A Letter From Michelle — The Calenne
A Letter From Michelle
We didn’t stop loving high heels. We just stopped loving what they did to our feet.
On the two inches that change everything, why a heel’s shape matters more than its height, the six things I would not compromise on, and why the Calenne is $159.95.
Nobody warns you it is coming, and there is no day you decide it.
There is a wedding where you stand for four hours, and a drive home with your shoes in your hand. After that they stay in the box.
Look at the heel on this one from the side. Two inches, and it flares out where it meets the floor instead of narrowing to a point. That is a wider base under you at every step, and it is most of the difference between a heel you wear and a heel you endure.
Six things I would not give up on.
Just under two inches, which is the whole argument
Five centimetres. High enough to change the line of your leg and the way a trouser hangs. Low enough that your weight still goes down through your heel instead of tipping forward onto the ball of your foot, where the ache starts.
“I’m 67 and still love a pretty pair of heels, but I gave up wearing the tall ones years ago. These have such a sensible heel height. Exactly my style!”
Barbara R., KnoxvilleThe heel flares where it meets the floor
Look at it from behind and it widens at the bottom rather than tapering. A stiletto puts your whole weight on something the size of a coin. This spreads it across a base you can feel under you, which stops stairs and a crowded restaurant being a calculation.
“Bought these for work and wore them with my favorite ankle pants. I especially like the shape of the heel. A little different from an ordinary pump.”
Donna P., Cedar RapidsLeather all the way through, including the parts you do not see
Cowhide for the upper, soft leather for the lining, a lambskin insole underfoot. A leather lining gives and breathes where a synthetic one rubs, and the insole is what you notice at hour three. And a rubber outsole, not slick leather.
“I wore the brown pair to my niece’s wedding with a navy dress. The little heel was just enough to make the outfit feel dressy without being too much.”
Kathleen M., WilliamsburgThe toe is a true point, and I will not pretend otherwise
It is cut long and narrow, which is what makes it look like a proper shoe rather than a sensible one. A pointed toe is a narrow toe. It fits true to size, and the women who love it were not looking for a round-toed pump.
“I usually avoid pointed shoes, but the shape of these was too pretty to pass up. The leather has a lovely smooth finish, and the low heel gives them a classic look.”
Elaine W., LancasterCognac Brown, Almond Beige or Onyx Black
The brown is in these photographs, and it is the one I would start with. Black is always correct, and never a surprise. Brown sits with beige, camel and cream, which is most of a fall closet, and it reads as a choice rather than a default.
“The chocolate brown leather is beautiful. I wear a lot of beige and cream, so these go with nearly everything in my closet. Very pleased.”
Susan K., FranklinTen sizes, and the one thing I would rather say here
5 through 9.5, every half size, nothing skipped. And the honest word: a 9.5 is where they stop. If you take a 10, these are not for you. They also want a wipe with a damp cloth and conditioning now and then, the trade you make for real leather.
“Wore mine to Sunday church and then out to lunch with friends. I love that they look elegant without having a big, chunky heel. The brown is such a nice change from black. 😊”
Marjorie T., GreenvilleThe Calenne, against what most pumps give you
| Most $160 pumps | The Calenne | |
|---|---|---|
| Heel height | Too tall to stand in, or a flat | Just under two inches, enough to change the line |
| Heel shape | Narrowed to a point at the floor | Flared at the base, so there is width under you |
| The lining | A synthetic lining that rubs | Soft leather, with a lambskin insole underfoot |
| Underneath | A slick leather sole | A rubber outsole, which is grip you can trust on tile |
| Sizing | Whole sizes, and you hope | Ten sizes, 5 to 9.5, with every half size |
Why we are clearing them out now
The Calenne was $299.95, and I will tell you exactly where that went, because this is not a sixty-dollar shoe. Cowhide for the upper. Soft leather for the lining rather than a synthetic. A lambskin insole. A rubber outsole instead of a slick leather one. And a heel turned to flare at the base, which needs a shaped last rather than a straight one. Four materials, each chosen on its own. But the store turns twenty this year, and my daughters Julie and Amy are both at the counter most days now, which is not something I let myself count on in 2006. We wanted to mark it by handing something back to the women who kept those doors open, so it is going out at a little over half of what it was.
And the honest reasoning. This is the dearest thing in the whole sale, and it is still the one I would buy. A leather shoe that actually fits gets worn for years rather than a season.
★★★★★4.8 out of 5 — from 3,369+ reviews
$299.95$159.95
20th Anniversary Sale — Save 47%
- A genuine cowhide leather upper
- A soft leather lining and a lambskin insole
- A rubber outsole, for grip
- A 5 cm heel — just under two inches
- Flared at the base, for a wider stance
- A true pointed toe, true to size
- Three colors · Cognac Brown, Almond Beige, Onyx Black
- Ten sizes · 5 to 9.5, every half size
- Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
Every size the same price · while sizes last
One more thing, and then I will let you go.
Go and look at the shoes you keep for good.
If you remember the drive home better than the evening, that is worth knowing.
Then try the Calenne on and stand in them while you make a cup of tea. Standing still is the test. If your feet object, send them back within thirty days and we will refund you.
Go and find your size.
With love and gratitude,
— Michelle · The Hayes Family Hamptons
SEE THE CALENNE — $159.95 →This is a personal letter from Michelle Hayes, co-founder of The Hayes Family Hamptons. Customer reviews are quoted as written. · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.