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Are Shearling-Lined Shoes Too Toasty? - Wall Street Journal

Are Shearling-Lined Shoes Too Toasty? - Wall Street Journal


Are Shearling-Lined Shoes Too Toasty? - Wall Street Journal

Posted: 15 Jan 2020 09:33 AM PST

DON'T GET BURNT When the insoles as well as the uppers of shoes are lined with shearling, it can sometimes feel like you're wearing little ovens. Illustration: Jethro Haynes

IN 2000, Oprah Winfrey changed the course of footwear history by including Ugg shearling boots on her annual list of "Favorite Things." While women sought out the cozy boots with undisguised mania, men enthused about them more cautiously (quarterback Tom Brady and rapper Lil Wayne have featured in the brand's ads, and celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio have worn the fuzzy shoes). Twenty years since Oprah's fateful endorsement, the shearling-shoe category has expanded beyond Uggs with their "celebrity taking out the garbage" vibe to include more refined iterations.

Shearling-lined footwear options for men are proliferating, said Justin Berkowitz, men's fashion director of Bloomingdale's. "We're in the middle of doing our fall buys for [2020] and we're seeing lots of [them]…I think there is a certain organic or natural aesthetic that's having a moment." This new wave of polished shearling shoes—from Sperry's Chukkas to Thom Browne's elegant wingtip boots—are more suited to date nights and casual workplaces than slipper-like Uggs. However, the question remains: Don't they get hot?

The thought of test-driving a herd of shearling-lined shoes triggered ambivalence: I didn't want to swelter in them, but the handsome new styles seemed worth braving clammy feet. Beyond the aforementioned pairs, I sampled a neoclassic Converse high-top and a contemporary moccasin from cult Japanese brand Suicoke. Over seven days, I integrated them into my daily winter life, wearing them to a dinner with a friend, to a New Year's party in the Hamptons, on a Whole Foods run and during a road trip to Vermont.

Some were indeed hotter than others, and the biggest factor was whether or not the shoe's insole as well as its uppers was lined with shearling, When shearling was restricted to uppers, I could happily wear the shoe all day. The Suicoke and the Converse, for instance, feature foam insoles and never got overly warm, while the Thom Browne and Sperry shoes with shearling insoles problematically overachieved. Which leads me to the next biggest factor: whether to wear socks.

New York-based stylist Paul Frederick understands the temptation to go sockless to avoid Hades-like discomfort. "Most guys aren't wearing these for a wilderness hike," he said. "They're street shoes that you'll probably wear to work or to an event." Even so, he recommended a sock "to prevent stink."

I wore socks with the Thom Brownes—given that they're brogued leather boots, it felt nonnegotiable. Their shearling-lined leather uppers weren't as breathable as those of other test shoes, but my feet didn't overheat during a chilly evening walk

As a native New Englander, I had a spiritual problem putting socks on with the Sperrys which, even with shearling insoles and uppers, are a glorified boat shoe. Boldly, I decided to wear them sans socks and found my feet were warm—but not hot!—for hours on end. When I removed the shoes at the end of each day, I detected no odor, a pleasant surprise. As it turns out, 100% natural shearling has innate moisture-wicking, anti-odor and temperature-regulating properties. So if you want to disobey Mr. Frederick and go sockless, you'll be safe in nature's sock.

HEATED ARGUMENTS / WHAT WE LOVED (AND DIDN'T) ABOUT THE WOOLLY PAIRS WE TRIED
Photo: F. Martin Ramin/ The Wall Street Journal
The Sporty One

PRO: Lightweight with insoles that aren't shearling-lined. Result: less sweaty feet.

CON: Even a light rain will get these
damp.

Shoes, $140, converse.com

Photo: F. Martin Ramin/ The Wall Street Journal
The Dandy One

PRO: Leather uppers and insoles both lined with black shearling equal more "city slicker," less "mountain man."

CON: The full leather boot plus shearling insole can make for overly warm feet.

Boots, $1,290, thombrowne.com

Photo: F. Martin Ramin/ The Wall Street Journal
The Preppy One

PRO: A latex sole provides serious all-day comfort and keeps its grip on icy, slippery sidewalks. Also, the shearling is remarkably plush (albeit warm on the insole).

CON: $400? For a pair of fancified boat shoes?

Boots, $395, sperry.com

Photo: F. Martin Ramin/ The Wall Street Journal
The Trendy One

PRO: The coziest-feeling shearling of the bunch. Plus, the ergonomic layered-foam insoles mold to your feet over time.

CON: Looks chubby on the foot.

Suicoke Loafers, $248, matchesfashion.com

Copyright ©2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Sheared Shoes - Richmond magazine

Posted: 15 Jan 2020 12:56 PM PST

Ashland-based Stegmann USA has released a line of sustainable footwear, the EcoWool clog. Created in partnership with its Austrian parent company, Stegmann, the shoes are made using undyed, natural wool from small, cruelty-free European farms that raise two breeds of sheep — Tyrolean Stone in Austria and Shetland in Scotland. Clog sales support farmers who raise these rare species, whose wool is rarely used in commercial production.

"It's really exciting to actually be able to trace back the wool to the specific farms and know that every clog that we sell is helping these farmers — who we actually met [in person] — sustain these breeds," says Lauren Nelson, marketing director for Stegmann USA.

Stegmann USA is a third-generation, family-owned business and has been in the footwear industry since 1932 as AGS Footwear Group; rebranding as Stegmann USA about six years ago and becoming the North American, and more recently Canadian, distributor for parent company Stegmann, which has been crafting wool footwear since 1888. Stegmann was developing  EcoWool for slippers when the Stegmann USA team adapted it into clogs for the U.S. market.

Nelson says, "We had talked about how we could incorporate more ecologically friendly products in the line because we get questions from customers asking, 'Do you have any products that don't have dyes?' " Until EcoWool, the company only offered wool blends incorporating dyed wool and natural fibers."

The clogs are handmade in Austria. They're felted without seams and constructed with a cork and latex foot bed and rubber outsole for comfort and durability.

Co-owner Andy Jacobs says, "It's got arch support and a metatarsal pad, a toe bar … so not only do you have the upper that [keeps] your foot warm, but you've got foot health and comfort on the bottom."

EcoWool clogs cost $140 per pair and are available at stegmannusa.com and at Saxon shoes.

Nike Rivals Gain Amid Reports Vaporfly Running Shoes Face World Athletics Ban - TheStreet

Posted: 16 Jan 2020 02:44 AM PST

Nike's Vaporfly Next% running shoes, used by the first man to break the two hour marathon barrier, could be banned by World Athletics officials, according to multiple media reports.

29 Best Small and Big Shoes for Women and Men 2020 | The Strategist - New York Magazine

Posted: 14 Jan 2020 02:51 PM PST

Photo: Disney

If you happen to fall on the extreme ends of the shoe-size bell curve (think: under size 6 or over size 10 for women, and under size 8 or over size 13 for men), you've probably had the experience of walking into a shoe store full of options, only to watch that selection shrink dramatically when a salesperson narrowed it down to what was available in your size. As someone with a relatively small foot (I'm a women's size 5 or 5.5 depending on the shoe), I know the struggle.

Squeezing into a too-small shoe or trying to make a slightly too-big one work is not only uncomfortable, it could be harmful to your feet. "Wearing shoes that are a size too small may cause discomfort and blisters at first. Over time you can develop bent toes — or 'hammertoes,'" says podiatrist Casey Ann Pidich, of Park Avenue Podiatric Care. "Wearing shoes that are too large can cause blisters from too much movement against the skin. It's also dangerous because we're more likely to trip or fall when walking in too large of a shoe."

Could this be Embiid's first signature shoe? - NBCSports.com

Posted: 15 Jan 2020 03:47 PM PST

Tobias Harris isn't the flashiest player on the Sixers. He's unassuming, both on and off the court. He'll have his moments on social media — especially when interacting with his best friend Boban Marjanovic — but for the most part, he puts his head down and does his job.

That's why it was a little surprising for him to be so demonstrative after knocking down a floater with 50.6 seconds to give the Sixers a nine-point lead and essentially seal the game. After the shot went down, Harris waved his arms to the crowd, imploring them to get louder.

That shot accounted for two of Harris' 11 fourth-quarter points as the Sixers' $180-million man delivered down the stretch in a 117-106 win over the Nets (see story).

Coming off two brutal road losses, it was much needed.

"Yeah, it felt great," Harris said. "I think all of us, we want to go out each and every night and we want to win every game we can. So when we do fall short of wins, it's disappointing for us. So just to get out there and get tonight's win and to feel good and to play good as a team, and just to feed off one another was big for us."

The one thing Brett Brown has lauded all season is Harris' ability to score in a variety of ways. He's called the 27-year-old the most versatile scorer he's had during his time with the Sixers.

On Wednesday, Harris had a little bit of everything working in scoring 34 points, his second-highest total this season. He made threes (4 of 6) — a point of emphasis with his head coach — he got downhill and drove to the basket and also showed off his skills in the midrange.

The midrange jumper is sort of a dying shot in the NBA with so much emphasis on threes. For Harris, it's part of his game — something he's done well with his entire NBA career.

While Harris has added the three to his repertoire over the last few seasons, he's not about to abandon a strength.

"I usually just take what the defense gives me," Harris said. "The couple of last games, there was a little bit of hesitation towards the midrange just by determining where the defense is at. But tonight, I really had a focus on if I got the space, just raise up and shoot it and you make it, you make it. You miss it, hopefully we can get the rebound and go from there. So just determining the space that's there and being aggressive with it."

It was impressive that the Sixers came out firing against Brooklyn. It would've been understandable if they came out a little gun shy after going just 15 of 70 combined from three in Dallas and Indiana. Harris himself didn't have the best outings, going 3 of 12 from three and 16 of 38 overall.

But it wasn't just a matter of the shots going down. Brown noticed something different about Harris. 

I think it's deeper than that. I think that there is a sincerity in him as a person and there is a genuine desire to win. And you can't dismiss that. ... There is a genuine desire to win and you can see it in his face and his actions in a locker room. It matters. He cares a lot. ... He was our bell ringer tonight. I was proud of him and it's deeper than he just made shots or whatever. To me, it is. It doesn't surprise me he came out the way he did.

They got the win, but it certainly wasn't easy. They trailed for a large chunk of the game before grinding out a victory.

The Sixers ought to be pretty used to close games by now. They were just coming off one against the Pacers where their offense went stagnant and was stifled down the stretch. 

Brown put the ball in Harris' hands Monday night. The drawn up play was to get Harris a look at a three with the Sixers trailing by two with 29.4 seconds left. Instead of putting the Sixers on top, Harris was blocked by T.J. Warren and they never really got another opportunity.

It was a different story on Wednesday. The Sixers rode Harris and he provided. His biggest shot of the night came on a hot potato from Ben Simmons. That off-balance three extended the lead from two to five with 2:20 left.

For a team that's struggled to close out games, it was a welcomed sight.

I think as a team, we're finding out what's going to work for us late game," Harris said. "And that's playoff basketball. A lot of those games are close and right down to the last five minutes and it's pretty much execution and who can get the best shot off and who can get the best look at a great shot.

That three probably wasn't the best shot, but it went in.

Did he know it was going in when it left his hand?

"Oh, yeah, for sure. I think the ball is always going in when I shoot it. ... But then when I saw it go in I was hype."

This side of Harris seems like one the Sixers could use more often.

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