You never know when the shoe vocabulary you pick up will come in handy! Today, the word I would like to teach you is “foxing”. In the footwear industry, the term foxing describes the strip of plain or decorative rubber that joins the upper and sole of the shoe. This rubber strip holds together the upper and the sole of the shoe. Usually found on athletic or casual canvas or leather sneakers and shoes, foxing may add to the design of the shoe (as is the case for Vans and Converse All Stars). A foxing’s design can be striped, colored or any other style to match or contrast with the shoe.
To learn more shoe vocabulary, visit Shoe Smitten’s Shoe Glossary
Ladies, if your closet looks like this picture, I am very proud of you! But if you’re anything like me, organizing your shoe wardrobe has never been easy. Clothes strewn across the floor, empty shoe boxes and shoes missing their matches are enough to drive any woman mad. Add small square footage to the equation, and you’ve got the perfect storm.
If you need help organizing shoes in your home, you might enjoy my latest article on Answers.com, “Seven Unique Ways to Organize Shoes“. Take a look and let me know which methods you try!
I’m excited to announce that I’ve recently accepted a position as the Answers.com Category Expert in (what else) Shoes! I’ll be featuring my articles here on Shoe Smitten, so you can see what I’m up to. I’m excited to be working on this new project with Answers.com and helping all you shoe lovers learn even more about shoes!
The sun is coming out to play, my nose is itchy and my eyes are red. Yep, it must be spring! The last thing you are probably thinking about right now, as you break out your flat sandals and wedges, is buying a pair boots. But it’s not too late in the season to snag more boots! Invest in your favorite style, whether you prefer shooties, ankle boots, knee-high boots or cowboy boots. There are plenty of cute choices that you can rock nearly all year long, and many are available on the cheap right now.
What To Look For In Seasonless Boots
The key is to find a pair that is made of either super-soft suede or lightweight leather. Stay away from pleather (fake leather), unless you want your feet to sweat like they’re in a sauna! Light colored boots (I love beige booties) are the perfect match for sundresses and denim cutoffs. The golden rule is to look for boots that might look equally stylish with a floral dress now, and skinny cords come fall.
Which Boots To Wear In The Spring
I have a few pairs of boots that I wear in the spring, and they include a mahogany pair of suede western-style boots, light beige booties, and black wedge ankle boots. The key is to think about what colors you wear most, and find casual boots in complimentary hues. For example, if you wear a lot of dark skinny jeans and play want to rock the black-and-white trend this season, look for a pair of simple leather boots. If you are more of a bohemian at heart, try pairing light grey short boots with your favorite summery outfits. I like the Fiorentini Baker boots in grey suede pictured above; the stacked heel and wide buckle straps will ground even the most ethereal of skirts.
Do you have a favorite pair of boots to wear in the spring? How do you style them?
I have a tendency to shop online late into the night on Sundays. I guess it is my way of stretching the weekend out as long as possible, ogling beautiful shoes. The result of last night’s browsing? A dreamy little wish list that I will never be able to afford. But, there’s nothing wrong with looking…am I right?
This bold blue Nicholas Kirkwood pump really ruffles my feathers in all the right ways. Perhaps I am biased because electric blue is my favorite color of the moment. But isn’t there some otherworldly elegance happening here? Dare to wear these beauties with an equally feminine summer dress or a graphic print blouse and skinny pants.
When it comes to Alexander McQueen Shoes, you can be fairly certain that any pair will make a statement. These flat sandals are simple enough for just about any summer occasion, yet McQueen’s signature skull embellishment adds a touch of edge to the elegant design. Rock these with a white maxi dress or shorts and your favorite rock ‘n’ roll tee.
Swimsuit season is right around the corner, and that fact alone has me looking for new and fun ways to get in shape. Here on Shoe Smitten I generally focus on high heels and fashionable shoes for women, but I feel it is equally important for me to teach you a little about athletic shoes, too. One great way to get and stay in shape is CrossFit, and you will need a quality pair of cross-training shoes to get started. Keep reading for an overview of this fitness program and tips on buying CrossFit shoes.
What is CrossFit?
If you haven’t heard of this exercise program, CrossFit combines a wide variety of functional movements into a timed or scored workout. Exercises include pull-ups, squats, push-ups, weightlifting, gymnastics, running, rowing, and a host of other movements. Always varied, always changing, always producing results. Kids, cops, firefighters, soccer moms, Navy SEALS, and grandmas all do CrossFit, and so can you!
What Kind of shoes do you wear for CrossFit?
Good shoes for CrossFit are an essential addition to your collection of CrossFit-optimized gear. You don’t wear hiking boots to play soccer, so don’t try wearing your old-school running shoes to CrossFit!
When it comes to choosing CrossFit shoes, you have many choices. Reebok is the official outfitting company for CrossFit, and the Women’s CrossFit Nano 2.0 is a high quality choice. For more options, check out these CrossFit shoes for women. Before you invest in any shoes for CrossFit, make sure they are well-suited for the various movements you will be performing.
3 Characteristics of Good CrossFit Shoes
Regardless of which CrossFit shoes you buy, look for the three following characteristics:
Lightweight with maximum breathability
Durablility
A nearly-neutral or zero drop from heel to toe (as flat as possible)
Shop at TheShoeMart.com: Now through April 30th, take 15% off your order of $80 or more! Exclusions apply – see site for details.
