• Receive a free Accent Belt when you spend $400 CAD + Shop Now
  • Free shipping over $200. Easy returns, always.
  • Join Poppy Perks: Member-only products, giveaways, and sales! Join Now
 CAD
 

A Letter From Your Feet (Plus Poppy Barley Goes to the Sochi Olympics!)

6-minute read

Our Poppy Barley custom, calf-fitting tall Boots at the Sochi Olympics. Poppy Barley offers Made-To-Measure boots and shoes in widths narrow, standard and wide.

Guys: Poppy Barley is at the Sochi Olympics! Well, on Miss Erika's feet at the Olympics, anyway. A Poppy Barley Ambassador, Erika's been a fan of Poppy Barley since we launched in late 2012, and currently owns FIVE pairs of our custom flats and boots, including The Uptown Boot in Kaki. She also leant us her narrow, elegant feet for our Spring '13 Flats Collection lookbook. As a manager in government communications, Erika and her Poppy Barleys were able to get in on the Winter Olympics, as seen at the half pipe, above, and out and about in Sochi, below. Before Erika left for Russia, she wrote us a little blog post--from the perspective of her feet (Erika has an awesome sense of humour). This is falls into the tough-love #PBLoveLetters category (did you know you can enter to win a free pair of boots every day until Valentine's Day with our #PBLoveLetters Instagram contest? See all the entries so far and find out how to get in on it here). Take a read of her open foot-letter after the jump, follow her adventures on Instagram, and don't forget to show your feet some love; they have a hard life sometimes.

Our Poppy Barley custom, calf-fitting tall Boots at the Sochi Olympics. Poppy Barley offers Made-To-Measure boots and shoes in widths narrow, standard and wide.

Dear Lady, After several decades of an intolerable relationship, I find myself writing to you in appreciation of the recent turn of events that has brought this relationship back from the ruins. In the early days, you subjected me to many uncomfortable environments; compressing me into a pair of skates—without socks, might I add—and forcing me to balance on a thin blade for hours. I don’t think I need to begin to explain the undesirable state of that experience. You also subjected me to numerous kinds of cleats and athletic shoes, which you would tie so tightly I thought I was going to suffocate. I could have formulated a strong case of domestic abuse given those circumstances. However, even through these horrid conditions, I stood by you because I knew it was only a matter of time before you would start appreciating me. As the years passed, you pushed me harder and harder until we were almost at a point of no return. I am writing to you today to ensure you understand exactly where I am coming from and how grateful I have been over the past few months. The only way to be sure you understand is to have you walk a mile in your own shoes: The day starts off comfortably, tucked under the duvet that is hugging me all over. Abruptly, the pillow of softness is ripped off and I swiftly hit the floor. Before I can even process that I am upright, you are pulling layers of clothes over me and hiding me in a pair of socks that suction to me like a pair of Spanx. The only good thing is that you made sure the socks were clean this time. Thump, thump, thump—you drag me across the floor. I know what’s coming next; we are at the front door and I am reunited with my second home, the running shoe. Why must you tie them so tight? Do you think I am going to somehow escape? I spend the next while—what sometimes feels like an eternity—in the cold, becoming all too familiar with every snow bed, pebble and icy surface you can find. Afterwards, without any hesitation, you rip off the layers I am finally beginning to appreciate and blast me with warm water, TLC completely disregarded. While I am still wrinkly and resembling a prune, I am shoved into stockings (I feel like a bank robber) and to top it all off, I spend the next twelve hours on my tippy toes. I find it insulting that you are focusing on the appearance of my neighbour, Mr. Calf, instead of recognizing the sheer agony I am subjected to. I would also like to point out (pun intended) that heels never fit like the ones from Cinderella. They either pinch my toes, hurt my arch or rub against my heel. You can only blame yourself for the scars, callouses, and blisters that permanently mark me—it is not me, it is you! I was about to throw in the towel until one day after the daily prune session, when I was welcomed by what I consider my glass slipper. It wrapped itself around me perfectly. I call it “The Little Black Dress for Your Foot”. It hugged me in all the right places while adding comfort and support in the areas it needed to. I was literally jumping for joy. I learned that it was not a glass slipper, but rather the made-to-measure Classic Riding Boot by Poppy Barley. There was still hope for us yet! The relationship building did not stop there; soon I was treated to other products made by this fairy godmother company. I got to slide into my own slipper—The Feminine Slipper—which fits as well as it is named. This past year has been the best one for us yet and will only get better when the three of us (Poppy Barley included) set off to Sochi for the Olympics Games! I am excited to meet athletes, watch sporting events and explore Russia in style and comfort. Thanks for caring. Sincerely, - Your Foot P.S: I can't speak for Mr. Calf, but I am sure he appreciates you too!

Older Post Newer Post

All Day Comfort

Feel-good footwear in medium and wide widths.

Reformed Pricing

We skip the luxury markups to offer fair prices on high-quality products.

Responsibly Made

Ethically made in audited factories with planet-conscious materials.

Subscribe for early access to new releases and $25 off your first purchase.

The Harley Heeled Sandal Ankle Size Guide

How To Measure:
The Harley Heeled Sandal: Take a tape measure and wrap it around your foot, right below your ankle bone as that is where the strap will sit (see product imagery and fit video for a visual demonstration). This measurement is based on the last adjustment point on the strap.

Size Strap length will accommodate an ankle measurement up to the size below
5 26 cm
5.5 26.5 cm
6 27 cm
6.5 27 cm
7 27.5 cm
7.5 27.5 cm
8 28 cm
8.5 28 cm
9 28 cm
9.5 28.5 cm
10 28.5 cm
10.5 29 cm
11 29 cm
11.5 30 cm
12 30 cm

The Esther Heeled Sandal Ankle Size Guide

How to Measure:
The Esther Heeled Sandal: take a tape measure and wrap it around your ankle, above the ankle bone, as that is where the strap will sit (see product imagery and fit video for a visual demonstration). This measurement is based on the last adjustment point on the strap.

Size Strap length will accommodate an ankle measurement up to the size below
5 23 cm
5.5 23 cm
6 23 cm
6.5 23 cm
7 24 cm
7.5 24 cm
8 24.5 cm
8.5 24.5 cm
9 24.5 cm
9.5 25 cm
10 25 cm
10.5 25.5 cm
11 26 cm
11.5 26 cm
12 26 cm

Belt Sizes

Natural Waist Measurement Typical Jean Size Belt Size for High‑rise Pant Belt Size for Mid‑rise Pant Infinite Belt Size
23-25" 23/24 26" 28" 1
25-26" 25 28" 30" 1
26-27" 26 30" 32" 1
27-28" 27 30" 32" 1
28-29" 28 32" 34" 2
29-30" 29 32" 34" 2
30-31" 30 34" 36" 2
31-32" 31 34" 36" 2
32-33" 32 36" 38" 3
33-34" 33 36" 38" 3
34-35" 34 38” 40" 3
36-37" 36 38" 40" 3
38-39" 38 40" 42" 4
40-41" 40 40" 42" 4
42-43" 42 44" 46" 4
43-44" 43 44" 46" 5
44-45" 44 46" - 5

Sizing Note: For the most accurate fit, measure around your body where you plan to wear the belt. Choose the closest belt size to that measurement.

Belt Diagram Accent Belt and Complement BeltThe Accent Belt, The Polished Belt and The Complement Belt size measurements start from the beginning of the leather to the middle hole.

Belt Diagram Infinite BeltThe Infinite Belt size measurements cover the entire length of the leather.



Belt Measuring Guide

Belt Measuring Guide

A - High-rise style:

If you plan to wear your belt around your natural waistline, wrap a measuring tape around the narrowest part of your midsection. Then, add 3” to determine your high-rise belt size.

B - Mid-rise style:

If you plan to wear your belt lower than your natural waistline, you will require a dierent size. If you have a particular pair of bottoms you intend to wear your belt with, wrap a measuring tape through the belt loops while in a relaxed position.

When wearing your belt in your preferred style, it should fasten in the middle hole. The belt will relax with wear allowing you to cinch it tighter, as needed.

If you plan to wear the belt in both the high and mid-rise styles, you have two options:

  1. Select your high-rise style and fasten it more loosely when worn in the mid-rise style.
  2. Select your mid-rise style and fasten it more tightly when worn in the high-rise style.