We hope your 4th of July weekend is filled with tasty BBQ food and shoes….all in one meal.

photo credit: Courtesy of Olle Hemmendorff via delish.com

Happy 4th from all of us at Shoes of the day!

Are you searching for an eco-friendly, handcrafted, organic pair of canvas shoes with more history than your high school text book?   Look no further than the Espadrilles.  This Spanish shoe is the oldest of all of our shoe reviews and has been in use and in style for over 4,000 years.  The shoes name “Espadrille” is derived from “esparto” which is a kind of plant that was originally burned then braided to make the soles.   Each shoe is entirely hand-sewn especially for your feet, in a small Spanish town named la Rioja, in Northern Spain.

Speaking of history, if you remember “The Hoff’s” show “Night Rider”, and wore “OP” cord shorts, had a collection of 8-tracks, or you rode in a wood-paneled vehicle, then you will remember these shoes were also hot in the 80’s.  They are again back in style along with Sperry Topsiders, penny loafers and Vans.

*Image use by permission from espadrillestore.com

Shoe Type: Comfortable Casual
Shoe Construction: The soles are made of jute and rubber.  The sole will mold to your feet and allows your skin to take deep breaths in the summer heat.  The upper is constructed of canvas that is hand sewn to the sole.
Comfort: We give them 4 out of 5 shoes.
Shoe Fit: Initially the fit is snug, however they will stretch.  Feel free to leave your socks in the drawer when you wear these shoes, unless you’re into braided belts.
Buyer’s tip: These shoes come in whole sizes, so make sure when you order, round up.  If you’re not into flip-flops, then these are your perfect alternative summer shoes.  Men and women both wear these shoes.  Men, stick to the Espadrilles without ribbons.

The shoe is simple and will complement any summer wardrobe, the shoes of the day, Espadrilles with stripes, Ole!

Buy them here!

What is the Verb For Shoe? For four years Ron Demon, an MIT grad, has been working on the Verb For Shoe “smartshoe” and this month he is taking pre-orders. Each Verb For Shoe product is custom made to order and must pass a rigorous inspection. Expect your shipment in 10-14 days. But wait there’s more…this shoe also has an “engine.” It even comes with built-in airbags for your feet. The footwear features an insole computer which will adjust the level of support in your shoes depending on what you are doing – this feature is called “Auto Comfort” The shoes sense when you are walking, the bladders adjust and become softer. The shoes sense when you are running and the bladders will adjust and become firmer. The Verb for Shoes also come with a social networking component – you can share your personal information “wirelessly” with other Verb Shoe wearers. Shoes of the day: Verb For Shoe.

Technology: Yes.

Inventor: Ronald S. Demon

Sizes: 7-13

Price: $699.99 US

Site: verbforshoe.com

If I’m going to drop 7 Benjamin’s on a pair of shoes, they are going to go on their own.

And Action.

Now you can cook your own shoes! To make the best shoes of the day, follow along closely.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup barbecue sauce
2 Toebox-z’s or substitute for plural “toeboxi”
2 Vamps
2 or more Eyelets
2 soles
2 tongues. Cow tongue may taste better. Tenderize to your own liking.
1/2 cup diced grilled real soul
2 Insoles
2 Outsoles
2 Midsoles
2 Heel Counters
4 Toplines
1/4 Quarter quarters
1/4 cup chopped red bell Upper or pepper — you choose, after all these are your shoes.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pam the pan
2. Crank heat on range top to med-high.
3. Place shoe pieces in a shallow baking pan, skin side up. Combine the melted butter or margarine, honey, mustard, salt and curry powder and pour the mixture over the sole. Cook on the range (or home on the range) for 1 1/4 hours (75 minutes), basting every 15 minutes with pan drippings, until the shoe is nicely browned and tender and the juices run clear, or until all ingredients are melted into one whole. Grab chopsticks, soy sauce and enjoy.
4. For best results, test temperature first on your friend’s shoes.

Your final product should look like something like this.* We traveled to SOHO in NYC to the puma shoe store to see the top BBQ shoe chefs and to capture these pictures for your viewing pleasure, Enjoy. See cooking can be fun! Ummm, smells so good!

Sandy, don’t forget the nutter-butter to grease the pan!

*results may vary based on a number of factors. Shoesoftheday.com does not recommend you try this at home. Visit a puma store or Get great brand name shoes at Zappos.com!

For most people, shoes are most appreciated at the end of a long day when they are “kicked-off” your feet. For most men, one pair of shoes is sufficient. On the contrary, most Bettys have shoes for every outing, occasion and outfit. Let’s be honest, most men don’t spend a lot of time thinking about shoes, “Just give me all-purpose, made-for-the-gym, running-at-the-park, working-in-the-yard, boot-runner-worker-man-made-to-last-forever shoes.” Guys, you need more than one pair and you need comfort. I am here to tell you, there is a direct correlation with the amount of money you spend on a pair of shoes and how truly comfortable they are. More expensive shoes are made with careful craftsmanship and quality materials allowing them to perfectly age and mold to your feet. You don’t need to get all dressed up in shoes made from exotic skins such as alligator, python, ostrich or squirrel to have such comfort. But we have found some links-a-plenty with some custom made beauties when you are ready to slip some on. We have scoured the web to find the finest, high-end shoe makers. Enjoy these sites, window shopping from the comfort of your own home. Price tags range from $500 – $3,000.

So, kick your current shoes off with this list of the FINEST shoes of the day:

Testoni.com Family-owned since 1929, Headquartered in Bologna, Italy.
Berluti.com Founded 1895, be noticed from the ground up.
Crockettandjones.co.uk Since 1879, 200 step shoe-making process.
Edwardgreen.com Founded in Northampton, England, in 1890, the company makes only around 60 pairs per day.
Gjcleverley.co.uk Winston Churchill, Edward G. Robinson and Jackie Stewart are among those who’ve cherished the distinctive chiseled toe-look of a Cleverley.
Johnlobb.com The finest–and most distinctive–handmade shoes around. Each St. Crispin’s Day (Oct. 25) for the past decade, the company has released an exclusive, limited-edition model that can only be ordered for one year. I bet you can guess what the shoes of the day will be on the 25th?
Martindingman.com Shoes from the fashion capitol of World: Diamond City, Arkansas. Get some ‘gator on yo’ feet!
Newandlingwood.com Founded in 1865 to create footwear for the scholars. Made from Russian reindeer leather. Sorry kids, Santa may not make it this year.
Prada.com You know ‘em when you see ‘em, right? I think the devil wears this kind.
Ferragamo.com Come on, try some “luscious python” loafers.
Taninocrisci.com Lombardia-based Tanino Crisci turns out just 25,000 pairs of shoes per year.

When you are looking for your next pair of shoes, think handmade and custom-fit for ultimate feet comfort. Who knows, you may even find a guy who will fly in and get your measurements. Nate, you were there.

Another orange shoe? You bet. ‘Tis the season. Pumpkins, deer-hunting vests and accouterments, candy corns, caution signs, barricades, basketballs and oranges. Orange, the new black.

Think of an orange: citrusy, juicy, pulpy, plump and pasteurized – that is just the problem Taryn Rose was trying to solve for the feet she would treat. This is also how she said her feet felt in her three-inch heels after working a 14-hour day. This one-time, formally trained orthopedic-surgeon-turned-shoe-expert decided she’d seen enough in the hospital and was ready to become a ped-fashion diva. She traded her medical surgical tools for a leather tool kit. Her shoes are made by highly skilled artisans in Italy, with almost three hours of hand labor in each pair. Wow, sounds expensive. Remember, handmade shoes aren’t cheap and you should know by now that if a doctor is recommending them for purchase, you better make sure you have your insurance card as well as your credit card and two forms of ID. I am glad that she introduced a men’s line in 2003 – believe me, I’ve tried, and heels just don’t work, but these Astiares sure will.

Whether you are hunting for game or shoes, these Italian made orange beauties are the shoes for you. Made from soft, full-grain premium leather, this loafer-style shoe is perfect for dress or casual looks, with a slightly squared toe, stitched seam moc-style front, and side stitching. These shoes are “not-from-concentrate” and now on sale – the shoes of the day: ORANGE, Taryn Rose Men’s Astaire.

How about some OrangeSoda with some Italian Sausage?