Tried and tested fashion - Tiscali Shopping

Take a look at this week's tried and tested products for inspiration on what's new in the fashion market. Treat yourself to something gorgeous.

What we thought: The Dallas boots are both practical and highly sophisticated. The Sole has a really good grip which is great for walking on winty days. The top band being in another colour (black all over with the brown band at the top) adds more elegance to the boots, particularly if worn with a long skirt where the band at the top can be seen. There is also a buckle details at the top of each boot which adds interest. The boots are incredibly comfortable as they are made from the highest quality leather and are made with great attention to detail. The heel is 1 3/4 inches high which is very practical yet still gives the boots a certain feminity....
  £125

"Van Dal offers both a twist on the latest shoes styles of each season and a style for every occasion. The spring/summer collection 2007 is the most stylish yet, featuring sophisticated shoes and sandals that will complement key looks this season."

What we thought:
The Van Dal shoes come in half sizes, so it wasn't hard to find a good fit, even with my narrow feet. They felt comfortable straight away - no pain and no blisters, great for a Saturday night out in town or a day at work. If you're wearing a skirt, they really flatter the legs - I'm below average height and they made my legs look longer - but they look good when paired with trousers as well. There's a couple of different colours available in reasonably neutral shades, so you can wear them with most of your wardrobe. Lovely detail on them as well, but not too cutesey, they're high class with sass. Definitely be wearing these a lot, once summer finally arrives...
  £65

"Every step you take in the FitFlop™ helps tone and trim your legs. The FitFlop's uniquely built multi-density midsole activates muscles midstep to help tone your thighs, your calves and your glutes."

What we thought: These certainly won't be the prettiest looking footwear items in your suitcase but they'll certainly be the healthiest! Initial impressions were "Err, they look spongey and orthopaedic, and my already-wide feet are going to look enormous in these!". Whilst it's true they are clumpy, wide and heavy-set, the FitFlop™ does seem to have been designed with a purpose in mind so I needed to know whether the claims that they would tone muscle, improve posture, burn calories and reduce cellulite were true.
The thick white heavily cushioned sole using "micro-wobble board technology" meant that at first they weren't that easy to walk in, but then that's the point. By "destabilising your foot slightly", the FitFlop™ makes you work harder to retain balance with every step. As you walk, the bounce of the cushioned sole definitely helped to absorb shock, reducing impact on the important areas like your feet, knees and back (as we get older this is an impressive benefit of other flip flop) whilst the the thick, supportive (but rather ugly) straps and the slightly up-curved edges of the shoe meant that the feet sat in the middle and were held firmly in place. Having used them for a few days now, I've become quite attached to the pair. However, on a couple of occasions the toe separator started to rub the skin around the area which made my feet quite sore. They say that those with a high arch may not find the FitFlop™ suitable. I do have quite a high arch and I did notice they were slightly awkward to walk in. My left foot found it difficult to stay flat as I walked - at first it constantly slid out to the right making it a frustrating battle to keep it locked in place comfortably. That said, a colleague with no feet problems experienced no issues wearing the FitFlops™ and found them very comfortable the more she wore them.

While the style-conscious amongst us might have a little trouble adapting them to outfits (they've got a little wedge that've very this season but sadly that's it), they've certainly managed to isolate the core muscle groups, allowing me to concentrate more on my walking technique and posture. The trick is to use the FitFlops™ progressively. I can't say I've noticed any cellulite reduction but I have definitely been able to feel the muscle tension in the backs of my calves when I do use them for extended periods of time, which can only mean one thing - something good is happening!

FitFlops™ are available from King's Road Sporting Club in black, red and blue in sizes 4-8.

Reviewed July 2007.
  £36

What we thought: Made from good quality "superior" black leather, our pair of Van Dals had a sturdy and stylish yet not uncomfortably high heel and an off-centre leather flower adding a lovely design touch. The style's versatility means they can be worn under trousers or with a skirt for an every day or evening look. What we love most is that Van Dal shoes seem to be designed first and foremost with comfort in mind, with half sizes and wide fittings available.
 

Van Dal believes that feet are a neglected part of the body because, despite spending around a third of our lives on them and taking an average 5000 steps per day, most women will compromise on comfort to wear fashionable shoes. Van Dal offers a large range of stylish footwear which also feel good on your feet!

Van Dal offers both a twist on the latest shoes styles of each season and a style for every occasion. The spring/summer collection 2007 is the most stylish yet, featuring sophisticated shoes and sandals that will complement key looks this season.

What we thought: I wore the black patent leather Kamali shoes by Van Dal and absolutely love them! Not one to follow seasonal trends of the moment, these shoes appear timeless and classic; a vintage throwback to early 20th century Parisian chic with their peep toe and dainty white bow, these shoes hold themselves stylistically well, even today. They are feminine, sophisticated and elegant rendering you to feel the same way when worn. And they are multi-wearable too-- you can wear them with a nice pair of trousers in the office or a pretty dress afterwards on a night out. In terms of comfort, I must admit I have the most difficult feet to please given their width and sensitivity. Those challenges were met in the form of padded cushioning soles which felt lovely on my feet; however, I wish there was a bit of flexibility to the width as they appear a bit snug.. not tight, mind you, but hopefully this will resolve itself the more I wear these shoes which, in my book, I would give a very high rating for.
  £65

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