Monthly Archives: August 2011

Summer is (almost) already gone… which means we’ll have to put our sandals in the closet and say “goodbye” to them for one long year. And then comes trouble: which shoes will I wear for the fall season?

Boots for the winter: check! We wear the same ugly-but-comfortable big snowshoes every year and even if we are a little ashamed of them we wear them ‘cause they’re warm. But for the fall… No idea. Ballerinas? Yeah, until it begins to rain! Sneakers? Why not, but they’re not the ideal business shoes or the prettiest dancing shoes! High heels? Mmm…  Only if the floor is dry enough to avoid the embarrassing situation of slipping in front of everyone around.  To cut a long story short: it’s just complicated.

The good news is that we don’t need to hide our pretty little feet behind some sort of big shapeless shoes just to keep them warm. The Elite fall/winter season collection has just arrived on KOALA .CH. And to celebrate, here’s a selection of models that you’re going to fall in love with!

We begin this series with a touch of glam and classy.

The Maryline model is close to perfect. Here are some of its advantages: short heels, available in two colors (classic grey and extravagant red), and have a look at the front of the shoes: those three little buttons in army spirit will make you look amazing!

Wear them to go out with a pair of slim jeans or a little black dress with opaque tights. Or to go to work with a carrot pant (rolled up at the bottom)!

Ladies, I introduce you to THE thigh-high boot that’s going to follow you everywhere you go this winter!

All leather, with a zip on the side to help you open and close them easily. They’ll just fit with everything in your wardrobe!

Wear them with slim jeans, leggings or tights. Couple them with a beige or brown jacket and a striped

t-shirt, preferably loose and comfortable to mark the contrast with the quite provocative boots.

Ballerinas are now a classic! That’s the reason why Elite have some in their collection. In honor of sobriety, they’re all black with thin white stripes. There are many details like the small button with some ornaments all around on the front of the shoe. You can wear them with everything and without moderation!

These are the shoes you’re going to have a crush on!

You’ve already seen their twin sisters everywhere this summer: the ones with big rope soles! But you’d never wear them in fall.  So here are Elite’s winter wedges.

High shoes, a solid heel which is not going to slide on snow. Special mention for the red shoelaces!

Chances are you won’t be able to do without them any more!

There’s a little something for everyone in the new Elite collection!

That’s for sure: your feet will be warm and glamorous! What else?

Valentin and Matthias had introduced them briefly when we received them but now you get to have a full description of these technical wonders that are Fivefingers.

Description:

Name: Vibram Fivefingers

Tested Model: Komodo Sport Blue

Characteristics: Loves wet grass and wood chips!

We have recently had a visit from a Fivefingers agent with whom we had the opportunity to talk about technics… (little confidential info: The 2012 collection is going to be legen… wait for it… dairy!!!) So after telling him I wanted to go jogging with my Fivefingers he went into a huge explanation about my center of gravity, attack phase, running balance, big toe, stride lengthening, etc. In other words, he was speaking Chinese to me until he told me to straighten up and move my balance frontwards until my heels were off the ground.

“That’s your running position!” (Hmm.) “Start by making very small steps just like you were trying to trample on grass and then you can start lengthening your stride. If you find a gravel area, go inside and make balance exercises to accustom your leg muscles to the new position and if there are small stones stuck between your toes, don’t try to remove them, they’ll leave by themselves!”

Yes Sir!

So I went running all excited and a little confused at twilight. (Because yes, they are reflective!)

Results:

It takes some getting used to not touching the ground heels first (since there is no cushioning it can hurt very quickly) but once you’ve got it, My God! It’s light, flexible, knees don’t hurt anymore because of the shocks with the ground. I was scared of gravel (who has never walked on a Lego at night and screamed of excruciating pain…?) but I didn’t feel anything! However, be careful, Fivefingers are like tires: manholes can be extremely slippery when wet!! (it was raining when I tested…)

The next saturday I took my little blue friends hiking in a nearby forest. They LOVED the wood chips (ok my feet did but let’s say it was the shoes!). It felt like tiny masseuses with cute little reaching hands…!

But whatever happens, don’t try to play Tarzan on tree trunks after the rain… Not good! Let’s say it’s not recommended… However, it was great walking in the water without being scared of crossing the path of leeches!!!

So the – are :

-     It takes some getting used to.

-      The color is hard to match with my wardrobe!

But so many + :

-      They’re EXTREMELY comfortable!

-      They’re all-road shoes (well almost)!

-      They’re super light. I almost forgot I had shoes on.

-      They’re totally flexible, no blisters because no pressure points (as long as you don’t tighten the Velcro like a monster!)

-      THEY ARE MACHINE WASHABLE!! Yay! Mud, grass, sludge, dirt, as if it never happened!

The new ESPRIT shoes have just arrived!!!

From pumps to welly boots, there is a little something for everyone on KOALA.CH!

And because we are just that great, here’s what you can do during your next coffee break…

It couldn’t be easier:

1. I click on any of these pictures below 2. I choose the ones I like 3. I put them in my shopping cart 4. I buy them 5. I receive them at home, try them on and fall in love… 6. I show them to all my friends!