FabSugar

Learn How To Make Your Summer Shoes Comfortable

FabTV — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:33:50 PDT

Whether it’s a strappy gladiator sandal or a sky high stiletto, Foot Petals creator and shoe fit expert Tina Aldatz shows us how to make our favorite summer shoes comfortable. Shoes provided by Aldo and Brian Atwood.

Pocketflops Foldable Flip Flops: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:50:22 PDT

We live in a busy world, so investing in convenient pieces is a plus. But the trick is to find convenient pieces that don't sacrifice good taste. They're sometimes hard to come by. What do you think: Are these Flock Designs Pocketflop Foldable Flip Flops ($22 each) cute? They come in all sorts of prints and colors - zebra, purple, argyle, paisley - and the fact that they fold in half is way cool. Even cooler, they're made of recycled tire rubber, and the storage bags are made from 100% organic cotton. You can throw one in your bag wherever you go, just in case of any shoe emergencies. Would you get a pair?

How to Choose the Fittest Flops

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:00:12 PDT

If you're a fan of flip-flops, choose your Summer shoes carefully. I've already gone over the many reasons why flip-flops are bad for your feet: they strain your arches, make your tendons work overtime, and lack ankle support, leading to possible injury.

But that doesn't mean you have to ditch the flips entirely. Just look for a more structured sandal with heel cups and sculpted arches that will keep your feet stable. Simply put, "The less flip in your flop, the better it is for your feet and legs," said Justin Shroyer, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette who studied more than 100 flip-flop wearers.

Sandals with heel indentations and arch support will allow you to walk more naturally, rather than straining your toes to keep the sandals from falling off. I was impressed with FitFlops, which may or may not tone your backside but offer far more support than regular flip-flops.

Still, Shroyer warns that flip-flops shouldn't be worn on long walks. Think of the Summer shoe as more of a transitional accessory that you wear from house to pool or car to beach. Do you have any supportive flip-flops to recommend?

Reasons to Ditch Your Cheapo Flip-Flops

FitSugar — Tue, 25 May 2010 05:50:48 PDT

As Spring transitions into Summer, my feet crave some flip-flop action. I love to feel the air and grass on my skin, and not have to deal with hot, sweaty feet. Plus flip-flops are so cheap, you can buy a few pairs without breaking the bank. The problem is, pinching pennies with Summer footwear isn't doing your feet any favors. Here are some reasons you should skip the flip-flops and opt for more supportive shoes.

The sole is spongy and offers no arch support. The sole may seem soft and comfy, but your foot ends up over-pronating (rolling inward), especially since there's no added support for the arch of your foot. This can cause pain in the heels, arches, ball of the foot, and toes.
They make your muscles and tendons work overtime. Since there's only that little v-shaped strap across you toes, there's not much holding the shoe to your foot. As you walk, you end up gripping your toes, making the muscles and tendons in your feet do all the work. This can lead to tendinitis.
Flat shoes strain the Achilles tendon. If you're used to wearing shoes that have a raised heel, flat shoes end up overstretching the calf muscles.
There's no ankle support. Sprained ankles in the Summer are common because of flip-flop use.

To see the last three reasons,

Skechers Tone-ups in Flip-Flops: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:00:48 PDT

A few Summers ago the toning sandal FitFlops hit the shelves here in the USA and sold out almost immediately. The popular shoe claims to help sculpt leg muscles with every step. The FitFlop has inspired many imitators.

Last year Skechers introduced Shape-ups, a toning sneaker, and when we asked if you thought they were cool or not, the majority of FitSugar readers responded, "Cool"! Skechers has created a summer shoe too: Tone Ups, a flip-flip "designed to help improve posture, circulation, and increase muscle effort with every step." The Tone-ups come in a variety of styles, and Kate Gosselin has been spotted rocking the Shadow Box ($49) sandal. I am curious: would you wear a pair?

Let Your Havaianas Glow

FabSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:00:22 PDT

Once upon a vacation, I was rushing to get back to my room from the lobby. It was dark, I was being attacked by mosquitoes, and needed cover ASAP. Everyone removed their flip-flops and sandals at the entrance, so there were always lonely mates waiting for their owners. I slipped on some flip-flops and raced to my bungalow. The next morning I realized I grabbed the wrong flips. I put them back, but then they sat there for days. Luckily, I found mine. I felt bad. This all could have been prevented had my flip-flops had solar energy and glowed in the dark. I present to you Havaianas "Cool" glow-in-the-dark flip-flops ($28). May each traveler be reunited with their loyal flips.

Lil Project Runway Fans Get Designing

LilSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PDT

Arguing with your lil fashionista about what she wants to wear each day may have gotten a little easier. Your budding Tory Burch can now get her feet wet in shoe design with Lindsay Phillips's Switch Flops ($30). Available in three base styles - black, floral and wedge - the shoes feature a Velcro system that allows tots to change the straps and adornments depending on their mood. The dozen interchangeable straps ($10 each) range from zebra and giraffe prints to preppy grosgrain and denim ribbons. While the color and pattern options offer kids the opportunity to match their shoes to their outfits, waiting for them to do so is a whole other topic!

Jimmy Choo Designs For Elton John

FabSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:00:08 PDT

Jimmy Choo is fashionably supporting Elton John's AIDS Foundation by creating a limited-edition accessories collection dubbed Project PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). It will include handbags, shoes, and small leather goods decorated with a new signature laminated canvas print showing off iconic Jimmy Choo details like snakeskin, leather, and even a picture of Tamara Mellon from a Vogue Italia photo shoot.

"It's a whole collage of the DNA of Jimmy Choo," said Mellon. The collection drops November with prices ranging from $95 for flip flops to $995 for a large handbag. Twenty-five percent of all proceeds will support the Simelela rape center in South Africa.

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$1 Flip-Flop Saturday at Old Navy!

FabSugar — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:00:22 PDT

I'm letting you know this a day early so you can plan around your fabulous Saturday . . . Old Navy is having its $1 flip-flop sale for one day only. Flips are limited to five pairs per person, that is $5 dollars if you do the math. You get my point, it's Summer, go.

DIY Dreaming: Could You Re-Create This Dog Bed Made of Old Flip-Flops?

PetSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:39 PDT

Regardless of how bad they are for my feet, I can't get enough of flip-flops and own more pairs than I'd care to count up. So, my flipping and flopping obsession aside, when I spotted this super-cute dog bed on TrendHunter, I saw a DIY project in the making for all my old shoes. Stay with me here . . . Since the bed's created by Australian designer Ilya Frieman, I'm not sure where (and if) you can buy this creation stateside, but it illustrates a good enough case for me to want to test it out. Not only does rubber attract and hold dog hair, it's much easier to keep clean than fabric beds. Get started on your own version by gathering up 18 flip-flops, popping out the thong part, and using an X-Acto knife to divide the flat part into fourths.

For this fancy model, the new rubbery part will eventually fit into that base for another pet-friendly hammock, but I'm betting you could (nontoxic) glue the shoe pieces together to make a rubbery, easily washed dog mat perfect for Summer. What do you think about attempting this project at home?

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