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Another Reason to Dislike Uggs

In totally creepy shoe news you can’t use, a British man was arrested for harassing underage girls. He also happened to have a fetish for girls wearing Ugg boots. The only thing I can say is…ugh.

Mark Southeby used social networking to prey on a group of young girls. When police searched Southeby’s house, they found a large quantity of photos with young girl wearing Ugg boots.

What do we learn from this? Be careful on the internet and don’t wear Uggs. Maybe this really is news you can use.

Ugg boot fetishist targeted girls - BBC

Photo by cherryfluff

Shoe Bargains

Shoe Bargains chosen just for you by the folks here at FantasticToe!

Crocs Will Never Die

If you were hoping that the economy would kill Crocs, they remain to crush your shoe-loving soul. According to an article New York Magazine, the downward spiraling brand has plans to reemerge with a vengeance.

Recently hired president John Duerden plans to revive the brand by limiting distribution and cutting back on expansions on the line.

What boggles my mind, though, is the inability to acknowledge that Crocs might be faltering because they are ugly shoes.

I wonder what the prospect is for Uggs?

Crocs Determined to Survive the Downturn

Photo by Haundreis

Shoe Discounts and Deals

• Shoe discounts from the folks here at FantasticToe.com
• Shop the trends 

Wearing Comfortable Shoes

All this week I’ve been suffering from lower back pain. In a rare rush of good sense, I changed out my favorite heels for my admittedly orthopedic looking Dansko sandals. Within the hour, my back felt better, though I had developed a blister from my rarely worn Danskos.

This made me wonder: what is your shoe limit? The line at which you change from adorable shoes to comfortable shoes?

Mine, I’ve discovered, is after a week of pain. Which might be a little too far. I should probably consider drawing the line a little closer just for the sake of avoiding injury.

But comfortable shoes are just not as fashionable as those hurt-to-wear shoes. Sure you can get some Mephisto sandals that look passable, but you’d never consider wearing them on a date. And even comfortable shoes are sometimes not enough for foot health. My graduate school adviser had to wear tennis shoes everyday after an ankle injury, even at the fanciest dinners!

So what’s your comfortable shoe line? When do you sacrifice fashion for pure comfort?

Photo by comedy_nose via flickr

Cheap Shoes and Shoe Bargains

• Shoes under $30
• Offers from the good folks here at Fantastic Toe

Work Shoes

Now that warm weather has arrived, I face a dilemma. What shoes to wear to work?

In winter, the choice is easy since just about anything (except for my sexy date boots) will be conservative.

In summer, the pitfalls are many. Open toed heels? Not in a conservative office, though maybe in a more casual setting. Sandals? Definitely not if you’re a banker. Otherwise, be sure they are not too high and they must not suggest sexy in any way.

The safest bet, I have found, is a pair of comfortable flats or a low-heel pump.

But that leads us to the next office-appropriate shoe dilemma: hose or not to hose? In a very conservative office, hose are an unfortunate must if you choose to wear a skirt. Less conservative offices might forgive bare legs in summer.

How do you handle the work shoe dilemma when warm weather arrives?

Photo by Anna Carol via Flickr

How to Find Discount Shoes Online

1. Sign up for email notification of new Shoe Discounts on the Offers page. The FantasticToe elves work day and night to find you amazing shoe deals.

2. Related to the above, check out the Shop! page here, where you’ll find the best deals on womens shoes.

3. Check out my post on how to find discount shoes, which includes handy tips on how to haggle and how to buy used shoes.

4. Click on Collective Wisdom to see the shoe discounts that other FantasticToe gals find. We like our designer shoes, and we love them even more when they’re on sale!

5. Browse the Shoe Collections. Given that the average price paid for a pair of shoes on FantasticToe is around $60, you’ll find yourself some great tips for finding shoe deals.

Collective Wisdom

Shoe Diva’s got a great scoop on the shoe of the month club.  And I’m totally fascinated by albinard’s post on why some shoes are easier to walk in than others.

Deals

• Deckers flip flops for $12
• Teva shoes for $14.90
• My favorite Simple sneakers for $27.90

Give Yourself a Pedicure at Home

DC Diva inspired me to get a pedicure. But I treated myself at home. I saved money, and unlike my salon, my house stocks a full bar for margaritas. I do get professional pedicures during the summer, but I make my dollar stretch further by alternating between salon treats and at-home treatments.

Materials:

• A glass of wine or your favorite cocktail
• A dish bin filled with warm water and a squirt of your favorite soap. I use Dr. Bronner’s liquid castille soap in lavender.
• A hand towel
• A bath towel
• Nail polish remover
• Pumice stone or foot buffer
• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Cuticle stick
• Cuticle trimmer (I use this one from Revlon because it’s idiot proof)
• Toe separators
• Cotton balls
• Q-tips
• Polish
• Lotion

Directions:

1. Set out your materials so that everything is within easy reach.
2. Place the water-filled bin on the large bath towel. To be safe, use an old bath towel you don’t care about.
3. Remove any old polish with the nail polish remover.
4. If needed, clip down your toenails and file them into shape.
5. Soak your feet for about 10 minutes while enjoying your wine. Maybe pop in your favorite movie.
6. After ten minutes (there’s no need to be exact), pull one foot out and buff the rough patches with a pumice stone or buffer. Repeat with the other foot.
7. Next, push back your cuticles with the cuticle stick. Then take your cuticle trimmer and get off anything you don’t like. If this step scares you, skip it.
8. Dry off your feet using the hand towel.
9. Put on your toe separators.
10. Apply nail polish using a thin coat and even strokes. My favorite brand of polish is Revlon. The formula rarely skips and the price is very friendly.
11. If you want to apply another coat, wait about 3 minutes and apply the second coat.
12. Correct any mistakes with Q-tips dipped in nail polish remover.
13. Go back to your wine (maybe pour another glass?) and give your feet a good 30 minutes to dry. Avoid putting on shoes for the next hour or so just to be safe.
14. Apply lotion.

If you don’t feel like setting up a pedicure station, do steps 5 - 7 during bath time or in the shower.

Deal of the Day

Joann: Okay, not strictly shoes, but you get 50% off one regularly priced item. And I’m gaga for shoe baubles, so I’m looking forward to a crafty Saturday thanks to this deal.

Sierra Trading Post: Extra 15% off shoes with code ALAPRIL9. Through May 6.

Collective Wisdom Files: DC Diva’s post on how to bargain down the price of a pedicure brings a little sun into my day

How to Stretch Shoes

I’m wearing a pair of adorable heels today. They have a herringbone pattern with a little dash of blue for kick. They are, unfortunately, tight as heck. I’m just asking for foot problems wearing these things. What I need to do is stretch them, just a tad. I could take them to my shoe repairman, but I’m feeling experimental. Home shoe-stretching it is!

Scanning the internet, several solutions present themselves:

1. Purchase a stretching solution and wear the shoes until they widen. But this may cause dyes to bleed, and I really like the color of my shoes. Next!
2. Buy a wooden shoe stretcher. A shoe stretcher looks a bit like a shoe tree, but allows you the expand its size once in your shoe. You could also purchase a shoe tree a size up from your foot. Sounds promising!
3. Put a sealed baggy of water in your shoes. As the water expands, your shoes stretch. Magic!

Being thrifty, I tried the free version first. A little love, but my big toe still hurt at the end of the day. On to the shoe stretcher. My mom had one with buttons I could place for specific spots. Perfect. I still wouldn’t call these shoes comfortable, but after a little stretch, I don’t feel like I’m tempting foot problems.

For optimum shoe health, buy shoes that aren’t tight. But if you have a gorgeous pair of kicky heels you love, a little stretch goes a long way.