We are really please to have taken delivery of our remaining Spring / Summer Alegria Styles. We were getting worried as we were running low on stock! I just wanted to take a little time to tell you a bit more about a couple of the styles.

Alegria Mariposa

We’ve had this style before and it was so popular with lots of our customers due mainly to the fun colours, orthotic foot-bed and adjustable straps. This summer we have picked 3 styles that we think you will love. Black Patent, Distressed Pink and White & Silver Embossed. All the Alegria Mariposa have 2 adjustable straps across the toes and the foot to keep your feet firmly in place. The cushioned orthotic foot-bed moulds to your feet and has a good arch support that adds to the overall comfort of this sandal. Great for wearing all day long and thanks to the stylish colours and leathers we have selected will look equally as fabulous into the evening too!

Alegria Tuscany

A new style from Alegria for this summer which is a cross between a shoe and a sandal – great if you want to wear something cool on your feet but don’t like showing you toes. It has an enclosed toe box that will comfortably fit a standard foot width – not as wide as the popular Paloma Shoe style. The strap across the arch is adjustable so will help to hold the shoe on to your foot and it has an elastic insert so it “gives” as you walk making it more comfortable. It has the same anatomically correct foot-bed that moulds to your feet and a mild rocker sole that helps propel you forwards as you walk (nothing too extreme)! Please note that we have added buying advice for size. As with some of our other Alegria Shoe styles, these are fitting on the large side so, if you would normally order a 41, order a 40.

Let us know what you think of these new stlyes by leaving a reply in the comments to the field below.

I realise that the weather is not all that this week (that’s putting it mildly), however I did get a chance to start wearing my new Mephisto Britt Sandals a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t wait to tell you about how great they are.

What do Mephisto say about the Britt Sandal

Mephisto are well known for their comfort and quality and the key features of this mephisto sandal do not disappoint. There are 5 Fully Adjustable straps ensure you will get a perfect fit and once found there is a zip at the back that you can use to get them on and off (so no worrying about having to undo all those straps)! Don’t worry about the zip at the back rubbing as it has a leather lining so it won’t irritate your skin. They have a soft cushioned insole that has to be tried to appreciate……imagine walking on the most springy newly fitted carpet with the best underlay ever….you get the idea. It also has a Natural rubber sole unit is flexible with a good grip

My Review

I can’t tell you how much I like these sandals. Up until now my feet have been firmly attached to my Mephisto Helen sandals all summer long however what I like about these is that they offer a little more warmth in our balmy spring climate and oh so, so, so cushioned. I didn’t really have to adjust the straps too much though I was worried about the ankle straps as I do have wide ankles but they were not a problem. I was a bit worried on the first day I wore them as I cycle to school with the kids along the canal bank and my youngest decided to try riding with his eyes closed, you know what’s coming! Straight into the water and I would have jumped in to save him but he managed to swim to the side, thankfully saving my new Mephisto Sandals from a dip in the murky Leeds Liverpool canal.

Would I recommend to a friend?

Definitely, these will look great with cropped trousers, long linens, skinny jeans and prairie skirts (pretty much what my friends and I wear all summer). As the children are getting older and demanding more active sports and cycling they will be a comfortable, stylish and practical addition to any summer wardrobe!

Summary

Comfort - You will not believe how springy the insole is until you try them and the leather is so soft and supple – no rubbing or stiffness.

Style- On trend gladiator sandal that is back for another season. Mephisto have paid close attention to detail mixing the fashionable look with practical and functioning comfort (all the straps adjust, lining over the back zip).

I know that its a long way off but we have just returned from our buying trip to Dusseldorf and I really wanted to tell you about a new brand that will be joining our CheerfulSoles collection this Autumn / Winter. They are an Austrian Shoe manufacturer, recommeded to us from an established comfort shoe retail who we trust and they are simply wonderful and will fit nicely into our range of unique and stylish shoes that don’t compromise on comfort.

So who are Think! Shoes? The Koller family has been involved in the making of shoes for over 200 years. The Narko Company with its emphasis on mens shoes was founded by Mr Koller Sr in th 1950s. In 1990 his son Martin Koller hit on the idea of moving awayfrom the original field of mens shoes & repositioning the company as an ecological shoe maker.  Along cam the Think! Shoe brand.

The question of what makes a Think! shoe special, according to them can be answered in four simple Words; Individuality, Comfort, Naturalness & Passion

Individuality

According to Think! every person is a unique work of art and that is exactly what they claim to offer for your feet. We agree, the styles are interesting and unlike anything we have seen before!

Comfort

The main aim of Think! shoes is to be good for the feet. Their shoe designs and insoles make no compromise when it comes to fitting the shape of the human foot to ensure that healthy feet stay that way. What we love is that the insoles come out of the Think! shoes so they are orthotic friendly. If you don’t wear an orthtic then Think! also offer a replacement insole service so you can enjoy that new shoe feeling for longer!

Naturalness

Think believe that everything that goes against nature Will not endure. They use vegetable tanned leather of European origin for all the parts of their shoes that come into direct contact with the foot. They rely on renewable raw materials such as natural rubber & cork. They act in an ecologically sustainable manner and guarantee that their manufacturing steps are environmentally friendly and they conserve resources where possible.

Passion

For generations Think! have been developing their shoes for the joy of designing with a commitment to loving details and have a passion for the art of making shoes by hand.

What do they look like?

Just to give you an idea of the unique styling of Think! Footwear here’s a sneaky peak.

No problem, we have the perfect solution for you. Lots of our customers have problems finding comfortable shoes and sandals for the summer months that look attractive and cover up the bit of themselves that they don’t like the most…..their feet. Hammer Toes, Bunions, Corns & Calluses can make us groan in anticipation of the summer months as we look on in envy at scantily clad feet in lovely stylish comfortable sandals.

Comfortable Shoes for the Summer

At CheerfulSoles we always try to provide a selection of footwear that will give you the ventilation needed to keep feet cool during summer and allow you to step out in style and feel good about yourself. These are some of the Summer Shoes that we have that not only look good on but feel great too! Click on a Shoe to find out more details.

Mephisto Shoes – Suzanna, Sprint & Niro

Alegria Shoes – Dusty & Pesco

Theresia M Shoes – Houston Mule 

Waldlaufer Shoes – Hadya Pump

Yeah, our new collection of Scholl Sandals have now arrived and we are really impressed with the quality and styles that we have selected for you. I will be doing a “What are We Wearing” review on the Tikehau Sandal in black patent but the weather will have to improve significantly before even this tough Yorkshire girl is able to bare her tootsies.

Soft and Supple Patent Leathers

What I will say for sure is that the patent leathers are really soft and supple and we had completely forgotten that the Bimini Thong Scholl Sandal has an adjustable toe post, well it kept us happy for a few minutes while we made sure it worked!

Anatomic Nubuck Footbeds

The nubuck footbed feels really cool and soft under the foot and we are confident that along with the cork sole units will provide a comfortable and healthy platform for your feet all summer long.

Youthful Higher Wedge Mules

We made sure that we only selected scholl mules that fit comfortably and securely on the foot with some degree of adjustability to accommodate some swelling through the summer months. The wedge heels on our highest scholl sandals are 6.5cm but because they are on a platform, once on they don’t feel as high

Go straight to our new collection of Scholl Sandals now to see more.

“One size fits all” doesn’t work when your feet aren’t average, which is why, back in the olden days, shoes came in different widths and half sizes. At one time women bought shoes by width almost as much as by length, however it is not uncommon now to hear people say, when asked what size they are, “Well it depends on where I am buying them from”, or 6.5 but I have to buy a 7 so they’re not too small”. Finding comfortable shoes can be hard, especially ones that look good too. It is true that these days shoe sizes are usually a lot less specific, so people are guided mostly by brand and find eventually that some are better for broader feet, others for slim ones.

Find Comfortable Shoes Online at Cheerful Soles

Luckily finding ladies comfort shoes at Cheerful Soles is easy. We will always give you guidance as to whether a shoe is narrow (UK width A), standard (UK widths B-D), wide (UK E-EE) or extra wide (UK EE-EEE). We carry a large selection of comfortable shoes in standard and wide fittings so you can be sure to find something suitable that looks and feels great. Even better than that, most of our shoes also come in UK half sizes so that you can be sure to find the perfect fit.

To help you find the right shoes for your foot type, here is a brief summary of what to look out for at both extremes:

Finding Shoes for Narrow Feet

What to look for:

• A well-fitting heel, not too loose as you’ll wobble and slip out. Often just looking at the heel cup indicates whether the shoe will be suitable or not.
• Straps, laces or ties, so that you can adjust the shoe for a closer fit if necessary
• Leather rather than suede (the latter is too yielding to give adequate support)
• You could try inserting heel grips into shoes – see image below
•  Picture of a shoe with a heel grip in place.

Here is a small selection of shoes that are suitable for narrow feet available at CheerfulSoles. Go to our online store for see more!

Finding Shoes for Wide Feet

What to look for:

• Suede or soft calfskin that stretches where you need it
• More covered styles—broad feet “spill” out of bare, low-cut shoes
• Removable Insoles – Often taking out the insoles can give you a bit of extra depth and width where you need it most
• Laces or adjustable straps so that you can find a fit that works for you
• Nonbinding design – avoid fixed straps as wide feet can bulge causing pain and irritation

Here is a small selection of shoes that are suitable for wide feet available at CheerfulSoles. Go to our online store for see more!

We have customers in our sister shop “Helen Midgley” who suffer from painful foot problems and we successfully fit them with shoes that look good and feel great. Comfortable shoes don’t have to look ugly and unflattering and we wanted to regularly share with you some of our fitting experiences, hoping that they will help you to find the right shoe for you.

To kick us off we are starting with what to look out for when searching for shoes for rheumatoid arthritis. We see this condition time and again and completely empathise with those who are suffering and searching for shoes. Quite often people who suffer from this painful condition also have swollen and deformed toe joints, making the search for comfortable shoes that more difficult. You can find out more about this painful condition by clicking here>>

What Fits well for Swollen and deformed toe joints, commonly associated with Arthritic Feet?

We were fitting a lady with shoes in our sister shop, “Helen Midgleys” in Grassington last week who had this problem and we are pleased to say that she left the shop extremely happy and with two new pairs of stylish shoes in spite of her problem feet. So what did she buy?

Both of the shoes above are suitable if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, our top tips for buying shoes for this condition are:

Look for a square and roomy toe box

This shape of toe box will accommodate the spread of your toes and any swollen joints more easily that a toe box that is rounded.

Removable Insoles

In addition to the square toe box, a removable insole will give you extra depth where you need it most. Often we have ladies (an gentlemen) who only have a problem with one of their feet and have been buying shoes that are too big. With a removable insole you need only remove the insole from the shoe that will be accommodating your problem foot making for a more comfortable fit for both feet.

Secure Fastening

It goes without saying that feet slipping in shoes further exacerbates pain in swollen joints so having a secure lace, Velcro ore elastic fastening across the foot will give you more comfort as the shoe is held securely on the foot with no rubbing or slipping.

Now you know what to look for, take a look at more stylish comfort shoes that look good and feel great on our website. Click Here>>

We are really excited to tell you about a new brand arriving this spring.
Scholl Footwear has a long established reputation in the comfort shoe
market and they have been manufacturing comfort footwear for over 100 years.
Known for the iconic wooden sole sandal made popular in the 1970s, Scholl
have come a long way and we were so impressed with their Spring / Summer
range that we just had to get some.

Scholl Sandals at Cheerful Soles

Our new range of Scholl Sandals includes a mixture of styles; from the traditional
wooden sole with a rather stunning heel to flat sandals with cushioned orthotic
footbeds. Here’s a taster of some of the Scholl Sandals that will be arriving soon.

We love them and lovingly refer to them as our ‘Marmite Shoes’ because you either automatically love them or are really not that keen. Well, give Alegira Shoes a try is what we say and don’t just take our word for it, have a look at some of our great customer reviews.

Alegria Caiti Boot

The Cheerful Soles description is right – this is a fantastic little boot. This is a very comfortable and cute addition to the the range – I even wore them with a shortish skirt and opaque tights. Read full review……..

Alegria Paloma Shoes

have problems with the ball of my right foot and for months have not been able to walk very far, but went shopping on Saturday and had the best walking day I have had for a long time. Read More………

Buying Advice

Don’t forget that the Paloma Shoe, Caiti Boot and Dayna Shoes are ‘fitting big’. Order a size below what you are normally. So, if you are a 39, order a 38!

Are you Loving your Alegria?

let us know what you love about your Alegria Shoes, leave a comment below.

Mephisto Shoes Review

We have known that Mephisto Footwear is stylish and comfortable for a long time now so we are pleased to see that some of our customers are leaving reviews of their Mephisto Shoes for others to see. Our best selling Mephisto Ladies Shoe for this season has to the the Mephisto Fiducia Boot.