Barking Dog Shoes

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Dansko Sally Suede Review

Dansko Sally Suede,
 in heaven you were made.
With your soft footbed it's such a treat,
to take a little walk down the street...

To my neighbor's bright red chair
to photograph my brand new pair.
From the Sausalito line you hail,
my achy feet you will not fail.

Arch support and lightweight too,
Even podiatrists approve of you.

And, of course, your roomy toe box,
makes it possible to wear you with SOCKS!
But what I love most about you,
is your gorgeous deep crimson hue.

Golly gosh, I love these. I'll be reviewing the Dansko Sally Suede again in a few weeks after I wear them around for a while. The only teensy-weensy complaint I have is how the toe tips up in a somewhat elfin manner--but I like elves and feel quite sprightly in these comfortable shoes.

Where to buy (I normally wear a 10 and find the 41 to fit best as this style runs a bit small):

• Zappos: $125 for red, brown or black suede/croc. Free shipping both ways.
• Available in leather at Zappos: $120 (115 customer reviews).
• Available in leather at Amazon: $89-122 with free shipping. Special offers available.

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Merrell Siren Ginger Review

The Ginger is the newest addition to the Merrell Siren family of top-rated, fabulously comfortable multi-sport shoes and my dear friend happens to have a pair. You know me, I can't pass up an opportunity to grab a photo and "on-the-foot" review, so here she is with her take on the Ginger. Keep in mind she leads an active lifestyle while coping with chronic back problems:

The Merrells - I love them.  Until I bought them, I had to wear tennis shoes
most of the time if I didn't want my legs and back to ache at the end of the
day.  I can wear the Merrells all day and get the same support - without
having to wear socks and have my feet feel hot and constricted like they do
in gym shoes.  The Merrells are lightweight, have good arch support, and
adjust well for narrower feet. 

What you'll love about the Merrell Siren Ginger:

• Anti-microbial footbed=no stink!
• Q-Form® EVA footframe=aligns ankle, knees, hips through stride.
• Mesh lycra linings=breathability.
• Air cushion midsole=shock-absorption
• Vibram® sole=water-friendly, good traction
• Clip-closure instep strap=adjustability

Where to buy (sizes 5-11):

• Zappos, $90: free shipping both ways.
• PlanetShoes.com, $90, free shipping and returns.
• OnlineShoes.com, $89.95, free shipping and exchanges.

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Ecco Bouillon "Flat" Review

The Ecco Bouillon: Teacher Endorsed

I'm thrilled to have Flickr member and teacher, Anne, here today to review her cheery cherry patent Ecco flats. I've admired these comfortable shoes in stock photos at online retailers, but now that I see this image, I like them even more. Here's Anne:

At first, I was won over by the gorgeous deep patent leather of these flats, but the more I wear them, the more I love them! They get me a ton of compliments and they are extremely stylist for such a practical shoe. They've got a tiny bit of a heel, which makes them extremely wearable---unlike so many ballerinas out there, these offer nice, constant support throughout the day. I'm a Dr. Scholl's gel insert addict, but I quickly decided that these shoes really didn't need them as much as other Ecco models that I've owned. As an added bonus, these ballerina flats have soles that actually have a traction to them, which makes them a bit more practical that the average flat.

If you're interested in the Ecco Bouillon, I highly suggest reading the customer reviews at Endless and Zappos to get an idea for sizing (these are Euro-sized). Anne says the 40 works perfectly for her size 9 feet. Also, the Bouillon comes in a mary jane style if you need a strap to prevent heel slippage.

Where to buy the Ecco Bouillon:

• Endless: $119.95, 8 colors including PLUM suede. Running promotion for $20 off this style with free overight shipping and free returns.
• Zappos: $118.95, free shipping both ways. 42 customer reviews.
• Amazon: $95-125 with special offers available, free shipping.

P.S.--not shoe related but RueLaLa.com is has some fantastic deals this week on Vera Bradley bags, Philosophy cosmetics, Lagos jewelry and more. Click here to join for free!

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Simple Shoes for Under $15

This darling style, the CARamel, plus many others are marked down to as low as $14.90 at SimpleShoes.com's clearance. Need more support? Try one of the PlanetWalker styles for under $40 (originally $100).

Other great sales around the web: Tsubo clearance, Teva summer clearance, Privo (by Clark's) for $21.95 at 6pm.com.

Comfortable Women's Shoes | OTBT Park City Review

These are my new Zorro shoes for obvious reasons. Think they look familiar? Well, if you're a fan of Palladium shoes, you might recall an identical style called the Kassel flat. The company has a new name, OTBT, for "Off The Beaten Track" and the Kassel has been renamed "Park City" and now comes in the most gorgeous metallic shade of blue.

I have to admit, it was the unique color and fun black "z" straps that initially drew me to this style .  I was a bit skeptical about the comfort level as my feet often balk at ballet style flats for reasons such as limited toe room, bunion irritation, lack of arch support and heel rubbing. How did the Park City measure up?Let's find out.

Toe room: For a ballet style flat, the OTBT Park City has a very accommodating toe box. This comfortable shoe has a rounded toe that runs wider than most shoe of similar style.

Bunion irritation: It's a horrible word and I hate bringing it up, but many of you have bunions from either chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis or from years of wearing ill-fitting shoes. The OTBT Park City upper cuts across the top of my foot RIGHT BELOW the bunion area which makes for a much more comfortable fit than I'd find with most ballet-style flats.

Arch support: Not much. But the footbed is so wonderfully cushioned and the outsole is extremely flexible making the Park City feel like a lightweight slipper. Need a bit of arch support? Although I haven't personally tried these yet, I've read great reviews. Dr. Rosenberg's Instant Arches to the rescue!

Heel rubbing: None so far! But if you are prone to irritating heel-rub from flats, try Foot Petals Heavenly Heelz. I have these and they're wonderful.

So if you're looking for a youthful, comfortable flat to dress up your jeans, capris and trousers, I highly recommend the OTBT Park City flat. Plus they look great with leggings and a tunic!

A word about the straps. My feet swell easily so after wearing for a few hours, the straps do feel a bit tight. Just something to keep in mind...

 Where to buy OTBT Park City and other OTBT styles (runs true to size, best for medium width feet):

• MustHaveShoes.com: $78, free shipping
• Shoebuy; $78.95, free shipping and returns. Running a 20% off Back-to-School sale currently.
• Endless; $79.95, free overnight shipping and returns.
• OnlineShoes.com; $79.95, free shipping and exchanges.
• PlanetShoes.com; $79, free shipping and returns.