• What if you could look glamourous and chic whilst being ethical?
• What if you could feel sexy whilst being 100% comfortable?
• What if you don’t need to compromise on your vegan or barefoot principles whilst having the most luxurious feeling fabrics against your skin?

I’m here to say you CAN have it all!

I have teamed up with Mila Vert and High Feels to put sustainable clothing and barefoot footwear firmly on the fashion map. *I purchased the High Feels sandals myself, however, Mila Vert kindly offered the dress and cardigan for review, with the cardigan to be returned.*

Introducing Mila Vert

Mila Vert make elegant minimalist garments that won’t go out of fashion. Classic pieces that are luxuriously soft and comfortable to wear using exquisite natural vegan fabrics. And most importantly, they place ethics and sustainability at the core of their brand. So when I asked them if they would be interested in collaborating with me, I was super excited when they agreed! They were really enthusiastic about helping glam up the world of barefoot shoes!

“We believe that sustainable is the only way to make fashion – that’s why we have put sustainability at the heart of our brand. We care about how clothes are made. We believe in working with nature, not against it, and we believe that all humans should be empowered by what they do for a living.” – Mila Vert

Introducing High Feels

High Feels sandals are probably the sexiest most appealing minimalist sandals on the market today. Also vegan, they have an undoubtedly interesting story detailing how they got started. Their secret lies in their elegant simplicity, their sandals are handmade in Spain and 100% barefoot!

“High Feels is all about empowerment: feeling free and moving with ease, but also looking gorgeous while doing so. The connection to the ground is the foundation of everything.” – High Feels

Dress and Cardigan Specs

• Model: Knitted long cardigan and v-neck dress (can also be purchased separately)
• Colour: Sand
• Colour Choices: Cream, sand and black
• Materials: 100% organic cotton
• Sizes: XS-S, M, L-XL, Free custom fit orders
• Made in: Slovenia

Sandal Specs

• Model: Nº3
• Colour: Nude (an older version)
• Colour Choices: Black beauty, brown sugar, rosegold rush, very berry cherry, oooh macaron, mmmh mocacchino, butterblume, white cloud
• Materials: PU and microfiber with metal buckles
• Sizes: 35-43
• Stack height: 4.5mm
• Toe-Box Shape: Sloping from the big toe
• Tested on: Bare Soled Girl, EU size 39, slim leg and ankle, low instep, medium to wide toe box, Egyptian toe-box shape
• Weight: 117g per shoe (size 39)
• Made in: Spain

Barefoot Brief

• Flexibility: Can I do a one-handed roll and twist with this shoe? YES. They have a flexible sole, however, they are generally a little stiffer than other sandals from Tikki or Wildlings. In saying that, they do soften with time.
• Zero Drop: Do they have a totally flat sole? YES. Completely flat.
• Toebox Space: Do they have plenty of space for toes to wriggle? YES. My toes are not hanging off the edge of these sandals. In saying that, they will not be suitable for wide feet.
• Stack height: Is the distance from foot to ground small? YES. There is 4.5mm between my feet and the ground which I would consider very good for a barefoot sandal.
• Arch/Cushioning Test: Are they free from supports/cushioning? YES. They have no supports or cushioning of any kind.
• Ground Feel: Is there a decent ground feel? YES. The soles are durable but you definitely feel the ground in them.
• Lightweight: Are they lightweight? FEATHERLIGHT at 117g per sandal.

Materials

Mila Vert:
This exquisite dress and oversized cardigan combo boast a 100% organic cotton content, supremely soft in a sublime nude tone. Each set is custom made by Jakopina knitting studio, a fourth-generation family business located in Slovenia. Machine washable, the dress and cardigan are classic neutral staples that will work forever in your capsule closet. Thanks to organic cotton, the knits still allow the skin to breathe and keep you feeling light and airy.

High Feels:
There’s no going around this – the sandals are made from the big bad P-word…..plastic, PU to be exact, with a microfiber lining. High Feels are very transparent about this fact and state that “we are following the latest trends in sustainable material tech and if an interesting project pops up, we’re getting in contact with them. But mostly these projects researching alternative materials are not ready for production, or not available in industrial quantities, or … they just don’t answer the phone or react to emails.” They are in a tricky position because they obviously have the desire to make shoes free from animal exploitation, but wait patiently for the next generation of eco-friendly leather which would work well for these sandals.

Truth be told, I usually turn my nose up at plastic shoes, but High Feels have pulled them off supremely well, and I too wait for their non-plastic versions to appear in the future. Nonetheless, they are certified free of Chromium VI, are made in Spain with an ecological CO2-free manufacturing process and are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, so plenty of positive aspects despite the plastic.

Soling is champagne coloured rubber, surprisingly grippy and a little stiff at first. They are softening up nicely with wear.

Sizing

Mila Vert:
To make sure the set fits you perfectly, use their free custom-fit order service. Also good to note, items can be returned. When placing your order write down your measurements (chest, waist, hip, height) in your cart under “Order note”- simple as.

High Feels:
Their sandals are true to size. If you wear 39 in open shoes or sandals, then order a size 39. You can download their size guide for Sandal No.4, print it in original size if you are unsure. I am generally a 39, and so size 39 works perfectly for me.

Fair Fashion

Mila Vert:
“To say we work with professionals in their field is not enough. The biggest benefit is that we personally know them and know for a fact that their workers are paid a fair living wage, do their job in optimal working conditions and that no exploitations or violations of any kind are present, as is required by the Slovenian legislation. This is what a transparent local production enables us – not only are we great business partners but friends as well.”

High Feels:
They take pride in being able to visit their Spanish and Italian factories at any time and are happy with the working conditions there. The sandals have a short distance to travel from the factory to their warehouse, and from the warehouse to their customers.

Style

Mila Vert:
Images speak louder than words, look how glam Bare Soled Girl looks!! The dress is figure-hugging yet incredibly soft and comfortable. I feel like a million dollars in this dress! The tiny village I live in in the Alps wasn’t ready for this – I had to walk through to get to the little chapel on the hill for my photoshoot, and I got WOW looks from the neighbours, local bus drivers, and everyone else!!!! This will be a staple in my wardrobe for sure, and I have already picked out boots so I can continue wearing it in Autumn with a sweater on top. The cardigan will go with just about anything, and really dresses up simple blue jeans and a vest, for a little bit of glam. However, I love love love this combo together, they are made for each other.

High Feels:
Sexy, minimalist and appealing to barefoot and conventional sandals shoppers alike, these little sandals sit like a queen at the top of the style throne. They work with ANY Summer dress you can think of, in any colour. They also work beautifully with leggings or jeans.

Comfort

This is a very comfortable outfit, with breathable organic cotton next to my skin and simple barefoot sandals on my feet. The sandals are not quite as comfortable against skin as leather, but they soften up more and more with wear. They will work best for narrow – average width feet and the strap across the instep can be adjusted.

Conclusion

A vegan minimalist match made in heaven – that is Mila Vert pieces teamed with High Feels glorious sandals. I like that this stunning dress and cardi was made at a little knitting studio in the Slovenian countryside. I like that the sandal design was born out of a need for a girl to feel good whilst eliminating the pain her previous shoes had bestowed.
Feel good, look good, do good!

You can purchase the dress and cardigan combo at a reduced rate of €390 here plus EU shipping at €6.90. Free custom fitting and returns accepted for unworn items with tags intact. Check out more pictures of their pieces on their Instagram page here.

You can purchase the sandals here for €129 plus €11 EU shipping. Check out more pictures of them on their Instagram page here.

The post A Vegan Minimalist Match Made in Heaven: Mila Vert & High Feels appeared first on Bare Soled Girl.

I usually use the term barefoot on this blog to refer to shoes, but I feel like the ‘barefoot’ qualities I attribute to shoes do not need to be limited to them.

Barefoot shoes:

• allow my feet the freedom to move in the way nature intended them to
• don’t lift anything up
• don’t push anything down
• don’t cushion anything
• don’t squish anything in

Can anyone think of other garments we place on parts of our bodies that could have the same effects as those listed above?

Skinny jeans, tight-fitting tops, and yes, you’ve guessed it – bras!

When I think back to how many bras I have worn that:

• didn’t allow my breasts the freedom to move in the way nature intended them to
• lifted my breasts up
• pushed my breasts down
• cushioned my breasts
• squished my breasts

And all in the name of what? Presumably, the same thing that made me wear conventional shoes for so long – perceived aesthetics, a perception of beauty, that those in the barefoot industry would like to change! The thing is, conventional shoes do not allow the same freedom of movement. They are in some ways an example of a ‘cast’ (as Katy Bowman would say).

‘Casting’ body parts has really become the norm throughout history, from the ancient practice of Chinese foot binding to 19th and 20th-century corsetry. However, we probably don’t equate our incredibly skinny skinnies, our sexy leather pants or our Wonderbras with restrictive ‘casting’. For most of us (including me until a few years ago), we don’t even give it a second thought to shove our heaving body parts into what can only be called casts. I am not telling you all to go burn your bras but have you considered that our beautiful breasts are not dead lumps of putty to be pushed around to look good in your going out dress. They are sensuous, life-giving, evolutionary glands, teeming with lymph, nerves and vasculature.

If you have been endowed with larger breasts, then, of course, a little support is valued. But there is an amazing array of bras, bralettes and sports tops out there that can fit the bill, look good, and feel amazing.

Without further ado, let’s take a look!

Organic Basics

The fashion industry is a dirty bastard. So we put sustainable thinking at the centre of everything – that means we only choose fabrics that care for our environment and we only ever partner with factories that care about their impact, too. When we say sustainability is our core mission we don’t mean that sustainability is nice to have – we mean that it’s the only way we act.

I love Organic Basics. I love their ethics, I love their new low impact website, I love their underwear! They are the absolute proof that sustainability and comfort can go hand in hand with sexiness and femininity. They have offered me a 10 % discount code for you guys – please use BAREOBC, valid until August.

Brighton Lace

At Brighton Lace, we make limited-edition lingerie in the finest eco laces and sustainable fabrics. From gorgeous vintage-inspired lace underwear to cosy cashmere bralette sets, we specialise in feel-good, feminine lingerie that is ethical too!

Whether you’re looking for romantic, delicate bridal lingerie, something lacy for a special occasion, a pretty gift for her, or simply gorgeous intimates for everyday delight, we’ve got something to help celebrate the beauty of being you.

This small women-led business has intrigued me for some time. They offer simply beautiful underwear that any woman would feel special in!

AmaElla

Founded with a vision of creating a fashion company with ethical and sustainable values at its core. Ethically made in Portugal and using GOTS certified organic cotton, AmaElla produces timeless lingerie classics that are kinder to the skin, kinder to the environment and better for farmers and their communities.

We make lingerie for you and the real world you live in. We invite you to help us redefine beauty and change shopping behaviours to safeguard our environment and ensure workers and farmers thrive. We want you to be part of our journey,  join in the conversation and help us in our mission.

We know you care about your wellbeing, your look and your impact on the planet. That’s why we’ll always be honest about how our products are sourced and made.

We will remind you that beauty is about self-love, realism, inclusivity and honesty. We will care for you by making lingerie with only the finest organic fibres offering you softness, versatility and comfort that never compromises on style.

Not an underwire in sight! Aren’t they sensual!

Sloanie

Soft underwear is underrated and difficult to get hold of. We got tired of large European underwear houses coasting on their brands, failing to bring you a premium product to slip into every morning. So we decided to create something better, something new. In an era of fast fashion, we’re doing things differently. At the heart of Sloanie is a core line of underwear that we think is just about perfect. The first thing you put on, and the last thing you take off: most people spend two-thirds of their life wearing underwear*. So, they shouldn’t be an afterthought. Start every day with confidence and comfort, and end each day feeling fresh and free.

The fibres used to make our super-soft undies are produced from responsibly managed forests in Austria and across Europe by an industry-leading sustainable fibre manufacturer.

Another superbly sustainable brand, and stylish minimalist underwear wuth no padding or wires.

Anekdot

Anekdot is an upcycle brand

This does not mean you will be wearing someone else’s underwear. It means that we source our superb materials from production leftovers, end of lines, off-cuts, deadstock and vintage trimmings turning them into something beautiful and meaningful for your everyday life. We are in perpetual search for new opportunities to source our materials. This could be a closing down factory, maker’s surplus, production errors or miscalculations. The materials we use have never been previously worn, but we thought we’d give them a new chance to be enjoyed. For the above reasons our products are limited editions and can hardly be reproduced.

Upcycled underwear, a fusion of exquisite nostalgiac and sleek comfort.

Or you can always make your own! Check out Madalynne Intimates for patterns, including the free pattern seen below.

The post What do Conventional Footwear and Bras have in common? appeared first on Bare Soled Girl.