This post is sponsored by Shoebuy. Some people say diamonds are a girl's best friend. I say shoes are! They support you. They take you where you need to be. They make you look good. They protect your sole (see what I did there - sole/soul... I'm so clever), and just like best friends, a girl can never have too many.
As a runner, I'm pretty particular about my shoes, both while I'm running and while I'm going about the day-to-day. I'm not the type of girl you'll find in heels or shoes that look cute but don't feel so cute. Don't get me wrong, cuteness is important, but comfort is key. When I'm not running, I opt for flats or sneaks that look good but will also help my feet and legs recover after a tough run. So where do I find this perfect fit & fashionable shoe?
I could shop 'til I drop and try on a gazillion different pairs, or I can shop WHILE I drop (right down on my nic,e cozy couch) and find the perfect pair at ShoeBuy.com's new Run Shop!
I've shopped on ShoeBuy before and gotten some awesome tips from them on when to replace your workout gear. They have all kinds of shoes (from sneakers to fashionable sandals and boots) from all kinds of brands (Asics to Doc Martin, Converse to Sperry), as well as handbags, clothing and accessories.
Recently, however, they launched a running specific section of their website filled with shoes and gear from the brands runner's love.
They let me pick out a pair of shoes to test out the shopping experience, and I have to say, it's pretty great.
You can shop by performance or lifestyle. I just got a few new pairs of running shoes, so I decided to get a pair of kicks I could wear on a daily basis. My requirements during my search were thus:
- Must be sneakers. Sneakers are really big right now (praise the fashion gods), and I gotta keep up with the trends... for the sake of the blog, of course...
- Must be comfortable. I'm heading into marathon training mode, so I want my footsies to be cushioned all day long.
- Must be cool to look at. 'Cause a girl's still gotta be cute.
I headed to the women's lifestyle section, where I was greeted with more amazing options. I could shop the "retro-inspired" category or the "studio style" category. I could shop for shoes that would be good for athletic walking, training & fitness or wide width. You can also shop by new arrivals, by what's on sale, in "The Best of the Best" section or by "Award Winners" for each category.
I decided to go with "Training & Fitness" shoes because I'm in training mode!
You can then narrow down the field by size, width, color, brand and/or price. I just decided to peruse!
Suddenly, I stumbled across the Adidas Pure Boost X's that I was drooling over back in February... and again in May.
I mean... YES!
They arrived. I put them on. I fell in love. Not only are they the coolest looking shoes I now own, but they also feel like socks! They are so comfortable, especially around my arch - which will make them perfect to wear after long runs. The heel is a bit higher than I'm used to and when I wear thicker socks they're a little tight at the top, but I think I just need to break them in and stretch them out a bit. Overall, 25 thumbs up!
Alright so now that bonus review and special guest... You all know that shoes aren't just for women, right? Obvs. Well, ShoeBuy isn't just for women, either. They have a killer selection of products for men, including a whole men's Run Shop! That means Will, the genius behind The Boyfriend Chronicles, got to experience the shop and get a pair of shoes, as well. That's right. Will landed his first piece of blog swag, and now he's here to give you the lowdown on ShoeBuy from the male perspective. Take it away, Will!
Thoughts from Will:
I'm going to start my first ever blog swag review by saying, THANK YOUUUU, Shoebuy!!!! It's been a long road, but my mom always told me I'd make it one day. I'd also like to thank the academy for their support and for keeping my spirits high during my time without swag, which, going forward, will now be labeled, "the dearth ages."
On a serious note though, the dearth ages ended with a freaking bang. I've never ordered shoes online before, mostly because I always wanted to try them on. Will they fit? How will they feel? The problem is, most stores don't have what I want, which is partially because I don't know what I want, but also because, in my experience, stores tend to carry the shoes that fit with their brand. Nice store = nice shoes. Not a nice store = flip flops. What I liked the most about Shoebuy was that they had sneakers, lifestyle shoes, sandals, boat shoes, dress shoes, etc. You name it, they have it. BTW, I always thought "lifestyle shoes" were just called "shoes"... and sneakers, sandals, etc. were their own thing... when did they become lifestyle shoes?
Well, after some serious deliberation, I decided to get some Saucony vintage looking "Lifestyle Shoes," the Jazz Low Pros. I wanted something I could walk around the city in on the weekend to take a load off my only other pair of non-work-appropriate shoes, my sneakers.
These may possibly be the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. I'm not sure if it's because I'm used to the dress shoes I wear to work every day and my beat up sneakers, but these are literally like walking on marshmallows. My feet are so happy. The shoes fit perfectly, they were delivered super quick, and, even if Shoebuy decides never to send me another pair of shoes, I will certainly be ordering from them again.
And now off to get a life? Or get some style? What do you do with "Lifestyle shoes?" Maybe I'll just walk to the park and see what happens.
ShoeBuy offers free shipping and exchanges to make finding the perfect running shoe and gear easy, so there's really no excuse not to check 'em out. ALSOOOO, right now you can get 20% OFF when you use code " JULY16 " at checkout. Get to shopping, friends!
Let's Chat:
What shoes would you look for in the Run Shop?
Do you want The Boyfriend Chronicles to make a comeback?
