For we femmes d'un certain âge, footwear that's supportive, comfortable AND stylish is the Holy Grail.
For some time now, I'd heard great things about Anyi Lu shoes (design, comfort, craftsmanship) and had eyed some of the styles at our local Nordstrom, but had never tried on a pair. The very nice folks at Anyi Lu contacted me recently and offered to send a pair from the current collection to try on and review. I jumped at the opportunity after just a few glances at the lookbook.
Inspired by Sausalito, the location of the Anyi Lu design studio (and one of my very favorite places, too...right after an apartment in Saint Germain in Paris, a houseboat in Sausalito is next on my list of fantasy homes), the Spring/Summer line captures the mood of this bayside community with a laid-back but upscale and vibrant feel. All of the shoes are handmade in Tuscany, Italy.
Some of the styles that especially caught my eye:
The cool thing about this style is that the belt is detachable and can be worn several ways.
Leopard lovers, check this one out!!
I adore a loafer mule!
There are many cute and colorful offerings of sandals in this collection...
The color is so rich and saturated, and can look quite different depending upon the light. Especially in direct sunlight, they're a bit redder than they appear in pictures. The high levels of quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail were immediately apparent.
I'm usually a size 7 or 7.5, and the size 37 I was sent was a perfect fit. Did I mention OMG comfortable?? The rumors are true! These are so very comfortable, and thanks to that strap across the instep, the most stable slingbacks I've ever had on my feet. There's also plenty of cushioning under the ball of the foot. When thinking about how I'd style these, the first image that popped into my mind was sitting on a seaside patio, enjoying brunch and being hypnotized by the sparkle sunlight on the water while sailboats cruise by. An un-fussy outfit of light neutrals felt right, allowing the color of the shoes and bag to provide the focal points.
These slingbacks look and feel substantial enough to wear to the office during warmer months, and I'll be able to style them easily with jeans, skirts and dresses. This would be a great shoe to wear to a summer wedding or cocktail party, or any event where you want a bit of glamour but may need to be on your feet for an extended period of time. (And check out the lace version, called "tessa." Mothers Of Brides or Grooms, take note!)
Which shoes from the Anyi Lu Spring/Summer collection would you pick?
Shoes: Anyi Lu "tulipe", provided in consideration for review. You can purchase this style here.
Sweater: Eileen Fisher, here.
Tank (underneath): Eileen Fisher, here.
Jeans: NYDJ, here.
Bag: Chanel Wallet on a Chain, purchased a couple of years ago and carried as a clutch. Another one here. The look for less, here.
Earrings: Pearl Paradise, here.
One footnote, (no pun intended) if you go to the Anyi's Picks tab at the ANYILU website, you can see some cool ideas for styling the shoes.
Disclosure: actions taken from some hyperlinks in this post may generate commissions for www.unefemme.net. Shoes were provided by Anyi Lu in consideration for review.
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