Eco Sneakers

Sooo I have a personal shopper at Nordstrom that I always use. Anytime I am in Dallas and need something, I just call or text him and tell him what I need and he'll pull some stuff aside for me so I can just try it on without having to hunt all over the store.

This all started because of shoes... I have enormous feet. I wear an 11, but my feet are wide, so even 11's in a lot of strappier shoes don't fit. Nordstrom is my go-to place for shoe shopping (has been since I was in about 7th grade and first wore an 11), because they're pretty much the only place that regularly stocks shoes in larger sizes. Admittedly, things have gotten better in the last 10-12 years since I started shopping for giant shoes, but they used to be really bad. I remember being in middle school and leaving the mall with my mom in tears because the only shoes they had in my size were for grandmas... seriously. Now it's funny to me, but it was really traumatic at the time.

All this being said, I have a pretty impressive shoe collection for someone who has such a hard time finding shoes in my size/that actually fit. Probably because any time something fits, I buy it. I never know when I'll find it again, and they usually only get a couple of pairs in my size!

So anyway, then I started always buying shoes at Nordstrom, then I got a job at Nordstrom after I graduated from high school and worked there during summers and holidays all throughout college, and ever since then, I'm a Nordy addict. It's my go-to place for pretty much everything.

Now we have Chris, our personally shopper. Chris is a fabulous gay man in his 50's who also does wedding planning. He has planned some SERIOUSLY impressive weddings. He's always getting on me to get hitched so he can plan it! Ha. Chris always helps my mom shop when I'm not in Dallas (thank God... she's come home with really tragic things before), and whenever I am home he always helps me out. He always sets aside cute shoes that he knows I'll like, and either sends them to me or has my mom go pick them up.

So ANYWAY, enough background. When I was home in Dallas a couple weeks ago I texted Chris and said "Are you working today? I need flats." He promptly wrote back "Ew. Flats. Why?"

Haha. First of all, I HATE flats. I have flat feet, so they're not comfortable, and I just really don't like them. Chris hates them because he says men hate them and women should be in heels. I agree. HOWEVER - I am going to Europe (IN FOUR DAYS!!!) and I need flats for that. Everyone tells me that I won't be able to walk around in heels because the streets aren't smooth, and we are going to be doing a LOT of walking, so heels won't even be an option. I have lots of cute sandals, but everyone has said I really needed flats. So Chris agreed to help me out.

The first two we came up with are pretty obvious options:

Linea Paolo is one of my favorite brands of shoes. They're good looking without being ridiculously expensive, and they're usually wide enough for my feet (YAY!)
Here's the pair of black patent flats I got:

I also got a pair of gold Tory Burch flats (I've been trying to break them in... OW!)

And now my favs that I purchased....

I usually hate tennis shoes, unless they're for working out, but I'm obsessed with these. At first I wasn't sure, but they've totally grown on me.
First, they kinda look like converse without the hipstery connotations that go along with wearing Converse (ICKKK!).


Cute, right?
The best part about them is that they're 100% organic! I'm totally not an all organic hippie type of gal (please, I believe I've blogged extensively in the past about my love for red meat, conspicious consumption, and McDonalds), but I think that that's pretty cool!
From their website:

• Women’s natural silk sneakers with certified organic cotton laces. Silk is a natural protein fiber that keeps your feet cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool
• Certified organic cotton linings
• The “pedbed” (the cushiony and supportive stuff at the bottom of the shoe) is made of super soft and squishy polyurethane and recycled car tire
• Partially recycled shoe – the bottom of this shoe is made from a recycled car tire
• The foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper
• Even our boxes are earth friendly – made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue

They're really comfy too!
So, will this satisfy my footwear needs for Europe? Oh and feel free just to tell me how cute they are. :)
Obviously I am also bringing regular tennis shoes so I can go for runs, and a couple pairs of heels for going out, but I don't need anything else, do I?