Emma Cooke discovers comfort and style in theTara Mary Jane peep-toe heeled shoe by Aetrex

n Footwear Today Magazine's January issue, it was brought up that 'A third of women walk to work in comfortable flats before changing intoheels at their desk'. If only I’d read that before I started my most recentoffice job! As it was, it took me the better part of a week, two packs of

blister plasters, and a great deal of funny looks as I hobbled down the HighStreet, before I twigged why the other office ladies were stashingplastic bags with shoe-shaped indents under their desks.

While arming myself with boots and an old Tesco's bag (I definitely pulled that look off well, tramp chic is SOcoming back this season) sorted out the problem ofthe walk to work, I still found myself chained tomy desk. The few metres to the kitchenmay look insubstantial to an outsider,but in the wrong heels the floor canfeel as if it's made of hot coals!Anyone at that time who had the habitof taking other's drink orders became my personal saviour.

Fortunately, it seems Aetrex has come up with a solution, with its 2012Spring/Summer collection promising 'extraordinary comfort and support,without compromising on the highest fashion standards’.' The particularshoe which FT editor, Cheryl Taylor, suggested I swapped for my regulartorture devices – I mean, high heels - was the Tara Mary Jane peep toeheeled shoe from the Aetrex Spring/Summer Essence collection.

The brand has an impressive amount of technology behind the footwear,with its designs based on foot health and comfort, made from ‘luxuriouslysoft full-grain leathers and moisture transferring polyester linings’. Most Essence styles also feature Aetrex's IQ150 memory foam footbedsand built in Lynco support for an ‘unmatched comfort experience'. The memory foam footbeds caught my eye, offering the prospect ofmuch-needed relief for my sore feet!

These heels are wonderfully well made, looking sturdy and long-lastingfrom the good quality leather used. They are attractive too, breaking apersonal stereotype I have that all ‘comfort’ shoes must look bulky andout-dated, because shoes offering comfort as well as style would be likehaving your cake and eating it too. Aetrex heels are perfectly fitted with aclassic design, making these shoes a practical buy design-wise as well asin regards to foot health – a classic heel such as this transcends the fluxes of fashion trends.

An interesting design detail is the removable strap on the shoe, whichsurprisingly changes the look of the shoe significantly. With the strap, theshoe has a vintage, 1950's feel to it, whilst without, the shoes become moreelegant, less reminiscent of jive parties, more of cocktails and little blackdresses.

The heel itself is good quality, sturdy, and thick enough to give supportwithout being clunky, and a nice height, supposedly 2 and 3/4 inches,with a 1/4 inch platform, but looking more.

After a week of solid wear, my new heels now feel like asecond skin. I've most recently been wearing them tosalsa classes, and am feeling the results of all thatorthopaedic technology – my feet have never feltso good in high heels.

I breeze straight to my desk, no longerneeding to make the furtive 'shoe-swap' in the ladies.

Instead, I can try out my salsa steps inthe kitchen waiting for my tea to brew, and it definitely feels like this is theclosest I've come shoe-wise to having my cake and eating it too!

I

“After a week of solid wear, my new heels nowfeel like a second skin. I've most recently beenwearing them to salsa classes, and am feelingthe results of all that orthopaedic technology –my feet have never felt so good in high heels.”

16 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • MAY 2012

FOOTWEAR FOCUS ROAD TEST

Details:

Essence™ Fashion Comfort - Tara – Mary Jane Peep Toe• Mary Jane peep toe with elastic gore topline• Removable adjustable buckle strap for versatility• Smooth or textured leather upper• 2 3/4 “ heel with 1/4” platform• Built-in Lynco shaped footbed for superior arch support• Memory foam top cover• Built-in met pad for forefoot pressure relief• Blown rubber outsole for resilience and support• Aegis anti-microbial linings to help protect against fungi, bacteria

and odor

MSRP: $139.95Wholesale: $65.00visit www.aetrex.comContact: Eric Desmonts, Executive Director of International +1 201.833.2700 x232 edesmonts@aetrex.com

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