Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Jambu Shoe Review & Giveaway!


Most days you can find me wearing flip flops. Since I teach yoga and practice yoga everyday, I feel like I'm always just about to take my shoes off -- so what's the point of lacing up? Now that I ride my bike so often, you might also find me in my highly unstylish (vegan!) clip-in bike shoes. Not to mention the fact that I am also almost always wearing yoga clothes.

I know most people spend the day looking forward to getting home, taking off their work clothes, and slipping into their yoga pants. Well, for me it's the exact opposite. Ha ha. I always love an opportunity to kick off the flip flops, put on some non-stretchy fabrics and some fancier shoes, and feel like a real grown up!

My first-ever pair of Jambu shoes. I found these at a local shoe store years ago, and I still love them 
I couldn't believe that such cute and comfortable shoes were all vegan.

A few years ago, I started to feel like I was living my whole life in my PJs and I felt like slob. So, I embarked upon a "Wardrobe Improvement Project" (aka WIP) -- an effort to supplement my non-yoga clothes options. In addition to a few skirts and a few nice tops, I was gonna need some cute vegan shoes. Turns out, that's a bit more easily said than done. I looked high and low before I finally hit paydirt! I discovered a super awesome pair of dressy shoes with cute detailing and strappy straps ~ made by a new-to-me brand called Jambu Shoes. They had great-looking shoes, and many (though not all) of their styles were vegan. Since that first discovery, I have owned, worn and loved many pairs of Jambu shoes.


My second pair of Jambu shoes were these excellent and comfy little sporty shoes. 
They were perfect for dog walks and bike rides.


  
on the bed, chewing happily                                              tragedy strikes

 I am forced to talk about these shoes in the past tense because a couple of years ago Miss Dottie Bonkers chewed the straps off of the left shoe -- and despite multiple efforts, I was unable to repair them. Taking these pictures made me realize that I had actually held on to these shoes all this time just because I liked them so much. Finally, it was time to let go. I took my photo with Dottie (the perpetrator of this heinous crime against vegan shoes) and finally tossed my destroyed shoes. 
*wipes tear from eye*



By far my most favorite pair of Jambus are the pair of lovely little brown Esmerelda boots that I found on Zappos a couple years ago (Zappos even has a vegan search filter!). I fell in love with these comfy, warm, stylish and snazzy shoes. Plus! They even have a super easy Velcro open-close, so they aren't a hassle to take on and off over and over again during the course of the day. That's a nice convenient touch for a yogi like me.


I gotta tell you something about these boots. They put such a Pep In My Step! Every time I put them on, I feel a little more sassy, a little more daring and saucy, a little more take-on-the-world. Even my mom noticed that I walk differently when I wear my Jambu boots! It's like they're magic little confidence-giving mood lifters. 



Since I love them so much, I featured these little brown boots in my vegan Christmas gift guide last season -- and to my total delight, I got an email from Jambu asking if I'd  like to receive a new pair of Jambus and do a review. Heck, yeah!! They have quite a few vegan styles - as you can see here - some are more dressy and some are more sporty. It sure was hard to pick, but I decided that my life would be greatly improved by a sweet little red pair of boots.


so cute!!

I was right! Somedays I want to feel fancy and elegant and sophisticated - and my brown boots are perfect for those days. Other days I need a little more sass in my step, a little more flair on the feet - and these red boots really bring it!

These boots are SO comfortable. They have a slight heel, but they feel really stable to walk in. The soles inside are cooshy and super comfy. The shoes are lined, but I still feel they are more comfortable when worn with socks. They are also pretty warm, so they're better for days or nights when you want cozy feet and not for hot days. But, you should probably be wearing your flip flops on hot days anyway!


Stevie-approved!

Even though I usually wear a size 9 or 9 1/2, my brown pair of Jambu boots are actually an 8 1/2. In fact, all my old pairs of Jambus  seemed to run a size or two higher than standard sizing. So, when I first wrote back to Jambu, I asked for a red pair of Esmerelda boots in size 8.5, figuring they would be the same.  

Jambu seems to have resolved these sizing issues though, because it turned out that the 8.5 were just a bit too small for me. Feeling confident about the sizing, I wore them out to dinner for one night before realizing they really were too small for my feet to keep wearing them. I felt so sheepish about writing back to Jambu to let them know that my sample shoes were too small. The folks at Jambu were super gracious about it and sent me another pair that fit perfectly! My new pair is a size 9 and fits perfectly with a thin pair of socks on my feet.


Jambu Esmerelda Boot Giveaway!


it could be YOU snapping your heels in these fancy red boots! 

Luckily for any of you with size 8.5 feet - After my ordering snafu, I just happen to have a super snazzy pair of size 8.5 red Esmerelda boots from Jambu! After talking with the folks at Jambu, they suggested I put my too-small-for-me shoes to good use and feature a give away on my blog. Like I said, I did wear them that one time, but they are essentially brand new and they want a happy home on your feet. 

To enter - just leave a comment here and tell me about your favorite shoes ever, or your favorite pair of vegan shoes, or whether you are a fancy shoes or a flip flops person, or really just say anything nice. I'll pick a winner on Thursday, April 30th.

Sorry international friends, this giveaway is open to USA readers only.


**Free Two-Day Shipping!**

Happily, even if you aren't a size 8.5, Jambu has offered a code to receive free 2-day shipping 
if you order from their site: "jambuvegan"

Also, in honor of Earth Day, they will be planting a tree for every pair of shoes ordered, 
and giving away tote bags. Pretty cool! 


Stevie & Amey : friends for life
I know it's silly, but one of my favorite things about these boots is how cute they look when I look down at my own feet. This can most definitely not be said of every shoe style in size 9


27 comments:

  1. I just happen to be an 8.5 AND I love Jambu! I discovered them years ago at DSW and bought a pair I loved (before I was vegan, haha!) and my dog ate them. Now I buy a new pair each spring to wear almost exclusively throughout the warm weather months (always very similar to your strappy ones above). One thing I am confused about though... Are Jambu and J41 the same company? Because their shoes seem to be the same!?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Barb ~ I am also confused about the J41 / Jambu thing. I also have some great J41 shoes, but I wasn't sure if they were the same company, so I didn't include them. ??

      Delete
  2. What a fun giveaway! I happen to be an 8 1/2. Unless we're talking looks, and then it's all 10, baby! (I kid, I kid!) My favorite shoes are from the now defunct brand Simple Satire. I know you have a pair too, because we shared the love at VVC. Do you know that I'm still wearing both of my pairs regularly? At this point they have holes and no support, and it's very sad. But I love that they're easy slip-ons, and so I keep wearing them every day. Perhaps it's time that I moved on...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still have my Simple shoes too! I have 3 pairs -- black, grey, and tan. I love them all! <3

      Delete
  3. I wear an 8.5. I haven't tried Jambu shoes, but they look really cute. I have a pair of vegan Birkenstock sandals that are so comfortable. They are starting to fall apart and I'm really sad that they don't make them anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, this is the second post I saw today about Jambu shoes, and I'm so jealous! I'd sure be happy to review a pair of Jambu shoes. :) I wear a 6 so I can't be in your giveaway, but I love your boots! I have the same strappy shoes that you have, not to mention several others. I also have J-41 shoes, which are related to Jambu.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oooh, cute shoes. The ones on top are my fave! As for my favorite pair of vegan shoes, I fell in love with Feelgood flip-flops last summer. LOVE them sooooo much. They're so comfy!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm an 8.5. I'm wearing one of my favorite pairs of Simples right now. They're mostly canvas and pretty scruffy looking but so comfy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm an 8.5 and also upgrading my wardrobe in the footwear! My favorite work shoes are mary janes; at home, I love my Chaco sandals.

    ReplyDelete
  8. my favorite shoes used to be in fourth grade! Keds that lit up!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Haha I love your description of how sassy these boots make you feel by putting a spring in your step! That's adorable. I had some winter Jambu's that only lasted one NYC winter before they started leaking through the bottom of the feet, and got worn out and leaked on the sides too. Sadly, I'm a size 7, but I thought I'd share my vegan shoe fave anyway. This winter I knew my Jambu's were on their way out so I bought some real deal bean-style boots from native shoes which I adored and wore every day until the spring! They were super light-weight and kept my feet dry throughout the whole slushy snowy winter during my long walks to and from work! My favorite vegan shoe to date!

    ReplyDelete
  10. These boots are so cute! All winter I looked for a pair of vegan boots that were not absurdly high-heeled for wearing in the snow. Good boots are hard to find! My favorite shoes are my Chuck Taylors. I have many colors, and they take me off on all kinds of adventures, usually ending at a concert. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. My favorite shoes are my cowgirl boots, but I like just about any kind of boots!

    ReplyDelete
  12. My favorite shoes just went in the garbage. I had them for about 5 years. Merrill has a great line of vegan shoes and these are considered minimalist shoes, and I loved them. No more plantar fasciitis. Gave up the orthotics. No more night braces.And I could still run in them. But they were worn everyday. I looked all over for another pair. Nothing. My 2 yo grandson would poke his fingers in the hole on the side and ask over and over, when ya gonna get shoes granny? But when I finally did in January, and told him I threw the old ones away, omg, was he mad! KIds are so funny! Now, I don't wear an 8.5 shoe. I have boats for feet. But my daughter does. She said her feet changed so much after her last pregnancy, she was tossing all her shoes. She had twin girls last summer...preemie niblets I call them. So three kids under two at the time. I think she would love these and I am gonna send her the code for the free ship too because this girl would live at DSW if she didn't have to eat and tend to these kiddos. She is my shoe freak child. I can only hope her daughters find something much cheaper.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Any boots. All of them. Lately I've been drooling over a the vegan docs and the vegetarian shoes boots. I have a cheap pair from Target that I've glued like three times and I still wear them. In Seattle nonetheless. BOOTS4LYFE.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Megan! You won!!! #13!! Send me your mailing address and I'll send you the booooooots! We will be boot twins from afar. <3

      Delete
  14. My favorite shoes are my Croc flip flops. They are cute, and they have lasted a long time. I love your red boots - just my size too! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
    Erin
    ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'd never heard of Jambu shoes until today but I can't wait to seek them out. A fellow vegan friend of mine invited me to join a Facebook group called "For the Love of Vegan Shoes, and, really, is there anything more apt? I've been vegan for four years and (sadly) still have non-vegan shoes in my closet because I just can't find much vegan friendly footwear that works for me (comfortable, stylish, affordable, accessible). But I won't be deterred! And when I saw these ADORABLE red boots, I knew I'd found my start. I don't even care that we're going into warm-weather season. I will rock them with pride whenever! What better way to start down the path of continued searching for the ultimate in vegan foot love. Thanks, Vegan Eats & Treats...and Jambu!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous9:33 AM

    My favorite pair of shoes is a dkny pair I got 10 years ago. There are holes all over them, but I still occasionally wear them and cannot seem to let them go. I love a good pair of shoes!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I was never a flip flop person until recently. The strap always hurt my toes but no more! Now I wear flip flops every day unless I'm running or working. I haven't been able (so far) to find fancy vegan dress up shoes that I like :(

    ReplyDelete
  18. My boring shoe routine is the same every year: October-March = the same {ugly} Winter boots day after day after day; April-May = Chuck Taylors in varying colours; June-September = flip-flops. I've been thinking that I need to get some actually cute boots to wear once in a while. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous7:59 AM

    Flip-flops and Tevas are where it's at. I also have some Keens that my sister-in-law found at Goodwill. I get weird looks for wearing said shoes pretty much year-round but people can just deal with it :-) I do have boots and closed shoes for when it's really cold and wet. I love red! I haven't had a pair of red shoes since i was 6, I think!

    PS man my internet is the pits this morning! it's taking me like 10-15 minutes to just get this comment submitted!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Darn my size 7.5 feet! I wish I could put my name in the hat for your drawing but alas.... I will definitely check out Jambu. I was so bummed when Dansko got rid of their vegan line of shoes. They've been my favorites for years.

    ReplyDelete
  21. oh heyyyyyy... i'm sneaking into your giveaway. because my favorite shoes are the ones i get for free and don't have to make any decisions about :-) xo

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm 8.5! Lately I'm loving Sanuk shoesies, ever so comfy and summery (also on zappos, woot). thanks for this giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am on my third pair of Jambus and Mt third pair of J41's. I am sooooo geeked about receiving my slamming pair of Bondis in red! I feel like doing cartwheels but uh, I'm 46 and it ain't happenin.I'll be satisfied being cute, just not as fit.

    ReplyDelete

I love comments, they really make my day! Thanks for reading my blog! I'm sorry I had to turn on word verification and comment moderation - I was getting so many spam comments!