A Letter From Rose
When Did You Last Spend a Whole Day Out Without Thinking About Your Feet?
A cushioned sole, a low heel you can trust and a zipper that makes them easy to slip on. The Melinda gave me my afternoons back.
Imagine a slow Saturday in town with your granddaughter. Coffee on a terrace, the little shops along the main street, a walk by the water before dinner. And at the end of the day she says: "Grandma, you walked me off my feet today." Not once did you look for a bench.
For many women I know, that day stopped happening somewhere after sixty. Not because they didn't want to go, but because their shoes made the choice for them. The pretty boots pinch after an hour, the comfortable ones look like something from a pharmacy shelf, and anything with a heel feels like a risk on an uneven sidewalk.
I don't think we should have to choose between looking nice and feeling good on our feet.
Two sisters, one little boutique
Olivia and I grew up near Lake Como, where our grandmother taught us to look at clothes the way you look at something you plan to keep for years: the material, the seams, the way it moves when you walk. We both became fashion designers in Italy, and nearly 45 years ago we followed our hearts to Florida and opened our boutique.
Since then, so many women have come through our door telling us the same thing: "Nothing is made for me anymore." Too young, too uncomfortable, or so plain you feel invisible. Finding the pieces that are made for the women we actually know, women in their sixties and seventies with full lives, became our life's work.
Every piece has to pass two tests
I want to be honest with you: I didn't design the Melinda. These days Olivia and I hand-pick the pieces for our boutique, and every one of them has to pass two tests.
Olivia's test is the fit, the material and the finish. Is it comfortable, is it made properly, will it still look good after a season of wear? My test is the woman wearing it. Does it flatter her, does it make her feel like herself, and where will she wear it? Most pieces fail one of the two and go straight back.
I'll admit I almost passed on these. I've seen too many "comfortable" boots that pinch by lunchtime, and too many pretty ones that wobble with every step. Then Olivia had me wear them around the boutique for a whole afternoon. When I sat down that evening, I realized I hadn't thought about my feet once. Here's why they passed both tests.
Your feet don't ache after an afternoon out
The Melinda has a cushioned sole, and that is what Olivia checked first. It softens every step on hard floors and sidewalks, so an afternoon of shopping, a walk through town or a long day on your feet doesn't end with you counting the minutes until you can take your boots off.
★★★★★"I'm 63 and usually have to take my boots off after an hour because my feet start hurting. The cushioned sole makes such a difference. I can spend the afternoon shopping or walking around town without constantly thinking about my feet. So comfortable!"
Darla M., Rochester, NY
A heel you actually feel steady on
The heel is low, wide and stacked, so it gives you a little lift without asking you to balance. You stand a bit taller, your jeans fall nicer, and you still feel planted on the ground, on a curb, a cobblestone street or a restaurant floor.
★★★★★"I stopped wearing high heels years ago because I didn't feel secure walking in them anymore. The low, sturdy heel on these boots gives me that little bit of height without feeling wobbly. I feel much more confident on my feet."
Frieda K., Asheville, NC
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Stylish without trying to look young
This is my part. The soft ruching over the foot and the zipper that runs along the collar and down the side give the Melinda a little character. It looks like a boot you chose with care, not a boot you settled for, and it never looks like you're dressing for someone half your age.
★★★★★"At 66, I sometimes wonder if certain boot styles are still right for me. I chose the purple and absolutely love the subtle color. It adds a little personality to my outfits without looking flashy. Who says we have to wear boring shoes after 60?"
Noreen P., Springfield, IL
One pair for almost everything you wear
Wear them with your favorite jeans and a soft sweater, with slim trousers, or with a casual dress and a cardigan. Because the shape is simple and the heel is low, they work from a morning coffee run to a dinner out with friends. And the side zipper means no laces to tie and no bending and pulling to get them on.
★★★★★"I wanted boots I could wear with more than one outfit. These look so cute with my favorite jeans, but they're just as pretty with a casual dress. The zipper detail gives them a little something extra without being too much."
Karla J., Auburn, AL
Just right for cooler evenings and trips up north
Here in Florida we don't need heavy winter boots. But there are those cooler evenings when sandals feel wrong and sneakers feel too casual, and there's the trip north to see the children and grandchildren. The Melinda is an ankle boot, light enough for Florida and right at home when you visit family up north.
★★★★"I live in Florida, so I don't need heavy winter boots very often. These are just right for those cooler evenings when I want something more than sneakers. I also plan to bring them on our trip up north this fall. Very versatile!"
Mildred S., Clearwater, FL
Six colors, and half sizes too
We carry the Melinda in black, purple, blue, red, yellow brown and green, in US sizes 4 to 11, including half sizes. My advice: check the size guide before you order. And if they aren't right, you have 30 days to send them back.
★★★★★"I'm 61 and usually hesitate to order shoes online because I'm between sizes. I followed the size guide and was so happy with the fit. I love that half sizes are available, and the boots feel comfortable without pinching my toes."
Trudy B., Lincoln, NE
The Melinda, against the ankle boots you usually find
Why they're only $52.95 right now
After nearly 45 years in America, Olivia and I have decided it's time to retire from the boutique and spend more time with our husbands, our children and our grandchildren here in Florida.
The Melinda is part of our final collection. When a size is gone, we won't be restocking it. So instead of carrying it into another season, we're saying goodbye to it with our Retirement Sale.
Melinda | Comfy Ankle Boots
$105.95$52.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- Cushioned sole for long days on your feet
- Low, sturdy heel that keeps you steady
- Side zipper, easy on and off
- Goes with jeans, trousers and dresses
Six colors · US sizes 4 to 11, including half sizes · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
See if your size is still available →Buy 2, get an extra 10% off · Buy 3, get 15% · Buy 4 or more, get 20%. Applied automatically at checkout.
Our Retirement Sale is coming to an end.
Buy 2 get 10%, buy 3 get 15%, buy 4 or more get an extra 20% off. When your size is gone, it's gone.
I don't usually write letters like this. But after a lifetime in fashion, I know when a piece is worth telling you about. If you've been staying home because your shoes decided for you, I hope you find your size before it's gone, and get your afternoons back.
Thank you for giving two Italian sisters a home, a community and a lifetime of memories here in Florida.
With love, Rose 🤍
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