My Wolky Dion’s: Compliment 4

I’d only planned on including 3 compliments, but then I got another one last week, while biking on the Southwest Corridor Park bike path. At the intersection near the Roxbury Crossing T stop, a woman pulled up next to me, looked at my feet, then at traffic. I noticed that she didn’t have a helmet, because I remember long brown curly hair. Also, a skirt and brown strappy slip-ons. As I watched the traffic light, she said she liked my shoes and asked what brand they were.

“Wolkys,” I told her. I wonder if I should start saying the full name. (These? Why, these are Wolkys from Holland!)

“Do you happen to remember where you got them?” she asked politely, over the traffic noise, as we both kept eyeing the light. There is a short window where you can cross before the cars are ready, and I was running late, so I was prepared to jump on it. On the other hand, I was also enjoying spreading the Wolky word.

“Freeport. A store called J.L. Coombs,” I yelled.

“Where?” she yelled back.

“J.L. Coombs,” I said. “But I think you can get them at Berk’s in Harvard Square.” (According to Berk's website, they have six Wolky styles. On the other hand, the website has no "About Us" page, and their copyright date is 2003-2004, so who knows if it's up to date.)

Then the light changed and I took off, but even then I wished I had another shoe store to recommend. Only later, I remembered that two friends had told me that Simons in Brookline carried Wolky’s. It’s in Coolidge Corner and whenever I go to a movie next door at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, I stop in. Which is rarely. According to Simons' website, they have five current Wolky styles and two sale styles. Their "About Us" page says they first opened in 1892 on Charles Street (only sixty-two years older than J.L. Coombs)!

Below are four looks from Wolkys’ website, including lots of silver patent: the Anantara, the Cloggy, the Ballota, the Jewel. I love that black polyurethane (PU for short!) sole, one of Wolky's trademarks, for the bad-ass flavor it gives to a shoe that is orthopedic at heart. (All those straps are for folks with hard-to-fit problem feet.)

My Wolky Dion's: Compliment 3

Cadillac Mountain Sports, Ellesworth, ME.

I’d found two athletic shirts in technical fabric for about $20 each, and was postponing the moment I had to checkout, so I could enjoy the pre-purchase, post-try-on high of knowing you’ve snagged a good deal. My eye fell on a red dress and I headed toward it to finger the fabric.

“I’m admiring your shoes,” a saleswoman said. “They are unusual. Where did you get them?”

“Actually, I got them in Freeport at that shoe store called J.L. Coombs,” I said. I had no idea how well known the Freeport shoe store was. I said it like it was a secret code word, and if she was a member of the club, she would recognize it. She didn't. Instead, she said something even better. She articulated my exact thoughts on shoes, the exact reason for this blog.

“I’m always looking for stylish shoes that are comfortable,” she said. “There aren’t that many out there.”

She sounded so authoritative, so I checked out her nameplate. It said something ambiguous like “Store Merchandise Specialist.”

“Are you a buyer?” I asked.

“No, I just work here,” she said.

Too bad. If she was a buyer, I’d ask her to start stocking some Wolkys. Sports stores are the perfect place to find comfortable, stylish walking shoes. Wolkys would fit nicely into the “Lifestyle” shoe section, next to the “Running,” “Walking,” and “Cross-trainer” sections. But no matter how many sports stores I check, I rarely see anything besides sneakers.

The REI store in the Fenway area of Boston is a little better than other local sports stores in terms of shoes, and sometimes has Eccos, one of my favorite brands. The last time I stopped in, I tried on some Chacos (ZX/2 Vibram Unaweep soles) because those multi red double straps were cool looking. The gridded sole feels awesome on the bottom of your foot, but the straps felt like they were trying to pull my toes off. And the sole was kinda big for my foot.

Below are a few other styles at REI, although none tempted me to seek out a salesperson. Perhaps Marshalls has spoiled me. Nothing easier than trying on a pair right off the display. In order: another Chaco style, a Clarks Privo, an Ahnu, and a Jambu.

If a salesperson had appeared at the perfect moment, I would have tried on the ballet-style Ahnu (below) and am now curious about the brand. Zappos says the name is "derived from Celtic mythology, from the goddess of balance and well-being." And Jambu's (bottom) are inspired by the rainforest, have a vegan collection, and used to be J-41's. I will be keeping on eye out for both Ahnu and Jambu on my travels!

My Wolky Dion's: Compliment 2

L.L. Bean, Freeport. On my way to the bathroom, I passed the women’s shoe department. What genius designed the store's layout? Why of course I could take a second to check styles, even though my brother and husband were waiting for me in the car and we still had a two and a half hour drive to Boston. I had already snapped a picture of the big L.L. Bean boot outside. And I was mildly curious about any flats Bean might have.

A saleswoman ambled my way, casually eyeing me while talking to another saleswoman. I picked up a shoe — I think it was Bean’s Peep-Toe Skimmer, either in Fabric or Suede — and she asked if I’d like to try them. I said no, figuring they’d be uncomfortable like all of Bean’s shoes. She said, very frankly, that they were what was considered stylish nowadays. They didn’t have much support, but that didn’t seem to matter these days. Then she looked at my brique Wolkys.

“Those are nice,” she said. “Are they Clarks?”

I cringed. I’m sorry. I don't mean to sound like a shoe snob. I suppose her guess was reasonable because there was a Clarks store just down the street that I’d just been in. I bought some rain shoes there once and I guess there is a slight resemblance in the rubber bumper on my Wolkys and the sole silhouette on some of Clarks’ styles.

“No. They’re Wolkys. From Holland. They are really comfortable.”

I need to come up with something more interesting to say because I know that sounds lame. Even though it's true!

My Wolky Dion's: Compliment 1

It’s the time of year I pull out my Wolky Dion’s and for some reason, they are getting noticed this year — 3 compliments so far!

Mike’s Fitness, Jamaica Plain, in the brewery, third floor. There I was, sweating it out on the treadmill, staring out the big new beautiful window, when I became aware of someone at my side. There are 2 treadmills, 2 elliptical trainers, and 2 bikes on a raised platform. What I am saying is that she was standing about a foot below me. I kept walking, looking out the window, she kept standing there. Finally I looked over at her. Did she want my machine? There was an empty one right next to me. I was prepared to stand my ground.

“Those shoes,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like them.”

Whoa. I am not nimble when it comes to switching emotional gears. I was stuck somewhere between cautious defensiveness and cheery charm. Which was sad, because I love my shoes, and I actually love talking about shoes, and even more, I love hearing other people talk about shoes. I just wasn’t expecting this. I mean she was transfixed!

“Thanks. They’re Wolkys,” I said. (At least, I hope I said “Thanks.”)

“What? Walking?”

Lots of people don’t get the name when I say it at first.

“They’re called Wolkys. From Holland. They are really comfortable.”

“Hmmm. Very unusual,” she said, and promptly walked away.

Which is when I started thinking of all the things I could have told her about them, all the different ways I could have shared some enthusiasm, adopted a marketing personality, and you know — sold the brand.

They’re great! You should try them! They are on sale all the time online at Sierra Trading Post. Or try Berk’s in Harvard Square. Or that funky store near Porter Square called Vintage Etc (which is now Cambridge Clogs). Or even DSW, if you can believe that. I have two other pairs of Wolkys. Sometimes they take a little while to wear in. Not these, but my ankle boots. And I haven’t even worn in my brown slip-ons yet. 


Right? Like that? Does that sound better, like a happy, peppy salesman?

Browsing J.L. Coombs, Freeport

Freeport holds one of my favorite shoe stores — J.L. Coombs. Two weeks ago, when I stopped by on my way to Bar Harbor, I came mighty close to buying these sweet André Assous, Judie black nubuck, comfort sandals.

SCORECARD!
PLUS: Sleek lines, soft leather, featherweight outsole.
PLUS: Price! 50% off price on box, which I didn't notice because I would have paid it. Current deal for all clearance shoes in basement.
PLUS: Shoe brand trivia. Andrè Assous is known in the footwear industry as the "King of Espadrilles."
PLUS: Shoe store trivia. J.L. Coombs claims to be the oldest shoe company in the United States, founded in 1830.

MINUS: Peep toe window was so small, it pushed my big toes into scary, pre-hammertoe position.
MINUS: Bright white strip of insole exposed by peep toe. Can you say "dirt magnet"?

WILL DEFINITELY RETURN to J.L. Coombs for its rare selection of stylish comfort shoes. If you (and your boyfriend / girlfriend / husband / wife / driver) are patient enough to sift through the rows of boxes, the basement can offer up various gems. In fact, the Wolky shoes I wore in to the store were one such gem from several years ago, and for some reason I've been getting lots of compliments on them recently. My lovely brique Wolky Dion's with the nubby rubber traction outsoles and rubber toe bumpers!