A Letter From Michelle: The Elodie
A Letter From Michelle
Closed where your toes are. Open where your heel is.
On the five things I check before slippers go on the shelf, why it matters more at seven in the morning than at seven at night, and why the Elodie is $49.95.
Every October the same conversation starts up at the counter, and it is never really about slippers.
It is about the eight seconds between getting out of bed and getting something on your feet. A woman will describe her own hallway to me — which floorboard is coldest, which way she has to lean to reach the pair under the chair.
What she has usually ended up with is one of two compromises. Either an easy slide-on that leaves her toes hanging out in the cold, or a proper warm bootie she has to sit down and work her heel into.
The Elodie refuses that choice. It is open at the back, so you step in standing up, and closed at the front, so the part of your foot that actually gets cold stays covered.
That is the whole design. There were five things I would not give up on.
Covered at the front, open at the back
Stand up, point your foot, and you are in. No strap to find, no heel to wrestle, no sitting on the edge of the bed in the dark.
And because the front is a closed shell rather than an open band, your toes are inside something instead of resting on a cold floor six inches from it. Those are the two things people want at once, and almost nothing offers both.
“I keep my Elodie slippers beside the bed so they’re there before my feet touch the cold floor. The plush interior is my favorite part. I wear them while making coffee, then usually leave them on as I start my morning. The closed front keeps my toes covered. A nice little comfort to look forward to.”
Doris M., Cedar Rapids“I bought these for evenings at home after taking off my work shoes. I wanted something soft inside that I could put on without adjusting straps. These suit that routine nicely. I wear them while getting dinner ready and settling down with a book afterward. Nothing complicated—just a comfortable pair of house slippers.”
Carolyn P., PuebloThe lining comes up the sides, not just underfoot
Pick one up and look straight down into it. The plush covers the footbed and then keeps going up the walls, right to the edge of the opening.
Most slippers at this price put a soft insole in a plain shell. Your sole is warm and the sides of your feet are not, which is one reason they come off again after twenty minutes.
“The lining feels lovely when I slip these on first thing in the morning. I chose Coastal Blue and really like the color.”
Donna E., Green BayCushioned and shaped, not a flat pad
The footbed is cushioned and gently shaped rather than flat, and underneath it there is a real sole rather than a thin pad.
The outsole is textured rather than smooth, which you notice on tile and wood.
“I wanted house slippers with some cushioning underfoot. These feel comfortable while I’m making breakfast and tidying the kitchen. Easy to slide into, too.”
Nancy F., Staunton“I picked Sapphire Black because I like darker slippers with my lounge pants. The contrast stitching gives them a neat look. I’m happy with the cushioning and the relaxed feel.”
Beverly T., LynchburgThree colors, and not a bow in sight
Coastal Blue, Sapphire Black, and Champagne Taupe. Contrast stitching along the edge and nothing else — no pompom, no embroidered animal, no fur cuff.
These get worn in front of whoever happens to be in the kitchen, so I would rather they looked like something you chose than something you were given.
“The Champagne Taupe is such a pretty neutral. Simple, cozy slippers without bows or anything fussy.”
Debra K., BendSizes 3 through 10, one price
Eight sizes, same price for all of them. The fit is relaxed, so take the size you usually take.
One honest note. These are house slippers — warm, cushioned, and easy to get on. They are orthopedic as well. Which means that the Elodie is a must-have if your feet hurt in a way that worries you.
The Elodie, against the pair by your bed now
| What most people own | The Elodie | |
|---|---|---|
| Your toes | Out in the open | Inside a closed front |
| Getting them on | Sit down, work the heel in | Step in standing up |
| The lining | A soft insole, plain sides | Plush up the walls too |
| The footbed | A flat pad | Cushioned and shaped |
| The outsole | Smooth underneath | Textured, not smooth |
Why we are clearing them now
They were $139.95 on the shelf. That is what slippers cost when the lining is carried up the sides instead of stopping at the insole, the footbed is shaped rather than flat, and the outsole is a real sole rather than a sheet of felt.
But the store turns twenty this year. My daughters Julie and Amy are both at the counter most days now. I did not let myself count on that when my husband and I opened the doors in 2006. We wanted to mark it by handing something back to the women who kept those doors open, so the Elodie goes out at $49.95.
★★★★★4.8 out of 5 — from 3,369+ reviews
$139.95$49.95
20th Anniversary Sale — Save 64%
- Closed front, so your toes stay covered
- Open back — step in without sitting down
- Plush lining carried up the inner walls
- A cushioned, gently shaped footbed
- A textured outsole, not a smooth one
- Contrast stitching, and nothing fussy
- Coastal Blue, Sapphire Black, or Champagne Taupe
- Sizes 3 through 10, one price
- Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
Every size the same price · while they last
One more thing, and then I will let you go.
Go look at the pair you own now. Not at the state of them — at the shape. See whether your toes would be inside anything, and whether you could get into them without putting a hand on the wall.
If the answer is no twice, that is not you being fussy. That is a pair of slippers that only works sitting down.
With love and gratitude,
— Michelle · The Hayes Family Hamptons
SEE THE ELODIE — $49.95 →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.