roadsideamerica
KEEN continues to be one of the hottest brands around and one of the hottest KEENs is the casual sneaker style shoe like the Portola, Jasper, Briggs, Ventura, and Presidio. These shoes are purported to have all the comfort of a sneaker with additional style. What can we find out about KEEN casuals and their cousins.
Overview:
All I can say is go to the KEEN website and browse around. For my money KEEN has one of the most inovative and consistently cool shoe line of anyone in the business.
Here is what KEEN says about themselves: "At KEEN, we are an active outdoor company made up of people just like you...creaqting possibilities, playing outside and caring for the world we live in. We believe the outdoors is anyplace without a ceiling and create innovative products allowing you to play in the outdoors wherever that may be. Through our leadership and commitment to social and environmental causes we hope to encourage and empower others to do the same. CREATE, PLAY, CARE...it is a way of life. We call it HybridLife."
I am impressed. What do others say about KEEN casuals.
Reviews:
Here is the Zappos site with 665 pages of reviews on KEENs. More 5 star review then almost any other shoe I have seen. You have to wade through page after page to find a review less than 5 stars. These shoes have a fanatical fan club that devotedly loves these shoes.
Prices:
One of the nice things about KEEN shoes is that despite their immense popularity you can buy them for reasonable prices. USD 50-80 on many websites. Ebay has KEEN casuals for USD 30-60. Look for the usuals. Not alot of scuffing. Not alot of wear on the sole. One of the nice thing about many KEENs is that the top layer of the sole is black and the underlying layer is a different color. Look at the sole. If you can see color peaking through the black you will know that there is moderate wear on the sole. That would not keep me from buying the shoe but I would expect a reduced price.
KEEN charities:
KEENusa is a national, nonprofit volunteer-led organization that provides one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities at no cost to their families and caregivers. KEEN's mission is to foster the self-esteem, confidence, skills and talents of its athletes through non-competitive activities, allowing young people facing even the most significant challenges to meet their individual goals.
KEEN groupies:
Finally, in my research I found a slightly scary group of KEEN aficionados on Flikr.
from barkingdogshoes:"Introducing Shoester, the online matching service for people with asymetrical feet. Simply register your right and left shoe size and your address, and Shoester will show you a list of people in your area with mirror image feet. Once you find a foot friend, you can each buy a pair of shoes that fit like a glove."
from Le March Travel Guide:The beautiful landscape around the city of Fermo is dotted by small, high quality factories that produce the world class leather goods that you’ll find in the best shops around the world.The outlets are not grouped in big malls and finding them will require some driving but the quality is excellent and the prices are really tempting."
from TimesofIndia:
Men have invaded ladies' fashion domain a little further, for after 'man-bras' and 'manscara' the latest must have for men is "mantyhose."
"Mantyhose"or pantyhose for men have become a popular sheer garment from truck drivers to cowboys.
A self confessed male hosiery-wearer, Harisnya is so passionate about the issue he set up e-MANcipate, a website which he says aims to "accelerate the acceptance of male pantyhose as a regular clothing item".
Donald J Pliner shoes have become a common sight on the American landscape. I wanted to know just who is this guy and where does he get all these shoes?
Company Overview:
1943
Donald J Pliner was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, with his twin sister Donna. Born with a "silver shoehorn" in his mouth, Donald and brother, Elliot, worked as apprentices to their father, Leo, at the family owned Pliner's Florsheim Family Shoe Stores.
1967
Donald opened Pappagallo Beverly Hills - his own retail store. First-year sales hit almost $1 million.
1971
Donald rose to retail prominence with the Right Bank Clothing Co. Located on Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, this store quickly became the source for fashion. Three years later, the store became the Right Bank Shoe Co., which served as the first American outlet for European designers like Thierry Mugler, Basile, Castelbajac, Maud Frizon, Stephane Kelian, Arche, Bisonte and Trussardi. At the same time, Donald opened a second store, The Right Bank Clothing Co. and Tea Room, on Rodeo Drive. Donald continued to innovate, developing a line of RBCC clothing, shoes and accessories. This line generated so much attention, it warranted a wholesale division. This was picked up and represented in specialty and department stores across the country. Meanwhile, the Right Bank Clothing Co. and Tea Room became the place of choice for celebrity meetings.
1984
Intershoe recruited Donald to head a new line of Spanish-produced footwear called Glacè. He not only designed the collection, but he also directed and conceived the whole operation, including sales. The result was the incredibly successful Glacee collection. Within two years, the line was sold nationwide.
1987
Donald moved into producing fashion-forward shoes for Erica. His design direction dramatically increased sales and new business.
1989
Donald once again created his own line of footwear and accessories with current company Donald J Pliner.
1994
Donald designed his first all-over elastic shoe, using comfort as his underlying goal. Although his current collections include novelty materials and vibrant colors, almost every style has some elastic in it, whether hidden or used as the primary fabric for a shoe.
1998
Men's footwear is introduced by Donald J Pliner for the first time. What started as basic shoes made mostly of elastic has evolved into fashion for the male feet. Today, the men's line includes dress shoes, boots, basic comfort shoes, sandals, sporty styles, and executive dress shoes, which use the air-touch system patented in Italy for added comfort.
1999
Aventura Mall in South Florida is established as the location for the first Donald J Pliner concept store. The décor of the store remains consistent with the New York showroom as well as Donald's home in Miami, and is the basis for all of the Donald J Pliner boutiques. The artifacts and unique collections from his travels around the world adorn the floor and walls and have continually served as the inspiration for Donald's shoes and accessories. Known for his high fashion comfort footwear, Donald wants his customers to be comfortable not only while wearing his shoes, but also when shopping for them.
2002
Donald J Pliner Handbags are re-launched with a complete makeover. Two collections of handbags are available, they include the "Couture" line, which is made in Italy, and the "Donald J Pliner" line, which is manufactured in Asia and other parts of the world. All of the accessories are designed to match the shoes in such elements as materials and colorations.
2003
Donald J Pliner opens his flagship store in Beverly Hills on Camden Drive, just one block away from the original location of The Right Bank Clothing Co. where Donald launched his business thirty-seven years earlier.
2004
Donald has launched Friends of BabyDoll Pliner, a collection featuring outerwear, collars, leashes, harnesses, day carriers, and FAA approved airline carriers for dogs up to 20 pounds.
2008
Today, Donald continues to develop an innovative line of luxury comfort footwear, mixing creative energy with ongoing entrepreneurial spirit. The company has expanded to include footwear for men and women, leatherwear for men and women, handbags, and belts. There are six Donald J Pliner concept stores in Miami, Beverly Hills, Coral Gables, Houston, Las Vegas, and San Jose.
Specifications:
From Ron White: "Although his current fashion collections include novelty materials and vibrant colors, almost every style has some elastic in it, whether hidden or used as the primary fabric for a shoe. The flexibility of this stretch does wonders for the comfort of these fashionable styles.
All of Donald J Pliner’s shoes are manufactured in The Mountains of Italy or The Beaches of Spain with state-of-the-art quality control. They believe in giving their customers the best of fashion, quality and comfort. Comfort is especially important in all of their products, including footwear for men and women."
The Donald J Pliner motto is to "live the luxury of comfortable fashion."
Reviews:
Generally positive reviews as one would expect from this higher end shoe. The elastic components of the shoe are routinely given kudos for improving comfort. One complaint noted poor service at the Pliner store in Beverly Hills. They are noted by some to run on the narrow side.
Go to Zappos to read individual reviews.
Pricing:
Pliners come in all conceivable styles so a large price range is to be expected. The Pliner Sports and casual shoes can start as low as USD 70 while the high end Coutures and current hot fashions can run as high as USD 400. There are lots of Pliners on Ebay so don't settle for beat up shoes. You can pick up last years styles, new for USD 50-70 and gently used for as low as USD 20. So don't buy shoes with a lot of sole wear, lots of scuffs or stains or poor stitching.
Charity:
Donald and Lisa Pliner have a charitable foundation called Peace for the Children foundation. To be perfectly frank I can't really tell much about the specifics even after reading about it but here is what it says on the Pliner home site
"Donald and Lisa Pliner are always passionate about the causes that are important to them-health, arts, animals, and more. But to have more impact on our future, the Pliners have decided to focus their charitable efforts on the most vulnerable members of society: children.
Out of these efforts comes the Peace For The Children Foundation, which has been created to channel funds to deserving projects and initiatives that advance peace, care, and welfare to children in need.
Each year, Donald puts a special ornament on his shoes and handbags. This year the Donald J Pliner Spring 2008 collection will have a peace sign, which is partly tied to the Vietnam War, but more important because Donald and Lisa’s lives were so profoundly changed when they went to Kazakhstan to meet their daughter and we saw all the children that will never be adopted."
You can read about it here.
from the Bata Shoe Museum:
Due to the hot climate, most Africans in the past did not wear shoes. When foot coverings are donned, open sandals are preferred, which allow the circulation of air, as in the bowl-shaped oval sandals from Uganda or the flat, wide sandals worn by the Hausa in Western Africa.
from ShoeTube:
"It’s not easy to find peep-toe pumps that work for the chilly season ahead, but a girl’s got to find a way to prevent hiding toes behind thick socks all season."
"...the Costume National leather pump, a cone-heeled number made with rich brown leather and an extra-high arch. It’s the 5” heel for those who can’t fathom stepping into stilettos for the night on the town, or for those who want to show off their playful side during the mid-week slump at the office. "
I have been thinking about the punchline for the following joke: What do you get when you cross a Croc with an UGG? I know there must be a funny answer what with Australia, crocodiles, monosyllabic shoe brands, etc, but for the life of me I can't come up with it. I am open to suggestions. Well lets get to the UGG review.
History
From the official website:
A look back at 25 years of Sheepskin
The UGG® Australia story began in 1978, when Brian Smith, a young surfer from Australia, took a trip to the United States with a bag full of sheepskin boots. After finding a new home amongst California surfers, the UGG® Australia brand began to take shape.
Deckers Outdoor Corporation acquired UGG® Australia in 1995. . By 1998, the product line had grown to include two boots, four slippers, and a few casuals. It was in 1998 that UGG® Australia brand first stepped up alongside the world's finest luxury footwear brands. UGG® Australia was positioned as a high-end luxury brand, made evident by a premium distribution strategy and high-end fashion marketing and communications.
The luxury and comfort of UGG® Australia proved to be a perfect fit for the high-end footwear world and soon Nordstrom had become the destination for UGG® Australia. The media reach expanded into more and more high-end magazine titles. The business continued to grow steadily as UGG® Australia reached beyond the beaches of California to New York City - and beyond.
In 2003, UGG® was named Footwear News' "Brand of the Year" and was responsible for the creation of an entirely new category of footwear. From that moment on, sheepskin footwear would be seen on the runways in Milan, Paris and New York; and it all began on the beach in Australia.
Specifications
Specifications are similar to these in a general fashion for boots:
Leather and suede uppers resist stains and provide long-lasting comfort
Premium shearling fleece lining wicks moisture away, keeping feet dry and comfortable in warm and cold climates
EVA midsoles absorb shock, cushion feet and provide gentle support
Thick shearling fleece removable insoles mold to the unique shape of your feet to create a natural arch
Rubber lugged outsoles provide traction in all weather conditions
Knockoffs
UGG boots have risen to the enviable position of having a problem with knockoffs. For a review of how to tell a UGG knockoff, here is a reasonable review.
Reviews
From Zappos: 464 pages of reviews. Bottom line is UGGs are almost universally loved. I have never seen so many 5 star reviews. The few dissenters complain primarily over fitting discrepancies or poor design of some of the newer models. It does not appear that you can go wrong with a classic pair of UGG boots or mocs.
Pricing
UGGs are popular so you have to pay to play. New UGGs start at USD 80 and go up from there. Be happy to buy a good pair of UGG boots on Ebay for less than USD 50 and shoes for less than USD 30. For used UGGs make sure the uppers have few scuffs or stains. The liner should be clean without matting, and the soles ought to have good life left in them.
If your UGGs do get dirty, here is a site that tells you how to clean them.
Now lets see....Crugg, Crocodile DUGGee, hmm... There must be something better.
comfortable, cool, and molds to your feet
orthotic foot bed; advanced toe-box ventilation system
slip-resistant and non-marking soles
anti-microbial and odor resistant
ergonomic italian styling; wide, roomy foot bed; made with croslite™ material
buoyant; weighs only ounces
ventilation holes accommodate jibbitz™ brand charms
from thedailypump:
"Christian’s elegant approach to shape and structure paired with L’Wren’s perfectionist vision for classic couture has divined this Crocodile Sandal worth $4,692."
"Shoe mavens have the chance to design a pink-themed shoe that reflects the battle against breast cancer. Baylor Health presents the Pink Passion Shoe Design & Decorating Contest! The deadline is October 27th, and the contest requires only the submission of the right shoe. This also makes a great project for your children; they have a special prize for Most Creative Design - Kids 12 and under"
