Barking Dog Shoes

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Dansko Professional in Petrol Patent

Dansko lovers--have you seen this one yet??

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Tsubo Asmik Wedge Review

Finally. A Tsubo shoe even I can wear. Last December I featured these two stylish gals in their Tsubo heels and desperately wished to be able to wear the Acrea and Anush pumps comfortably. Alas, my problem feet just wouldn't hold up in either pair and believe me, I tried to make them work. Fast forward eight months when I was contacted by Tsubo to try one of their new styles for fall/winter 2009. When I saw the Asmik wedge, it appeared to be more foot-friendly than Tsubo's other heeled shoes and I'm here to tell you IT IS.

The stable three inch wedge heel  may seem daunting at first, but truly the shoe is quite walkable. There's a substantial platform at the forefoot that counters the heel height--so don't let it scare you. The insole in this comfortable shoe is nicely padded in the heel and forefoot area while the toe box accommodates my wider forefoot and thankfully crosses my foot just below the bunion area.

I love, love, LOVE the velcro strap. Those of you with achy hands know how troublesome buckles can be. Velcro ANYTHING is a friend to those with rheumatoid arthritis.

The only problem I had with the Tsubo Asmik  is now a thing of the past. The first two times I walked for around in them, I developed a small blister on my left heel. However, this morning I went to put them on with the plan to add some moleskin to counteract the rubbing, but found I didn't even need it. The rubbing was gone and my new shoes were broken in! I plan on wearing my Tsubo Asmik wedges with colorful tights as soon as the Chicago chill sets in.

A word about sizing: I usually wear between a 9.5 and 10. The 10 fits me perfectly with my wider forefoot and narrow heel.

Where to buy Tsubo Asmik wedge:

• Tsubo.com: $140, free shipping.
• Zappos: $140, free shipping and returns.

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Privo by Clark's "Kristie" Flat

This will sound shallow and irreverent, but it won't surprise you. I scope out shoes at church. I can't help it.  It's the only day of the week I have the opportunity to see over 900 pairs of fairly dressy shoes as I'm now a work-at-home-mom. Twice I've seen the Privo Kristie walking around on the feet of a lady I don't know. While I feel perfectly comfortable stopping you at the playground to quiz you on your comfortable shoes, I can't do it at church. I just can't. So she walked on by and I made a mental note to look up the style on Zappos when I got home. It's the Kristie flat by Privo and 9 out of 11 customers give it five stars for comfort, the other two award four stars.

Here's what folks like about the Privo Kristie:

• Round toe with generous toe box--not typical for ballet-style flats
• Accommodating of wider foot
• Great travel shoe--dressy enough for outings, but very walkable
• Cushioned insole and flexible outsole

Keep in mind:

• Read customer comments about sizing (varying opinions on whether to order up or down).
• Concerned about heel rubbing? Try moleskin.
• Privo isn't known for tremendous arch support. Try an arch insert. 

Where to buy (sizes 5-11):

• Zappos: Gray/Purple, $72; Black and Brown, $81.
• Amazon: $36-92, special offers available.
• Endless: $50-70, special offers available.

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Review of Sofft Fiorenza Pumps

Thank you to Sarah-Jean Ballard of The Fashionable Housewife for filling in as guest blogger today. She shares my love of comfortable shoes that happen to be beautiful.

The Sofft Fiorenza pumps in Chianti Patent are like my own personal ruby slippers. With their signature padded insoles, you can expect the same all-day comfort that you've come to love from the Sofft brand.

An updated and very classy looking Mary Jane pump that is perfect for Fall. The Chianti red patent leather is so striking and beautiful. Pictures really don't do any justice to these shoes.

Besides the amazing color, these shoes are surprisingly comfortable for having a 3 ¼ inch heel. If you have foot problems and can't wear high heels, you should definitely give these a try. The heel doesn't feel as high as it looks and the wide strap holds the shoes on snugly.

I have several pairs of Sofft brand shoes and find them not only comfortable but very stylish as well.

I recommend trying these shoes on in a store if you can. The toe box is small and you may find that either sizing up will help with this problem, or getting the wider width. I got them in a size 7 M (standard) width and they fit me quite snugly.  I suspect someone with a chubbier foot than mine, might have a problem getting their foot fully into the shoe comfortably.  It's not narrow width wise as much as it's just vertically small if that makes any sense. If you are looking for a roomy toe box, then these probably aren't a good choice for you.

These shoes look great with skirts and dresses, of course, but they even work with skinny ankle jeans, boyfriend jeans rolled up, and shorts with tights.

While I absolutely adore the red, I realize not everyone has something they can wear red shoes with. Don't worry, you can also get these in shiny black patent and smooth black leather. These are the perfect pumps to add to your wardrobe!

I would definitely recommend the Sofft Fiorenza to anyone who is looking for a stylish high heel shoe that is also comfortable enough for all day wear. Perfect for an office style look or work.

Price: $104

Where: Shoeline.com, Zappos.com, Shoebuy.com, and Onlineshoes.com

Sarah-Jean Ballard
Founder and CEO of Fashionable Media
Editor-In-Chief of The Fashionable Housewife

Comfortable Women's Shoes | Review of Born Zola Peep-Toe Pump

 

 The second I saw this eggplant purple peep-toe pump online at BornShoes.com, I declared it my "it" shoe for fall. I imagined wearing the Born Zola with gray-heathered tights regardless of the fashionista naysayers that balk at the mere idea of combining legwear with peep-toe pumps. And just look at the padded insole and slight platform--comfortable-looking for heels, eh? Well, Diana is here today to confirm the comfort factor of the Born Zola. But before you read her review, take a moment to gasp in admiration at her hand-knit skirt. Some folks get all the talent..sigh...

Diana's review:

Being somewhat vertically challenged, I love heels. The higher, the better. But finding comfortable high-heeled shoes is a challenge. Born comes to the rescue with a pair of gorgeous purple suede shoes. The first day I wore them was a day when I was on my feet for 8+ hours. No tights, just barefoot, and my feet were still extremely happy at the end of the day.

The shoes run true to size. The rounded toe means no pinching in the front of the shoe and with the wide heel base so that you can walk surely in these 3-3/4" heels. Plus, the inside of the shoe is well-cushioned. Born Zolas are super comfortable, stylish and sassy. I cannot wait to wear them throughout the fall!

Where to buy the Zola from Born's Crown Signature line (available in whole sizes only, order up if half size):

• BornShoes.com: $130, free UPS ground shipping.
• Shoeline.com: $124, free shipping. See short video review and read positive customer comments.