Small but Beautiful Shoes

The Odd Slipper Makes Shoes Specifically For Ladies With Size 3-5 ½ Feet, Here’s Their Story

By Dhani Mau Friday, Nov 18, 2011 / 8:00 PM

 Are you a small-footed gal who has a hard time finding shoes in your size that you actually like? If so, look no further than The Odd Slipper. While I, like almost everyone, am a standard size 7½ (which has its own disadvantages), it makes total sense that those with more modest feet would want options other than the kid’s section.


The site launched recently as a resource for gals who wear size 3-5½ shoe. However, it’s more than just an ecommerce site. Each week, they unveil a new shoe style, which users can vote and give feedback on. They then manufacture the best reviewed styles with the highest amount of votes and let shoppers know which styles have been picked and when they’ll be ready for sale. The advantages of this business model being that there is little risk (shoppers are getting what they want) and costs are kept at a minimum since they coordinate manufacturing directly.

The site is doing well and they hope to expand to offer even more options for petite ladies. We chatted with founder Sindy Sagastume about how the site came about, how it works and what’s next!
First, can you give our readers a little background on what the Odd Slipper is?
The Odd Slipper is an online space for petite women that is currently focusing on petite shoes sizes 3-5.5. We offer designs to our customers so that they can vote on them, and manufacture the winners. We provide high quality shoes, at lower prices than traditional retail because we handle all parts of the process, from design to customer.

How did you come up with the idea for the Odd Slipper? Do you have small feet yourself?
I am 4’10″ with a size 4 foot, and an obsession with shoes, and I wanted to do something about the disappointment that comes with seeing a great pair of shoes knowing 100% they are not available in my size. The few choices available were either very expensive or not fashion-forward enough.

How did it all come together?
I worked in fashion for many years, on the business and the operations side, and finally kept comfortable working on a project for myself that I could be passionate about, and serving a neglected group of women was just the right venture. I contacted my best friend who is a developer in the tech industry to head the website and together we came up with The Odd Slipper.

How does it work exactly–who designs the shoes, where are they produced?
We collaborate with independent designers to create our samples, and then invite our customers to vote on the samples. We also work with manufacturers who show us available “lasts”, which are general shoe molds/shapes and allow us to mix and match different materials on them. Our shoes are produced overseas, depending on price points, either China or South Korea. After seeing the comments and votes, we decide which styles to manufacture and once they’re here we ship them out!

Why should people by shoes from here as opposed to, say, the kids section?
Our main goal is to serve the petite shoe market so we take pride in checking that all of our styles (every individual pair that ships out) are sized correctly and that they are not marked as a 4, but really are a size 5. Our styles are designed for women, some fun, some conservative and some in between, with women’s materials and a women’s silhouettes. Kids shoes are usually manufactured with lighter weight materials, and also a wider silhouette because children’s feet are shaped differently than women’s feet.

I know you just launched shopping on the site (is that right). Do you have any other plans (or hopes) for expansion? New features? Collaborations?
Correct, we officially launched the shopping section of our site (before it was only voting) on October 27th, and we are already extremely excited about the potential of the petite market as a whole! We are currently working on bringing all sorts of new styles each week and be the first source for petite feet. However, we are already planning our expansion into apparel, with bottoms being the closest on the horizon. It will be a long road but our goal is to serve the women’s petite market 5’2″ and under!

 My Thoughts

This is certainly good news for my youngest sister.  I remember helping her shop around for beautiful shoes.  And I can still feel her frustration when we have to troop down to the kid's section -as a last resort.  Well, there are lots of beautiful kid shoes.  But I will not be seen wearing a beautiful pair of shoes with disney characters!  Neither would my sister. 

 

Do you Have the Right Beautiful Shoes?

How to Choose the Right Athletic Shoes

By Elinor Smith

Published November 11, 2011

| Real Simple

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/11/how-to-choose-right-athletic-shoes/#ixzz1dSDHCg8B

You’re just steps away from a better workout. Here’s how to pick a pair of shoes geared toward your routine and body.

Running Shoes vs. Cross-Trainers
Go with running shoes if you mostly jog or walk, since they’re engineered for heel-to-toe motion. Why not walking shoes? 

“Running sneakers cater to a wider range of foot types and are built to last longer,” says Megan Leahy, a doctor of podiatric medicine at the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, in Chicago.

Go with cross-trainers if your routine includes an activity like aerobics, weight training, or kickboxing (basically any exercise on a hard surface that involves side-to-side movement).

What’s Your Foot Type?
“Runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, and early-onset arthritis are just a few problems that arise from exercising in the wrong sneakers,” says Louis Pack, a podiatrist in Greensboro, Georgia, and the author of The Arthritis Revolution. In contrast, shoes designed to compensate for the impact of your feet can prevent injuries and improve structural alignment and performance. To determine your foot type: Have a podiatrist examine you, or get an idea yourself by looking at the soles of a pair of worn-in flats. 

“The wear patterns show where you’re putting pressure when you walk,” says Pack. 

If You're a Supinator. . .

Supinators’ feet tend to have high arches and roll outward. 

You need: Cushioning (also referred to, confusingly, as neutral ) sneakers for shock absorption.

Look for: Soft midsoles (the layer between the mesh upper and the treads), since this type of foot doesn’t provide enough shock absorption on its own. That means the shoes’ soles will tend to be more flexible. You can also usually spot them by the shape of the sole: 

“A cushioned shoe cuts in at the arch, resembling a kidney bean,” says Leahy.

Shoes for running: Extra rubber built into the sole means a smoother, bouncier gait. 

Shoes for cross-training: Make lightning-quick pivots, thanks to flexible grooves in the sole. 

If You’re Neutral...

You’re neutral and have an average gait with equal weight distribution across the foot.

You need: Stability or moderate-stability sneakers, which offer a balance of cushioning and support.

Look for: Cushioning with a good dose of stability—in other words, a lightweight shoe that bends just to the ball of the foot. That said, “in many cases, this foot type has the most freedom and can wear whichever sneakers feel best at the store,” says Dr. Steven Raikin, the director of foot and ankle services at Rothman Institute Orthopaedics, in Philadelphia.

Shoes for cross-training: These crazy soles act like a Slinky, putting an extra spring in your step. 

Shoes for running: This innovative design reduces heel slippage and instep strain.

If You’re a Pronator...

This means your feet roll inward. Flat arches or low arches are common.

You need: Motion-control or high-stability sneakers to keep your feet better aligned with your legs.

Look for: Shoes that are a contrasting color (often gray) near the arch. This indicates the presence of a dense material that provides reinforcement to keep the arches from collapsing. The shoes tend to be fairly stiff and will flex only near the toe area. The added support can sometimes give these sneakers a boxy appearance, says Luke Rowe, a vice president of the sneaker retailer Fleet Feet.

Shoes for cross training: A wide toe box allows for comfortable lateral movement. 

Shoes for running: Stabilizing roll bars help protect arches. 

What If Your Feet Get Sweaty and Blistered?

Invest in smarter athletic socks and get rid of your basic white ones. 

“When shopping, look at the fabric, size, and seams—not necessarily the amount of cushioning,” says Fleet Feet’s Luke Rowe. 

Bypass 100 percent cotton and reach for a moisture-management material, which will wick away irritating sweat. 

Pick a sock that comes in a range of sizes (say, from extra small to extra large) as opposed to a one-size-fits-all style (“sizes 6 to 11”) for less blister-inducing slippage. And, finally, look for seamless construction, which eliminates chafing and irritation, especially around the toe area.

What’s Up With Those Funky Shoes That Look Like Gloves for Feet?

They’re designed for barefoot running, a new movement that tries to replicate the unshod experience using barely-there shoes. This practice, which borrows from indigenous peoples who don’t have the luxury of the latest Nikes, supposedly strengthens the foot muscles and allows the feet to move more naturally. But is it safe?

“If you didn’t grow up running on bare feet, it’s extremely risky, resulting in everything from stress fractures to arthritis,” warns John Brummer, DPM, a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association, in New York City. Feet not only need protection from hard, uneven surfaces but also require customized support for their unique structure.

How Can You Tell If You Need New Sneakers?
Keep an eye on the shoe’s midsole—the cushiony layer between the treads and the mesh upper, Leahy says. When you notice deep-set wrinkles there (like a squashed marshmallow), it’s time to say good-bye.

Click here to learn more about the right athletic shoes from Real Simple.

MY THOUGHTS

That's one great article, isn't it?  If you're into running or walking, that is.  

 

Beautiful, athletic shoes.  I'm not much into it these days.  I have an assortment of beautiful, sporty shoes and only a couple would pass the requirements to make walking or jogging worth while.  No wonder I get achy feet most of the time.

 

There was a time when a pair of beautiful shoes, with rubber soles and all, can make me bolt out of the door for a walk or a stroll.  Not anymore.  These days,  I need a lot of inspiration to go out and walk.  This community doesn't have what it takes to give me the much needed push. 

 

Maybe a new pair of beautiful shoes for running can do the trick.  But wait!  I still have a couple of beautiful shoes, wrapped up in a box. So, that's not it.  Maybe I should move to another community.  Now, that's an interesting thought.  

 

If someone asks, why did you move?  

"Because I need to use my beautiful, athletic shoes - that's why?"