Woven straw totes and baskets have long been summer staples—they’re lightweight, durable and versatile, easily schlepping everything from beach towels to potato salad. Lately we’ve noticed the familiar basketweave pattern reimagined beyond the tote in crossbodies, sandals and hats all perfect for laid-back afternoons spent in the sand or under a tree. Want to embrace the alfresco vibe? Weave got (wink wink) a few suggestions to start.
It’s easy to love sneaker brand Veja—let’s say it together, veh-jah—for its unique designs that are extra comfy. (We’ve got some really good ones for spring and summer, btw.) But there’s a lot more to the French-slash-Brazilian label that we wanted to shout-out here: In fact, its name means “look” in Portuguese, which the founders chose because they wanted consumers to go behind the shoes and consider what went into making them. Veja’s dedication to sustainability, fair working conditions and doing it all without compromising aesthetics is something to admire. We chatted with its community and event manager, Marine, about the brand she describes as “50% transparency, 50% design.”
With the ease of a slipper and the put-togetherness of a pump, a good pair of mules is a wardrobe game changer. There are few other options that strike the polished-yet-comfortable balance so well, and it’s no wonder that statement-making ladies from Egyptian queens to movie stars were known to own a pair or two. Thanks to an extra layer of padding, our new mules feel even more cushy but still look just as sleek. And now we present a very specific—and admittedly silly—list of fancy-slash-comfy things to do in your fancy-slash-comfy mules.
In search of the best ways to keep our favorite kicks looking like new, we reached out to members of our Madewell fam across the country, from Portland to Atlanta. Whether they’re dealing with breakfast taco mishaps or muddy puppy paws, these ladies had plenty of shoe care advice to share.
@jessalynn.forde
Jessalynn: Portland, OR
LOCATION-BASED SHOE STRUGGLE: My biggest hassle is rain, so I always apply this protective spray on leather and suede shoes. Just like how I need a spa day every once in a while, my boots need TLC too—they get a good cleaning before I put them away for the next season!
SHOE STORAGE SITUATION: I have my current lineup by the door for easy access and keep others in shoe boxes with the stuffing intact. That way they stay clean and hold their shape.
SCARIEST SHOE-MERGENCY: Being from Austin, I have a thing for breakfast tacos and I once spilled some on my new Ella pumps! Thankfully I was able to remedy the situation with corn starch—a trick I picked up in college.
Early fall is pretty much the perfect time of year for showing off your socks. So for our latest round of style recipes, we cooked up three ways to wear our favorite pairs with a few staple shoes. The best part? Prep time for each is, like, 30 seconds tops.
Our final sneaker artist is a special one—our head designer, Joyce. She put a sparkly spin on the classic Sk8-Hi Vans®, adding metallic silver laces and gold leather star patches. We decorated each one by hand here at Madewell HQ (really, we did), so handle ’em with a little extra care. Learn more about the sneaks in our Q&A with Joyce, then get your own pair before we’re all out—only 50 exist (!).
Friends Claire Lampert and Stacy Daily of B Sides are true artists when it comes to reworking vintage denim, and it turns out they’re just as good at transforming high-tops too. Only 20 pairs of these hand-paint-splattered Vans with vintage-bandana laces were made exclusively for us—so find out more about the sneaks then nab a pair, quick (!).
We’re really into Austin chain-stitch collective Ft. Lonesome’s original embroidery designs—so much so that we’ve done a few collabs in the past and most recently had them do their thing on these limited-edition Sk8-Hi Vans®. Read on to learn more about the sneaks from the crew’s founder Kathie Sever, then nab a pair of your own (only 30 exist, so get on it).
If you haven’t checked out the work of LA illustrator Max Dower (aka Unfortunate Portrait) yet, you’re in for a treat. As fans of his punny drawings, we were so excited to have him contribute a design to our series of exclusive Sk8-Hi Vans®. There are only 100 (!) pairs of hand-painted beach-scene sneaks available, so read more about Max’s inspo then get yours ASAP.
We’re not shy about our love for sneaks, by any means. But wearing ’em all day every day could lead to unintentional I-just-got-back-from-the-gym vibes (not that there’s anything wrong with comfy clothes). Take your sneaker-based outfits to the next level with these easy styling tips—no sweatpants involved.
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