style if necessary. That said, if I can find both fashion and foot doctor approved sandals, I'd buy them, but the shoes don't go home without function!

Nowadays all my shoes including sandals must have 4 details: 

1) Arch support - I have high aches. They scream for structure!

2) Stable heels - 1 & 2: Like peanut butter and jelly or locks and bagels. 

3) Leather uppers - Any shoes I've owned not made of leather have failed me. They don't conform to my feet, and they  don't let my feet breathe, so they get hot. I'm done with synthetic upper materials in shoes. Finito!

4) A firm yet soft foot bed - Forget rock hard. Finita!!😂 After a certain age, we start to lose the fat that pads the soles of our feet, so the cushioning must be in the footbed of our shoes. 

Now that we know what to look for, the following are 5 sandals to consider if you walk a lot on city pavement:

1) Merrell Women's Sandspur Rose Leather Sandal - Luckily I found these sandals on sale last winter, yet they start at a reasonable price, and many other Merrell styles have the same arch support and stable heels construction. These are super stylish on the feet!

2) Berkenstock Women's Arizona Soft Footbed Fashion Sandal - Super pricy and popular with men and women. For the money look for 100% upper leather with the soft footbed selection. Paying $100+ for synthetic Berkenshock sandals is crazy! Like the other sandals selected by THE SAVVY SHOPPER, this one conforms to the shape of your foot and heels. Comes in women's and unisex sizes.

3) Therafit Eva Women's Leather Adjustable Strap Slip On Sandal - For women who love slides. Offers superior arch support and deep heel cups for stability. 

4) Rockport Women's Briah Perf Sling Wedge Sandal - A garden party sandal, obviously not for hiking miles and miles in, but supportive and stable enough to get you to the party on public transit without the need to carry a change of shoes to the party. Full grain leather with a soft breathable interior including cushioned heels and a supportive outsole. The upper Nubuck leather is made to look new for the life of the shoes. Very affordable shoe, as well as, shoe brand!

5) Vionic Backstrap Sandal -Vionic sandals have built-in orthotic arch support that is especially supportive for plantar fasciitis sufferers. Like the other choices, the shoes are made to ease heel pain.

Bonus sandals for the beach and swimming pool: 

1) Arches Support Flip Flops - They are bonus sandals because they aren't leather; and according to podiatrists, you shouldn't walk long distances on city pavement in flip flops ever ... and yet, sometimes you must go near the water where leather would be ruined! 

To be honest, I wear $3 Old Navy flip flops, or $10 Crocs from T.J. Maxx at the beach or by the pool, as well as, around the house, but Arches have the podiatrist-favored real arch support and are made strong to last. After a season of wear the thongs sometimes break on my Old Navy and Croc flip flops ... once causing me to walk 2 blocks home barefoot in my neighborhood. Arches are reinforced to not have such inconvenient "blowouts."

2) LLSOARSS Plantar Fasciitis Feet Sandal With Arch Support - Customers claim they are as supportive as Vionic sandals for less. At times Amazon lists them as low as $12. LLSOARSS flip flops have superior arch support and are constructed to stop heel pain. They prevent sore and tired feet too. A few customers say they experience foot odor when wearing LLSOAESS, which won't happen if you save them for the pool.

The numero uno element of supportive sandals is met in this list of 5 sandals  plus 2 for the pool ... and with style!  Looks like we don't have to skip fashion this summer!🏖

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It Pays To Give Old Things A New Life

Photo: cranberrytownship.org

After reading The Story Of Stuff, I too began to think about the entire life cycle of the things we buy. Can we reduce waste by recycling more of our stuff? Individual efforts make a collective difference in saving our environment. As a bonus, buying less and giving old things a new life can also save you big bucks! So when it makes sense, why not do it? 

Here are a few items I reuse or repurpose, which may sound cheap, as well as, brilliant!:

1) Reuse old (but still good) shoe insoles - Sometimes I luck into a pair of sneakers, all-weather mocs or ballet flats that have the perfect arch support. If I wear the outside shoes out, but the insoles are still good, I remove them (before throwing out the shoes). Later on, I slide the saved, old insoles into brand new shoes. I might also order a half-shoe-size-up so that I can slide one, or two pairs of the old insoles into my new shoes. I slip the old insoles under the new shoes' original (new) insoles. Often this works to absorb shock without making the toe bed too tight and results in turning uncomfortable shoes into very supportive walking shoes! With double (or triple) insoles, you get mighty fine cushion, bounce and shock absorption.

Old drawers turned into toy boxes. How clever!

Along with the saved, old insoles of trashed shoes, I buy Dr. Scholls' insoles. They cushion when there is no extra room in a shoe, as well as, are thin enough to triple up inside shoes for extra cushioning. For example: I turned my LL Bean All Weather Mocs into a super supportive walking shoe (by ordering a size 8 1/2 -- up from my usual size 8) and inserting a Dr. Scholls' insole along with a Nike's sneaker insole underneath the All Weather Moc's leather insole. Now I can walk all over the city in them as if they were sneakers!

2) Repurpose aluminum foil - Instead of buying Brillo pads, simply crumble up a piece of washed, previously used aluminum foil to scrub your pots and pans. It removes food particles, and you have one less product to buy. Naturally, you can tear off a new piece, but if you use aluminum foil to bake a dish or wrap food, wash and reuse it to scrub a pan before throwing it out.

3) Recycle paper/ plastic bags - As mentioned in a previous blog, I have a wire recycler as my kitchen trash can. All the plastic supermarket bags are reused as garbage bags. Paper bags also become garbage bags, as well as, wrapping paper for packages mailed at the post office. Aim to save a tree and use less plastic whenever possible, but reusing them helps too!

4) After making a batch of Kombucha tea, I reuse the paper towels that cover the tops of the brew to spot clean my floor, or to dust. Why not? They aren't dirty.

5) Next I plan to repurpose two empty Kleenex boxes to organize and give my plastic grocery bags and clean, gently used paper towels a home.

6) Repurpose an ugly old file cabinet, or other furniture - I enjoy the show Knock It Off, which is always breathing new life into unsightly old furniture, or metal file cabinets by staining or painting them. The show saves homeowners $1000s for the cost of a can of paint.

7) If I buy beauty products that come in small containers, I wash and save a few for traveling. I have a slender cosmetic bag filled with these empty miniatures. Why buy special containers for trips instead of recycling these perfectly good containers? Let's make one less landfill by washing and reusing what we have. 

Earth Day arrives on April 22nd! Think about all the things you buy. Each of us can lessen our carbon footprint for Mother Earth by reducing, recyling and reusing. Do you give your things a second life? Feel free to share your genius ideas under comments.

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Vionic Shoes With Orthotic Arch Support

If you have high arches like I do and must walk miles on concrete, you get to a point you'll only buy shoes with solid arch support to avoid feet pain (and surgery) in the future. Ideally all your shoes should stabilize your heels too, but doctors know people desire sandals during the summer. If we must wear flip flops, pediatrists have said Vionic flip flops with arch support are way better than other flimsy options.

Vionic shoes are reported to have a footbed with 3-zone comfort (arch support, cushion and stability) to deliver ultimate arch support. The company slogan states its purpose: "Designed to support you, made to move you!

The orthotic shoes are expensive, yes ... yet not Chanel or Dior expensive, and they go on sale several times a year. It's worth monitoring the brand to snatch up a pair during one of its promotions. I have 2 pairs of leather ballet flats and a pair of block high heels I got greatly reduced. And while I'd rather not pay full price, it's not "designer" unreasonable for such quality, supportive, durable and classic shoes. 

No longer will I buy fashion shoes that only look good. Nowadays I don't have to sacrifice style for comfort. Vionic orthotic arch support shoes are as chic as non-orthotic shoes! The company just launched their new spring collection. It's a brand I own and highly recommend! 

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