BC Footwear has gone vegan!

Yep, you heard me correctly!  This cool, laid-back, LA based footwear company has taken the plunge into compassion-land and is now making all of their shoes with 100% animal free components and they are Peta approved.

According to the kind folks at BC Footwear, the reason why they made this awesome change is because “(w)e want to do our part to minimize the suffering of animals.”  How awesome is that!?  I told you it was some exciting news!

I was fortunate enough to receive two pairs of BC Footwear booties to test out and let me tell you…I was impressed.  When I pulled each pair out of their respective boxes, the first thing that I was struck by was the quality of these shoes.  There was no strange chemical smell that can sometimes accompany man-made leather.  Not only were both of these pairs of shoes super cute, they were both beautifully made from high-end, quality materials.

Ok, enough chit chat, let’s get to the shoes…shall we?!

First up is the Scale Ankle Boot

This ankle boot is made gorgeous vegan leather with a cool angular flap detail, subtle topstitching, a peep toe and a 3.25″ stacked heel.  I got the grey which is more of a vegan suede that is so incredibly soft.  I styled these booties with a pair of cropped, distressed girlfriend jeans and they were just perfect.  The best part about them is that they are really comfortable!  All of BC Footwear’s shoes are made with high performance Ortholite insoles so they are cute and comfortable!  I wore this pair for a night out with friends and found that not only were they easy to walk in, the material was also very breathable, which is awesome because who wants sweaty feat…am I right?

Available in three colors; grey, black and tan, these are the perfect booties as we start to transition into the cooler months.

Next up is the Ringmaster Ankle Boot

This sleek ankle boot is made with a vegan fabric that is super soft with a bit of stretch that snugs your ankle in all the right places.  With at 3″ stacked heel, these booties can be worn with jeans or dressed up with a dress or skirt.  I got these in dark taupe which is such a great neutral and I paired them with a casual denim skirt and t-shirt for the perfect weekend, running around town outfit.  These booties were really comfortable to walk around in and the stretch fabric made the fit around my ankle just right, no sagging or bagging!  The Ringmaster Ankle Boot comes in three colors; taupe, black and black exotic.

BC Footwear doesn’t just make booties, they have a lot of other styles of shoes from sandals to heels to flats.  Lots of fashionable choices for every season.

So go on tell your family and your friends…heck, even tell strangers the great news… BC Footwear has high quality, fashionable footwear that is now 100% vegan!!  Go check them out!

The post Some Exciting News From BC Footwear! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Surprisingly, vegan winter boots are kind of difficult to find.  Manufacturers always seem to ruin a perfectly good boot by adding leather, suede, wool or fur.  I’ve found great boots that I thought were completely vegan, only to be disappointed because the laces were leather!  Argh!!

Well I am happy to report that I have found several very cute, stylish and warm vegan winter boots that I am here to share with you today!

This first boot is a variation on the traditional duck boot. The Nature Breeze Duck Boot is available at Walmart and comes in several color combinations.  With it’s faux shearling lining and rubber sole, this boot is great for both rain and snow.  One of my favorite features about this boot is the side zip, so you still get the look of the lace up with the ease of a zipper.

Image Source and Credit: Walmart

A bit more heavy duty is the J-Sport by Jambu Medocino Boot available from KMart.  Available in both black (shown below) and tan, the Medocino boot combines vegan suede and leather with a fluffy faux fur lining to make a durable, good looking boot.

Image Source and Credit: KMart

I stumbled across these beauties on the Macy’s site and I just had to share them.  The Danela boot from Rock and Candy and is as much of a cold weather boot as it is a fashion statement.  It is available in a few color combinations but the black/brown one pictured below is my fav.  It has a cool English countryside look that would be great with jeans or a skirt with thick tights or socks.

Image Source and Credit: Macy’s

Now maybe you live in an area where you get snow that measures in feet rather than inches, so you need something more than an ankle boot.  Well check out this beauty from Kohls.  The Superfit Naley Waterproof Winter Boot is ready for battle as they are made to withstand -20 degree Celsius weather.  Fully waterproof with a removable EVA foot bed with fleece lining cover for best cushioning, these boots are the real deal.  Available in black and my favorite, olive, pictured below.

Image Source and Credit: Kohls

The Cougar Chateau Snow Boot is another cold weather knockout.  Available at DSW in both black and beige, the Chateau has a 12″ lace up shaft that is sure to keep the snow out.  A sturdy anti-slip rubber sole will keep you on your feet through whatever winter throws your way.

Image Source and Credit: DSW

When the shorter days and lack of sunshine gets you down, why not create your own shine with the Cougar Bistro Snow Boot in metallic bronze.  Also available from DSW, the Bistro is super snug with a quilted exterior and faux fur lining and the side zip makes these boots easy to slip on and off.  This boot is also available in black and white, but they are not nearly as much fun as the bronze in my opinion!

Image Source and Credit: DSW

So whether you are a fan of the winter or not, everyone likes to stay warm and dry.  These vegan winter boot picks can help you do just that in the most fashionable way possible!

The post Through Rain, Sleet and Snow, These Vegan Winter Boots Will Keep You Warm and Dry! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Chic Vegan: What motivated you to become vegan?  Was it an overnight switch or more gradual shift?

Kat Mendenhall: Despite being a lifelong workout enthusiast and “healthy” eating advocate, I was approaching my mid-forties with extreme fatigue, nerve issues in my legs, and digestive problems that were negatively impacting my lifestyle. Searching for a solution outside traditional medicine, I just happened to see Alicia Silverstone speaking on a talk show about veganism and her newly released book The Kind Diet. I bought a copy of the book and read it in one day. I was so impacted by her own story and commonsense approach to a vegan diet that I immediately stopped eating all meat and dairy, and a few months later I dropped fish and eggs. Within two weeks time my energy had increased, my nerve issues had vanished, and my digestive system was regulated. The results from eating a vegan diet were so dramatic for me that I’ve never once considered going back to my “healthy” diet. As I began to study veganism, I realized how much our diet choices impact our own health, the livelihood of animals, and the condition of our planet. It’s a win for everyone.

CV: Tell us about your boots.  What inspired you to start the business?

KM: I grew up around farming and cattle ranching and I have always had affection for stylish cowboy boots – and quite the collection to prove it. While preparing to attend the Main Street Vegan Academy (MSVA) back in August of 2013, I was contemplating which pair of boots to bring and doubting if it would even be appropriate. Up to this point I’d been vegan for about 2 ½ years but had never been in an environment with ALL vegans.

I was contemplating all of this as I was driving down a two-lane country road in Arkansas when I found myself behind a cattle trailer. Obviously I’d seen the scenario before but on this particular day I saw it with new eyes and a new heart. I felt the anxiety that I saw on the cow’s faces as they wobbled along in the trailer, staring right at me. I knew their fate and it became unbearable to be behind them, so I had to pull over. In that instant I had the moment that so many vegans experience, where we realize that what we put on our body is just as important as what we put in them. I no longer wanted to wear or purchase leather (or any other animal by-product) so I went to the MSVA without the boots.

The deal was further sealed at the Academy when we watched a video that explained leather processing and how toxic, nasty, and life-threatening it is for those involved (usually children). That day at lunch I was sharing my dilemma of not being able to wear cowboy boots any longer with a fellow classmate. She looked at me boldly and said, “Then you make your own; that’s what you do!” I laughed at the mere thought of it but that night in my hotel room I Googled to no end to find something comparable in a vegan version. Finding no success, by morning I had made my decision to make my own, and by the end of the day I had a company name, a logo, and a tag line…Kick Butt Boots, giving leather the boot! I re-branded recently to incorporate all my vegan activism, which includes the boots, into Kat Mendenhall.

CV:  What challenges did you face?

KM: Starting a vegan boot business from scratch with no prior experience has definitely had its challenges. Finding the right boot maker – actually finding a boot maker at all – was the first challenge. Once I found the boot maker who bought into my vision (another challenge) I had to search for the right materials, which was the next challenge. I only wanted to use USA products, which seemed like it should be an easy thing to do, but not so much. This by far was the most frustrating part of the process. The other ongoing challenges are figuring out what your customers want, perfecting the processes, and determining the right kind of marketing. Of course those are challenges any business faces.

CV: Walk us through a day in your life.

KM: I like structure and routine, but I’ve learned that starting and running a business requires a lot of flexibility. There’s no longer a “norm” for me. I relish in the parts of my day that I can control which are early morning and evening. My cat O. C. wakes me up very early ready to eat, so I feed him and my dog Izzy Girl first thing. Then its coffee and breakfast for my husband and me, while I spend about an hour checking emails, social media and the news before I get down to real business either at home or at my co-working office. The rest of the day is dedicated to specific projects, meetings, writing, collaborating with other vegans, creating new recipes or testing, researching, working with clients or preparing to teach a cooking class or workshop. It never ends!

I try to be disciplined when it comes to social media, only checking or updating it a few times a day. Most evenings you’ll find me at home, so I can workout or take a yoga class and cook dinner. I always check email once more before the day is done, but I try to be off all electronics at least an hour before bed. I don’t watch TV.  I relax by reading, and then it’s lights out by 10:00 or 10:30. I’m an 8-hour a night kinda girl.

CV: What is your favorite vegan indulgence?

KM: Avocados! I tend to stick to a whole-food-plant-based diet, but I also love Beyond Meat and Follow Your Heart cheeses. These companies are definitely game changers.

CV: When people learn that you are vegan, what is the #1 question they ask and what is your response?

KM: I’ve had this question a lot this year since I’ve been out on the road promoting my boots. I’d have to say people ask, “Isn’t it hard being vegan in Texas?” My reply is, “No, it’s not because when you remove the animals from the equation you’re left with more room for all the other awesome food that most Texans ignore”. I also tell them I sleep a lot better at night knowing my choices are making a difference in my health, in lessening the suffering to animals, and protecting our planet. I’m pretty straightforward and bold.

CV: What vegan product could you not live without?

KM: Cowboy boots of course, and now I don’t have to!

CV: In your wildest dreams what will your life look like in 5 years?

KM: My wildest dreams in five years are also what I work hard to make as my reality. That reality is to continue to grow the boots business by offering new styles and designs and adding new products such as belts, wallets and a few other surprises. I also have a new concept I’m currently working on that no vegan entrepreneur has tackled yet. I hope to have this up and running sometime next year with a few locations built out within five. What happens after that is yet to be determined, but you can guarantee I’ll think of something!

The post Interview Series: Kat Mendenhall appeared first on Chic Vegan.

So lets have a brief sneak preview of some notable footwear for the colder months.

Olsen Haus

From left to right: Force, Innocence and Harmony. All made from recycled TV Screen Microfiber!
Check out the Fall ’10 Lookbook.

Cri De Coeur

Yes, I know I already covered this line, but seriously… look at those Dillon boots. From left to right: Ravishing Above-Knee Boot, Brilliance Platform Boot, and Dillon Over-Knee Wedge Boot.
All Fall ’10 shoes are ready for purchase.

Beyond Skin

For all you Euro- shoe lovers out there.. Beyond Skin has some sassy boots for the fall.  From left to right: Renee, Roxanne, and Romeo.

For those on a more realistic budget.. here are some affordable boots for your viewing pleasure.

Go Max, Shelby from LuLu’s. $56

Anne Michelle, Revenge Bootie from LuLu’s. $44

Boot from Vegan Chic. $48

Plaza Slouch Boot from Alternative Outfitters. $54

Wild Diva, Vernita Whicky from LuLu’s. $33

Hemet Boot from Bakers. $99

The post Here Come The Boots! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

But there is one thing that I do like about this blustery season, and that is SNOW! For some reason winter in the Northeast this year is completely out of control. We have gotten more snow already than we typically get in one winter! I’m not really sure what it is that makes snow so magical. Maybe it reminds us of childhood. Maybe its the beauty of it or the way it’s soft silence hangs in the air. I mean, it makes even the grumpiest pooch a lighthearted puppy again. (Seriously, what is up with dog’s and snow?)

Whatever it is that makes it special, snow requires the appropriate play attire. Gloves, Scarfs, Jackets and most important of all.. BOOTS! Nice, warm boots that allow us to drop all of our frigid weather hang ups and just enjoy it!

Mountrek Lisa Quilted

Columbia Sierra Powder 2

Moon Boots! -available in tons of colors and are ridiculously fabulous

Sorel Torino

On The Go from Toe Warmers

Sorel Tivoli

The post These Boots Are Made For…Playing! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Oh My Darling Boots -ModCloth

Sportster Debbie Boots -ModCloth

Betty Boot From Novacas -Mooshoes

Cazino Boot from Madden Girl -Mooshoes

Toemale Boot from Simple Shoes -Mooshoes

Sheldun Boot from Madden Girl -Mooshoes

Comfort Vegan Slouch Boot -VeganChic

Thames by NeuAura -VeganChic

Pierced Leather OTK Boot (AKA the most ridiculously sexy boots ever) by Stella McCartney -Nieman Marcus

Buckle Riding Boot by Madden Girl -Victorias Secret

Knee-high Stretch Boot by Steve Madden -Victorias Secret

Cuffed Boot by Sketchers -Victorias Secret

MT Maya Mocca by Marco Tozzi -Bourgeois Boheme

BoBo Lilith Bordeaux -Bourgeois Boheme

CL by Laundry -Alternative Outfitters

Dirty Laundry Taylor Tumble Black Biker Boot -Alternative Outfitters

Blowfish Hamish Boot -Endless

Cri de Coeur Jacqueline Ankle Boot -Endless

Moda Spana Kimber Boot -Endless

Te Casan by Natalie Portman Pietra Boot -Endless

The post 20 Super-Fashionable Vegan Boots appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Simple Toemale

Delia’s Skylar Boot

Madden Girl Women’s Singerr Mid Shaft Boot

Sugar Shoes Guitar Hero Crinkle Black Boot

Vegan strappy boots

The post Fun and Funky Boots appeared first on Chic Vegan.