Happy Thanksgiving

Although we believe in practicing gratefulness year round, Thanksgiving is a time of year in which we can really stop to appreciate all of the people and things in our lives that bring us joy. We believe its a time of self-reflection--it means something a little different for everyone.

At Village Shoes, we took a moment to reflect on this joyous season, and we thought we'd share a few thoughts with all of you.

Stacey: "This Thanksgiving I am grateful for the ability to spend time with family. I am also grateful for all the lessons this year has brought me and my ability to grow and always keep pushing forward."

Liz: "Thanksgiving is a time to surround yourself with those you love, stuff your face, and revel in the tradition and gratitude".

Jessie: "It's easy to get caught up in the daily complaining cycle, so during Thanksgiving I like to take a moment with my friends and family to say out loud what we're all thankful for. This year I think I'm going to say opportunities".

Have a joyous and thankful Thanksgiving everyone.

Love,

The Village Shoes Team

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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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Makeover!

We thought it was time to retire our old layout and bring in something fresher just before the holidays. We're still working out a few kinks, so if you're experiencing any difficulties, let us know and we'll work on getting it fixed as soon as possible. Comment here or on Facebook to let us know what you think!

-The Village Shoes Team

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Find your LBB (Little Black Bootie)

For fall and early winter, nothing is more verstatible, more practical, or more stylish than the...

LBB

(Little Black Bootie)

Like our old go-to LBD (little black dress), the LBB never fails us. She is always there ready and waiting for any outfit or any occasion. She is equally as comfortable with your favorite boyfriend jeans and a cozy sweater as she is paired with tights and a flirty dress (date-night anyone?).

In our minds, the LBB is the hero of the shoe world. She saves the day when we just have nothing to wear. Wear them to the office. Wear them with a floral skirt. Wear them with sweats (they’re in fashion now). Wear them on the red carpet. Wear them with head-to-toe black. Whatever your style, this will become your go-to shoe.

In the words of Mr. Dior:

Here some of our favorite heros:

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Halloween Parade!

Every year Ashland holds an enormous Halloween parade so the kids can trick-or-treat and everyone can see all the amazing costumes. Here are some of our favorite snapshots:

Everyone gearing up for the parade.

EVERYONE came downtown to see the spectacle.

Erika and Lizzie handed out candy to trick-or-treaters...

Like this cute little devil!

Some unique costumes were spotted...

And some beautiful costumes were seen.

And we got a few visits from our lovely friends.

  

And their FABULOUS shoes!

We hope everyone enjoyed their Halloween as much as we did!

Love,

The Village Shoes Team

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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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The Men's Section

Hey everyone, this week I thought we’d share a little confession.

Here at Village, there is a whole section of shoes that don’t get much love: The Men’s Section.

Gulp.

The thing is, we love shoes, and we know how great a stylish new pair of shoes can make any girl or guy feel. So today, we thought we share a little love with all the male shoe lovers out there (and the beautiful ladies who love and support them).

We’re super excited about our collection of men’s boots we have for this fall. Of course we still carry the classics: Bedstu, J-Shoes and Fluevogs and Frye, but we’ve also brought in a new line from Portugal called Coque Terra that carries some unique twists on classic styles. Here’s a few from the lineup:

Throw on some water-proofing spray and they're winter weather ready.

But, not all guys are boot guys. For a more casual look, we’ve got the Honor by J-Shoes. It reminds of an Air Jordan, but the quality is a lot higher, so you won’t have a replace it as often.

And ladies, if the guys in your life say they just “don’t like shopping” tell them they can always order with us online or through the phone and get styling shoes without having to get off the couch.

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