Marcelle, meet Marcelle.

We all know and love the Dansko Marcelle, but did you know that Sanita also makes a Marcelle? And it’s available in a wider range of colors than the Dansko version?

Well. Now you know. I’m sure you’re wondering how the Sanita version compares to the well-known Dansko version. I can tell you about that.

My old reliable black cabrio Dansko Marcelles have seen better days. When I learned about The Original Clog Outlet, I was excited to see that for under three digits it was possible to replace them with the Sanita version.

Much has been said, here and elsewhere, about the differences (or lack thereof) between Dansko and Sanita. I’m told the heel is chunkier on the post-Sanita-made Danskos, offering more stability, but I can’t say I’ve really noticed. The Sanita styles seem to me a bit roomier in the toe box than Danskos – a plus for those of us with wide feet – but for me, this does not affect the sizing. I’m a 36 in Dansko, I’m a 36 in Sanita.

There’s a little more discussion over here about the differences in fit between Sanita and Dansko. Some people can tell the difference; others cannot. European Walking Store, sister shop to the Clog Outlet, explains:

For the last 17 years, all Dansko Professional clogs and all Dansko Stapled Clogs have been manufactured by Sanita in Europe. The relationship between Dansko and Sanita ended in August 2007. Shortly after that time, Sanita began distributing the same products directly in the US under their own name.

If you have a pair of Dansko stapled clogs purchased before 2008, look at the bottom of the sole and you will see patent 0060240 engraved into the sole. This indicates that your clogs were made by Sanita according to their patented construction. If you have a pair of really old Dansko clogs, you may even see Sanita stamped on the bottom as well as the patent number mentioned above.

If the patent number is missing, then you have a new Dansko product that was introduced in 2008. The new Dansko clogs are made by various manufacturers around the world based on a re-design of the original Sanita clog. According to Dansko’s printed catalog information, they have introduced structural innovations to enhance the performance of these clogs; improved lateral stability, better shock absorption, more secure heel strike and improved aesthetics. Visually, the clogs look very similar, however the new Dansko is wider across the heel and has a curved up sole in the back of the heel.

On the other hand, Sanita has been delivering the same product (as was previously distributed by Dansko), made by the same materials, by the same artisans, in the same Sanita owned factory.

So in summary, if you want to purchase the same clog that was sold in the US under the Dansko brand (pre-2008), then you would need to switch to buying the Sanita brand.

Both stores, European Walking Store and The Clog Outlet, have an excellent selection, with fantastic and cheerful customer service. At the Outlet, stock changes rapidly, so keep checking back for your size if you can’t find it the first time around.

This is a five-star shoe from a five-star retailer. My experiences with both the Clog Outlet and with European Walking Store have been great – I’d highly recommend that anybody looking for new Marcelles or Professionals check the Clog Outlet first to see if they have your size and style. Because new shoes are fun, but new shoes for a great price are even more fun!

 

Blog advice, please.

You’ll notice things have been a bit, um, stagnant around here. The design hasn’t changed in over a year, I haven’t offered much shoe news, and, well, I only post maybe twice a month.

It’s time for a change. I’m finding that the platform that I’m using is too limiting – monetization is frowned upon, customization is only available for an extra charge (and monetization is still frowned upon even then).

If I’m going to keep this up, I need to get something out of it that I’m not getting via Flickr, Facebook or other social media. I’d like to either brush up on my coding skills or make a little extra cash – or better yet, both!

So, I think I might move, either to another host that comes with more freedom, or (eek!) to hosting my own.

Fellow blogistas – what would you do? What do you do?

 

Happy Halloweeny!

No costumes, parties, blah blah blah to speak of here, but I do plan to roast some pumpkin seeds, and to attempt to make sugar-free, wheat-free, dairy-free pumpkin pancakes.  Oh, and maybe some meatloaf, since I’ve been craving some ever since I read Not Martha’s meat hand post.

 

I can haz vacayshun.

Tomorrow morning I’m off to Seattle until the 26th, with a Portland sandwich in between (20th through 22nd). Will resume posting (however sporadically it may be!) in a couple weeks.

Feel free to keep the Portland, or Seattle for that matter, suggestions coming! Thanks

 

Traveling light.

I just wanted to give a shout out to REI and their brilliant designers – I needed a couple things for the upcoming trip and, as usual, they had what I needed. Even though I may not have known it at the time.

First off, I needed a coat. Because, you know, it rains in the Northwest. And I’m allergic to wool, so I needed a non-wool coat. And I get warm really easily, so I needed a lightweight coat. And I prefer the color grey to just about anything else.

I needed the Madrona Jacket. When I walked through REI’s doors. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for (aside from hoping to find some shoes on sale – that didn’t happen though). Everything I looked at seemed too puffy, or too sporty, or too colorful, or too black. Just as I was about to give up, there it was, in all its charcoal grey glory. Of course, REI says it’s black, but I know better. It’s grey. It really is.

It’s infinitely adjustable, with lots of toggles and such on the inside, and it’s not so shapeless when worn. Trust me on this. Plus, it has a nice little inside pocket for tickets and ID, and an iPod pocket. Yay!

I also needed a bag that would hold my everyday stuff plus my camera or my Dell mini. Again, I wanted low key, not bright, not flashy. And there it was, the Nikole Day Pack, complete with a hidden back pocket perfect for holding important things like wallets. Genius. Perfect for taking on public transportation without worry of having the wallet lifted (yes, this has happened to me before). And this plus a carry-on is all I need to bring to the airport – no more juggling purse, laptop, camera, etc.!

I am now so well-outfitted for a region that I don’t live in that it’s a shame that I’ll have to come back to SoCal, where my coat will get used maybe twice a year and my daypack will mostly travel on the floor of my car. Hmmm.

 

Obsolete.

Via The Martha Blog – I thought this was too funny and had to share. Pictured is 115 pounds of obsolete technology, all of which now fits in a BlackBerry.

Oh and – that there on the left was my first Mac.

~~~

Thanks to all who have offered Portland advice so far! Keep it coming, I really appreciate it.

 

PDX advice please!

I’ve got 2.5 days coming up at the Ace in Portland, and I am so excited that I can barely contain myself! But I could use some non-travel-guide, real-person advice.

I’ll be walking or taking public transportation. I know about the obvious stuff – Powell’s, the neighborhood around the Ace – but it’s the stuff the guidebooks don’t write about that I could use some help with.

Mainly, as a not-very-substantial woman alone and on foot, where should I avoid? If I wanted to, say, walk from the hotel to NE Alberta, would that be possible? Would that be stoopid??

That kind of thing. What have you got? Bring it on.

Thanks in advance, and anybody who wants to meet up – I’ll owe you a coffee

Oh and – I can’t eat sugar. Or wheat. No Voodoo Donuts or cupcakes, thank you!

 

Fall J. Crew.

If you haven’t already read October at J. Crew, you should. While my love of their clothing is pretty well documented, lately I’ve been feeling a little bitter that my salary hasn’t risen in proportion to their prices. Reading this made me feel a little better about things.

Still. That coat? Love.

 

Priorities.

In the restroom at work, where women spend long periods of time primping:

Colleague: Do you have tweezers?

Me: (laughing) No. But I have pliers!

 

Cole, Rood and Haan.

It’s been a challenging week around these parts, so I’m going to let the pictures do the talking here and not say a whole lot else. Have you seen the lovely new line from Cole Haan, Cole, Rood & Haan? This has been making a bit of a buzz in the fashion blog world, and is a bit more on the chichi side than I tend to be, but – still. Those photos. Those shoes. Gorgeous.

Photography by The Selby.