Ahnu Benicia Leather Shoe : Kick Up the Style

I don't know how they did it, but Ahnu Footwear has managed to make a women's shoe that fits my Fred Flinstone feet, as well as normal-sized women's feet.

Seattle is a comfort footwear town, and apparently, an Ahnu footwear town. I've seen women of all sizes strolling, striding, and walking around town in Ahnu's Benicia shoes. Black, brown, burgundy, red, blue. Over the past few seasons, they've been available in a variety of colors. This season, they've updated the shoe with an all-leather model.

I love the design of the nubuck/suede upper - it's a bit sporty, but also a bit sassy. A casual Mary Jane with a little kick to it. Naturally, I chose the black shoes because that's the kind of woman I am. Now that fall has arrived, the Benicia will be the perfect complement to my grey wool skirt and deep purple wool tights.

What I most love about the Benicia is the design. Inside it's quite a deep and voluminous shoe, yet it doesn't look wide or clunky at all. It comes with a very thick, densely padded insole that's extra thick under the heel. In fact, when I pulled out the insole, I could see that the end it sat into a little heel cup. Why do you care? Because this shape and design allows for a variety of fits.

I'm sure in the smaller sizes, the Benicia isn't as wide. I know several women whose feet are nowhere near as wide as my D-EE dogs, and they've all found a great fit in this shoe.

Perhaps the depth and volume increase with length? I'm a size 11, and the shoes fit well even when I pulled out the incredible insole (you'll love it) and replaced it with my full-length orthotic.

Another feature I like - the easy on/off strap that cinches or loosens the shoe.

Sizes: 6-11; colors: Black, Gunmetal, Merlot, and Smokey Brown. Also available in girls' sizes and cute, cute colors for the kiddies.

Bottom Line: A smart-looking shoe that seems to fit a variety of feet--kind of like the Traveling Pants! Maybe there's magic in these shoes.--E.D. (Oct 09)

BUY ONLINE : $89 at Onlineshoes.com, .

Manufacturer's Site: www.ahnufootwear.com

Share on Facebook