The Vine: May 14, 2007 #5
I’m looking for a certain pair of shoes that I saw several years ago (I know…it’s going to be difficult to find the exact pair). They look something like this, but they’re not leopard-print; they’re just plain black. I know those come in black, too, but they’re this weird hair fabric. The ones that I saw and LOVED were leather. The straps were a bit different, too; they criss-crossed from the toe of the shoe to the ankle bit (but not like Jesus-sandals…).
If anyone can help me find these shoes, I’ll be forever grateful. I didn’t buy them at the time because they were too expensive, but now I want them so badly that I’m willing to pay almost anything for them.
Sincerely,
Shoeless? Not really, but I like to think so…
Dear Shoe,
Those sound like Campers or Keens to me; you might have some luck browsing around Zappos.com and setting your search parameters for a casual maryjane with no heel. Still, let’s see if the readers know what you mean.
Readers: no super-long links, please. Just give the brand and style name if the link is really byzantine. Thanks.
Tags: Ask The Readers retail
The closest thing I know of are Skechers. I don’t know if they come in all leather (the ones I have are leather and mesh). The style I know is called Sightsee but there are lots of other styles they have that are similar.
Try searching Rocket Dog Singapore or String Bean style. I have a pair and they’re in black suede, but they apparently come in plain black leather too.
Perhaps these, by Dr. Scholl’s:
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7275960/c/72.html
I have them in red leather. They’re fab.
They sound like my Dr. Scholl’s Girly to me.
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7275960/c/72.html
These look a lot like a brand called J41. They have them at Zappos among other sites. They have quite a few styles and I highly recommend reading the fit reviews.
The Palladiums that you linked to do come in that weird hair material, but they also come in regular black leather (I think that’s what is listed on the site as “black” not “black fabric”). I have the black leathers and will attest that they are awesome and super comfortable. I got them at a DSW for about $20 less than at Nordstrom.
i’d also check out royal elastics. they sort of pioneered the whole elastic bands on shoes thing.
As it happens, I am wearing those exact shoes right now. The Kassels, I mean. They come in black leather and black suede. And they also come in that weird beaver pelt, which I ordered by accident and had to return. The ones I have, and wear the crap out of across three seasons, are the suede version. I ordered them online, though I forget where — I had a terrible time finding them for a couple months, then they suddenly surfaced again (I saw them in a shoe store, but the only pair they had were three sizes too big and they were very unhelpful about ordering — thanks, Tannery in Harvard Square).
It’s also possible you’re thinking of the Palladium Freerubber, which they don’t appear to make anymore (I just went to the web site — http://www.palladiumshoes.com). But if you Google “palladium freerubber” you’ll find examples. They’re almost identical to the Kassel but have slightly different patterns on the heel. They may have been the one you saw a few years ago.
I highly recommend the Kassels — they are very comfy and I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on them.
The Palladium Freerubber is available at zappos.
I think I may have the shoes you describe . . . I bought them several years ago. The criss-crossing straps were thin elastic strings, and mine were black leather/fake leather. If this is your shoe, they’re Rocket Dog. I can’t find them on the website, but try DSW — they tend to have a lot of similar Rocket Dog styles.
Skechers were the first brand that popped into my mind. Also look through J41 and/or Rocket Dog collections. Sars is right, though: Zappos.com is seriously the best for shoes. The selection and variety are mind-numbingly huge, and the shipping is free both ways.
Skechers are sketchy at best with older shoes. I’m still trying to track down their Pinnacle shoe from who-knows-when.
It’s tricky, because they have such a wide range of shoes that it could easily be them – or not.
You may also be able to find something similar-but-not-exact from Dansko or Aldo.
I have a pair of shoes that looks just like the ones in the photo except they are black and mesh. They’re also Skechers, like KW’s, and I got them last season. I saw them at the mall, recently, though, so they shouldn’t be impossible to track down. I want to get them in gold next!
I also have the Rocket Dog Stringbean that Elizabeth describes – got them at Nordie’s a couple of years back. The leather is flexible and very soft. The only thing I don’t like is that I have a rather wide foot and the elastic is so thin that it tends to bite in. Anyway, I found them online here http://www.shoemall.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=318811&categoryId=0&subCategoryId=0&typeId=0&PIPELINE_SESSION_ID=9540e9e9c0a807f447d0d286c4c6ff2b
Maybe these are what you mean?
I saw a black leather version of those shoes at the Easy Spirit outlet a few weeks back. They weren’t made by Easy Spirit, I think they were Capezio? I’m still cursing myself for not having bought them.
I, too, have the Rocket Dog Stringbean…which may or may not be what you’re after. Amen on the wide foot dilemma, so watch out for that. Also, (on a un-shoe-related note) the cool little gadget tinyurl might help readers turn those byzantine links into more reasonable ones. http://www.tinyurl.com
These might be what you’re looking for. I’m thinking of getting some myself. http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=13329&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4477%2C7490%2C9331&iProductID=13329. I think they might be Camper.
The Freerubber did come first but has been discontinued and replaced by the Kassel. Ten colors in different materials are on the Palladium site and one of them is the black leather you might be looking for. They’re always coming up with new colors and fabrics–leather, fur, fabric, metallics–I keep checking back to see what’s new. I want a pair in every combination! They’re so comfortable. PS – They have a promo code you can use at checkout that saves 20% off the Kassel (TWENTY60).