Brand Spotlight! La Plume

We'd like to give a warm welcome to our newest member of the Village Shoes family: La Plume! Named after the French word for feather, these light as air and superbly comfortable shoes will keep you up and on your feet all day.

So what's the secret? The cork mid-sole will mold to the unique shape of your foot with shape and wear. It'll form to the exact shape of your arch and give perfect support without an expensive custom orthotic. The cork is topped with a leather-lined, generously-cushioned footbed that not only adds additional comfort, but eases the sometimes uncomfortable break-in period of the cork. The outsole is capped with a rubberized material to make the shoes slip-resistant, and increase the durability of the cork.

We think these lovelies just scream vacation. If you're headed out to a far away place, you've probably got a lot of walking in front of you. Whether you're headed to Paris or Nebraska, when you're in a new place, you're bound to want to see the sights--museums, gardens, parks, etc. Now you don't have to worry about the inevitable foot pain at the end of the day (or trying to get your partner/friend to give you a foot rub).

These shoes are also great for those of us with pre-existing foot problems. Plantars Fasciitus, corns, bunions, or hammer toes? The padding and adjustability helps to ease pain and shift pressure points away from sensitive or painful areas. The adjustable Velcro straps also make them a great choice for people with wide or narrow feet.

Overall, La Plume sandals are an absolute treat for your feet, and we're proud to be supporting them through our shop. Come in and try a pair on!

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Going Home: Tips to Survive the Trip

  The holiday season is just around the corner and many of us will be hopping aboard planes or getting behind the wheel to visit with our families and friends.

Whereas spending the holidays with the people you love is a blessing, actually getting there can be a pain. We've pulled together some of our favorite tips to make your trip a little more enjoyable.

What to bring:

• Wear comfortable clothing while traveling—but don't limit yourself to sweats! Leggings with a tunic and boots, a cozy maxi dress, or a simple tee and jeans are all comfy without compromising on style.
• Having a unique bag can make it easier to locate at baggage claim, and easier to find in a dark cluttered car.
• Bring items that are multi-functional and can be easily mixed and matched.
• Keep important items (like cash, tickets, credit cards, passports etc.) in a smaller bag in your suitcase or purse so they can be easily accessed.
• Wear a scarf on the plane or in the car. You can use it as a pillow or a small blanket during the trip, and it’s a versatile and warm accessory to jazz up your outfits while you're there!
• You only need two or three pairs of shoes for most trips. A comfy casual for travel and walking, something a little more formal, and an tennis shoe (for those morning runs you promise you'll take).

  

We had so much fun putting together these travel sets. Here we have a bag by Leaders in Leader to hold all your carry on needs, a pouch by Will to keep necessary items ready for easy access, Viscose and Cashmere tights by B.ella to keep you warm and beautiful two tone metal earrings for a versatile accessory while on your trop. For shoes, we picked the Kool by Boss & Co-- a super comfy waterproof boot with a hidden side zip so you can get them off easily for security. For the more formal shoe we chose the Maple by Chocolat Blu--this beautiful italian leather shoe can be dressed up or down, and the stacked leather chunky heel makes it more comfortable than you would expect.

We couldn't leave out the guys! We chose an army green weekender by Jessilyn Blake with plenty of space and extra pockets. She makes a matching pouch that is great for holding tickets, sunglasses, and other important items. The Adora hat makes for a great versatile accessory and can help keep you warm if you're headed home to snow. For shoes, we picked the Frye James Lug Chukka. Sophisticated in appearance but hardworking underneath, the rubber lug sole makes them comfy and adds traction. Put some waterproofing spray on them and you're ready for anything. If you need to go to a more formal party, opt for the J-Shoe's Men's Charlie. The brogue detail makes it formal, and the textured leather makes it cool.

How to pack it:

• Roll your clothes rather than folding them. They'll take up less space in your suitcase so you can save room for any goodies you’re bringing home.
• Keep all spill-able/liquid items sealed in plastic baggies in case of leakage. Bring a few extras for accidents or new items.
•  Use a pill container or straws and buttons to keep your jewelry from tangling.
• Pop a dryer sheet in your suitcase to keep your clothes smelling fresh
• Wrap your shoes in shower caps (which you can buy at the dollar store) to prevent them from getting your clothes dirty
• Wrap small fragile items in rolled socks.

Flight Tips

• Take an empty water bottle that you can fill once through security
• If you’re traveling with a friend or significant other, bring a headphone splitter. In-flight movies are more fun when watched together.
• If you don’t have a travel size or sampler of your favorite cosmetics, store a small amount in a contact case. 
• Avoiding alcohol, getting some exercise, and getting plenty of sleep can help you combat jet lag.
• When waiting in the security lines, chose the line with the fewest children and the most business men, it'll go faster.

Pit-stop!

• Pack nutritional snacks. It’s easy to end up at McDonalds when you’re tired and it’s late. 
• Get the wifi password to most cafés by checking the comments section of Foursquare
• Have meals frozen and ready for when you get home. You won't feel like cooking after traveling all day.

What are some of your favorite tips and tricks?

Safe and happy travels, 

Jessie

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Make Your Feet... Superfeet!

Superfeet insoles have been an absolute life-saver for me. I demand a lot out of my shoes; I want my feet to be cute and comfy all day—a feat* that most shoes just can’t manage on their own. Most shoes don’t have enough arch support or cushioning to make my feet happy for a full 8-12 hour day. Luckily, Superfeet insoles are here to save the day. I live in my ¾ High Heel inserts—I use them in almost every pair of shoes I own. Bonus: because they don’t require any adhesives, I only need one pair.
* I couldn't resist the pun!

Here's how they work:

Superfeet help support the joint in the heel bone so that the foot can’t pronate or supinate, preventing the arch of the foot from collapsing. The heel-cup also brings the heel back in the shoe taking extra pressure off the ball of the foot, a blessing for high-heel lovers or those with plantar fasciitis. By keeping the foot in proper alignment, it can reduce stress on ankles, knees and hips, and helps keep the spine in proper alignment.

Here at Village Shoes, we've got a Superfeet for every foot!

  
• Blue:  All-purpose middle of the road. They have a medium profile and offer medium support medium. They’ll work for the widest range of feet, and fit in most shoes (barring those that are very tight. For those, look to the Black style). If you’re new to Superfeet and want to give one a try, this is a good place to start.
• Green: A high-profile, high-volume insole designed with maximum shock absorption in mind. Because these do take up some room in the shoe, shoes with removable insoles or with some extra room are recommended. If you like an extra layer of cushion beneath your feet, these are the insoles for you.
• Black: A super low-profile that will fit into even the tightest shoes. These insoles are great for snug dress shoes, as they add support without bulk. (For dressy heels over 1 in, see the ¾ Heel insert!)
• Yellow: These insoles were designed with the athlete in mind. Their low profile, low-volume and elevated heel (1 inch or more) makes them good for athletic shoes with a heel incline like skates or bicycle shoes.
• Orange: A high-profile insole with a deep, narrow heel cup for maximum support. Because of their high volume and high arch, these work best in shoes with removable insoles or shoes with adjustable insteps (with elastic or laces). The extra cushion is great for people with planter faciitus, or to fill out room (and add comfort to a shoe that is a little big.
• Berry: Just for the ladies! These insoles are a medium-profile, high volume insole with a deep, supportive heel cup designed with women’s feet in mind. Similar to the Orange style, these insoles are best in shoes with removable insoles or a little extra space.
  
• ¾ Heel: This 3/4 length insole that reduces the pressure on the ball of the foot by redistributing weight and supports and reduces arch strain in the shoe. The shorter length means these won’t add volume in the toe, giving your toes a little more space in angled toe boxes. It also makes these a perfect solution for peep-toe heels!
• ¾ Flat: These are just like the ¾ Heel inserts without the angle. They support the heel and arch in shoes or boots without adding any extra bulk around the toes. These work particularly well in dress flats with narrow toe-boxes or open-toe styles.
• ¾ Men’s:  They also have a ¾ length insole for Men! These shorter insoles support the heel and the arch without adding bulk around the toes, great for the narrower toes boxes of men’s formal shoes and boots.

NEW Merino Grey: Our newest addition at Village shoes is the Merino Grey. Based upon the shape of the Green style (high-profile, high-volume, wide and deep heel cup), Superfeet had added a layer of luxurious merino wool to keep feet warm while wicking away moisture. These do take up quite a bit of room in the shoe, but we think they’ll be perfect for keeping our toes warm in winter boots.

After using Superfeet, I am way too spoiled to go back to unsupportive shoes.Come in and get fitted today (or click the link to order online)!

Spoooooky Superfeet. Happy Halloween Everyone!

-Jessie

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