Spork Fashion » -Shoes

TOMS Shoes: One For One

Alyse — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:05:13 +0000

If you take a look at TOMS Shoes, you will probably say, “those are nice, but they are not really ‘me’.” That’s what I said. They are not particularly feminine – they almost look frumpy. But the shoes come in a tremendous variety of colors and patterns, they are inexpensive (about $50 a pair), and incredibly comfortable. Soft canvas and a supportive insole make them quick to slip on and perfect for errands or a whole day shopping. But there is one more thing about the shoes that makes them my new favorite pair.

For every shoe purchased from TOMS, one pair will be given to a child in need. As their motto says, “One For One.” Not “10 cents” or “A portion of proceeds” will go to someone in need. You buy one pair of shoes, a child in a developing country gets a pair of shoes. But why shoes? I mean, besides the fact that everyone loves shoes. There are two reasons. First, in order to attend school, children must wear shoes. Second, in developing countries, walking is the main mode of transportation. A sturdy pair of shoes prevents cuts, sores, and other injuries that lead to infection, disease, amputation, and death.

TOMS Shoes are manufactured in Argentina, China, and Ethiopia – the same places that get the donated shoes – in ethical factories that pay fair wages and observe humane labor laws. Factories are regularly inspected by local labor boards, TOMS staff, and third-party auditors. You can even arrange to go with TOMS staff to make shoe “drops” in developing countries. With somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 different colors, fabrics, and styles – ranging from glitter to tie-dye to solids; boots to booties to fleece-lined slippers – there is something for everyone.

Barefoot Tess Contest Winner!

Alyse — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:14:11 +0000

We have a winner in our Barefoot Tess gift certificate contest! Joann K. shares with us her lifetime tale of woe, and how internet sites like Barefoot Tess have turned her into Cinderella.

As illogical as it is, I have experienced the following scenario, not once but several times in the course of my never-ending (that is until I recently discovered Barefoot Tess) search for shoes that fit my rather large feet and more importantly, didn’t make me look like I was wearing my great-grandmother’s shoes. I never know if it is the desire to make a sale, a basic human desire to be helpful, the challenge or the sight of my enormous feet currently shod in your basic clod-hopper, that motivates the sales staff. You can draw your own conclusions.

My story, like a reoccurring nightmare goes like this. I receive an invitation to a special affair – “a wedding of a dear friend, a date with the guy who takes my breath away, or just a reunion of best friends who I haven’t seen for ten years”. I need a new outfit and simply must look my best! Oh dear, that includes new size eleven and a half (or 12) shoes.

After a day shopping, I have in hand a “perfect outfit”, but no shoes. Upon entering what appears to be one of the largest shoe stores on the planet, a salesman approaches me offering his help. I describe to him what I am looking for and he proceeds to tell me they have several shoes which fit my description and he motions for me to sit down.

Then the dreaded moment. He asks my size and I tell him. Initially his jaw drops and then I see the twinkle in his eye. “Well can’t you wear a size ten?” he asks optimistically, sure that he found the solution. As he hurriedly heads to retrieve the size-fits-all size tens, I stop him midway. I ask him “What size shoe do you wear sir?” He responds that he wears “a size 11, men’s that is, of course.” I ask “Do you think you could wear a size 9 1/2 ? Men’s that is, of course.”

Sometimes, the sales person understands my meaning. Sometimes I have to explain – if you can believe it. I inform my “knowledgeable and trained” shoe salesperson, that when I wear shoes that are smaller than my feet, assuming I can get the shoes on my feet in the first place, that in about ten minutes time, my feet start to hurt. Not only does the pain start but it gets worse every minute until I can tolerate not a second more of the torture and remove the hellish bindings!

On one occasion, a young, very pretty,and very petite sales girl, listened attentively to my tale of woe. Afterwards she nodded, said she understood, and asked “Would you like to see what I have in size ten now?” On a rainy Saturday shopping excursion, a preppy young clerk called two of his co-workers over and they huddled together trying to come up with a group solution. He turned to me and said he had one shoe that the staff all agreed ran “big” and actually was very “soft” so it might “stretch” some. Would I like to try it on?

Another time, an elderly gentleman, who seemed to sincerely appreciate my dilemma offered to show me his “least masculine” men’s shoe in a size 10 or 10 1/2, which he said would be about the same size as a woman’s size 11 or 12. He kindly offered his professional opinion stating “For an athletic shoe, you know a sneaker etc., you could wear a men’s shoe and no one would know the difference with today’s styles- but they tend to run just a tad wider (the men’s sizes).” I thanked him and exited the store feeling depressed.

Finally about seven or eight years ago with the advent of our generation of taller children, many stores added a limited selection of size 11 women’s shoes. Unfortunately I had given birth to two very large baby boys during those years and my feet crushed by the additional weight they carried during my pregnancies, spread to a whopping size 12 or even 13 in certain styles!

Since then, I call ahead when shoe shopping and inquire as to the largest size the store stocks. Ninty-five percent of the retail shoe market is eliminated without me enduring the reoccurring nightmare. As a result of these efforts, I found two stores where I could purchase shoes. I say “purchase” because “shopping” was out of the question. The shoes at one store were either hopelessly orthopedic or totally out of any style that existed for the past thirty years. The other store offered some current styles if I wanted only black, brown or navy blue shoes. There were also sporadic beiges, whites, and greys.

Finally, I discovered the internet and distributors of “hard to find” products found it too. One day I came across a web page called “Barefoot Tess” and I now can wear soft suede boots with gorgeous bead work, metallic gladiator sandals, buttery soft leather pumps in pastel lemon or pink, or periwinkle Wellies. I can even be found wearing slim little canvas sneakers which are made for a woman’s narrower, if not smaller, feminine foot. And the very best thing about it, is my feet don’t hurt so that all I can think about is releasing my poor bound feet.

Get your own large-sized shoes at BarefootTess.com

CONTEST: Hey You! Bigfoot! C’mere!

Alyse — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:52:42 +0000

Everyone has a part of them that is a “tough fit.” I am lucky to be a standard size 8 shoe, but I cannot even imagine the hell of having a size 11 or larger shoe.

Luckily the good people at Barefoot Tess have recognized this problem, and are making strides to close the gap in shoe sizes. Barefoot Tess only offers shoes size 10 and larger. You won’t find any nurses shoes here. Barefoot Tess strives to offer shoes you actually want to wear. They offer a wide selection of shoes from well-known designers such as Delman, Donald J. Pilner, Loeffler Randall, Havianas, Steve Madden, and more. The site also offers its own, reasonably-priced house brand of shoes, designed exclusively for the full-footed woman.

Barefoot Tess is offering Spork Fashion readers a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to use on their site. All you have to do is head over BarefootTess.com and email them with your most embarrassing, creative, compelling, or humorous story about the trials of shopping for larger-sized shoes. You can also email your stories directly to sporkfashion@barefoottess.com. The best story wins a $100 gift certificate!

Not a lucky winner, or just impatient? Barefoot Tess has graciously offered 20% your next purchase. Just enter the code SPORK at checkout.

This is just a small sampling of the shoes available at Barefoot Tess. All these shoes are exclusive to their site.

Contest ends June 15, 2009, at 11:59 PM PST

For Those Obsessed With Shoes…

Alyse — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:50:23 +0000

…Check out artwork by Mark Schwartz. This former Warhol protege has spent over 20 years designing shoes for some of the top fashion houses and Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Balenciaga, Christian LaCroix, and Hermes. When he opened his own boutique in NYC, he decorated the space with his own vivid shoe paintings. They sold better than a warehouse full of Louboutins marked 50% off, and a new facet of his career was born.

Each design is one-of-a-kind, and commissioned pieces are welcomed. If the artwork is a little out of your price range, Schwartz’s designs are also on limited-edition t-shirts.

To view more paintings for sale, visit HighHeeledArt.com

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Things a Woman Should Know About…

Alyse — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:55:37 +0000

While the rest of the fashion world is living it up and getting down to work in New York, I am laid up at home in Los Angeles with pulled muscle. Trying to turn sadness into gladness and not thinking about all the fun I am missing, I am trying to catch up on some reading.

My reading of choice are two volumes by Karen Homer: Things a Women Should Know About Beauty and Things a Woman Should Know About Shoes. Beauty is chock full of fun little beauty tips and secrets. Lots of them are retro, to accompany the almost-exclusively vintage photos decorating the book

Shoes is almost like porno to me. The one bummer is that there are not nearly enough photos of SHOES! But lots of fun shoe info: history of shoes, different types of shoes and how to wear them, highlights of major shoe designers, famous quotes about shoes from celebrities, how to care for your shoes, the debate between leather shoes and vegan shoes, even how to shop for shoes with your kids.

These cute, stubby little hard bound books are inexpensive and make great gifts. They also make nice coffee table books when traditional oversized art books are too big or too pricey. Though the Shoes book could stand for a few (thousand) more photos.

FitFlops – Too Good To Be True?

Alyse — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:28:31 +0000

I came across FitFlops a few weeks ago and was intrigued. The company promises that by wearing their flip-flops during any normal activity, it will help strengthen and tone the muscles in your thighs and buttocks. This is due to patented “micro-wobbleboard technology” in the sole of the shoe. I asked a friend if she heard about these. Her response was, “yeah, I but I don’t think they really work.” She had never tried them, but let’s be honest – losing weight and toning your muscles without having to change your workout routine? Yup, that is too good to be true.

Of course, I couldn’t wait to give them a try – all in the name of science, dear reader. I am doing this for you! I wore them around the house. Didn’t notice a difference. Wore them to run errands. Again, didn’t feel much. Wore them on a walk with the dog. I did notice a bit more fatigue than usual, and was tired when I got home. Shopping was the real test. In all, it was almost three hours of non-stop walking and standing. When I got home and finally sat down, my legs turned to lead – in a good way. The next day, while my legs didn’t quite feel sore, but they were definitely tight and I could tell I got a workout, especially in my hips and thighs. I wore them on another shopping excursion, with similar results. On this second excursion I noticed less leg fatigue while actually shopping, but later that day felt an additional tightness in my core, and really felt that ache the next morning.

Regardless of the fitness benefits, the FitFlop is the most comfortable sandal I have ever worn – one of the most comfortable pair of shoes, period. The sole is bouncy and is sculpted to give a bit of arch support – something that is sorely lacking in most flip-flops. I did at any point suffer from blisters or irritation from the sandals at all.

I’m not putting these through “lab tests.” I am just putting them through an everyday routine. I cannot physically see a difference yet, but I feel it. Starting at $50 a pair, the FitFlop is an inexpensive addition to your daily routine. For the comfort and the opportunity to tone your legs and butt without changing your routine at all, how can you not?

Switch-Flops

Alyse — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:42:27 +0000

I have a fashion-confession to make.

I don’t like flip-flops. In fact, I kind of hate them. I once had a job in the Bahamas. We were shooting on the beach for three weeks – I wore Doc Martens the entire time. I hate that flip-flop sound they make as they slap your heel. They are not particularly comfortable. And I have to admit: I just find them a lazy footwear.

However, Switch-Flops are lazy in a good way. This ingenious new product allows you to “change your look without changing your sole.” The Switch-Flop straps are covered with velcro, allowing for different designs to be added to match your outfit or your mood. With three different shoe styles, four different colors, and over 60 different straps, the possibilities are endless (ok, not really endless, but I’m not going to do the math). Price points are set low enough to encourage experimentation. With shoes between $32-$42, and straps just $10 a pair, you can build a whole flip-flop wardrobe without spending too much money or taking up too much space.

Designer Lindsay Phillips came up with the idea in high school, and her mom helped her get started while she focused on her studies. Still in her 20s, Lindsay’s Switch-Flops can be found in hundreds of boutiques across the country.

While that horrible heel-slapping sound will never be solved, Switch-Flops are surprisingly comfortable. The thick foam soles are gently contoured, and the straps have a high vamp, so they don’t cut across your toes. With Switch-Flops, I won’t be the only one in boots this summer.

To view styles, purchase, or find a nearby boutique, visit SwitchFlops.com

What’s This? Spork Fashion is Back?

Alyse — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:50:04 +0000

Yes friends, I am back. I am not going out of town, I have no Fashion Weeks to cover, I am not sick, and we are 100% moved into and unpacked in our new house.

To celebrate this new abode, I wanted to give you a tiny peek inside. This is my favorite part of the whole house, and one of the things that drew me to the house in the first place.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you… Spork Fashion’s Shoe Closet & Clothing Annex!

When you first enter the closet, you are immediately greeted by a small shelving system directly in front. On here, I have some of my favorite shoes: My grey tweed Pradas; my polka-dot Christian Lacroixs, my blue and white pinstripe Rock & Republics. The center shelf is left open – that is where I put the box for the current pair on my feet.

To the left, there is built-in shelving.

Favorite designers of whom I have copious amounts are centrally located here, such as Marc Jacobs (6 pairs) and Moschino (4 pairs). Other favorites that didn’t make the central wall cut are also here. Lesser-worn shoes, such as Steve Madden and other less-luxurious no-name brands are located closer to the floor. The floor itself is home to my sneakers and Doc Martens.

To the right there are double-bars. This would be the “Clothing Annex.”

It’s not too full now – just winter clothes that I hardly get to wear in Los Angeles. Luckily my main closet is big enough that I don’t need much extra room – I want to save room for more shoes!

Even Babies Should Look Stylish

Alyse — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:55:48 +0000

I do not have kids. I do not want kids. But I have friends who have kids. So I knit for them. I like knitting baby things because they are small so they usually knit up faster and take up less yarn. Plus, I like knitting plush toys and it is hard to justify knitting them for myself.

A friend had a baby, and I decided to take a stab at knitting booties. I had a pattern for “1-Hour Baby Booties” and, still being a knitting knewbie, it was a great way to practice some new stitches. In the book, the booties were white and blue, with a big adorable button on them. The were cute, but bland. So I decided to make a few adjustments and make some rock star booties.

I chose red and black, one of my favorite color combinations, and I happened to have both yarns laying around. I ditched the cutsey button (because babies can choke on those things, right?) and added corset lacing up the back. A little trampy for a 6 month old? Nah, I don’t think so. It’s not like I made knee-high booties!

Laetitia’s Shoes – the New Shape Of Footwear

Alyse — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:20:57 +0000

I stumbled upon these beauties at a sample sale at Los Angeles boutique Bird Hidden in a corner, nearly buried beneath a rack of dresses, these pumps jumped out at me. I don’t own any pink shoes (or “champagne” shoes, as my friend called them, in order to justify me purchasing two pairs of pink shoes that day) but I think it is about time.

These are the Isadora style by Madrid designer Laetitia. Made of a buttery soft metallic suede, these shoes are noticeably different. The toe of this shoe – and all Laetitia’s shoes – are asymmetrical, with very good reason. All her shoes are sculpted around the natural shape of the toe. No squeezing your toes into shoes that end in a Hershey’s Kiss point means no blisters, sores, or other pain that is associated with pointy shoes. I can attest that, indeed, these did not rub or chafe, after an entire evening of wear. The low vamp allows for some sexy toe cleavage.

The shoe doesn’t just sculpt itself around the toes. The instep of the shoe is cut to match the curve of the arch of your foot. The entire shoe is actually cut rather low for a pump – more like a skimmer on three inch heels. This can make it difficult to walk only in the sense that I was paranoid of losing my shoe. Of course, this did not happen, due in part to the asymmetrical strap across the toes. The strap balances the unorthodox toe by offering more width on the “short” end of the toe, tapering as the toe lengthens.Though hard to find, Laetitia’s shoes are worth the hunt. They are comfortable, unique, and you can bet none of your friends will have a pair.