The Ethically Made Shoe Brand My Feet Will Be Living In This Summer (+ All Our Favorite Picks)

There are few brands that I don’t have to think about, that I just know I like, and I tend to like all of their product. Nisolo is one of them. We discovered them a few years ago and like their shoes as well as their ethos (more on that in a sec). If you haven’t been able to tell from my “What I Wore” posts of Saturday’s past, on a day-to-day basis, I don’t like flashy shoes or a “statement shoe.” I’m on my feet so much that I need comfort and ease in a classic style. So as you can see below, I’ve been wearing Nisolo for a couple of years because I like them a lot:

So we were VERY happy when they reached out to partner on a post for shoes for the whole team. WE SAID YES. With our assignment clear and in hand (pick out our favorite summer shoes…easy), we quickly got to work. I already had some of my own personal favorites, and basically lived all winter in their Chelsea boots (which BTW are 40% off right now). Honestly—and I know LA doesn’t have “winter” or “weather” so take this with a grain of salt—were all pretty ready to leave behind our clunky and chunky boots we were clomping around in for the last few months. IT’S ALMOST SUMMER, PEOPLE. The time for reckless BBQ abandon, weekend trips to the lake and beach, so.many.weddings…you get it. Buh bye, boots, what’s up mules and slides and sandals.

You can only imagine the pure glee when you tell an office full of women (and our two shoe-loving guys): YOU GET SHOES AND YOU GET SHOES. EVERYONE GETS SHOES. Yeah…it was a good day…trumped only by the day the shoes actually arrived. Free shoes are one thing, but supporting and bringing attention to an awesome brand like Nisolo is really why we’re here today.

I briefly mentioned loving their ethos earlier in this post, but here’s a little more information for anyone who thinks they just make nice mules: Nisolo is a Certified B Corporation, meaning they follow the highest standards in terms of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. As part of their environmental mission, they offset their carbon emissions with every product sold. Fun fact: they let us know that so far, they’ve protected 76,928 trees in the Peruvian Amazon, and 237 of those are directly from you guys (our readers) buying their product just this past year (since April 2018). Pretty cool.

Because the focus of this shoot was “summer,” we headed outdoors both around the buildings in our office ‘hood and to a park nearby that has amazing views of the city.

Now, let’s get into what you really want to see: What I (and everyone else) picked out, our “why,” and notes on fit to help you buy smarter and more efficiently:

Name: Emily
Shoe: Emma d’Orsay Oxford in Wheat
Why I Picked It: I believe in nude shoes because quite simply, they make your leg look longer which is widely known as flattering. And these are pointed and have enough edge to make them cool, but still so comfortable. I owned these in the black colorway before this shoot, so I knew I already liked these, but the wheat felt more summery.
Fit: These run a bit small. I’m a 7 and size up to 7.5 in these.

I also was able to pick out a second pair, and these James Oxfords in Almond fit my “nude + sensible + modernized classic” bill I aim to fill for my everyday shoes. Those are my feet on the top—no foot stand-in model needed this time (you can see them also in the lead image with Michael, Sara and Arlyn—I also have on the Simone Crossbody Shopper…did you know they made bags, too??).

We’ll get to the rest of those shoes up there right now, but before I do, I think I can say for everyone (they’ll back me up) that Nisolo makes a damn good shoe. They’re a bit pricier than what you’ll find at your standard department store, but they should be due to their production practices. Plus, like I said, they’re very high quality. I’ve attempted to run mine into the ground, battered by long days of being on set or construction sites, momming, flea market stomping. They’re still kickin’.

OH AND GUESS WHAT? They are offering all EHD readers 20% off most of the shoes you’ll see here today. Just make sure to click over from here and you should see a banner pop up with the code (EHD20) through July 8. Another great thing Nisolo is doing (that will also help with the cost) is their Soles4Souls partnership, which is a shoe reclamation project that collects shoes in any condition to be sent to micro-entrepreneurs in developing economies for them to refurbish and resell. It’s part of their commitment to “circular” fashion (as opposed to “fast” fashion which typically ends up in the landfill). Each donation earns a $30 credit to a purchase of $125 or more. They also have a generous referral program where you get $25 off for every friend you refer (they also get $25 off their first order…win-win).

Okay, handing this off to the team now…

Name: Veronica (far left)
Shoe: Mariella Mule in Black
Why I Picked It: I’ve been wanting mules for a long time and these are the perfect combination of simple and sophisticated. They are a great shoe for summer hangs during the day and night. Plus, the closed-toe is comfortable and still breathable.
Fit: I am usually a size 7 and I got a 7.5, but they are a little small, so I recommend going up a full size.

Name: Emily (Bowser, red head)
Shoe: Ama Mule in Woven Brown
Why I Picked It: I think if there is one thing that Emily Henderson has taught me that has changed my life the most, it is knowing the power of the nude mule, and that’s saying a lot. The woven style gives it a summery laid-back vibe while the color and shape make it super versatile. Plus, according to Nisolo, these are vegetable-tanned, which just means it’s a more sustainable leather dying process that uses natural dyes.
Fit: I am pretty solidly an 8.5 across brands and these were the perfect fit.

Name: Michael (tall guy)
Shoe: Calano Oxford in Brandy
Why I Picked It: Two words: Summer weddings. Summer is always a time for heading to friends and family weddings and celebrating LOVE. And while I go to celebrate love this summer, I wanted to have cool, sharp looking shoes while I’m there. These Calano oxfords are cool, classic but still modern and just all around good looking, effortless shoes. I can dress them up or down…I love them.
Fit: I am a tried-and-true 10.5, so that’s what I ordered. These are a little tight fit at first but I know since there are leather after a few wears, they’ll fit just right. I’m glad I ordered this size.

Name: Velinda (right)
Shoe: Serena Sandal in Black
Why I Picked It: I’m all about the capsule wardrobe and having classic pieces that can mix & match effortlessly. These shoes hit the mark, pairing with jeans, shorts, or dresses from night to day. Comfy? Check. Minimal, modern and stylish? Check. Check. And Check!
Fit: I’m usually an 8 and the Nisolo 8 fits beautifully.

Name: Ryann (left)
Shoe: Mariella Mule in Sand
Why I Picked It: I am not one to wear open-toed shoes so a good tan mule is my ideal summer shoe. I have been trying to add more quality, timeless pieces to my wardrobe lately and the Mariella mules were a perfect addition. I can wear them with dresses, shorts, pants, pretty much everything I own (and I do). The color is perfect and they are insanely comfortable.
Fit: I am usually a 9 but I sized up to 9.5. They are still a little snug so I probably could have gone up a full size.

Name: Jess (middle)
Shoe: Emma d’Orsay Oxford in Black
Why I Picked It: First off, I have been lusting after them since I saw them on Emily awhile back. I also really needed/wanted a cute pair of black flats that could easily go from work to hanging out with friends. These check all of my boxes. I feel very cool and stylish. 🙂
Fit: I went true to size with a 7 but they are pretty tight. Since they are leather, I am sure they will stretch out so I’m going to stay with the 7. I think I could have easily gone a half size up though for any of you on the fence.

Name: Arlyn (right)
Shoe: Ecuador Huarache Sandal in Almond
Why I Picked It: I had similar shoes when I was a little girl and nothing says summer to me like huaraches (well, maybe old-school jellies, but I gotta grow up at some point). These are Nisolo’s most environmentally friendly shoe—95% of its leather is used in production, so that was also a selling point for me. The color of the leather made my currently-pale-for-a-Puerto-Rican skin look nice and tan and I’ll likely be wearing these all summer with dresses, shorts, jumpers, skirts…they dress up and down really well. For real, I’m pretty sure I found the perfect summer shoe.
Fit: I’m normally a solid 8 (sometimes even a 7.5 if it’s open-toed), and the 8.5 fit like a glove. Make sure to check out their sizing guide though, because I don’t think ordering up a half size works across all sizes. There was no “wear in” period and the second I put them on, I knew I could walk around town with them without the fear of serious blisters. This color, as well as the burnt sienna, come in a wide range of sizes (from 5 to 11).

Name: Julie (left)
Shoe: Emma d’Orsay Oxford in Black
Why I Picked It: I wear the same pair of black boots to work basically every day (no lie, everyone in the office can tell you it’s true). I’ve been wearing them for about a year now and they have had their day in the sun and then some. The Emma d’Orsay is basically the best upgrade I could ask for in time for summer. I feel professional, they are comfortable, which is very important to me since I am constantly running around to showrooms/on set and most of all my feet can breathe in the hot LA summers. EHD team, you better love looking at them because these are my new everyday shoes.
Fit: I am a true through-and-through size 7.5 and these shoes fit perfectly after a quick stroll through the park. 😉 I’ve worn them every day since we received them (surprise, surprise) and have had no “take these off my feet right now” moments.

Name: Grace (second from left)
Shoe: Lucia Block Heel Sandal in Sand
Why I Picked It: Nothing screams summer like open-toed sandals and I’ve been wanting one of Nisolo’s shoes in sand. These are the perfect nude sandals for my skin tone. I just know these will look great with dresses and jeans. Because I’m on the shorter side (5’3″), the 2-inch heel is perfect (it’s not too high and are still very comfortable to walk in—nothing more annoying than cute shoes that just end up sitting in my shoe rack all year long because I don’t want to bother with heels). HOT TIP: A little heel + a nude tone is the perfect combo to make your legs look longer. Double yes!
Fit: I’m a size 8, but for Nisolo’s mules I usually go up half a size. For these open-toed sandals, I can safely say that they are true to size and there is no wear-in period required.

Name: Sara (in the hat!)
Shoe: Isla Slide in Bone
Why I Picked It: There’s something super elegant about the simplicity of a sandal slide. They’re the easy “slide and go” option to dress up any casual summer outfit. They’re great for a Sunday farmers market or an outdoor spring wedding.
Fit: I’m usually an 8 and these were true to size, though I could have comfortably gone up a half size too. The band across my foot was a little on the tight end, but that’s something I know will stretch out with some wear.

Name: Erik (right)
Shoe: Alejandro Woven Slip On in Brown
Why I Picked It: It’s so versatile! I could wear them to a casual coffee meet up or dress it up for margaritas at my favorite rooftop bar. My new summer staple.
Fit: Having the half sizes makes all the difference (got a 12.5). A perfect fit without socks!

That’s everyone! Wow, the last time we did a team shoot, I think it was just five of us. Suffice it to say that, uh, we’ve grown. Look at my amazing team, my shoe modeling amazing team. 🙂

If you want to read more about Nisolo’s ethics or their B-corp standing, head here. If I haven’t conveyed it already, this truly was an effortless, obvious partnership for me. Stellar brand = a product I already used and loved + getting the team together for a fun day of shooting on a gorgeous LA spring day = duh. We all 100% vouch for the shoes we wrote about today, but they also have a ton of other styles and colors online. Check them out, and let us know if you have any questions about anything you saw here today. xx

*photography by Veronica Crawford and Sara Ligorria-Tramp for EHD

**This post is in partnership with Nisolo but all words, designs and selections are our own. Thanks for supporting the brands we love that support the blog.