Blogs

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Christmas 2024

The holiday season is here, and we all know how busy things can get. If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect Christmas gifts, don’t worry—Leisures Shoe Boutique has got you covered with stylish, thoughtful, and affordable options that will make any woman’s summer holiday special.

1. Polarised Sunglasses

A pair of chic polarised sunglasses is a gift that’s always in style. Whether for sunny beach days or relaxing by the pool, our sunglasses collection offers trendy and timeless designs to suit any taste. Perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to anyone’s summer look.

SHOP SUNGLASSES >

 

2. Leather Bags

Nothing says timeless elegance like a high-quality leather bag. Our selection includes crossbody bags, clutches, and more, designed to suit any occasion. These versatile and durable bags make a thoughtful and stylish gift for friends and family, ideal for summer outings or travel.

SHOP BAGS >

 

3. Elegant Scarves

Add a touch of sophistication to anyone’s wardrobe with one of our elegant scarves. Lightweight and breathable, these scarves are perfect for breezy summer evenings or adding flair to a casual outfit. Choose from a variety of colours and patterns to match your loved ones’ personal styles.

SHOP SCARVES >

 

4. A Pair of Shoes

Step up your gifting game with a stylish pair of shoes from our collection. Whether it’s casual sneakers, chic sandals, or comfortable loafers, our range offers something for everyone. Give the gift of both comfort and fashion, perfect for the summer season.

SHOP SHOES >

 

5. Summer Apparel

For a gift that’s both practical and stylish, explore our range of apparel. Perfect for warm weather, linen and breathable summer pieces bring a touch of effortless elegance to any wardrobe. Ideal for friends and family who appreciate breathable and versatile fashion staples.

SHOP SUMMER APPAREL >

 

6. Gift Cards

When in doubt, let them choose! A Leisures gift card is the perfect way to ensure your loved ones get exactly what they want. Available in various denominations, this is a thoughtful yet flexible option for any last-minute shopper.

SHOP ONLINE GIFT CARDS >

 

Why Shop at Leisures?

At Leisures Shoe Boutique, we pride ourselves on offering high-quality, stylish products that make the perfect gifts for any occasion. Shopping with us means you’re choosing unique, curated items that your friends and family will love—and it’s all just a click away.

Don’t Wait Too Long!

Christmas is just around the corner, so don’t wait too long to grab these last-minute gifts. Our Christmas Delivery cut off is the 18th of December!

Explore our website or visit us in store to find these and other fabulous gift ideas. Happy shopping, and Merry Christmas!

Red: The Vibrant Hue Taking Over Our Wardrobes This Season

As the seasons change, so do our wardrobe staples, and this year, one colour has undeniably taken center stage: red. From fiery scarlet to deep burgundy, red is the hue that's been livening up our closets, adding a touch of boldness and sophistication to our everyday looks. At Leisures, we are excited to showcase how this vibrant colour is transforming fashion and why it deserves a prominent place in your wardrobe.

 

The Power of Red

Red is a colour that exudes confidence, passion, and energy. It's a hue that has the power to turn heads and make a statement without saying a word. In fashion, red symbolises strength and allure, making it a timeless choice for those who want to stand out and express their bold personality.

Red in Footwear: A Statement of Style

At Leisures, we've embraced the red trend with an array of stunning footwear options. Whether you're looking for casual sneakers, elegant boots, or chic flats, our collection features the perfect red shoes to elevate any outfit.

1. Red Sneakers: Add a pop of colour to your everyday look with our stylish red sneakers. Perfect for running errands or a casual day out, these sneakers are comfortable yet eye-catching, making them a must-have for any wardrobe. Check out 34587 Red sneakers by Ara >

2. Red Boots: Make a bold statement with our collection of red boots. Perfect for fall and winter, these boots add a touch of drama and sophistication to any outfit. Pair them with skinny jeans and a cozy sweater for a chic daytime look, or with a dress and tights for an edgy yet elegant evening ensemble. Check out Rex Red > or Sylvester Red Combo >

3. Red Flats: For those who prefer comfort without compromising on style, our red flats are the perfect choice. Versatile and chic, they can be paired with anything from jeans to skirts, adding a touch of vibrancy to your look. Check our Shawn Red Ballet flats >

Red Accessories: The Perfect Finishing Touch

Don't stop at footwear—red accessories are another fantastic way to incorporate this lively colour into your wardrobe. From handbags to scarves, a splash of red can transform a simple outfit into something extraordinary.

1. Red Handbags: A red handbag is a statement piece that can elevate even the simplest of outfits. Whether you choose a bold tote or a sleek clutch, a red bag is both practical and stylish.
   Shop Red Bags >

2. Red Scarves: As the weather cools down, a red scarf can add warmth and style to your look. Drape it over a neutral outfit for a striking contrast, or pair it with other red accessories for a coordinated look.
   Shop Red Scarves >

How to Style Red

Incorporating red into your wardrobe can be easier than you think. Here are some tips on how to style this vibrant colour:

• Monochromatic Look: For a bold and fashionable statement, go for a monochromatic red outfit. Different shades and textures of red can add depth and interest to your look.

• Red and Neutrals: If you're hesitant to go all out, pair red pieces with neutral tones like black, navy, white, or beige. This combination is classic and allows the red to truly stand out.

• Accent Pieces: Sometimes, less is more. Add a touch of red with accessories or shoes to liven up an otherwise understated outfit.

Conclusion

Red is more than just a colour—it's a fashion statement. This season, let red liven up your wardrobe with its vibrant energy and undeniable allure. Visit Leisures Shoe Boutique to explore our stunning collection of red footwear and accessories. Embrace the power of red and step out with confidence and style.

Stay stylish, The Leisures Team

Founded in 1968, Arche is a French, family-owned company, specialising in highly original designs for over 3 generations. This beautiful brand has so much to offer, so let's take a closer look at Arche's features and personality: 

The Loire Valley Workshop

From drawing board to production, Arche’s shoe collections are created at Château-Renault in the Loire Valley, in a workshop with a staff of 70 artisans, all of whom are experts with unique expertise and know-how that melds craftsmanship with the latest technology.

The Leathers

The leathers are individually selected to meet exacting standards, thus guaranteeing the refined colours and softness on which Arche’s reputation is founded. The superior full-grain skins are sourced from Europe’s leading suppliers, all of whom are committed to sustainable and ecologically responsible development.

The Process

It takes over 120 operations to produce Arche shoes, all performed by hand, by artisans passionate about their craft. These highly specialised processes, ranging from pattern- and leather-cutting to assembling the shoes, enhance the high quality of the leathers used.

The Soles

Leisures Shoe Boutique: Coming Soon to Sydney's Queen Victoria Building

The Leisures Shoe Boutique team is excited to announce that we're about to make our mark in Sydney's Queen Victoria Building (QVB)! On March 27th, we'll be opening our doors on level 1, and this is a momentous occasion for all of us. With our extensive collection of footwear and unwavering commitment to top-notch service, we're gearing up to become the ultimate destination for shoe aficionados and style enthusiasts alike.

In the words of our CEO and Founder, Michael Newton-Brown, "We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Leisures QVB Store (level 1), as of late March 2024. This marks a new and exciting chapter for us, and we are eager to continue serving you in this vibrant location."

The Queen Victoria Building, with its rich history and charming ambiance, provides the perfect backdrop for our brand. Nestled within this architectural gem, our boutique promises an unparalleled shopping experience. Here, customers can immerse themselves in a carefully curated selection of footwear, tailored to suit a variety of tastes and preferences.

From sophisticated designs perfect for formal occasions to comfortable options ideal for everyday wear, Leisures offers something for every style and situation. We take pride in sourcing our footwear from renowned brands, ensuring that each pair meets the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship.

But it's not just about the shoes—it's about the experience. Our dedicated team is committed to providing personalised assistance, guiding customers to find the perfect pair that not only fits well but also complements their unique style.

As we gear up to open our doors in the heart of Sydney's bustling shopping district, excitement is palpable among The Leisures Community. Whether you're on the hunt for that perfect pair to complete your outfit or simply looking to treat yourself to some retail therapy, Leisures promises to deliver an exceptional experience that combines comfort, style, and unparalleled service.

So mark your calendars and join us at Leisures Shoe Boutique in the Queen Victoria Building this March. Step into a world where every shoe tells a story, and every customer is greeted with warmth and care. We can't wait to welcome you!

The Ultimate Guide to Shoe Care: Preserving the Beauty of Leather and Suede

Shoes are not just a functional accessory; they are a reflection of your style and personality. Whether you're a sneakerhead or a lover of classic leather loafers, proper shoe care is essential to ensure longevity and maintain their pristine appearance. In this guide, we'll delve into the art of caring for shoes, with a focus on leather and suede.

1. General Shoe Care Tips

Before we dive into specific care routines for leather and suede, let's cover some universal tips to keep all types of shoes in top condition:

Clean Regularly: Dirt and grime can accelerate wear and tear. Brush off any loose dirt with a soft brush or cloth regularly.

Rotate Your Shoes: Give your shoes time to breathe by rotating them. This prevents excessive wear on one pair and helps maintain their shape.

Weather Protection: Apply a water repellent spray to protect your shoes from rain and spills. Let them dry thoroughly if they get wet.

 

2. Leather Shoe Care

Leather shoes exude a timeless elegance, but they require proper care to preserve their luster. Follow these steps to keep your leather shoes looking as good as new:

Clean with a Damp Cloth: Wipe off any surface dirt with a damp cloth. Avoid using excessive water, as it can damage the leather.

Condition Regularly: Leather can dry out and lose its natural oils. Apply a leather conditioner to nourish the material and prevent cracks.

Polish for Shine: Use a high-quality shoe polish to enhance the color and shine of your leather shoes. Choose a polish that matches the shoe color for the best results.

Store Properly: Keep leather shoes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use shoe bags to protect them from dust and scratches.

  

3. Suede Shoe Care

Suede shoes offer a more casual and textured look, but they require special attention to maintain their soft and luxurious feel. Here's how to care for suede shoes:

Brush Away Stains: Use a suede brush or eraser to gently remove stains and scuff marks. Always brush in the direction of the natural nap.

Protect with a Spray: Apply a suede protector spray to repel water and stains. Allow the shoes to dry thoroughly after spraying.

Avoid Water: Unlike leather, water can significantly damage suede. If your suede shoes get wet, let them dry naturally, and avoid using direct heat sources.

Store Carefully: Keep suede shoes in a breathable bag to protect them from dust. Avoid stacking suede shoes, as this can lead to deformation.

 

Conclusion

Caring for your shoes is an investment in both style and durability. By following these general tips and specific care routines for leather and suede, you can ensure that your footwear not only lasts longer but also continues to make a stylish statement every time you step out. So, treat your shoes with the love and attention they deserve, and they'll keep you looking sharp for years to come.

 

Twelve Shoes of Christmas

 

Bing Crosby’s version is best. It’s jaunty and brings Christmas into focus in a way that only an obsessive-compulsive ornithologist can. With men notoriously known for buying atrocious gifts and really not understanding that all women want in life is some time and a good pair of shoes (as well as all the other things on their never-ending list) – here are the 12 shoes that I hope Bing, or someone equally as suave, would sing into actuality for you.

 

One the 1^st day of Christmas…

I wear these everywhere. The reason they’re in the coveted “Partridge in a Pear Tree” spot on this list is because there’s enough colours and patterns to keep buying them on repeat – and I have! They’re washable, they’re comfortable, and I feel spry and fun even if the rest of my outfit isn’t as jubilant as my shoes. Plus, there’s the added bonus that I feel like I could suddenly wander onto a tennis court or into a field of croquet players and I would just immediately know what to do. They’re the every-shoe. They are very much the thing your true love would give to you.

 

On the 2^nd day of Christmas…

I wish there was some way to explain why espadrilles look good on every single foot. The sleek, woven wedge; the suede peep toe; the sling-back – it just works. They can be dressed up. They can be dressed down. You feel like you can take flight from marble staircases of a Hamptons mansion, to the polished echoing decks of a beach house, to the supple sand-lined paths surrounding busy beaches, and everything in between, highlighting a toned calf and never losing a step. 2 turtle doves are what you feel like you’re walking on…also, you should by 2 pairs for the colours and general emotional reassurance they offer.

 

On the 3^rd day of Christmas…

These mesh nests bring the avant-garde to your feet and here’s the thing, if you think they’re odd and you can’t wear them, you’re wrong. The French know fashion, and I’m always surprised how well these work with different outfits, no matter the circumstance or colour palette. You could imagine 3 clucky French hens wandering around Paris or Lyon or Nice, classy as ever, cascading into a fabulous dinner or running to the local market to pick up fresh tomatoes and blooming peonies. It’s the kind of energy I wish to emulate in my life and I know these are the way to set that precedent.

 

On the 4^th day of Christmas…

In summer, I live in thongs. But that means they can wear out quickly, give me cracked heels and make me look homeless or like I’m in a perpetual hurry, which I never am, unless you count wanting to get home before I run into anyone. Good think (thank you) there’s a company that thought this through. Even now I can feel the supple leather and supportive sole giving way under my feet like fairy floss disintegrating or nestling into a feather eiderdown. Knowing that I can look stylishly practical by effortlessly slipping into a pair of thongs makes me want to call and coo about these shoes with anyone that will listen.

 

 

On the 5^th day of Christmas…

I’m not a crazy busy person, but sometimes I wish I had a job that involved a clipboard and the need to run around with a sense of determination and purpose that resembled a hostile takeover of a small country, or a local preschool Grandparents Day. Because I would have the prefect footwear. I’d feel sturdy and secure and if any country knows how to put functionality and performance into footwear, it’s the Germans. And with 5 shades of gold ringing through these lace-ups, it feels like I’m a messenger for the gods. Hermes’ winged sandals have nothing on me when I’m rocking a pair of these.

 

 

On the 6^th day of Christmas…

Much like Verruca Salt finds the golden egg in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, geese have been laying these beauties at and on my feet in every colour imaginable and I feel like I’ve fixed the system and won the golden ticket! You know when you find a pair of shoes that you just know will be there for you; that will never fail you; that will work with everything and never let you down? Like the best friend you find in primary school or the one decent guy you find against all odds in a sea of Mervins; you hold tight because you can’t imagine the day you’ll ever be parted. 

 

 

 

On the 7^th day of Christmas…

I have the world’s fattest feet. I wish I wore size 38, with a slim arch and toes that didn’t look like an afterthought. In these shoes, I don’t try and wedge my feet in, but rather they slide straight in, with only a slight peak of my toes showing through. I’m strapped into soft Spanish leather where I feel lighter than air and as elegant as a wedge of swans in flight. I want an excuse to wear these at every turn, and they’re versatile enough that I can. Thank you Spain, thank you breathable leather, thank you Velcro strap; my Shrek feet bow down to you.

 

On the 8^th day of Christmas…

These just make me wish I knew how to bake or could catch a Frisbee with flair, like every independent, killer Aussie woman I see roaming the streets around me. Wearing these, you could be anyone or do anything. Liberal fashion student? Tick. Mum with a toddler? Yep. Hipster beach babe? You bet. Someone who makes their own Kombucha? Probably. Retiree doing some light gardening? Of course. The one person you know who’s really into essential oils? Oh, yeah. Milk maid? Why on earth not. Between the durable sole and super cute tassels, these Australian-designed/ Turkish-made shoes are a sensational hybrid for every walk of life.

 

 

On the 9^th day of Christmas…

These wedges are everything I wish I was in life. I remember seeing them on the shelf in the store and literally gasping, being drawn forward like Aurora to the needlepoint in Sleeping Beauty. I was entranced. As was my sister standing next to me. That’s the effect these Ara have. You can just imagine all ladies dancing in these, instantly made sophisticated, flawlessly quipping with ease, triumphantly turning heads and powerfully carving a path for themselves like Moses parting the Red Sea. Their colour palette means they’ll work with anything and I’ll be considered a genius for knowing their true talent and beauty. They are Meryl Streep and I am unworthy.

 

On the 10^th day of Christmas…

I don’t know why, but firm, thick elastic makes you feel secure in a way that boyfriends, careers and Spanx don’t. It moves with you as if holding you close and whispering, “I’ve got you girl. I’ll never let go.” They’re bright and vibrant and immovable in their ability to keep you going, even if you’ve been on your feet all day. You could leap and jump and bob and swerve, and you’d never feel for a moment that you were out of step or not in control. In fact, leap into the arms of a passing man, point to your feet and hopefully that’ll give him something to aim for.

 

 

On the 11^th day of Christmas…

Nautical themes must know how good they look. I mean, they could make a pig’s trotter look sassy and chic. I want an entire brass band celebrating just how good these shoes look. Trumpets, flutes, saxophones…pipers perhaps? These feel like the modern equivalent of a pair of shoes that you’d wear to a clam bake in the 1950s. Full skirt, curled hair, dreamboat named Harvey or Bobby or Chip swinging you around on the dance floor. You can smell the salty sea breeze as you lower your cat eye sunglasses and swing these shoes from your fingertips. What a blast!

 

 

On the 12^th day of Christmas…

These are the finale and ultimate triumph in all of the footwear kingdom. These are what Bing has been building towards. There an artwork of colours, because Arche know what they’re doing, and you could march all day long, banging drums, clanging symbols, decorating trees, feeding kids, cooking ham, serving drinks, packing a dishwasher, laughing loudly, walking the dogs and dancing into the summer nights and your feet would still be wondering why they aren’t tired and why they still look so damn good. The answer: Arche. The shoes do all the work, and help carry the weight of all the compliments you’ll be lugging around.

 

 

I’ve decided most people are thinking that the minute the clock strikes midnight on January 1^st, 2021, everything is going to reset like Groundhog Day. We would’ve made it through the pandemic and huzzah! How great for us. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m prophetic. I’d love to rock a robe and a staff, and hang out on rock outcroppings over populous areas yelling at people to do things, but I have zero authority. I’ve been told numerous times.

 

Most likely, things will continue on in ebbs and flows, highs and lows, starts and fits and every other cliché you can think of. It’s not going to feel any different and somehow, that’s going to be even more of a let-down. We won’t admit it, yet even as you read this, I bet you’re also sensing the mental acrobatics your brain is doing, trying to prepare you for the disappointment of this coming anti-climax, poise you mentally for the reset you may not practically feel like you’re getting, while still maintaining some level of expectation for what’s just around the corner.

 

We’ve got weeks left, Christmas is fast approaching, summer is beckoning over the stormy horizon and we’re thinking that we don’t want these last few weeks to feel like a total write-off. So, how do we go out of this year well? I think it’s pretty simple.

 

 1. Be thankful.

Figure out what you’re thankful for. List them. Write them out. Pour over a super reflective journal entry. Ruminate on it with a friend. Crochet it with the leftovers of your attempts to start a hobby circa mid-April. Tell the bird that you thought would be a good companion for an empty apartment. Scream it at your husband who has not been helpful, watching golf on a 24-hour loop for the past 6 months. If you can read this, then you have the gift of sight! If it’s being read to you, you have someone who’s willing to do that for you. We always have more in our lives than we think. Walk towards the New Year with that mentality washing over you. Be the Andie McDowell of Groundhog Day: get a perm and be thankful. 

2. Look outwards

With the pockets of time or money you have, do something gracious with it. Donate it. Set up a really nice lunch or dinner or breakfast or coffee date or outing or whatever it may be with someone or someones you want to honour. Make something. Sew something. Write something. Do the opposite of what your stingy friends have been telling you since you bought that kiln or elliptical machine you swore you’d use all the time, and be willing to sacrifice something so that you can magnify the joy of those around you. Set up a viewing party to watch Groundhog Day and know why it’s such a great anchoring reference for the year we’ve been having.

3. Something small.

Decide to change/ add/ take away one thing that can make the remainder of this year feel special. Why do resolutions need to start in 2 months? Think about saving money on one of your daily coffees, then figuring out what to do with that $200-odd in 2021. Buy the dress or shoes or bag or stylish moo-moo you’ve been eying to wear that’ll make you feel lighter and prettier and that little bit more lovely. Hunt down a VHS copy of Groundhog Day (you’ll probably also need to hunt down a VHS, just as an aside) and watch it while you figure out what on earth a mother yeast is, setting the precedent of having 1 hour every week completely and utterly to yourself.

 

 

I’m not looking to change lives here – remember I’m no prophet – but it’s the small things that will make a difference. How are you going to get the most out of the rest of 2020? Honestly, I think it’s up to you.

 

This is the question, isn’t it? It’s been growing ever more incrementally over the past few years and for some of us the answer is obvious; we’ve chosen a camp and are happy to stay in it.

For others, there’s the changing nature of a technologically advancing world, a global marketplace, not to mention a pandemic, to reset your thinking about what needs to change in the way you shop.

It feels impossible to imagine a day when you might wake up and head out, do some window shopping and come away with a sneaky little gem that caught your eye in a window display much like something out of some Richard Curtis rom-com where the perfect gifts, the perfect dresses, and the perfect shoes are found with the sun shining and your hair curling down your face in the way you’ve always dreamed of.

Online shopping still feels impersonal and boring yet, that picture in your head is now coming up against the literal barrier of a mask over your face. How can my hair cascade majestically with elastic over my ears? How can I replicate this Julia Roberts moments in leggings at my kitchen counter?

As someone that shops both in person and online heavily (much to my bank account’s deep displeasure but my continually-increasing enjoyment), there are positives to both. 

 

IN STORE 

 

1. Nothing beats the experience of shopping in person because it’s so easy. Everything you want is at your fingertips. You can try things on (a huge benefit and generally easy process that doesn’t have you panicking that you’ve changed shape in the last 4 days) and you can walk out immediately with exactly what you want. No panic. No qualms. No drama.

2. It’s a tactile expedition much like walking into the aquarium and seeing the kids at the touch pool where they can poke and prod at everything pretty and shiny around them.

Feeling the sleek polish of patent like a Bond villanelle; grasping supple leather as if you’re holding soft rising dough in your hands; gliding your fingers back and forth over the opulence of rich velvet, cashmere or suede is like a drug or meditative experience.

There are so many colours and patterns and beads and styles that your eyes enjoy taking in. It’s a kaleidoscopic touch pool for adults. 

3. It’s almost always accompanied by something other. Unless you are grocery shopping, out of underwear or in need of a coffee, you don’t go running into a store without going into others.

It’s the Hepburn moment of seeing a store, moseying in, wandering around and the unmistakable thrill that comes when you see something you need (yay), something you like (double yay) or some wonderful intoxicating mesh of the two that feels like you’ve lucked out.

You get the bag nicely packaged, meander a little more and find yourself coming home ready to show off. “Look what I got!” you say to whoever is home and then the excitement at thinking, “When can I wear them?”

 

ONLINE 

 

1. Convenience. Let’s not beat around the bush. It is so much easier to do some emailing, have a phone conversation, make a coffee and do the laundry, all the while there’s a tab open with everything you’re looking at buying.

You don’t even have to think about it because 99% of the time you can return it if it’s not quite right. You click the one you want, you drain your cup, turn off the screen and know that in however many days, you’ll have sometime that will find its way to you.

2. The anticipation of getting a package, like your new pair of summer sandals. In this day and age, we don’t really have much to wait for, nor do we like the inconvenience of not having something immediately.

But there’s some lost art in that. The thought that something you’ve bought is on its way to you is delicious. It’s like a reverse scavenger hunt. Looking out the window, on the doorstep or in the mailbox each day only adds to the anticipation and then if you forget and then, suddenly there it is, packaged and neat and just waiting to be opened because it houses something wonderful and delightful… it’s like waiting for the guy you have a crush on to call you. The waiting, the absence, the inevitability, it makes it worth it.

3. When you find something online, you basically feel like Sherlock Holmes. Whether it’s on the home page or you do a deep dive with discarded remnants of muffins and iced lattes around you, when you find something you like, something that jumps off the pages you’ve been scrolling through; you feel like you’ve done the impossible and found something unique and special and the feeling of satisfaction that you made it happen basically makes you feel you’ve done something incredible.

The feeling of validation is immense. Close your computer, turn off your phone and stand up, you’ve done it. You’ve found what no one else could. The game was afoot. Now, it’s in the mail. Robert Downey Jr. eat your heart out. 

The mornings are getting darker and the days seem like they are getting shorter, winter is well on the way. It’s fair to say that in Australia we don’t see a huge amount of rainfall during winter, but when it does rain, it can strike at any time and most of the time out of nowhere, in abundance. But with the Ara Gore Tex Shoes range we now have a new weapon in the battle against wet weather. 

It’s the cooler seasons that you’ll start to hear the term Gore Tex all the time. But what is Gore Tex, where did it come from and how can it change our life? 

When was Gore Tex invented and how did Gore Tex start?

Where it all began, Gore Tex was invented in 1969 by two brothers Wilbert L. Gore and Gore’s son, Robert W. Gore. Bob (by sheer accident) decided one day to stretch heated rods of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and created expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) which is more commonly known by the generic trademark Teflon. 

Gore Tex materials are typically used in a wide variety of applications such as high-performance fabrics, medical implants, filter media, insulation for wires and cables, gaskets, and sealants. However, Gore Tex fabric is best known for its use in protective, yet breathable, rain-wear. 

Are Gore Tex shoes waterproof?

ARA Goretex Lace Up

We all know that Gore Tex keeps us dry, but do we know what Gore Tex really is? Is it a fabric? Is it a spray treatment? Gore Tex can repel liquid water while allowing water vapor to pass through and is designed to be a lightweight, waterproof fabric for all-weather use. 

Do Gore Tex shoes work?

But have you ever wondered how Gore Tex products actually work? No, it’s not magic — though it might seem that way sometimes. If we deep dive into the Gore Tex technology, it generally refers to three main layers.

The upper layer is a thin material made of a very durable, waterproof material. The middle layer is equipped with a microporous membrane structure, which allows comfort and health benefits all day long, and the lowest layer helps secure hold, durability and prevents the other layers from slipping away. 

Does Gore Tex actually work?

So how do we keep our feet dry, and does Gore Tex actually work? The Leisures Shoe Boutique brand Ara, can actually keep our feet dry and has advanced technology to thank as well as rigorous product testing to ensure quality in every pair of shoes.

Each square inch of this membrane contains 9 billion microscopic pores, and each pore is 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. Rain, sleet and snow can’t penetrate this barrier. Each pore in the membrane is 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule, allowing sweat vapor to escape from inside the shoe. This is what it means for the fabric to “breathe.”

Do Gore Tex shoes breathe?

Beautiful ARA Gore Tex Winter Boots

Breath-ability is why you can wear a pair of Gore Tex boots in the rain without your feet getting wet from the outside or growing clammy on the inside from exertion.

To make sure each new style of Gore Tex footwear is waterproof, breathable, comfortable and durable, prototypes are rigorously tested in Gore labs before they can go into production.

Specially designed testing equipment is used to ensure that the design is up for the challenges in the real world. Every new footwear prototype is put through its paces in our Gore Tex testing labs.

There are four specific tests; The Walking Simulator, The Centrifugal Tester, The Wicking Test, and The Comfort Test. 

The Ara brand is from Germany, and made to combat the European winters and wet weather. Comfort Footwear is great for both high-output activities and everyday use. The technology is perfect for constant changes between indoors and outdoors, standing and walking, working and leisure time. Especially in Australia, when the weather can turn quickly, in our lifestyle we are now required to have footwear that is fashionable and high performing. Gore Tex does actually work and fits our lifestyle perfectly.. 

Are Gore Tex shoes worth it?

Autumn Gore Tex Lace Up For The Ultimate Comfort

So we get that they keep your feet dry and free from getting sweaty, but are they worth the price? The Gore Tex logo means a lot, when you see this on the Ara shoe product you know its quality. If you see it on a pair of shoes, then that product is backed by the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise. After all the testing that Gore Tex products go through, a guarantee is a no-brainer! It’s worth the upfront cost, as like in ski gear, the quality will last years and is a quality endorsed product.

Can Gore Tex be machine washed?

So after all the water proofing and repelling liquid conversation, can we actually throw them in the washing machine I hear you ask. We would advise not too, however, we would suggest them to be scrubbed with a cloth or brush dipped in warm water. And before even wearing your beautiful Gore Tex shoes, spray them with a Scotchgard waterproofer. Not for waterproofing, but for keeping your investment shoes looking brand new. 

 

Find your favourite Gore Tex footwear at Leisures Shoe Boutique and enjoy the comfort all day long. Visit our website to shop the entire Ara range.