vegan shoes

Vegan Workman’s Boots and a Cool Tomboy Blogger Who Works Them

awkward impromptu photoshoot by photographer @rafaelrios28 at #1992 - follow him @rafaelrios28  (Taken with Instagram)A cool style I have been into lately is the style of this blogger Vashtie. I like how she is so openly tomboyish. Like she will wear t-shirts and mesh shorts to some super hip event in NYC, and look like the coolest person there, I’m sure.
Allow me to illustrate with some photos from her tumblr.

hay (2009) (Taken with Instagram)Albany, New York 2012 (Lark Street Tattoo)
LARK STREET TATTOO - one of my first after-school jobs. I got a job here when I was in 8th grade - true story. I worked there up until the Summer of my Freshman year at Art School. As a curious 13 year old, I loved going in there everyday to look at their Tattoo Flash and art books. I also had a crush on Bruce Kaplan, the owner, so I found myself in there a lot trying to get his attention. One day, to make use of an annoying kid like me and to get some tedious work done, they asked if I wanted to make a couple bucks tidying up a workstation.  I was taught how to clean grips and tubes and sterilize equipment. I was fascinated and excited with it all. As I came back, I was given more work and more duties…like drafting up tattoo artwork for clients and managing the shop. As Bruce says, “Vashtie could run her own tattoo shop with all the experience she has”. It was so unreal. Here I was this kid in a Catholic School Uniform hanging out in a tattoo shop everyday after-school. It must have looked so crazy, but everyone assumed I was Bruce’s daughter.
The guys that worked there strangely became father figures to me, as I had rebelled from my own parents years prior (I also think that my parents still don’t know about me working there). They’d ask me “what did you learn in school today?” - something that my parents never asked me, but really made me think about the lessons taught (or mis-taught rather). Not only that, but they’d meet all the kids I hung out with to make sure they weren’t terrible. I also had to have a perfect report card to get anything pierced (ears only) and they told me I could only get tattooed when I was of legal age. I think working there took the appeal out of wanting one, because after being surrounded by amazing tattoo work, terrible tattoo trends and having a lot of ideas of my own - I ended up getting none…ever.
They taught me about music, art, film, culture and fed me in a way that (no doubt) helped to create the girl that I am today.

melo vash at the garden (12/25/11)

shake it off (2011) #driesvannoten #topshopchristopherkane (Taken with Instagram)

commute by @swilly13 (2007) (Taken with Instagram)…and so #fashionweek begins. thanks to @dknyprgirl #dkny for my #newyorkgiants supportive dress worn at #target @targetstyle #shops event and the @nike @21mercer #peprally (Taken with Instagram)

I think this is such a cool style.

If you notice in some of these pictures she is wearing these men’s type boots.

I have seen two vegan versions of these.

The first 1 is very expensive, as far as vegan shoes go, but it is from an all vegan company.

Worker Tan

Worker Black

From Brave Gentleman, an excellent store for vegan men that I just liked on facebook.

(by the way you can find me on facebook as well under My Non Leather Life).

These shoes are just totally awesome, and I desire them both.

However I have found another option from an unintentionally vegan store.

The second option is

AEO Rugged Lace-Up Boot - Free Shipping

 

American Eagle Rugged Lace Up Boot. Made of Polyurethane, with a canvas lining, and rubber soles.

Workman’s shoes.

Would you wear?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Top Ten Vegan Shoe Essentials…that you can always find online.

I’m a blogging kick today and my last post about people with cool style got me thinking.

What are the top 10 vegan shoes that are always available to buy online (unlike most shoes which have a short run and then sell out forever) that every COOL non leather loving person might want to pick up.

Here is what I came up with. I own most all of these shoes, and these are the shoes I wear all the time. They ARE how I live a non leather lifestyle in a leather loving, steak eating : ( world.

Here goes nothing!

1. Vans. There are many vans that are vegan, but not all. See my post about it: “Are Vans vegan? Yes, Some Are“. Vans are the perfect shoe for kicking around but still looking cool.

http://ilovecomfortshoes.net/static/products/vans-kids-classic-slip-on-shoes-29810.jpg

Why not go for a classic.

2. Converse. Another casual vegan shoe for kicking around that with a bit of sleuthing I determined to be almost certainly vegan. See “Once and for all, are converse vegan?“. Why converse? They are the ultimate classic shoe. They always look cool. I prefer off white.

3. Doc Martens. The vegan ones. They’re on the brain! I’d get the black classic 8 eye boots or whatever they’re called. Reusing a picture:

 If only doc martens did floral vegan versions…I would buy in a heartbeat.
alas.
4. Loafers. I wear my vegan loafers all the time! They are …sadly unavailable from modcloth where I picked them up. They are so comfortable and I wear them as sneakers. If you are so inclined, check out my post on vegan pennyloafers: “At last, vegan pennyloafers and the history of preppy style according to me“.
For an alternative, what do you think about the idea of buying vintage bass loafers which are leather on ebay? I personally do not feel I would do this as I am trying to make a statement by not wearing leather, but I think it is ok to buy vintage leather shoes as your money is not supporting any business perpetuating animal cruelty.
Fifth Floor Flat
5. Hunter rain boots. I wrote about them in my post “Hunter Rain boots: Ironically, Vegan“. Lol much? So many people in new york seem to have these and for good reason. In the winter, these are now the boots I wear in heavy snow. They are rainproof so they never get soggy, and they make you feel invincible in knee high puddles. PLus they give off a cool Kate Middleton/Prince William/Prince Charles/Nancy Mitford/English countryside vibe. Perfect for anglophiles such as myself. And of course, they’re totally vegan.
6. What about some saddle shoes. I love mine, although sometimes they make me feel a bit silly. Only wear when you are feeling uber stylish. I’m proud of the post I wrote on saddle shoes “Vegan saddle shoes and some awesome saddle shoe style inspiration“. Have you seen Moonrise Kingdom? I thought it was incredible–Anderson’s best yet, and that’s coming from a huge Wes Anderson fan whose favorite movie of all time is Bottle Rocket. Well as you know, Suzy, the main character, wears saddle shoes, or Sunday school shoes as they refer to them in the flick. So now you know why these are cool.
you can always buy them at payless. Just google vegan saddle shoes. They’re less than $20.
7. You should get some high heels for looking hot. I would recommend looking at 3 places.
Modcloth–look for heels around $50 or under and then read the materials.
Urban outfitters–same deal. Read the materials.
Forever 21 shoes. These are all vegan (with 1 exception i saw once).
I found these vegan babies just now at forever 21.
They’re only $24. 80 and like almost everything at forever 21, vegan. So get a cool pair of heels so you can be that person who can hang out in sneakers or can rock a pair of heels–as is so annoyingly stated on every guy’s online dating profile. I’m on okcupid! and annoyed by it.
As you might guess…..
8.  You’ve got to get some sandals for the summer. Oh how I wish they made saltwaters in vegan form. Or those cool swedish hasbeens. I’m weird but I would get Jelly’s! I think these shoes are really cool, and so fun to wear. I wrote about them here: “A patriotic shoe for vegans: Jelly Sandals“. I called them patriotic since they are so obviously vegan, being made entirely of rubber. I love mine.

Check my post for a link to the topshop ones I got, or simply google jellies.

9. Let’s put one on here for the guys, in case any of you reading this are guys or have significant others who would look super SEXY in pink and teal shoes from none other than honestly the coolest vegan brand around Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather. I wish I had a boyfriend that I could buy these shoes for. I mean, of course I want the pink and blue for myself but I think they would look so cool on a guy. Check out my latest post on the good guys “The MYsteries of Spring Cleaning and Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather: their offerings and vision” .

Good Guys don’t wear Leather SS12

Image of APONI Pink

and check out their tumblr which i love.

and 10. Ok guys, I have to go. But what do you think 10 should be? Any suggestions?

Hope you have enjoyed this! Let me know what you think.

With fond affection,

V