Happy New Year! Like most people, at the beginning of a new year, I am spurred into taking personal inventory and looking at things that I want to improve. Of course, typically, my list includes getting in better shape. I tend to get lazy right around Thanksgiving because I know I’m going to feast through the end of the years. Regardless of how often my waist size fluctuates, I can always depend on my shoe size remaining the same. What better way to work off my holiday gorge fest than to put on my pedometer and go shoe shopping. During a 3 hour shopping trip with 4-inch heels, I can burn up to 400 calories. Then, Ill’ burn an additional 100 while shopping for shoes on the net. While I’m trying out my new fitness routine, over the next 7 weeks, I will share the best eco styles that I find to help you get a leg up on slimming down your look.

Knee High Boots are not only great during colder months, they work well to elongate the legs are create a sexy profile with most outfits. Whether you have full or thin calves, you can’t go wrong with Knee High Boots. Don’t despair if your calves are too big or small for a pair a boots you’re in love with. Find a good shoe cobbler and they can work wonders by expanding or decreasing the calf width of your boots.  Knee High boots look great with short or long skirts. Skinny jeans look hot snugly inside a pair like the rugged Sandy Black pair pictured above.  Here are some of my favs this season.

Furry but animal friendly from the shoe designers with big hearts. Cri de Coeur Wendy boots will definitely keep the wind out.

Cri de Coeur Winter Boots

These Wellies are just to fun. When the snow is all slushy, you can make a fashionable splash in these Earth Elite Rubber boots.

Earth Elite Rain Boots - Red

To kick it up a notch, I’m adding these Kaila Thigh High Boots because they are just too sexy and their Vegan!

Kailia Footwear Thigh High Boot

Next week I’ll share some cute ankle boots.

More Shoes,

~Ar

Terra Plana Gaia Boots

Charmone Dragonwell

NeuAura Arinos Black Croco

Toms Shoes Glitter

‘Tis the season to give and for many of us it’s gotten a bit harder. I wanted to share some wonderful options of fashionable giving for the conscientious eco shoe aficionados. The great thing about the following is they offer ways of giving no matter what time of year it is.

1. TOMS Shoes has provided shoes to over 300,000 children around the world since the inception of their One for One program. With every pair of TOMS Shoes that are purchased, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. Many of their comfortable shoes are vegan or made from recycled and local materials and produced under strict “no sweatshop” criteria.

2. It’s a bootie! It’s a shoe! It’s a sling back! I love Neuaura Shoes Arinos Black Croco. This animal friendly shoe versatility is unlimited.

Pair it with a pencil skirt, leggings, wide-leg trousers and beautiful soft bamboo jacket. Neuarua Shoes chooses 2 charities each season to donate 10% of all online sales. For more information check out their

3. From the High Tea Collection, Charmone’s Dragonwell vegan boot will get you over the river, through the woods to wherever you’re headed during the holidays in high eco style. The military inspired embellishments are a great look with skinny jeans. Sustainability and giving at Charmone Shoes starts with manufacturing shoes in sweatshop free environments, thereby providing living wages. 5% of all profits from their shoes are donated to charities that support people, animals and the environment.

4. Don’t just go green, go thigh high with these sexy boots. Kailia Footwear is where sustainability meets sexy Italian styling. Chiara is a handcrafted eco friendly boot that is sure to please for turn heads beyond the holiday. Compassion spurred the launch of Kailia’s sister brand, DoNi- Gift of Love, which exclusively helps numerous non-profit agencies with animal and environmental causes. Impressively, 100% of after-cost profits from on-line sales are donated to those organizations.

5. Saving the one of the best for last, I can’t even begin to describe my excitement when I first found these Terra Plana Gia Boots! The 2007 Ethical Fashion Award Winner never misses details with their shoes and this boot has it all! Whipstitching throughout, wooden heel, and a lining made from recycled memory foam. Talk about lighting up the Kinara or Menora, these veggie tanned boots are that hot! You can even select the detailing patchwork styling for the rear calf. One of the best forms of giving is to your friends; Terra Plana gives you 10% off when friends you recommend make a purchase from their site.

Regardless of how hard times can be, we each possess the power to give of ourselves. The thing about giving is you typically get more back especially when it’s done selflessly. My gift is to motivate you to consider adding fabulous eco shoes and compassionate manufacturers to your giving tree and help change the lives of others, animals and the environment in a fashionable way.

Happy Holidays!!!!

~Ar