Thank you to my dear friend, Shannon, for stepping in to review the Dansko Janie.
Courtesy of Dansko.com
As a mother of three active boys, I am on my feet a lot! After my first son was born, I wondered why my feet hurt. One day I realized the main reason was because I was now ON my feet more than I had been in the past. When I was working and sitting at a desk, I could wear uncomfortable shoes without much notice. Now, I was standing to wash bottles, do laundry, prepare a meal, stand at the park, etc. I noticed my feet by the end of the day.
A couple of years before my first son was born, I was prescribed orthotics for pronation (my foot collapses). I had experienced a running-related injury due to this condition. While I enjoyed the comfort of the orthotic, I found it cumbersome to transfer from shoe to shoe. Plus, some shoes really couldn’t accommodate the chunky orthotic. So, I started looking for shoes that simply offered more support.
As a “stay at home” mom, I didn’t have a ton of extra money to spend on shoes which led me to start looking for shoes that offered support without “breaking the bank.” When I bought my first pair of Dansko clogs, I felt they offered the most benefit for the price. I still do! For many years, I wore a pair of black and brown clogs for the winter months. In the summer, I would transition to a pair of black slides. That’s it! I felt they provided the support of my orthotic without actually wearing it or having to mess with it.
For many years, I wore a size 36. However, after multiple pregnancies and childbirth, my feet grew. Who knew? I now wear a size 37. Because I have a narrow heel, I admit that some Dansko size 37 styles are too big, especially the clog types. However, this shoe is a slide and I found it to fit quite comfortably without sliding or a “vice-like” toe grip to keep them on my foot!
After wearing the Janie Dansko, a few things stood out to me. One, I loved the softer insert of cork. They felt flexible with my movement and weren’t as stiff as some of my other Dansko shoes. Two, they offered a good deal of support despite a flatter heel. Did I mention the cork? Now, I know what all the hype is about! Three, I liked the stylish components to these shoes. The patent, thinner straps were trendier than the wider, flat straps of my other Dansko slides. Plus, I liked the varying silver buttons on each strap.
What didn’t I like? My main issue was with the height of the heel. I am used to wearing a higher heel which feels like it offers more support. So, the flatter heel was harder to get used to. Also, if your feet are at all swollen, the straps can be tight and/or pinch (see update below when Shannon realized the straps are adjustable!). Other than that, I liked these shoes and plan to wear them during the warm summer months! It offered support that a Dansko shoe is known for with the softness of cork.
"Oh! The straps ADJUST? I never knew!" When Shannon mentioned the straps felt a little pinchy, I remembered that they were adjustable. This is good news to those with more narrow or wider feet--you can customize your fit!
The Dansko Janie is available at:
- Zappos: $135, free shipping and returns.
- PlanetShoes.com: $135, free shipping and returns.
- Amazon: $135, free shipping and returns.
- Shoes.com: $135, free shipping.
- HouserShoes.com: $134.97, free shipping.
- Find a retailer near you.
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