Hi! I’m Anya! I am a barefoot shoe wearer who loves personal style.
I first discovered barefoot shoes after a long bout of foot issues. They were a lifeline thrown to me when everything else I tried was a dead end. Thanks to this new way of thinking I could finally see a clear path toward pain free movement. You can read more about my journey to healthy feet here.
But I lamented my amazing shoe wardrobe and felt like I would never be chic again. Healthy shoes are ugly, right? I’ve always been a shoe person (and always had foot problems), so it was a pretty mixed bag of emotions.
But it wasn’t long before I realized that with some extra research – and a whole new set of standards – I could curate shoes that made me feel amazing and didn’t require any compromises.
When I realized a lot of you were out looking for the same answers, I decided to use my hours of research to create something that didn’t exist yet. This blog is my effort to show you you’re not alone in your foot & shoe struggles – and that there is a practical way forward.
If you’re like me and want to find comfortable shoes that work with your life and body, you’re in the right place! Simply head to my homepage to begin your journey.
And don’t forget to subscribe to The Barefoot Shoe Digest for weekly emails that answer the questions you are asking. I’m so happy you’re here!
If you have additional questions please feel free to email me at info@anyasreviews.com
91 thoughts on “About Me”
Hi Anya! I love your reviews and advice so much!! Thank you for all you do! I subscribe to your email and recently saw that you were loving a pair of Skinner’s boots. I find that what you love often works for me, because I also have low volume feet. I decided to order a pair of Skinner’s. They just arrived today and they are far too stiff around the ankle – I feel like I don’t even have appropriate range of motion for ankle flexion! On top of that, they slip on my ankles no matter how tight I lace them. I fear they just won’t work for me, but I wanted to check in case you had any tips or secrets for breaking them in or lacing them differently. They’re super cute and I love the lining, the zipper and the fantastic tread, but I can’t function without bending my ankles. LOL 🤣
Hi Dawn! Which model? The Nebula that I shared about in my newsletter is the only model I really have experience with, and I didn’t personally have any issues lacing them on my low volume feet. However, one trick I like to use when there is ankle stiffness is to unlace the top of the boot and tie it right at the ankle bone over the arch. This can also help cinch it down right where you need it to keep your heel in place. Otherwise ankle warmers or stirrup socks and tongue pads are my go to for heel slippage. Hope that helps!
Hi Anya,
I love reading your reviews. They are very helpful. I am a teacher and I wear Birchbury dress shoes everyday. My classroom floor is tile with concrete underneath. I have started to realize that I think I need to wear something with more cushion. I use your Bridge Sole insert and have also begun using a Dr. Scholl’s Air Pillow insole. It is definitely more comfortable, but now my toes feel scrunched. I have sacrificed the wide-toe box for cushion. (Also I don’t think I properly transitioned and just went cold turkey). Do you know of a dress shoe that has a wide-toe box, but also has more cushion?
Thank you for your response.
I would look at the Lems Chukka. They are more cushioned than Birchbury, and accommodate an extra insole well. I hope that helps!