Editors’ Picks: Cruelty-Free Fall Footwear
From the farmers' market to the office to an evening out on the town, VT editors are on the go. That's why footwear that's as practical as it is fashionable (and leather-free to boot!) is a must-have. Here's what we'll be sporting this fall.
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From the farmers’ market to the office to an evening out on the town, VT editors are on the go. That’s why footwear that’s as practical as it is fashionable (and leather-free to boot!) is a must-have. Here’s what we’ll be sporting this fall.
TAMI FERTIG, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Keep Ramos shoe in Two Tone Oxford, keepcompany.com These cute and comfy sneaks might just replace my beloved, falling-apart-at-the-seams Converse All Stars. Not too girly, with a cozy denim-ish feel, they’re great for wearing around the VT office. Los Angeles-based company Keep makes loads of other cruelty-free shoes too, including a line designed by the band Animal Collective that benefits the Socorro Island Conservation Fund, a nonprofit working to protect the biosphere of four volcanic islands off California’s coast.

AMY SPITALNICK, SENIOR EDITOR
Dr. Martens Vegan 8-Eye Boot in Black, dmusastore.comAny boots I trust my feet to must be comfortable, but they’ve also got to show some knockabout style. A definite keeper is the vegan version of the 8-eye boot from those working-class heroes of footwear, Dr. Martens. The boots’ springy soles and supple uppers make walking a pleasure. Master craftsmanship is seen in the brand’s signature details like yellow stitching and a heel loop. And thanks to the boots’ genius design, when I wear them with cuffed jeans, my ankles appear trimmer.

JOLIA SIDONA ALLEN, ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR
Cri de Coeur Scarlett Bootie in Black, cri-de-coeur.com
These hot-off-the-catwalk faux suede booties from New York-based Cri de Coeur transformed me into a compassionate fashion diva in 15 seconds flat—the time it took to slip them on and slide up the pretty rose gold zippers. While the platform-style pays homage to the disco days, the updated sillouette is decidedly modern and ultra-feminine. Don’t let the height deter you: the sturdy wedge-shaped base adds inches without the incline of a stilletto. In other words: these boots are made for walking!
