Every Clog Has Its Day

Boo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween!

 

 

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Of course, you know I couldn't be content simply posting a handful of images I first came across on the Virtual Shoe Museum. You know I had to dig a little deeper. And here's what I found. These unique clogs and booties are the designs of Dutch artist René van den Berg. As the company profile on pinxit.net tells us,

René van den Berg is specialised in designing and manufacturing unique shoes for professional use in fashion shows, music videos, musicals, motion picture productions, commercials and stage performances.

He provides the knowledge, the design expertise and the craftsmanship, to realise almost any wish in exclusive shoedesign. Some samples of his original ideas and extravagant designs can be found in the gallery on this website.

From 1981 untill 1989 René van den Berg studied to become an orthopedic shoemaker. In 1992 he started his own studio for custom made shoes, which gave him the opportunity to develop his own style and to become an all-round, exclusive and creative shoe designer.

Since then, he is well known for his unique designs, and most extraordinary shoes. René has participated in numerous exhibitions among others ´Die Verlassenen Schuhe´ in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn (Germany) in 1993 and ´Voetstukken´ in the Museum of Modern Art in Arnhem (Holland) in 1995. In 1996, real recognition came when he won the Henk Overduin prize for his exclusive shoe designs.

From 1997 until 1999 he worked freelance for the Paris Fashion house Thierry Mugler. He has manufactured the most diverse, exclusive shoes which were used on the runway. Some of René´s creations were used in music videos and commercials. In co-operation with Toornend Orthopedic services he manufactured shoes for the Dutch versions of the musicals, Chicago, 42nd Street and Elisabeth.

In 2000 the shoe designs Artus Duplex and Daidsa were purchased by the city museum in The Hague.

 

Talk about following your bliss!

Here then are the designs above as depicted in his own gallery...and a few other styles that are also likely to give you pause.

Happy Halloween!

 

Hommage á Giger

Irion

Hapexa

 

Daidsa

 

Aradia

 

Terminus Est

 

 

Artus Duplex

Alumania 3

 

 

But the story doesn't stop there. Dig a little deeper in that wonder that is the world wide web and you'll discover these goodies on Mr. van den Berg's own website. Says the artist himself, 

Since the beginning of my career I have been exploring the boundaries of what is technically feasible. 
I feel a great personal drive to innovate. Various materials inspire me to experiment. 
The shape of a piece of jewellery, a plant or the skin of a reptile can trigger me to create a new pair of shoes

I'm loving it. This Halloween post is turning out not to be scary at all. It's rather inspiring and life-affirming, really. Hope your corner of the planet is feeling similarly brightened.

 

 

Laars

 

 

Beauty and the Beast boot created for Joop van den Ende Theaterproducties

 

 

Cork platform styles created in collaboration with designer Jan Taminiau...which you can watch in action here:

 

 

 

 

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  Really? After showing you shoes like these, I'm not about to put a pair of my mild-mannered Clark Kent clogs on display!]

 

 

To Your Health!

I've spoken before about how important clogs are to my mental health. Certainly there's a lot to be said for dressing for personal pleasure. But while I rave about what the right pair of shoes does for my outlook on likfe, I don't mean to make light of those people who've had serious physical ailments addressed through a change in footwear. A couple weeks back on ECHID we heard from a reader with plantar fasciitis who's found a lot of satisfaction wearing clogs. Both physically and sartorially. This week, I've got the story of another reader, one from Portland, Oregon, who also swears by the wonders of wooden shoes. To paraphrase Hunter S. Thompson, 

I hate to advocate clogs or clog boots, wooden shoes, or sabots to anyone. But in my case it's worked.

 

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Hi, I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 15. That is a curvature of the spine. I had always had lower back pain. At that time I purchased a pair of Multnomah Leather Shop clogs. They were the thing to wear in Portland at the time and little did I know the wood sole would be so helpful to me. I then just started wearing wooden soled shoes.

 

As I got older and my feet grew, I was always looking for comfortable footwear. I wore Birkenstocks, Earth Shoes, etc. Well, at the age of 51 I got osteoarthritis. So I started to search for comfortable shoes once again. I then hard about Clogmaster of Portland, so I went there. I bought 3 pairs of clogs and was very happy.

 

But then this last summer I broke my big toe vertically in half.

OUCH!!!

So I was in a cast for 4 weeks and then in a walking post-op boot. At that time I was not able to wear my Clogmaster clogs anymore since my right foot was much wider now. I also need a slightly softer sole to walk on since my toe will not bend anymore. So I then went to Dansko clogs and Alegria clogs. The rocking sole of a clog has been my savior. I was even able to do Zumba yesterday with very little problem. My cast even had a rocker sole so I was able to work out during my recovery. So if it were not for clogs of all types I would be in misery. Now I am able to go for hikes and do anything I want. 

 

Arthritis beware! Clogs helped me recover and get rid of my lower back pain. Maybe some day I will be able to get my Clogmaster clogs back on.

I also bought my daughter-in-law a pair of Clogmasters since she works in a research lab and is on her feet all day. She was never able to get clogs because like me she has a very narrow foot. But her custom pair is the just what her feet needed.

All I can say is CLOGS ROCK.

 

It's Sunday. Can I get an "Amen!"? 

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  a pair of square-toed Seychelles clogs I picked up from...Spiegel, I think it was,...years ago. This is the pair I bought. Then broke. So I bought another pair. Then repaired the broken pair. Then wore them both out completely. Then replaced by buying the exact shoe again on eBay in brand new condition. Yep, this is a style I LOVE!]

 

Saturday Flea Market for October 29, 2011

I don't know about you, but Saturdays are always an exercise in frustration. So many cool clog styles appear fleetingly on my computer display as I research this weekly post. And almost none of them are my actual size. I guess I'm so conditioned by being able to make shoe purchases online from retailers who offer a full range of sizes. But not so with secondhand goods. Well, it's an edifying exercise in patience, I suppose. And let me tell you, I should have the patience of a saint by this point!

 

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 Kinney Shoes clogs, size 7, available through Etsy seller luckyvintageseattle

Thom McAn clogs, size 10, available through Etsy seller JennyBeauBenny 

 

 

Sanita clogs, size 35, available through Etsy seller HulaGirl1922 

 

 

Yellow clogs, size 36, available through Etsy seller silkwormvintage

 

 

Rapallo clogs, size 7, available through Etsy seller moonchildvintage 

 

 

Closed-heel clogs, size 34, available through Etsy seller Spelfenmeisje 

 

 

Dream Step wooden sandals, size 7, available through Etsy seller bowsandarrowsvintage 

 

Rebeca Sanver clogs, size 38, available through Etsy seller spanishangels

 

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  the much lusted after Kybele shearling lined clog booties from Nine West. I spotted them online months and months before they finally came out in black. But when they did, I pounced. So warm and snug on my feet. Did I mention how much I like winter? These booties are one of the reasons why.]

 

 

Guy Day Friday: 42

After all the dialogue about designing a new men's style with Ugglebo, I find myself a bit blank on what to talk about next for a Guy Day Friday. Happily, I received a comment from michallou69 a few weeks back in which he named a few French manufacturers of traditional wooden shoes that are worth considering. Since they all offer a variety of styles in sizes that men can wear with ease, I thought I'd introduce them to you today. Be aware that Google Translate may be invaluable if you're interested in ordering a pair. And don't be afraid to contact them in English if you can't communicate in French. The worst that can happen is that they'll tell you nous ne comprenons pas l'anglais.

 

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Rivalin Sabots et Charentaises 

Maker of clogs (sabots) and slippers (charentaises) located in Quimper, France. Available through www.rivalin.fr. Sizes to 46 and 47.

 

 

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Sabots Aris

Maker of clogs located in Pays de Bergerac, France. Available through sabots-aris.akeonet.com. Traditional clogs only in sizes from 28 to 46. Catalog here.

 

 

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Sabots Levacher

Maker of clogs located in Parigne, France. Available through www.sabots-levacher.com. Sizes up to 48 in some styles. 

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  those knee-high Rosabella clog boots from UGG Australia. One of many reasons I'm really going to enjoy this fall.]