Real Men wear Clogs Part 2 - I wear Tessa Clogs

Footwear - we all need it and use it.  I wear Tessa Clogs - I truly believe that our clogs will help your body by giving you support for your legs, knees and back.

All I can say is that I wear clogs every single day and am standing in them for at least 8+ hours a day.  I have flat flat feet.  No arch what so ever - take a look -

Now before you say anything about my feet - I was born this way.  This is not a condition that developed - and please don't sent me any weird emails talking about my flat feet.

I am showing my feet and my issues because almost all of us have some inconvenience (I say inconvenience because this is not a problem - a problem would be cancer).  My feet do talk to me and cry a bit when I am do anything without support for my flat friends. 

I have run 100 miles at one time (Leadville Trail 100 in 24 hours and 30 minutes with over 18,000 feet elevation gain), ski, climb, bike, hike, 46 years old and when I wake up in the mornings after years of physical activity I am sore.  I pretty much have clogs on right after I get out of bed until this body gets back in bed at night.

Are Tessa Clogs going to work for you - YES.  BUT - lets get real and look at the general population - the ones that are not wearing Tessa Clogs.

The general public abuse themselves with: smoking, over eating, over drinking and buying shit they don't need - grow up - life is short, don't abuse it.  These are the same people that tell me they can not wear a wooden sole and need a comfort shoe with 4 inches of pillow.  I hear crap like this all the time - my feet hurt, my back hurts, my knees hurt, blah, blah, blah - I can't wear wooden soled clogs.

Maybe loose a pound - maybe exercise - I don't know, maybe those flip flops that give ZERO SUPPORT - are contributing to the plantar facatis that you are experiencing.  Really - try something new for you - give clogs a try and I don't mean just putting them on your feet, wear them for a month.  Let your body get used to them and your body will love them.

We believe that we have the most comfortable stylish shoes - clogs - that a person can wear on your feet.  Not only are they hand painted here in Vail, Colorado, USA (not in China), made in Sweden (not in a sweatshop in China) they are truly a unique shoe/clog that will make you stand out for the mountain style and the ear to ear grin of comfort.

I am feeling a bit angry today with those people that tell me that they can not wear clogs - well - I wear Tessa Clogs.

We live HERE

I am by no means bragging but stating a fact - WE LIVE HERE.  HERE is a place that many people visit all times of the year.  I always remind myself and family that many people make sacrifices to come and spend time in our beautiful little gem spot in the world.  If you take a peek at any social media sites - people are sharing their adventures of their vacation time in Vail.  We on the other hand just share our everyday adventure being that WE LIVE HERE. 

Ski with School Day

Part of our ordinary everyday adventure - our public school district for those in K through 8th Grade - get 2 days during the winter to ski Vail or Beaver Creek.  Pretty Cool

Svea trying on her Tessa Clogs

What is difficult for our friends and family to understand is that we make sacrifices to live here.  These sacrifices that we sometimes argue and cry over are forgotten when we are living our everyday adventure.  These normal for us activities include skiing POWDER!  How do you describe a rainbow to a blind person or how would you explain skiing powder to those that can not. 

One of the best quotes that I read religiously is by Dolores LaChapelle -
One can never be bored by powder skiing because it is a special gift of the relationship between earth and sky. It only comes in sufficient amounts in particular places, at certain times on this earth; it lasts only a limited amount of time before sun or wind changes it. People devote their lives to it for the pleasure of being so purely played by gravity and snow.

As Warren Miller would say - if you don't move to the mountain this year, you will only be one year older when you do. 

Tessa taking her lunch break - ordinary life

Desigual Spring 2014, New Arrivals and Sale Items!

For those of who have visited our shop in Lionhead, or maybe some online shoppers, you might have noticed our inventory of clothing is unlike any store in the valley. Tessa has a great eye for unique styles from brands like Desigual, Van Deurs, Cream, Asha, Kask and several more. As I have mentioned before, Tessa Clogs is the only shop in the United States that sells the Van Deurs clothing line.

Clockwise from top left: Desigual scarf, Black Viky skirt (also available in pink),
Summer Pant, Panu Bolas Scarf,  and Desigual Bambobay Scarf

 Desigual is based in Barcelona, Spain; its philosophy is based on positive, tolerance, commitment and fun. For the first time, Desigual presented a show at the New York Fashion Week, it was the Spring/Summer 2014 collection. When I see someone hesitant about Desiguals bright prints, I tell them to try it on. Most of their products are made with a combination of cotton and viscose, so it helps show off curves but hides things you don't quite want to show off. It is too often that the person who originally hesitated, can not wait to show off what she has tried on. She will throw the curtain to the side and say,"I can't believe I almost didn't give it try", and then proceed to try on a skirt and a few shirts as well. Please browse through our new arrivals for Desigual, and also check out the new sale items.

Clockwise from top left: Kask Longjohn, Rider Yellow Ski Socks, Purple Heli,
  Crew Base Layer,  Pink Turtle, Black Calle socks, and Kask google 

For those looking for something reasonable to wear in the cold, Kask supplies us with bright crochet hats, merino socks and base layers. Founded in 2001 by two guys who really enjoyed making hats for their friends and family, Kask has transformed into making base layers, socks, and goggles, and they continue to develop new products.

Check out our newest sale, with items up to 70% off!

- M

Sale, Life & Work

 Our 70% off sale is still going on - we have sold about half of our sales items, act now before you miss out.
 
What I have a hard time with in making a Blog, Facebook, Twitter or any other type of public relation social media announcement is making one that is personal, humble, factual and at the same time trying to sell because I need to make a living but not seem like an bragging idiot. Do I accomplish this - I have no idea - so I do appreciate those that read and understand what we are trying to do.

For example - today - our kids had a snow day from school - big deal you say - well it is - in 35 years here in Vail, there have only been 2 snow days - yes, only 2.  The past 2 days or I should say 30 hours we have received over 30" of snow.  That is just crazy and for us snow farmers it is liquid gold.  So what do you do as a merchant living in a ski town - the 6" rule is in effect (6 inches of powder snow or more).  We worked both of these Powder Days but our work days started a bit later - instead of getting our store open at 10am we opened between noon and 1pm.  Did we loose any sales by not opening earlier - maybe but unfortunately I don't think so. 

I do have to say - yesterday skiing home to Minturn - was probably one of my top 5 ski runs ever.  Perfect powder snow, absolutely no tracks on an untouched mountain canvas where I put my line down for 1,500 feet where I aired a small cliff, landed and continued the run down to the river bed.  The picture is not me but as I try to express my self in words the photo may help to convey the feeling of skiing powder snow - freedom.

Life in the mountains - I would almost compare it to a ranchers or farmers life. It is a lifestyle that we truly love although it has proven to our family that we will never be driving a low mileage car* or even be able to save much money for our kids college tuition. We try to teach our kids that a life lived with a continual appetite for knowledge and physical activity is a life that will be rewarded with health and happiness. What else can we wish for?

How was this blog entry - I hope I conveyed that we do have a Super Sale going on and that this be acted on.  I let those know we do not have many snow days here in the high country and that powder skiing is addictive. 

Cheers

*I am laughing inside as I type low mileage car - I almost want to say we will always own one piece of s**t car - Adam Sandler says it best - horrible language but a truly funny song - it is on youtube and imo is hillarious70% off Sale at Swedish Clog Cabin

70% off, It's a Magic Number

we are overstocked at Swedish Clog Cabin and need your help!   Hand Made, Hand Painted - NEW Tessa Clogs and Bracelets    Shamus we miss you 2008-2013, Svea - you bundle of love welcome to our family   70% off - it's a magic number check out our sale - our below cost loss is your reward - stock up on some presents or gifts for yourself do you remember School House Rock - 3 is a magic number - if you are longing to hear and see this again - this link will take you to youtube where you can watch the cartoon and 90's band Blind Mellon   Tessa Clogs New We are embracing our Nordic roots with new Scandinavian Designs.  Our New Hand Made Tessa Bracelets mixes traditional Swedish Ribbon and Leather for a unique Scandinavian look, wear one or stack a few of the them together.  Our new Ski and Dala Horse Tessa Clogs designs will always make you dream about life here in the mountain.  So if you are not wearing Tessa Clogs and/or living in the mountains - as our friend Warren Miller would say - "if you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - so get your Tessa Clogs now.         Tessa Clogs and Traveling TSA security, long flights, swelling - wear Tessa Clogs, life is SO MUCH EASIER with clogs, take them off put them on .  Why deal with laces, buckles and normal boring shoes.      Shamus & Svea just truly sad, Shamus had to deal with the road of cancer and we put him down in December.  We had roughly one month of no pet therapy, but now Svea is family and that empty part of our lives is now filling back up.    TessaClogs.com is the home of Tessa Clogs but also the home of Swedish Clog Cabin, our retail store in downtown Vail, just 100 yards from the Eagle Bahn Gondola.  Besides all the wonderful Tessa Clog choices we also have a super selection of Scandinavian clothes, food, books and gifts. Thanks for reading and looking - Chris & Tessa Manning Please check out our retail web site at http://www.tessaclogs.com/ for more news and information!

 Tessa Clogs / Swedish Clog Cabin 70% off SALE

Celebrities Wearing Clogs, Men Wearing Clogs, who wears clogs?

People often associate clogs as folkloric footwear, but some types of clogs are considered as fashion wear, such as Swedish clogs.

For similar styles, visit our site.
Photo Credit: Runwaydaily.com

 You can spot many celebrities in these comfortable, yet fashionable shoes. From the Olson twins, Anne Hathaway and Miley Cyrus, to Sean P. Diddy Combs. Clogs aren't limited to the boho casual types, nor are they limited to one gender, or age, they are a versatile shoe that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. Not to mention the many professionals who work on their feet all day, including chefs, doctors and nurses.

Clockwise from top left; Casual clog wear, Chris Manning wearing Black,
Model on Runway, Black, Male wearing clogs-street style, Brown Mountain Oil

Chris Manning, co-owner of Tessa Clogs and the Swedish Clogs Cabin, wears the clogs daily and swears by their reliable comfort and durability. Noting their aren't too many people who realize that Tessa Clogs also sells men's clogs, Chris dedicated a blog titled, "Real Men Wear Clogs". 

From top; Red Zin Decorative nail, Black Oil, Brown Oil Decorative Nail

From Karl Lagerfield, MaxMara, Chanel,  Louis Vuitton and many others, the stapled high heel clogs seem to keep appearing on the runways. Inspired by this trend Tessa has added decorative nails to her high heel collection. What a simple change can do to an already loved clog, the stapled high heels come in black and brown oil as well a oxblood or merlot color. Tessa clogs even contributed to a runway show in Sweden for Höllviken in 2011.

From top left; Snake Print, Brown Oil, Navy Blue Klara, Red Pirate. Brown Oil Becky,
 Tessa and Kids, Biking with clogs, Hiking with clogs, and climbing with clogs

Parents weary of their toddlers in clogs need to only look at Tessa and Chris' three children, who have grown up wearing them. The whole family lives an active lifestyle; camping, climbing, skiing, etc., and they can be found wearing clogs while participating in some of them. You can check out a previous post by Chris Manning regarding biking in clogs.

There you have it; celebrities in clogs, men wearing clogs, models wearing clogs, and toddlers and kids wearing clogs. If you don't believe that these are indeed stylish and comfortable, stop by the store and also check out our new arrivals!

-M

Clogs Made in Sweden, Handpainted in Vail!

As the gift giving season starts consider this; how many of the gifts that you give are made in China?India?Mexico? What about something made in Sweden? Better yet, something in Vail, Colorado?

Swedish Christmas Stocking

I recently gifted my mother a pair of Tessa Clogs Black High Heels with the snap-strap. The clogs are made in Sweden, and hand painted by Tessa in Vail,Colorado. I am relieved that every holiday I can just send her a new pair of straps and maybe include some Cream leggings or Desigual printed socks. Recently added to the snap strap inventory are hand painted holiday themed straps, and hand painted Black High Heel Clogs.

Left to Right:
Black Christmas in Vail ,Black Vail Mountain ,Black Oil High Heel
Black Oil Lucia ,Black Christmas extrawide

For my sister who has been eyeing my mom’s new clogs, a pair of clogs for herself, some glӧgg, and Lele hand knit and embroidered hand warmers. I wasn't sure what glӧgg was when I first started working at Tessa Clogs last year, and as Christmas was approaching I noticed that it was flying off the shelves. Glӧgg is a mix of spices that you typically add red wine too, or for a non-alcoholic version you can add fruit juice. Glӧgg is great for something to sip on while sitting around the fire reminiscing or getting to know new people.

Glӧgg Concentrate ,Lele Love,Heart Arm Warmers

For my brother I will have to give him an assortment of Swedish chocolates, Ligonberry jam and of course chocolates. You can never go wrong with chocolates and at Tessa Clogs we have plenty of it! Caramelized almonds in milk chocolate, dark chocolate drizzled over whole hazelnuts, caramelized pistachio nuts in dark chocolate, caramel with a touch of sea salt, mint with milk chocolate, Lindt, Marabou, and of course an assortment of Toblerone.

Lastly, I will get myself that beautifully embroidered pillow; it is embroidered with bright threads on velvet fabric in pink, green, purple and dusty blue, and finally the Van Deurs tunic. Tessa Clogs is the only store in the United States that carries the Van Deurs line. Both the dress and the tunic would look great with some leggings and boots (check out Tessa’s Van Deur outfit here).

Van Deurs Tunic ,Beige Velvet Pillow

If you want to avoid the crowd visit our website, or come into the store and any one of the friendly associates here at Tessa Clogs can help you. I know what I am giving this holiday season, do you?


-M