A Letter From Rose
Who Says You Have to Give Up Heels After Sixty?
A soft suede-look ankle boot in warm brown, with a little leopard print on the toe and a steady block heel. The Melvarienne gives you back a bit of height and a bit of color, without the wobble.
Imagine a Saturday lunch with friends. You walk in, and for once you're not thinking about your feet. You're standing a little taller, your step feels sure, and one of your friends looks down and says: "Where did you find those boots? They're so pretty."
Somewhere after sixty, most of the women I know quietly gave up on heels. Too wobbly, too risky, too painful by the afternoon. And with the heels went the color, too. Black, flat and sensible, every single day, because anything else feels a little too loud.
I don't think being careful should mean giving up on feeling pretty.
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 fabric, 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 revealing, 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 Melvarienne. 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 fabric 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 this one. A boot with a heel, and with a leopard toe? I was sure it would be too much for our customers. Then Olivia had me wear the brown pair around the boutique for a whole afternoon. Here's why it passed both tests.
Finally, a heel I feel steady walking in
The Melvarienne has a wide block heel instead of a thin one. It gives you a little extra height, but your weight rests on a broad, steady base, so you can walk across the room, step off a curb or stand at the counter without thinking about every step.
★★★★★"I stopped wearing heels a few years ago because I was always afraid of losing my balance. The wider block heel on these boots feels so much more secure. I love being able to wear a little heel again without constantly worrying about every step."
Holly C., Frederick, CO
Comfortable enough for a full day
A heel only matters if you can keep it on. The block heel gives you a little height that stays comfortable all day, so you can go shopping, meet a friend for lunch and still feel fine when you get home.
★★★★★"At 63, I won't wear shoes that leave my feet aching after an hour. I wanted boots I could wear shopping and out to lunch without needing to change into sneakers. These feel comfortable for hours, and I love that I can still look nicely dressed."
Rita G., Bloomington, IN
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No more struggling to put on boots
No more sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling and tugging. The Melvarienne is an easy slip-on boot: you simply pull it on and you're ready to go, even when you're in a hurry.
★★★★★"I've had ankle boots that were such a struggle to get on, especially when I'm in a hurry. These are much easier to slip into. I don't have to spend ages pulling and tugging, and they feel comfortable around my ankles."
Marianne F., Twin Falls, ID
A beautiful color without looking too young
This is the part that won me over. The boot itself is a warm, soft brown with a suede-look finish, and only the toe has that little touch of leopard print. It adds a bit of personality without ever looking loud or too young.
★★★★★"I'm 67 and usually stick to black shoes because I'm afraid anything different might look too flashy. But this warm brown is absolutely lovely. It adds a little personality to my outfits while still looking tasteful and elegant. I'm so glad I tried something different!"
Vera N., Hot Springs, AR
Stylish without sacrificing comfort
Comfortable shoes so often look orthopedic. The Melvarienne has a lovely shape: the soft slouch at the ankle, the contrast toe cap and the block heel make it look feminine and dressed up, not like a sensible shoe.
★★★★"I used to think comfortable boots had to look orthopedic or plain. These have such a beautiful shape, and the block heel gives them a lovely, feminine look. I feel much more dressed up than I do in my everyday flat shoes."
Elaine Q., Beaufort, NC
They go with almost everything
This is my part. With light jeans and a cream sweater for lunch. With tailored pants for church or a concert. With a skirt and tights for dinner out. Warm brown goes with almost everything you already have in your closet.
★★★★★"I was hesitant to buy another pair of boots because I already have so many shoes I barely wear. But this brown shade is so easy to style. I can wear them with jeans for lunch, tailored pants for church, or a skirt for dinner. Such a versatile addition to my closet!"
Anita W., Petoskey, MI
The Melvarienne, against the boots you usually find
Why it's 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 Melvarienne 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.
Melvarienne | Elegant Comfort Ankle Boots
$105.95$52.95Retirement Sale, Save 50%
- Wide, steady block heel
- Easy slip-on style
- Soft suede-look finish
- A little leopard print on the toe
Brown · Sizes US 5 to US 11.5 · 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 missing that little bit of height and color, I hope you find your size before it's gone.
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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