“Those are Rockports?” WanderHubs asked.
I confess I’d had a similar thought before I checked out the brand’s recent lookbooks. These styles are a far cry from the humorless, sensible shoes fancied by retired schoolteachers and or devoted wearers of pleated slacks (my Nana Sheets included. She had a sense of humor, even if her shoes did not).
The folks at Rockport recently sent me a pair of their Total Motion Mid Pump, shown above. It’s available in a variety of luxurious neutrals. Though let’s be honest: for Wanderchic, if it’s a contest between Taupe and Python, we know who’s going to win. The versatility of the print is one of my favorite features: it’s professional yet playful.
This pump has nearly a three-inch heel, which is a bit higher than I usually wear. Rockport also offers this print in other styles, including their “Seven to 7 ” line, such as the Low Pump (more like a kitten heel) and in a Peep-toe Wedge. NB: Both styles happen to be on sale at right this moment.
One big selling point of the Total Motion collection is the Adidas ADIPRENE+ technology, designed to “bend the rules of movement.” The insole is squishy soft, as though they’ve snuck a slipper into a pump. The shoe feels stable and springy, a bit like a running shoe in pump’s clothing. I imagine that, given the materials in the sole and heel, these shoes are pretty much impossible to repair. It’s a bummer, and one that stretches pretty much all across our contemporary shoescape.
Size-wise, the shoes run a bit big. I’m usually a 10.5, though a 10 in the Mid Pump would be closer to that glove-like fit. (It’s a rarity to encounter a 10.5 at all, much less to find it a bit roomy.)
I sprayed the shoes with leather protectant to ward off the Northwest rain. That’s not an issue these days, but these shoes will transition seamlessly into Fall and maybe even Winter with the right tights. I’m looking forward to putting more miles on them.
Photo Credits: rockport.com and WanderHubs