LAMO “Uptied” Shoe Review

If you know us here at The Fashionable Housewife, then you know that we are HUGE fans of… that’s right, SHOES! We have met shoes we didn’t like but we find that they are few and far between. Being that we appreciate shoes, especially those with a high comfort level without losing style, we thought we would share our newest find with you, our fabulous readers. LAMO (pronounced Lah-Mow) was kind enough to share/ I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try out a pair of LAMO’s most recent sandal design for Spring/Summer, the “Uptied“ in Navy (retails for $79.00). First, let me share a little about LAMO Sheepskin footwear with you. Their philosophy? Well, their brand philosophy goes FAR:

Fashion – They love fashion in all its facets, but mostly because it’s fun and a great way to let people express their personalities and moods.

Authenticity (and our personal favorite) – There is absolutely no arguing with the fact that one should have as many shoes as your closet and your external storage can possibly hold.  They’re crazy about shoes and they understand that special feeling when you find and capture that perfect pair. If it’s super cute, amazingly stylish and comfortable, it’s the footwear trifecta.

Respect – They reduce the environmental impact of their business as much as possible. Recycling and conscientious use of resources are a given, but they also continuously research and test ways to increase the use of Earth-friendly production methods and materials. They respect the rights of their workforce and their entire product line is made in factories that are strictly supervised and highly rated for compliance with international labor standards.

So I guess I don’t have to tell you guys that not only do we love them because they are shoemakers, we love them because they are super conscious of their earth, their workforce and their responsibilities.

 

OK, you ready to see what the “UPTIED” Sandals look like?

I was drawn to these sandals because I could see them making a name for themselves in my shoe closet, which is no easy feat (get it? Feat/Feet?). I imagined the darlings paired with chambray and khaki and denim, oh my! They seemed classic with a touch of sass. When I received them, my initial impression was that these were well made and even lovelier in person.

After my initial Ooooohing and Aaaaaahing over their looks (I know, how superficial of me), I started thinking about their functionality. Made from suede leather, Australian merino sheepskin and fleece, these sandals really struck me as HOT. Not hot as in “those are some hot shoes you have there girrrrl” but rather I am talking about how they really first impressed upon me how sweaty they were going to make my feet feel. The sandals are made from suede and sheepskin, with a heel full of fleece. I thought, “how the heck am I supposed to wear these in the hot Summer weather?!” But, I am ashamed to say, that I judged a book by its cover. After wearing these sandals, on some pretty warm days , I was extremely surprised at how cool my feet stayed, as if they were ventilated (besides obvious ventilation). LAMO calls this their temperature balancing properties and whatever that means, I am pretty sure it’s legitimate.

The suede insoles are buttery soft, the tie dyed lambskin straps/heels are comfortable without causing blisters and those strange fleece lined sandal heels? They are strangely comfortable without causing overheating of the tootsie. The shoes are made of such high quality materials and are really well made that I am pretty darn excited to bring a new shoe line into the family. It feels to me like  LAMO has found a nice balance between style and function, leaving this reviewer with nothing but nice things to say.

As if me professing my love of these sandals wasn’t enough, LAMO does something with every purchase of shoes that is truly admirable. LAMO operates on a Buy One/ Give One through Soles4Souls, which is the world’s largest provider of free shoes to people in need. For every pair of LAMO shoes that you buy, a pair of shoes reaches someone who desperately needs it. Something you or I may take for granted, is something that others may never have without the help of great organizations like Soles4Souls.

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 14 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 7 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 127 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls has been featured in Runner’s World, Ladies’ Home Journal, National Geographic’s Green Guide, and The New York Times. It has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC, CNN and thousands of regional news outlets across North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Anyone can join our cause, and we need your help.

Some other lovelies from LAMO’s most recent collection? Mmmmmmmmmm, Mama likes.

So to leave you ladies with my final thoughts on my new LAMO sandals, the design is what drew me in but the comfort is what will keep me coming back. Icing on the cake? LAMO’s charitable and conscious attitude.