This morning I hit the gym for the first time of 2012. Not only did I feel like the energizer bunny (thanks to paleo/primal foods!) I wore some new athletic shoes thanks to the fine people at PlanetShoes. Last month they sent me a pair of the “new” New Balance shoes, called NewSky. I already have some New Balance minimalist shoes in black and pink, though not this version and I love them so I was excited to try NewSky. I absolutely adore the blue/grey coloring (I was getting sick of pink) and these shoes come in wide width so they are way more comfortable than my other ones. Yes, those are my pasty white legs in the photo above. I don’t usually wear shorts in the snow but I haven’t done any laundry since the week before Christmas. I got some pretty strange looks at the gym today, LOL. Shorts and a parka isn’t a good combo?

Anyway, NewSky shoes are special because they are a much greener version of the classic shoe. They are minimalist and uber lightweight, which is important to me. You also know as you lace them up that the material they are made of is different. 95% of the upper section is made of recycled P.E.T, also known as recycled plastic bottles. Cool beans! I often hesitate to buy products that make the same claim because who wants to sleep on a pillow filled with plastic bottle filling or wear a shirt made of plastic bottles, but shoes are perfect. I always wear socks with them so they don’t come in contact with skin and athletic shoes typically wear out so fast that it is reassuring to know they are made from recycled materials. Also in order to make a shoe with so much recycled material they had to completely redesign it and that meant reduced waste overall. All of the inner materials you see in typical shoes like foam and reinforcer materials are not there. This makes the material very soft and pliable, not stiff. It is evident in putting on the shoe since you need to mold it your foot and then lace it up. This makes NewSky very different from other shoes but I personally think this it is rather awesome. The fit feels custom and perfect, like I am not even wearing shoes.

Cool fact: Each pair of NewSky shoes uses 8 20 ounce plastic bottles.

I first wore these on a quick two mile hike earlier this week. They were comfortable from the get-go and I never got a hint of a blister despite them being brand new. I can’t say the same of my other New Balance shoes. Today I wore them to the gym. I had to take them off before I jumped in the pool of course but afterwards I did some weight training and they performed well. I think these will be prefect for colder days when I can’t wear Vibram Five Fingers as I normally do.

Love the fit, love the comfort, and I love that they are made from recycled materials. They get an A+ from me! If you are interested NewSky shoes come in the blue/grey you see above as well as pink and a yellow/green combo. They also have NewSky shoes for men.

Contest Closed! The winner is Debbie Clauer, congrats!

Patagonia footwear is also doing something really cool right now that caught my attention. They have teamed up with Healthy Child, Healthy World and are donating $10 for every pair of shoes sold until October 14. This is a great pairing because both companies care about chemical safety for our planet and for families. Healthy Child Healthy World obviously advocates for corporate policies and government legislation that protect children from environmental health risks. They also seek to increase consumer awareness so we can vote with our dollars and attack this issue from that angle as well. Patagonia is known for their eco awareness and their efforts to reduce harmful chemicals from the manufacturing and dying processes of their lines. They too are advocates for a healthier planet.

Their footwear can be purchased through shoe retailer OnlineShoes. They have free shipping and free returns which is important to me because I have lots of issues getting shoes to fit (wide feet and really high arches). For this promotion, OnlineShoes was kind enough to send me a pair of the Patagonia Hiking Boots. I got the Patagonia Drifter A/C Gore-Tex® in Canteen and Dark Celadron colors. Its a waterproof trail shoe which will be important for hiking in the snowy Ohio weather and it has a 20% recycled footbed. It is manufactured by ISO 14001 Approved Suppliers, which means that materials are sourced from companies that follow a strict set of environmental standards. It can be resoled if need be and the Vibram® Trail Ecostep outsole is made of 30% recycled rubber.

They fit like a dream and they are very comfy so far. I haven’t done any serious hiking in them yet but I am all set for our local winter hiking series now. Last year I hiked in regular tennis shoes and slippage was a problem so I can’t wait to break these babies in on the trail. I plan to pair these with a comfy pair of wool socks (see my Eco Friendly Hiking Gear for Women post for my top choice). My tootsies are gonna stay warm and dry.

Online Shoes is also offering a free pair of Patagonia shoes to one of my readers, along with a copy of the book Healthy Child Healthy World, which is an awesome book BTW! To enter just leave a comment telling me what shoes you think you would select and why. You can win extra entries by :

Giveaway CLOSED! The winner is Melissa H. Congrats!!

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Giveaway sponsored by OnlineShoes.com.

It is that time of year so I  have been posting regularly about greening the upcoming school year. I have been doing this for a couple years so it is habit now but yet even I need reminders and motivation sometimes. Going to Walmart and tossing the cheapest stuff in the cart as fast as you possibly can is certainly tempting when your to-do and  your to-buy list is super long. If it were easy all the time then it wouldn’t be called “making an impact” would it? Even green parents can start to run low on steam and that is why I am loving the Green Your School Year challenge from Recyclebank.

Recyclebank is a community I first discovered a year of so ago. It is a place where a community of 2 million members keep track of their goals and successes while keeping it green. This is facilitated by great information and pledges to do just a little more. For this school year they kicked off a challenge to help parents keep the school experience green. In the first phase you walk through a nifty tutorial for shopping for greener school supplies. Right off the bat they recommended carpooling with another parent or family so you are conserving resources just making the trip to your local store. This was a step that escaped my mind for sure. Pledge to carpool and you get your first 10 points in the challenge!

Next up… pledge to buy green, recyclable, or recycled school supplies for another 10 points. As an added bonus they also have a download for you with a checklist of items to check/consider when researching companies and brands that you may purchase from. I love, love, love that they encourage people to research the ethics, certifications, and integrity of the companies and products you want to purchase.

The next screen had two quiz questions.. which I got right. Ding, ding! No doubt this feature is designed to help educate us on what to look for in these products and also make us aware of trends in family spending. They should turn this into a video game. ;) A link follows this page and and it provides a resource for you to recycle qualifying electronics and they offer up to 200 bonus points in return. I saved this info for future use.

Further on there more polls and informative links for keeping school supplies sustainable, including the wardrobe. It was a VERY fun tutorial and I enjoyed participating. I think I got all the available points could, minus the extra credit recycling points but I may end up finding some stuff to recycle and claim some of those too. When the challenge concludes they will be awarding some great prizes to some lucky winners including Bodhi Electric Bicycles (Yowza!), a solar backpack, gift certificates to department stores and grocers, lunch kits, vitamins, etc.

The next phase, which starts in a couple days is all about the first day of school. So after you join up and claim your points for greening the school shopping experience, make sure to check back with Recyclebank for the first day challenge. Good luck!

This post is part of a campaign sponsored by Recyclebank.

You don’t have to be a vegan or a vegetarian to be concerned about the ethics of wearing animals. While many feel comfortable eating animals they may feel a bit less inclined to want to wear them around on their feet or on their handbag… especially when there are alternatives. The animal industry has an abysmal record when it comes to cruelty. And since the animals can’t speak out about the matter ethical vegans have taken the lead in speaking for them. It is really thanks to their outspoken voices that we have so many cruelty-free options on the market today. I am not vegan and have no desire to be so but I do appreciate the availability of animal free shoes and clothing.

Choosing vegan does not mean you have to sacrifice style and comfort. As a matter of fact, vegan shoes are out there, in the same style as the latest trend in leather fashion. Dozens of vegan shoe brands are now sprouting all over, catering to the needs of those who do not want to wear shoes with faces.

They are made of plant-based materials like hemp, and some synthetic fibers. Most of the time, these shoes also consist of recycled materials such as used rubber tires, making them not only animal-friendly but earth-friendly as well. They come in different styles, too; thus making any pair of feet fashionable.

Since vegan shoes are often made of biodegradable materials and not animal-based products, wearing vegan shoes is one way to minimize our environmental footprint. What’s more, vegan footwear is really durable and longer lasting compared to its non-vegan counterparts. To give you some idea what brands of shoes hold vegan choices, here is a list.

Converse – it has a wide array of vegan shoes that are mainly made of deconstructed hemp. Converse vegan shoes are tagged with a marked hemp on he heel for the world to know that they are cruelty-free shoes.

Jambu – A reviewed a pair of these a couple weeks ago. Their water diva vegan shoes are comfortable, stylish, and cruelty free. They also use some recycled materials.

Merrell – is known for its sports and hiking shoes and I have been eyeballing these for quite awhile. If only they made their barefoot shoes (the glove) vegan because those are the ones I want. Merrell does offer some vegan shoes though that are ideal for hiking and any form of exercise. Its vegan footwear also features a pumping system that keeps water out. I love their Siren Sports Thong and their Encore Breeze clogs.

New Balance – offers vegan shoes especially made for runners. These shoes are made with New Balance’s trademark sole-support system and also equipped with shock-absorption technology.

Okabashi Flip-Flops – Their awesome shoes (I have a pair) are made of recycled materials and no animal products.

LifeStride – offers a wide range of 100% animal-free shoes for women. Fashionable choices include high-heels, flats, sandals and boots.

The price tag can seem high on vegan shoes but they really last. If you have resolved to try and wear less animal made clothing then these vegan shoes will get you off to a great start.

A few weeks back I tested out some eco friendly flip-flops. This past week I have been wearing vegan shoes courtesy of Jambu Adventure Designs. Many of their shoes (including mine above) are vegan which makes them a great choice for ethical vegans and vegetarians who still want fashionable footwear. They also have an earth friendly bent because their outsoles are made with partially recycled and re-usable compressed rubber. They also use 100% recycled, recyclable and re-usable packaging. So while they are not the perfect green shoe they are certainly a good option for those looking to reduce their impact. A step in the right direction.

What I really like about their line is that most of the shoes seemed geared for environmentalists and adventurers. Its outdoor fashion. The shoes above are their water diva vegan shoes, which are pretty darn comfortable. And if you recall my post on barefoot running then you will know why I was excited to see they have vegan barefoot shoes too. I do not try to make every purchase vegan but where I can, I like to do so… wearing animals on our feet when we don’t have to is a huge waste of life.

Other women might be attracted to the design of the shoes with feminine floral motifs and contrast stitching. They are nice looking shoes. From the straps to the soles. They have a tribal flair that I like.

They are designed for adventuring and actual use. Jambu shoes are trail rated and they can be tightened or loosed as needed. Some are designed for use in an out of the water as well. That is the part that excites me because I am not to big on fashion but I do admit that they are snazzy shoes to look at. Any shoe company that makes ethical shoes or eco shoes need to appeal to a broad market and this brand seems to capture the green Fashionistas along with the outdoor adventuring type.

These shoes are sold via outside retailers so if you want to find them try Zappos or Amazon.

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Winner Announced!! It is Tammie Hutto Egloff. Congrats!

In the past I have been a flip-flop addict of sorts. Years ago it was not uncommon for me to have 10 or more pairs… of JUST flip-flops. In recent years though I curtailed my habit because they are generally so flimsy (lasting only one season) and they are heavy on plastics and foam. They were just a nightmare in the green department. So I tided myself over with sneakers (sniff) that last much longer and eco friendlier shoes when I could swing it.

Anyway when an eco conscious shoe company called Okabashi asked me to take some of their recyclable flip-flops for a test run I agreed to do so. They look just like regular flip-flops but there are several important differences.

For one they are not outsourced to a third world country, thereby paying workers peanuts AND saving resources with local manufacturing. These shoes are made in Buford, Georgia and I have heard you can tour their facility if you want to. The shoes travel only 7% as far as the average imported shoe. Second, they are VERY sturdy shoes, probably the highest quality pair of flip-flops I have ever owned. These babies are going to last years and the company even guarantees them for 2. Buying plastic anything can be a hard sell but when you know that plastic will only last a few months before it becomes completely unusable… that is a deal breaker.

Third, the material used in these shoes is unique in that it is soft, flexible, non-slip, odor-resistant, dishwasher safe, and contains an anti-microbial agent. Who ever heard of shoes you can toss in the dishwasher? Flip-flops especially can get nasty because the foam used so often to make them is porous and holds stains, and odor and cannot be washed effectively. These are going to be perfect for the gym since I can shower in them and wipe them down and make sure nothing nasty from the showers or locker room is going to get a foot hold in my shoes.

Fourth, these shoes are completely recyclable. Most times when you hear that a company is taking back their shoes for “recycling” that usually means they redistribute them. Okabashi believes in closed-loop recycling to reduce the use of virgin material and to keep old shoes from becoming environmental waste. So when you buy a pair of Okabashi shoes you are likely buying shoes that are made with recycled material already and when you are done with them you can send them back to Georgia (their address is on their web site) so they can be made into yet another pair. Their facility is virtually zero waste.. next to no scrap and last year they used 100,000 pounds of scrap material in their shoes. This is pretty amazing to me since I have first hand knowledge of the plastic scrap that get tossed in a local (Ohio) plastic business. It is STAGGERING the amount of plastic scrap that gets tossed out… ahem… like a huge parking lot full.

Fifth, they are vegan! The entire line contains no animal skins or byproducts, and they are not tested on animals. This is important because most sandals and flip flops that contain animal by-products such as leather and adhesives are nearly impossible to recycle and they end up in the landfill.

Sixth, they are affordable. No $50 flip-flops here. The prices are right around $15-$18. Wahoo! They (Okabashi) also have some listed on Amazon. The price on some is a tad higher but they are darn close to qualifying for free shipping.

I ended up getting two pairs of eco friendlier shoes for the summer and happily these Okabashi flip-flops are one of them because I don’t currently own any others (flip-flops, not shoes). We’ve been reunited and it feels so good.

I saw an ad for Sprout Watches in a magazine recently and I was really impressed with them. Of course I do not wear watches or any jewelry… they annoy me, but just in case I am actually freakish and most people do still wear watches, I thought I would mention them.

If you asked me a week ago what would be not so green about watches I would have only thought of the leather wrist straps but all of the sustainable features of these watches really shows how green conventional watches are NOT.

Sprout Watches are lead and phthalate free, have 100% organic straps, biodegradable case and buckle, the face plate is bamboo, the glass is mineral crystal made from sand not plastic plexi-glass, the battery is mercury free, and 80% of the packaging is recycled post consumer. I hear they also come with seeds that you can plant inside the watch box. Very cool. They are also VERY reasonable in price and nice looking too.

If your in the market for a watch or you want to gift one these would be good to consider.

When I stopped eating meat awhile back I did so for health reasons, not really for ethical reasons. But when you read vegan and vegetarian blogs, magazines, etc you start to understand the ethical reasons for avoiding animal products. This video from PETA shows the absolute horrors of using animal skins to make belts, shoes, and purses. Thank goodness I have never much liked the look of snake skin bags or alligator skin shoes because I would be so distraught after seeing this video. Ironically I saw it just after I finished vegan shoe shopping for my daughter at Simple Shoes. I was thrilled at how easy it was to find cruelty free shoes that she actually liked and I was also thrilled by the price (under $50).

But on to the video. I warn you… you could lose your lunch… it is THAT graphic. I wonder if anyone can buy animal skin products after watching something like this?

Only a few days till mother’s day and I am a bit sad because my mom is out of the country and has been for a few weeks. But I speak with her every day and I have been sharing all my great second hand finds with her. I sure am missing my best yard sale buddy though.

After I scored so much good summer stuff at my local thrift store I decided to go back and get a bunch of the long pants I saw for my two oldest since they would be perfect for school in the fall. I ended up getting about 6 pairs of jeans and khackis for my son and 2 pairs of pants and 3 gorgeous skirts and some blouses for my daughter. My youngest got some summer polo shirts. Each piece was between one and two dollars and it is good stuff! I think that is why I am getting so hooked on second hands clothes. Not only can I get an entire seasonal wardrobe for less than $50… the clothes are high quality. They have withstood heavy use and washing by another family and they still look good when I get them off the rack.

At a yard sale last weekend I picked up a children’s art book, a pair of pants for the toddler, and a Care Bear (my daughter loves them). But the real gem was a metal desk made of lockers with a wood surface on top. It came with a matching metal book case too.  It is the perfect set for my two boys, who will be sharing a room in the new house.

Yesterday was my fave day, even though the deals were small. I got a mission style, wooden TV bench for $8. I also got a lovely full size quilt for .25 cents!! I am already imagining how lovely it will be to cozy up with it on a rainy day. My daughter got a wooden baby doll crib.

Now my husband apparently has much different priorities…ahem. I sent him to an auction to look at a washer and dryer set. He came home with a workout bench and two TVs… a large flat screen and a gigantic big screen TV. Now admittedly we could use a replacement TV since ours is super old and the picture will go out if you bump into it but I really do not like the the idea of a big screen TV…especially after I got that beautiful, mission style TV bench that we would know have no use for…grrr. If I end up having a huge TV in my family room I am going to be honked off…majorly. I am hoping he will let me turn around and sell it.

Anyway, I am hoping to spend next weekend (not this one, hubby works) at yard sales galore, without the kids, so I can start getting Christmas and birthday gifts. Won’t it be nice if I have all my shopping done before Fall?

The picture above and below was taken this morning as my daughter played outside before school. She is wearing a blouse and skort that we got at a thrift store. You will never convince her that she isn’t completely stylish in her used threads.

For a couple weeks now I have been wearing some new summery sandals. I have been breaking them in for summer hiking and camping when my usual foot gear… the flip-flop won’t work so well. For whatever reason I have come to hate any type of closed toe shoe. I wear open toed shoes most of winter even.

While this shoe is closed toe, it is also breezy and open since it is a sandal. These are the  fisherman inspired J-41 Dune Vegan sandals. And so far I am really liking them!

As soon as I opened the box I was impressed with how they look like leather but they are actually made from 100% non-animal nubuck. I also squealed with happiness when I saw what was on the bottom. Part of the rubber sole is clear and there is a recycled map underneath it. The small bit of map I saw is from the Appalachian Trail!! Is that not a sign or what! I have been dying to hike the Appalachian trail for years.

Anyway… the contrast stitching accents (pink) and woven straps add a pretty, feminine flavor. There is a Velcro closure allows for a secure fit, a memory foam footbed (also imprinted with a map), mesh for breathability, and a toe bumper that provides protective coverage. And of course the the rubber traction Jeep sole is imprinted with J-41′s signature translucent map detail as a reminder that it’s all about the journey, not the destination. The shoes I have are a teeny bit different, they have less pink and no mesh, but overall the shoes you see at Planet Shoes are the same as mine.

As far as eco footwear goes I was a bit hesitant but they are really pretty, fun and sporty, and of course eco friendly and cruelty free. I think they will last a good long while too and that is a great thing since I usually stick to the $40 eco flip-flops and this pair of sandals goes for $89.

Check out Planet Shoes for other awesome eco footwear options too.

For the past year I have had a feeling that the other shoe will drop and with an attitude like that it probably will.

But the other day I was talking to someone and they had a BIG situation in their lives and they were hashing out their options. As he went through all the potential ways he could handle it he was very calm and he said he already knew what he was going to do…he was going to “choose happiness.” Say what? It cannot be that simple right?

I think it just might be. Not only will choosing to worry about what “could be” mess up my happiness right now it could be a self fulfilling prophecy. I have to choose happiness.

So last week when Andreea Ayers sent me a t-shirt from her company Tees for Change it was soooo perfect that she sent one that said…you guessed it….choose happiness. These t-shirts are awesome!

Basically these shirts are a reminder to live think positively. As it says on the web site, “We only have this moment – why not make it the best it can be?” The t-shirts come with a variety of inspirational phrases such as be fearless, live fully, laugh often, live mindfully, and chase dreams. I love the chase dreams shirt too. Apparently Andreea came up with the idea for these shirts when she was pregnant and she was continuously bombarded with negative attitudes about her decision to have a home birth. Everyone around her kept reminding her of all the bad things that could happen and how things could go terribly wrong. She was getting this from friends, family, and strangers. And then during a prenatal yoga class the idea came to her that she should have a positive message on her shirt to look down at whenever she ran into one of these negative forces so she could remember to stay positive and Tees for Change was born.

All the shirts at Tees for Change are ethically crafted from 100% organic cotton or a 70% bamboo/30% organic cotton blend. They are dyed using low impact, eco friendly dyes and screen printed with non-toxic, water based inks. In addition to that they have partnered with American Forests Global Releaf to have a tree planted for every shirt bought at retail price. So they are tees for mental change and environmental change…a win, win.

And that brings me to the fact that YOU can now win. I am giving away a large green T-shirt from Tees for Change that says Choose Happiness. To enter just leave me a comment below and answer this question, “Do you believe that you can really choose to be happy or is it all a game of chance?” Tell me what you think.

And to leave this post I thought I would share a quote I read on the Tees for Change site: Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done, and why. Then do it.  – Lazarus Long

[tags]t-shirt, organic, bamboo, happiness, positive thinking, freebie, environemnt[/tags]

The shirt is 100% organic, made in the USA, and is made under fair labor conditions. The BEST part though is that they are only $4.95 right now!!!!!! I am off to buy one for my husband!

Do me a favor though and don’t get caught holding a plastic bag while wearing your BYOB shirt. That would be…bad.

For another Eco Friendly Friday  Tip visit In the Key of Life

[tags]plastic bags, BYOB, reusable bag, t-shirt, eco slogan, organic cotton, made in USA[/tags]

I had the great fortune recently to receive two lovely eco-fashion necklaces from The Palma Collection. They are a small eco-friendly company located in San Diego, California that sells stunning and unique eco-friendly women’s accessories made from the nut of a rare palm tree in South America. The nuts (aka vegetable ivory) are harvested seasonally and only after they fall from the tree. They are also completely non-toxic. These necklaces are proof positive that green fashion can be beautiful and sexy.

I have two Palma necklaces, the Hostlila and the Maripotag. The Hostlila is a gorgeous green flower shaped necklace. The front petals almost seem to spin on top of the back ones like a pinwheel and the soft dark and light green variations are truly beautiful. The necklace strap is a dark brown cotton that looks like suede. I have received many compliments when wearing this necklace. Many ask what it is and are surprised and intrigued when I tell them it is vegetable ivory.

It is just the type of necklace that I love to wear…unique and earthy.

The Maripotag is a smaller, purple butterfly shaped necklace with deep purple wings and a lavender colored body. It has an adjustable black cotton strap. This necklace is also gorgeous and I think it will make a nice gift for someone special in my life that likes butterflies.

I love the smooth texture of the vegetable ivory and the relatively light weight, as I am not one for bulky or heavy jewelry. Also the color and unique and eye catching quality of these necklaces makes object of curiosity and conversation. Their non-toxic nature and eco friendliness makes them a REAL fashion statement.

By far one of the best features of this collection is its accessibility to the average consumer. These beautiful eco-friendly accessories come with a very reasonable price tag. Each piece ranges in price from $10-$54 and you can get earrings and bracelets in addition to the necklaces. Not only are they fairly priced but the company supports fair trade initiatives too. You can’t beat that….beautiful, ethical, and eco-friendly!

Palma Collection is offering NatureMoms readers a 10% discount too! Just use the code naturemom until September 1st. Happy Shopping. :)

[tags]jewelry, eco-friendly, sustainable, fair trade, eco-fashion, necklace, palma collection[/tags]

Most Vegan women like myself dread of the thought that over 35 million beautiful, intelligent animals are killed just for their fur or leather on their backs (and that’s only the wintertime!), but that doesn’t stop us from being every bit as stylish as our carnivorous counterparts. Except for the fact, that we only want cruelty-free fashion, we have the same desire to collect dozens upon dozens of sandals, sneakers, loafers, flip-flops, knee-high boots, and other footwear for our shoe wardrobe. Ten years ago, this would have been a challenge – one that would seem almost impossible as all vegan shoes practically looked the same.

Nowadays, finding cruelty-free shoes isn’t as hard as it sounds. Now more than ever, companies are beginning to cater to those with a cruelty-free fashion sense and are now offering a wider variety to choose from. As this trend continues to emerge, the only challenge you will have is figuring out how many shoes do you really need. You’ll have to begin asking yourself how many of them do you really love, and how many fit well, complement your fashion style and are versatile enough to serve multiple purposes.

Here are 5 fall/winter fashion shoe styles to help you create a cruelty-free shoe wardrobe so all encompassing, so perfect, that no matter what the occasion is, you’ll have just the right eco-friendly shoe

1. One pair of weather-protective footwear.

If you could only buy one boot in your life, an eco-friendly, air-seal range boot like the 14-Eye Boot from Vegetarian Shoes is the one to go with. If you spend a good amount of time outdoors, go with two pairs. Air-seal range boots sporting steel tipped toe and a sole made from rubber tires will provide you with that everlasting quality you need and want.

2. One or two pairs of fashion boots in a medium or dark neutral.

These leather alternative boots are classic enough for work-wear yet sexy enough to add an edge to jeans and an everyday tee. Top-of-the-calf boots with a flat heel are one of the cold weather season’s hottest looks, but are surprisingly in-demand even as the weather grows warmer. For those of you who love the Engineer boots, but want something a little more fitted, the Biker boots are perfect! When you’re feeling a little “rebel”, wear them as biker boots. When your style is more classic looking, just take off the buckle, instantly providing you with simple, comfortable boots that go with everything.

3. One pair of chic looking boots

Almost knee high boots like the Aurora, give you a chic look with straight skirts and classic-cut trousers. They can be worn with bare legs or opaque winter stockings. Plus, they work well with formal and near-formal wear, they add sophistication to jeans, and instantly dress up a denim skirt and cardigan like nothing else can. You can also get the same look with Alta style that is only 11″ from the top of the shoe to the bottom of this eco-friendly fashion footwear. The upper is made from the highest quality synthetic micro-fibers while the lining is usually comprised of extremely soft synthetic micro-fibers or fleece.

4. One pair of neutral-colored casual boots for the weekend

A woman can never go wrong with classics such as the Amy boot. Your weekend casual cruelty-free boot should have an extremely soft and flexible sole making it extremely comfortable for all day wear. Make sure your casual eco-friendly boots exteriors are made of “leather” like synthetic micro-fibers giving you that stylish look, while the interior is made of a soft cotton lining and a generous foot bed that will accommodate your feet.

5. One pair of attractive non-leather sneakers.

The fall time is the perfect time to run around the track at your nearby park, and enjoy your surroundings. Whether your eco-friendly non-leather sneakers are made from hemp or synthetic micro-fibers, they are go well with your tracksuit, yet hard-working enough to perform at the gym. The best athletic/sporty shoes are the pairs that have an extremely supportive EVA sole, and a thick padded tongue.
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If you follow the above tips you will create the perfect eco-friendly fall/winter woman’s fashion footwear wardrobe, that no matter what the occasion is, you will have the perfect non-leather shoe. Remember, no one can have fashion without compassion.

Sara Kubersky and her sister Erica,Founders of Moo Shoes, opened the first cruelty-free store of its kind in NYC. Later as popularity for eco-friendly fashion-wear grew, they opened their Vegan online store. Subscribe for their Moo News monthly newsletter at http://www.mooshoes.com/news.html, and be the first to find out about new shoes, bags, accessories and cosmetics and other products hitting the Vegan marketplace.