Holiday Gift Guide 2019: For Her!

We've rounded up our best selling fall and winter styles for 2019! Whether you're shopping for your wife, adult daughter, sister, grandmother, girlfriend, or best friend, you're sure to find gifts that will please any lady here!

A staple for fall, winter, and spring is the forever useful Hunter Original Short Gloss Rain boot.

Duck Boots are a functional fashion trend that's here to stay! Check out a new take on Sperry's classic style, the Saltwater.

The Birkenstock Arizona Shearling combines the best of both worlds, a slipper and a sandal. These are so easy to slip on and offer all day comfort!

The UGG Classic Short II is now a waterproof version of everybody's favorite boot. This color, Pink Crystal, is being referred to as "a new neutral" and easily pairs with almost any color!

The Sorel Lexie Wedge is often called a wedge you can walk in all day! Not only is it comfortable, it's waterproof and insulated! The laces allow for it it be worn with thick socks as well.

The UGG Coquette Leopard offers a fierce take on a well known and loved UGG Slipper! This slipper is sure to pair well with athleisure clothes and its able to be worn indoors and outdoors.

Need more ideas? Check out our Fall Trends Page. Take a look at our Holiday Gift Guide for Men and our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids.

Holiday Gift Guide 2019: For Him!

Have a hard to buy for guy in your life? Look for ideas no further, you've found the ultimate men's footwear gift guide for the 2019 Holiday Time!

The Birkenstock Kaprun Happy Lamb is the perfect supportive slipper for him. With the virgin lambswool footbed lining, this slipper is sure to keep him warm all winter long!

The Sorel Madson Waterproof Chelsea boot is so versatile that it goes from boardroom to everyday boot. With its steam sealed waterproof lining, it will keep his feel dry in the harshest weather conditions.

A best seller for the past few years, the UGG Neumel has quickly become a staple in every man's wardrobe. The durable outsole allows for indoor and outdoor wear while waterproof leather keeps his feet toasty and dry.

The iconic ON Running Cloud now comes in a waterproof version - perfect for athletic activity in wet weather!

The Johnston & Murphy Karnes boot is the epitome of comfort and style. This versatile boot easily dresses up or down for every day wear!

Your favorite flip flop brand also does slippers! The OluKai Moloa Slipper offers all the arch support of the OluKai flip flop in a shearling lined slipper.

Need ideas for others on your list? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for Women and our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids.

2019 Holiday Gift Guide: For Kids!

Do you have a kid in your life you need to buy for? Want to get them something other than a toy that won't be played with in a month anyway? Look no further than this list!

The Harkley for kids from UGG is sure to keep your little one's feet warm and toasty all winter long!

Built for cold, this well-known UGG style is waterproof and can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C (or -4°F). Available in Fuchsia, Blue, and Brown, this Kids UGG Butte boot is sure to please!

The UGG Bixbee and lovey blanket is the perfect gift for any infant! 

The UGG Mini Bailey Bow II is a classic year after year for both kids and adults. You can never go wrong with a new color of a tried and true staple!

The UGG Kids Neumel II Tasman combines two of our favorite UGG styles - the Neumel and the Tasman. 

While the slide pictured above is for toddlers, the UGG Fluff Yeah Slide comes in sizes for women, kids, toddlers, and infants. This is the perfect 'Mommy and Me' slipper!

Not seeing that perfect shoe for your little one? Check out all of our kids styles here!

Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for Women and our Holiday Gift Guide for Men.

Check out these songs that have been dominating our Spotify top 100 songs since they were released. Which one is your favorite?

Elvis Presley, "Blue Suede Shoes"

This song is a classic and known by practically everyone! We love it because we think that blue shoes are the perfect pop of color to add to a neutral colored outfit!

Paul Simon, "Diamond on the Soles of Her Shoes"

We wish we had diamonds on the soles of our shoes! While we don't *currently* carry any shoes with diamonds on them, we do have shoes with Vibram outsoles which are sure to keep you from slipping in winter. We think it's a fair trade!

Nancy Sinatra, "These Boots Are Made for Walking"

This is one song we can personally relate to! We L-O-V-E two things...1. BOOTS and 2. WALKING! If only there was a way to combine those two...oh wait, there is! Check out all of our boots sure to keep your feet comfy while you're walking all day.

The Beatles, "Old Brown Shoe"

If you have an old brown shoe, we have a solution...buy a new pair of brown shoes!

K.C. and The Sunshine Band, "Boogie Shoes"

Next to shoes and music, dancing is one of our favorite thing. We've found that in order to properly execute our slick moves on the dance floor, we need a good pair of dancin' shoes! For women, we suggest a trendy pump; for men, we suggest a sharp looking dress shoe.

Kenny Loggins, "Footloose"

"Footloose" tops the list for our favorite song to butcher the lyics to. Though we may not fully know the words, you bet we know the dance moves...and here's what we're wearing while we're cutting a rug.

Paolo Nutini, "New Shoes"

This one has to be in our top 3 on heavy rotation. Personally, we can relate to the lyrics "Hey, I put some new shoes on and suddenly everything is right." We believe that so many problems can be solved with a new pair of shoes!

Randy Houser, "Boots On"

Anytime but summer, you can bet that we'll be dawning a trendy pair of boots! From ankle boots in the fall and spring to tall boots in the winter, boots are our go to!

The Eagles, "Those Shoes"

Though we love the catchy tune, we don't want anything to do with shoes that we can't do something in...we prefer to be in comfort so we can do whatever life throws at us in them.

Hank Williams III, "If The Shoe Fits"

Don't know if your shoes fit? Check out our shoe sizing blog!

Kenny Chesney, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem"

We're going to have to disagree with you here, Mr. Chesney! If you don't wear shoes, you'll develop all sorts of foot problems. Check out our wide array of comfort shoes here!

Not all fitness related New Year's Resolutions have to involve the gym. If you're like us and you live in a climate that gets cold, you may be thinking “No way! There’s snow, and ice outside!” We have the perfect solution to that! With Merrell Arctic Grip snow and ice boots, you can confidently trek over any slick wintery surface and conquer winter. 

About Arctic Grip Technology:

Arctic Grip™ Technology by Merrell is the most advanced cold weather gripping system ever created by Vibram®. This technology is specifically designed for unparalleled traction while trekking on wet ice. The thermochromatic lugs on the sole of the boots change colors to signal icy conditions. With its best in class lug design, you can have confidence through winter's harshest conditions! 

How it works:

In the outsole of a Merrell Arctic Grip boot, you'll see deep lugs. What are lugs? Glad you asked! They're deep indentations in the sole of the shoe that help with gripping on slippery surfaces. These lugs are formed with a rubber compound that has a filler system that ensures maximum stability on every surface. The lugs on the bottom of these boots can tell you if the weather has dropped below freezing. When the temperature dips below the freezing level, the color changing thermochromatic lugs will turn blue. When they're blue, the ground is below 32 degrees. These deep lugs help to make ice seem as if it isn't even there and ensure the most traction on any slippery surface.

Awards:

In 2016, Merrell's Arctic Grip™ was awarded Best in Show by GearJunkie at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. This is because the Vibram® soles have 3 times more gripping power than any other outsole on wet ice and slick surfaces. Merrell knows that where there's snow, there's bound to be ice. That's why Arctic Grip outsoles have over two years of research, design, and testing to ensure that you have the best waterproof snow boots on the market to avoid preventable falls. 

Where to wear:

Don't let anything get in the way of your outdoor activities this winter, especially not snow and ice. If you want to get active without being cooped up inside, we suggest going on a walk at your nearest National Park or on your local walking trail. Maybe it's raining and you prefer to be inside; if that's the case, find your nearest mall and accomplish your fitness goals by taking a walk inside the temperature controlled mall.

Are you ready to get outside and hack winter? Pick out a pair and put winter's harshest conditions to the test!

Don't take our word for it, check out these reviews here:

Our feet are amazing and incredibly complex!  The human foot can absorb shock, adapt to the surface we walk on, stabilize and support our body weight, and propel us forward in only several hundredths of a second. Our feet are often over worked and under appreciated. Read below to discover why our feet are so important! 

1. Arches don't appear until a person is between 2 and 2.5 years old. Until then, there's a pad of fat where the arch would usually be...which is why baby feet are so cute! A good way to protect your arches from falling is with an arch support.

2. Just because your feet sweat doesn't mean they smell. The bacteria that causes foot odor thrives in dark and damp environments, such as inside your shoes and socks.

3. Throughout your adult life, your feet grow. Your foot size can increase up to 1.5 sizes as you age. This is caused by your feet flattening out which increases length and width. Other factors can contribute to this, too. Pregnancy, surgeries, and changes in weight can have an impact on your foot length and width.

4. Toenails grow considerably slower than fingernails. Toenails only grow around 1 millimeter per month, whereas fingernails grow 3 millimeters a month. That's 3 times slower!

5. One quarter of all bones in the human body are in your feet! That's why your feet are one of the most sensitive areas of your body and foot pain can impact the rest of your body. This only highlights the importance of wearing supportive shoes!

6. Loose a toenail? It can take between 5 and 6 months to completely grown an entire new toenail.

7. Your toenails can give you clues about your health! If you have spoon shaped indentations, that can be a clue to your doctor that you could be anemic. People with Psoriasis often notice pits in the surface of their toenails. Hairless toes could indicate to a medical professional that you have poor blood circulation in your toes.

8. Each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments and 19 muscles.

9. Women have four times as many foot problems as men. This is usually due to wearing high heels. To help ease this potential problem, check out our selection of comfort heels!

10. Feet are so ticklish because there are almost 8000 nerve endings in our feet. Don't worry - having ticklish feet can be a good sign! A person with reduced sensitivity can be an indicator of numbness caused by nerve damage.

Finding a solution to foot pain can be tricky. For many people, it means trips to the doctor and expensive custom orthotics. The time and cost can deter some people from seeking treatment for their foot pain. While of course nothing can replace a personalized treatment plan from a podiatrist, Phillip J. Vasyli saw an opportunity to help those who might be unable or unwilling to visit one. His dedication to helping others become pain-free affordably led him to found Vionic, a footwear company that makes orthotic treatment accessible.

About Vionic

Phillip Vasyli is a podiatrist on a mission. He realized early in his career that treatment for common foot ailments like plantar fasciitis were both time-consuming and costly, deterring many patients from seeking treatment. For a man described by those closest to him as a “born healer,” this was unacceptable. He needed a solution that could make orthotic treatment an option for more people. His search led him to create one of the first ever heat-moldable orthotics, a process that lowered the barriers for those seeking treatment for foot pain. In fact, it allowed people to walk out of his office with their orthotic the same day as their appointment!

His work with heat-molded orthotics eventually led to the creation of the Orthaheel orthotic. Orthaheel is the first and only orthotic made available without a doctor’s prescription. This award-winning technology brings support and stability to shoes, boots, sandals, and more! If Orthaheel sounds familiar to you, it might be because the name of the technology. Since many people associated the idea of orthotics and anything that sounds vaguely like “orthotic” with unattractive, bulky shoes, Vionic rebranded. They took on a new name that better reflected their identity as a maker of stylish shoes that also happen to have orthotic comfort! The name may have changed, but the comfort technology has not.

Vionic Technology

We’ve already talked a little about how Vionic technology came to be, so we’re going to dive right in to how it works. All of Vionic’s stylish flats, sandals, sneakers, and slippers have Orthaheel technology built in. Our feet evolved to walk on soft, natural surfaces that give against pressure, but we spend most of our time walking on unforgiving man-made surfaces. Orthaheel mimics the natural print your foot leaves on those soft surfaces. The heel cup is deep, cradling the heel to stabilize it. The arch support is pronounced, meant to hug the curves of your feet. The midsole is flexible so it moves when and how you do. Designed with natural biomechanics in mind, Orthaheel technology provides support and alignment from the ground up!

When an occasion calls for a shoe with a little bit of height, Vionic still has the technology to keep you comfortable. Their wedges and heels feature Elevated Support, a comfort technology adapted from Orthaheel. The same contoured arch support found in their flat shoes can be found in the wedges and heels, as can the deep heel cup. Because heels place pressure on the balls of your feet, Elevated Support technology features extra cushioning underneath them for added comfort.

Podiatrists approve of Vionic’s footwear. Many of their shoes bear the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, meaning Vionic is one of few brands whose products actively promote foot health. Even their sandals have been shown to reduce foot pain, an almost unheard of accomplishment as sandals are generally the least supportive footwear. In a peer-reviewed study partially funded by Vionic, participants over the age of 50 with moderate, non-traumatic heel pain reported that Vionic sandals effectively helped to alleviate their pain. While flat flip flops may exacerbate symptoms, Vionic’s contoured sandals can alleviate them, making sandals an accessible summer option for pain sufferers. If you’ve struggled to find footwear that offered the orthotic support you need and the style that you want, Vionic’s innovative technologies can help.

Favorites from Vionic

Now that you’re sold on Vionic’s inventive comfort solutions, we’re sure you’re ready to see their trendy styles! Here’s just a few of our faves.

Women’s Tide II

The Vionic Women's Tide II in Black. Also available in Black Floral, Bronze Metallic, Gold Cork, Grey Floral, Light Blue, and Pewter Metallic.

Flip flops are a summer staple for a reason. When you wear them, your feet aren’t cooped up and sweating, and they’re easy to throw on and go. If you had to give up flip flops because they’re usually flat and unsupportive, you’ll love the women’s Tide II with Orthaheel technology. The EVA midsole is lightweight and shock-absorbing, while the TPR outsole features a patterned tread for traction. Cushioned straps and a soft woven toe post mean that the comfort of this sandal carries right through the upper. Plus. the woven/leather straps come in a variety of colors and patterns meaning there’s a Tide II style for every woman’s wardrobe.

The Vionic Women’s Tide II is $64.95*.

Women’s Surin

The Vionic Women's Surin in Pewter. Also available in Nude and Black.

With Vionic’s Surin flat, getting dressed up for an event doesn’t have to be painful. Well, choosing the perfect outfit might still be a little painful, but we can at least promise that your shoes won’t be! The Surin features Orthaheel, of course, so you can be sure that your feet will be comfortable and supported no matter what you’re getting dressed up for. It has stylish leather uppers available in a flashy metallic or understated neutral colors with cutout details that add both a touch of detail and a little bit of airflow. The TPR outsole means that this flat also has traction to spare.

The Vionic Women’s Surin is $119.95*.

Women’s Sierra Active

The Vionic Women's Sierra Active in Black Charcoal. Also available in Dark Purple Pink, Navy, and White Black.

Staying active is important, but it can be hard to do when you’re dealing with foot pain. Luckily, Vionic offers their incredible support and comfort in active styles in addition to fashion styles! The Sierra Active features Advanced Motion System technology that combines their podiatrist-approved insoles with flexible outsoles and breathable uppers. This sneaker features a man-made knit upper and durable rubber outsole so your feet stay cool and firmly on the ground while you’re exercising.

The Vionic Women’s Sierra Active is $129.95*.

If you suffer from foot pain, give Vionic a try. This brand created by a podiatrist caters to individuals who need shoes with a little orthotic support who aren’t willing to sacrifice style to get it. Whether you need dress shoes, active shoes, or casual shoes, flats or heels, Vionic has a comfortable and fashionable look for you! Find your perfect pair of Vionic shoes in one of our stores or right here on our website.

So your shoelaces just won't stay tied.Sure, you could resort to a double knot, but that look just isn't as clean as a simple, one-layer bow. It's also not as effective as the proper tying technique. Yes, you heard us right. There is a proper lace-tying technique, and it takes a little more effort than the rhymes you might have learned in Kindergarten would suggest to get it right!

How to Tie Your Shoes (The Right Way!)

Step 1: Pull the laces comfortably tight on your foot. Cross the right lace over the left lace and tie a knot.

Step 2: Take the lace you are now holding in your left hand and create a loop. It's going to look exactly like it did when you learned how to tie your shoes the first time.

Step 3: Take the lace in your right hand and bring it to the left side, crossing underneath the loop to do so.

Step 4: Wrap the lace back over the top of the loop. Tie a bow.

Step 5: Sit back and enjoy your beautifully tied shoes. Or take off running to test the technique. Whatever you prefer, really.

Why Does This Work?

A very good question with a surprisingly complicated answer! It basically all comes down to the type of knot you create. If you follow these steps, you'll end up with a type of knot called a reef knot. If you're not careful in following these steps, you'll create a granny knot instead. Why does it matter what type of knot you create? Physics.

Granny knots and reef knots are extremely similar in appearance.

Left: Granny Knot Right: Reef Knot

Can you see the difference between them? In the granny knot, one loose end of the blue lace goes over the red loop and the other loose end goes under, and the loose ends of the red lace do the same to the blue loop. With a reef knot, the loops interlock more firmly because the loose laces go through the loops the same way (so both the loose red laces go under and both the loose blue laces go over). This makes reef knots much harder to slip than granny knots.

When your feet move, the bow of your shoes is whipped back and forth. The forces exerted on the laces will eventually be enough to untie either knot, but since a granny knot is less stable it will come untied more quickly and more often. Interestingly, scientists are just starting to understand the mechanics of how and why shoelace knots fail. We know, it seems too obvious to even merit study, but the study of your shoelaces coming untied is the first step to understanding why more complex knotted structures come untied. For a better explanation of this shockingly complicated subject, read up on the shoelace experiment done at UC Berkeley.

Whether or not you care about the knot science behind it, this trick is one of the best types of lifehacks: simple to implement and actually useful. Sure, having to stop to tie your shoes is a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things, but it's a minor annoyance that is easily dealt with. Impress your friends with your new-found shoelace tying superpower!

Struggling with figuring out what exactly IS your shoe size? Shoe sizing can be such a tricky thing! With US sizing, UK sizing, and European sizing, it can be confusing figuring out how one size translates into another. Luckily, we're here to help!

Women's Shoe Sizes

Men's Shoe Sizes

15 Things You Didn't Know About Shoes!

Think you're a shoe know it all? Think again! We've compiled a list of facts that knocked our socks off when we read them. Which one were you most surprised by?

King Edward II of England first established a system of sizing shoes in 1324. This system is still used today and one shoe size is based off of the diameter of one barley corn, which equals one third of an inch or 0.85 millimeters.

On average, women walk 3 miles more than men per day.

The most popular shoe size in America has risen a full size in the last 30 years. Today, the most common shoe size for men is a 10.5 and for women is an 8.5. 

The first boot ever made for women was constructed in 1840 for Queen Victoria.

The first shoes were invented during the Ice Age, almost 5 million years ago. They were animal skins that people tied around their ankles during colder seasons.

The most expensive shoes ever sold were Dorothy's ruby red slippers worn in The Wizard of Oz. They were sold at an auction in 2000 for $660,000 US Dollars.

The only shoe museum in North America is in Toronto, Ontario. 

The first people to construct left and right shoes were the Ancient Romans. Before then, shoes were constructed to be worn on either foot. Left and right shoes didn't become the norm for everyone until the 1800's, though!

There is a reason we love to own shoes! In the book Footnotes: On Shoes, Suzanne Ferriss, PhD, explains that whether people realize it or not, shoes are a collector's item. Buying shoes triggers an area of the brain's prefrontal cortex called the collecting spot.

The average pair of shoes lasts for around 400 miles. This, of course, can vary from shoe to shoe depending on materials, type of shoe, and age of the shoe. Most people take between 8,000 and 10,000 steps per day which adds up to around 115,000 miles over a lifetime...that's equivelent to walking around the earth 4 times. This means that the average person will wear out 290 shoes in their lifetime.

Wedge shoes were created in Italy in the 1940's by mistake. Popular shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo began experimenting with new materials during the trade close in Italy and created the wedge.

Men were the first to wear heels. Heels were both used for horse back riding and to indicate a high social standing rather than gender.

Shoemakers usually stop making half sizes for women after a size 10 and stop making men's half sizes after a size 12. That's why it's so rare to find a women's size 10.5 and a men's size 12.5. There are a handful of shoe makers that still make them for men and women, though!

The person with the world's largest feet wears a US size 28.5.

The average person in the USA owns 19 pairs of shoes! We may be a little biased, but we think that number is low and should increase.