FRANKIE4 review: 5-Star stylish and comfortable footwear
I've always been a shoe girl. And the higher the better. So the day my podiatrist confirmed I had a bunion on my left foot and firmly told me I should no longer wear high heeled shoes, I got into my car and had a little cry.
What did this mean for my future footwear? Nothing glamorous by the sounds of things.
Then someone told me about FRANKIE4, a stylish shoe brand priding itself on creating women's footwear that offers comfort and podiatrist-designed support. I liked the sound of it and when I investigated further I found out that FRANKIE4 shoes feature innovative Solo Hero Footbed cushioning insoles aimed at supporting alignment and deflecting pressure from those sneaky areas prone to pain. Magic!
But what of the designs? As I say, I'm a shoe girl and won't wear something for 'comfort' only. Footwear has to look and make me feel fabulous. It's as simple as that. (And probably why I got the bunion in the first place.)
So when I got the opportunity to try out a pair of best-selling FRANKIE4 boots from the latest winter range, I was super keen. But not entirely convinced. After all, the winter boot is a crucial addition to the wardrobe. Would FRANKIE4 live up to my style expectations?
In short, they did.
The minute I saw my new FRANKIE4 boots, I was in love. And when I zipped them up, my feet were literally rejoicing. Certainly a promising start.
But I wasn't the only one to trial a pair of the FRANKIE4 boots. I was joined by two other members of the news.com.au checkout team, who each opted for a different style.
TRIED AND TESTED BY SUSANNAH HARDY, NEWS.COM.AU CHECKOUT PARTNERSHIPS WRITER
After much deliberation, I decided on the Ember boots in Bone, a chic off-white tone. The entire range was tempting but in the end of the day I was drawn to Ember's sleek style and in particular the square solid-looking heel. Plus I'm totally into cream-coloured shoes this season, so the colour was an easy choice.
I'm usually a size 8 in shoes but in recent years, I've had to go up a size (Thanks, bunion!) so I was thrilled to be able to have these boots in a size 8.5.
When my boots arrived, I opened the box and gasped. I was already in love. Then I tried them on and was totally blown away. Not only did they look absolutely stunning, but they also offered immediate happiness for my feet. Expectations over-exceeded!
An outstanding feature is FRANKIE4's signature cushioning insoles. The boots come with two options, but I had no need to customise the fit. They felt like they were made for me and completely supported my arch, like no other shoe I've ever worn. This felt quite unusual at first, but after many days of running to and from work, it's a feature I've truly grown to love.
The leather is noticeably soft and while the boots have a glove-like fit, there's plenty of give. I experienced a few adjustment days but the leather moulded very quickly to the shape of my feet. They even accommodated my bunion and caused no pain at all. In fact, the more I wear them the more comfortable they get, and now, next to my trainers (and UGG boots), they have been crowned the comfiest shoes in my current collection.
The 60mm square-shaped heel is perfect, giving me height without causing pain or exhausting my feet and legs. Plus, it's solid and easy to walk on. And the colour has been a huge success. I wanted something a little different to the usual black or brown boot, however I had no idea just how versatile this colour would be. I wear them with everything. Initially, I was worried about getting the boots dirty or marked, however I sprayed them with leather shoe protector before wearing and have had no trouble at all.
The one drawback is that FRANKIE4 boots do not come cheap. But in my mind, it's worth spending money on good footwear. And I have worn these boots non-stop and cannot say enough good things about them from the silky soft leather and chunky heel to the inner side zip that pulls up like a dream.
FRANKIE4's Ember boots, I hit the jackpot.
TRIED AND TESTED BY MELODY TEH, NEWS.COM.AU CHECKOUT DEPUTY EDITOR
This is a big call but these might just be the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. Yes, they're that comfy! You can walk in them all day and your feet (and precious toes) still feel fine. A miracle, I know!
This is my first time trying anything from FRANKIE4 and now that I know their shoes are podiatrist-designed, I totally get the hype. It actually makes a huge difference.
When I used to think of shoes recommended by podiatrists, I imagined clunky, orthopaedic-looking things but that's definitely not the case here. I'm obsessed with the Liberty Barley Suede: a timeless, chic ankle boot that goes with everything. I had a similar pair years ago that I wore to death so I'm thrilled to have found a stylish, everyday boot that's just as versatile but far more supportive.
Now let's talk about comfort. It all comes down to the Sole Hero Footbed: with adjustable heel, arch and forefoot support, it's unlike anything I've worn before. The triple-layer cushioning genuinely makes it feel like you're walking on clouds. The 58mm heel is the sweet spot too – enough of a lift to feel polished but low enough to stay comfy all day.
I also love that you can customise your fit – regular, wide, or narrow. I went for the half-length footbed because my toes tend to get squished in certain shoes and it's made all the difference.
Yes, the Liberty Barley Suede boot is an investment but considering how many years I spent in flimsy shoes in my teens and 20s (and now in my 30s, I'm feeling it!), I honestly believe you can't put a price on proper foot support. These boots are stylish, supportive and still feel great at the end of a long day.
With nearly 1,000 glowing reviews on the FRANKIE4 site, it's easy to see why the Liberty boots are a bestseller – and now I'm one of the many converts.
FRANKIE4 Sage
TRIED AND TESTED BY STEPHANIE YIP, ECOMMERCE TRAVEL WRITER
Years ago my podiatrist put me onto FRANKIE4 as she suggested their roomy toe boxes would be kinder to my bunion covered feet than my then favourite shoe. At first I was hesitant – mostly due to the high price point of the shoes – but the reviews and the recommendations from my mum friends won me over. I invested in a pair of Nat III Chalk Tumbled sneakers and I've been a fan ever since.
So naturally when I was offered to add to my collection with the gorgeous Sage boot, I jumped at the chance.
This is now my fourth pair of FRANKIE4s (no, really) and, as always, they've delivered in both style and comfort.
Of the three colour options (black, black tumbled and camel tumbled) the classic black drew me in with its rugged appeal, capable of being dressed up for an event or adding a bit of edge to my look.
On paper they sounded great, but when I first wore them I was surprised that they needed breaking in. Not in the foot but in the ankle as the material was quite stiff and irritated my calves, even with stockings on. Thankfully after a few weeks of inconsistent wear they softened up nicely and, along with their low heel and waterproof leather finish, have since become my new go-to for long, cold and rainy walks.
Like all Frankie4 footwear they come with the standard two insoles (a full and a half) with the full already in place ready to add an extra level of comfort and support. As I have high arches I tend to remove this and go with the half sole, which is what I've done with this pair. You've got to love that consistency.
Something else that's consistent is how kind they are to people with wide front feet. On top of that roomy toe box, the Sage features a top-to-toe side zip to pop them on and off easily as well as an elasticised gusset which I've found is stretchy enough to slip on while standing instead.
At $359.95, the Sage might be expensive, but for the quality, comfort and style I honestly can't fault it. Four pairs in and I'm still a fan. Here's to number five.
*Products have been provided by FRANKIE4 for a 100 per cent independent, honest review
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