Fitness Flip Flops

April 7, 2011 By Guest Writer Leave a Comment

Have you heard about fitness flip flops?  They are the neatest thing I have seen in a long time but like everyone else, I was skeptical if they really did work like they claim.  If you don’t know what fitness flip flops are then I’ll tell you about them.  These are sandals that are specially made to help you tighten and tone the muscles in your legs as you walk.  Studies have been done and the fitness flip flops have been found to help increase your butt and leg muscle activity by 30%.  They also found that these fitness flip flops absorb 22% more shock than your average shoe.

I bought a pair just to see if they really do what they claim to do and you know what?  I was very surprised that after wearing the fitness flip flops for the entire day that my legs and butt felt like they got a great workout.  I was actually very surprised at how comfortable they were to wear too.  I actually enjoyed wearing them all day and was surprised that my feet didn’t hurt at all by the end of the day.  They really do absorb a lot of shock which was great for my knees and hips.

It’s amazing, when I wear my fitness flip flops I can stand and be on my feet all day long and my feet and legs do not get tired.  I have never had a pair of shoes that could do that.  If you have a job that requires that you spend the whole time on your feet then I am highly recommending these.  You will notice a huge difference once you start wearing them.  Don’t think that these are anything like a regular pair of flip flops because they are anything but regular.  These fitness flip flops have way more cushioning and you can feel that in every step you take.  I have never had a more comfortable pair of sandals in my life and I will never wear any other pair.

If you want to increase your workout regimen, then I would suggest that you wear a pair of fitness flip flops next time you take a walk.  After just a few minutes you are going to feel the muscles in your calf, thighs and butt really working.  I love it because I know that I am getting a better workout than if I was just wearing my regular sneakers.

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Valentino Floral Gladiator Sandal: Great Shoes For Hitting The Town

March 7, 2011 By Guest Writer Leave a Comment

On warm summer nights when its time to go out and dress up, it has usually been standard practice to wear open toed heels. Most women love the idea of wearing cute heels out but the problem lies in the end of the night when most feet buckle under the strain of being in heels all night, especially when going to a dance club. There are the odd heels which are fairly comfortable to wear and look stylish but these are usually very tough to find.

An emerging trend in summer elegance for footwear is with gladiator sandals. A pair of well worn gladiator sandals offer the comfort of a pair of well used beach flip flops. Without the strain on your feet that heels seem to produce. A woman can still look elegant in comfortable footwear. They are after all sandals, so they are light, breezy and offer great support for dancing, walking or even a day at the office.

My favorite pair of gladiator sandals for a night out are my Valentino floral gladiator sandals. They are genuine leather and the most comfortable pair of evening wear shoes I own. I love the leather flowers and the attention to detail is staggering. The two blooming flowers are hand crafted and look beautiful along the easily fastened strap. The shoes are great to wear with a nice summer dress and I get complimented on them all the time.

I purchased them when they were new so they were a little expensive. But like most shoes I see I just had to have them. When they first debuted you could get a pair of Valentino sandals for around $700 however now my sandals can be found at online retailers for 1/3 of the price. The price of this quality footwear is worth it for the aggravation you will be spared from uncomfortable open toed heels and cheaper gladiator scandal knockoffs. In this case the genuine article is worth the extra expense for style and comfort.

Valentino has a number of other gladiator scandals in different styles as well if you are looking for something a little different. All are very fashionable and current with todays style. Stars such as Kourtney Kardashian and Miley Cyrus can both be seen wearing similar style sandals with more and more celebrities adopting the style every day. The gladiator sandal trend is here to stay so get your own pair before they are all sold out!

 

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Gladiator Sandals Shoes

July 24, 2010 By dwillrich 35 Comments

Gladiator style sandals have gone in and out of style for centuries now.  It is pretty amazing that they still play a part in modern fashion consciousness.  What other shoe style has a history that reaches back so far?  While not commonplace currently gladiator style sandals do have a stake in the sandals marketplace.  Sexy styles are available for women who want to make a bold and involved statement and  there are some styles for women however not as common.

Very flexible and adjustable, these shoes come in flat versions as well as high heeled.  This is very important.  The height of the straps being adjustable adds a dimension of versatility for different settings and fashion statements.  Modern manufacturers have been on their job keeping the Roman/Greek style shoe in vogue.  It can be easy to go down the wrong thinking path and visualize a flat shoe with leather straps that go up to the knee.  Nowadays gladiator shoes come in various shapes sizes and colors and can just be classified as strappy.

The old style that is usually envisioned is now classified as a boot.  The modern sandals classification is naturally lower in height.  Shopstyle.com has a voluminous collection of chic, sexy and stylish gladiator style sandals shoes sixes..   Very colorful and ranging from gold, to dark and bright, leathery, cloth, and many cross combinations.   Sigerson Morrison makes a very sexy boot style gladiator shoe that is well worn with flowy short skirts or tight short shorts.  The Valentino Floral takes a minimalist approach so as to show more skin and stay cool.  Steve Madden has a few sexy offerings as well in this category.  Featured in a hot pink the Dv By dolce vita Ontario Looped Sandal is very playful and vibrant.  Can be dressed up or worn walking along the beach.

Well worn gladiator sandals are the summer standout for chic sexy and fun cool foot fashion.  Decorative strappings, plain strappings, minimal strappings and boot strappings make this genre of shoe versatile as well as necessary to fill out your spring and summer footwear arsenal.  Shopping online can help you find your particular footwear statement.  In historical times these shoes were used for addressing the public, as well as fighting.  Nowadays addressing the public consists of meeting for martinis, shopping (which can be a form of fighting during Christmas), luncheons dates and summer activities.  Be good to your feet and be good to your image.  You get to tell the story.  From sandals shoes size….good day.

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Mens Sandals

July 13, 2010 By dwillrich 31 Comments

Men don’t generally have as many choices as women have in the footwear department.  Even more so when it comes to sandals.  There are only a few designers especially in the U.S.  Men, unlike women, are more likely to buy for length of wear than designer or trend.  In the summer a ubiquitous men’s sandal is the flip flop.

Flip flops come in all levels of quality.  You can find them in a grocery store, drug store, Nordstrom, Macy’s and on and on.  Never hard to find but sometimes difficult to wear in sophisticated and business settings.  If you love flip flops and are looking to be fashionable and versatile  Steve Madden has some offerings not to be missed.

The multicolored and exotic Saamba has a mix of textures.  Cloth and leather are artfully combined to produce a flip flop that is stylish and versatile.  Upbeat and almost preppy, this shoe is exciting and fun.  Definitely gives an exotic island savoir faire to any summer ensemble.

The Coronaa is a step in the dressy direction.  You can surely take these flip flops downtown and do some high end hob nobbing.  Black leather simple and classic.  I wonder of the very first flip flops knew they would one day see a rise to glory such as this.  you can not go wrong however you may have trouble dressing this one down.  This is a rare dilemma where this style and size of sandal shoe is concerned.

The Borracho takes it there too with brown leather and a cushiony woven bottom.  Very chic and nouveau.  More of a happy hour with jeans and a jacket sandal.  Relaxed and rugged yet far from slouchy. It is set apart from the rest of this family by being a toe in the the loop shoe instead of a catch between the big toe and next shoe.  A classy touch.

The flip flop has been redesigned.  Steve Madden has risen to the challenge and succeeded with flying colors.  There is savvy, cunning and flair for all occasions and fashions.  Since 1990 Steve Madden has been bringing lively fresh fashion focused ideas to summer footwear.  Some much needed flair has been added to the men’s sandals, clogs and flip flop division.  Some of the aforementioned shoes and their counterparts.  Many applause for the designers at this company for continuing their commitment to bringing more colorful choices for men in this once dirth-like category of cool footwear!  Take care of your feet and they will take care of you.  From sandals shoes size….good day.

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Sandals – Flip Flop and Beyond

July 13, 2010 By dwillrich 14 Comments

When it comes to simplicity and affordability the flip flop is a no brainer for cool summer footwear.  Flip flops can be found in Safeway, Walgreens, Walmart, 7-Elevens, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Ross, Target and the list goes on.  They are usually simplest and dirt cheap at grocery stores, convenience store and drugstores.   The department stores will have more upscale selections to choose from.  Leather and designer flip flops carry a higher ticket price but go well with more of your swanky wardrobe items.

Sometimes going dirt cheap does have its costs in comfort.  Most cheap flip flops have a break in period.  You may get chafed by the thong between your toes or have to learn how to grip the shoes while walking.  This all can depend on its size and your foot size.  Because of this I recommend spending a little time in the store researching the sandals’ shoes size that it most complimentary to your feet and comfort.

Lately Havaianas are a brand of classic flip flop that has gotten very artsy and thematic with colors and print on the shoes.  It has also given the classic flip flop some much need new fashion appeal.  Unfortunately even with added art, colors and price, the same pitfalls with break in time on classic flip flops has not been minimized by this brand.

Birkenstocks have long been an above dirt cheap but not astronomical mainstay for simplicity, comfort and style in the sandals arena.  Usually in solid colors, with straps and a foot mold.  They look very neo-hippie but do not skimp on comfort.  They can easily become your favorite shoes in your whole collection based on how good they feel on your feet.  An added bonus in versatility is that the sandals shoes size can be adjusted so you can wear them with socks, warm socks even.  This give the shoe an incredible all season value unlike most sandals.

The classic flip flop, Havaianas, and Birkenstocks are affordable fun sandals that keep your feet looking and feeling cool in the summer.  From convenience store to department store there is a great fit in sandals shoes size for you.    Try them all and get a feel for what suits your wardrobe, personality and sensibilities.

It is important to make sure your feet look good before donning sandals.   Shoes size is important also.  There are different types of sandal wearers.  Some like their feet to be totally on the shoe platform meaning no part of the foot hanging off the front or back.  Others like a little hang over the front.  Do what is comfortable for you.  From sandals shoes size….good day.

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Birkentstocks Shoes Sandals

July 12, 2010 By dwillrich 11 Comments

Birkenstocks as a style of shoe worn by the masses seems to have started in the sixties just because of how it looks.  It’s resurgence in the eighties and nineties marked a pivotal stage in the organizations history.  Today the company offers  over 400 different styles of shoes.  They offer clogs as well.

It is most likely less known that this sixties looking sandals juggernaut had it’s start three hundred years ago in 1774 when Johann Birkenstock and other family members were busy in Germany crafting the first shoes for an incredible legacy.  Many shoes don’t make it past a decade of production.  It would be interesting to see the prototype.

It really all began when Konrad, a relative of Johann, came up with a revolutionary idea in 1884.  The first Birkenstocks were made with the idea that a shoe should take the shape of the foot of the wearer.  In the days before mass production this was a hot idea.  Of course each shoe was molded to the foot of each wearer.   The idea was short lived for mass production came along shortly and changed everything.  We all know that wasn’t the end of the for Birkenstocks.

The “footbed” was created, coined and trademarked by two family members in response to the low demand for custom made shoes.  We know it as an arch support.  This insert could be put into any shoe.  Konrad and son Carl were the heroes to keep the dream alive for the next fifty years!  These “footbed supports” carried the company on to it’s next phase.

In 1954 Konrad’s grand son Karl brought the company back to making shoes.  He was just not satisfied with making supports for people with flat feet.  His concept is the one handed down to us in the line of shoes that is so comfortable it’s sixties look is easily overlooked.  How about a shoes that makes the wearer feel as if they were barefoot.  At this time this was another explosive concept because shoes were made mainly for protecting feet and not really for it’s feel good properties.

It would take some more research to say that the idea of comfortable shoes came from the Birkenstocks but they did pull it off rather swimmingly.  After ten years of research and testing the Madrid was put on the market.  Thus marked the return of the companies’ shoe making legacy as well as a standout idea in the realm of shoemaking.

The rest is still being made into the history books.  From sandals shoes size…good day.

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Sandals Shoes: Cool, Sexy & Stylish

July 1, 2010 By dwillrich 6 Comments

All right folks it’s summertime.  That means dressing cool, stylish and sexy.  You’ll be showing more skin while still maintaining comfortable personal a level of sophistication.  Picking the right sandals shoes and size is tantamount to fashionable summer wear.  There are a lot of  options out there.  We are going to go to the top of the line so you know what the “dress to impress-ers” are doing.

The flowery Giuseppe Zanotti sandals are sure to get you in the party.  Sleek sexy and pretty.  You cannot go wrong.  Order from the maybe from www.zappos.com and you could get them at their most affordable price.  If money is a concern.  Of course it is!!  LOL!

While the Giuseppe’s are keen for a sexy high heeled night on the town the Julia by Think! is made for comfort and sensibility.  Very warm looking and cute.  Summery with a triumphant flip flop appeal.   Perfect for a stroll anywhere: downtown, to the beach, hanging with friends as well as kids!  I really think these are everyday out and about winners.

Sigerson Morrison is known for ultra fashionable shoes and in the sandal department they are not serving up any disappointment.  The SM 9338 is almost naughty.  Sexy and summer have found a marriage.  A little dark and S&M for those provoking the gods in that way.  I wonder if Sigerson Morrison work that S&M angle.  They should.  Sexy, sexy!!  In my opinion sexy is always good.

There is also a lighter delicate side to sexy footwear and the pink Alexander McQueen sandals are the quintessential shoe ins!  Comfort, cuteness as well as sexy.  These are right in between the night on the town Sex and the City types and the Julia’s.  I think this might be the high rollers dress down shoe.  Not quite as green as the flip flop fashionables.  These would go well with a summer dress as well as some jeans and a tank or cute blouse.

I like the night on the town high heeled hottie types so I will end this article with the same flair as I started.  The mouth watering Michael Kors MK14031 strappy sandals are eye catchers to say the least.  Just looking at them will trigger naked leave the shoes on fantasies.

So that’s it folks.  Here are just a few clues to point you in the cool, sexy and stylish direction when putting together your summer arsenal.  Don’t be afraid to let your inner hippie, S&M, Sex and the City proclivities out!  One word of additional advice.  When wearing sandals MAKE SURE YOUR FEET ARE PRETTY….GET A PEDICURE!!  Treat yourself and everyone else….nice!

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