Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what your day-to-day life looks like?
Hello! My name is Rosalie and I'm a 28 year old remote tech worker who plays a lot of music and does a lot of crafting on the side! My day-to-day life mostly includes working from home, and hanging out with my friends and family. But I also travel A LOT and love exploring cities and hiking mountains. When I am at home, I'm quite the home body, but when I get out, I love to see and experience the world.
How would you describe your personal style, and how do you express it through your footwear choices?
I think my personal style takes a lot of influence from American western wear and 70’s patterning. I love to dress out for any event that allows it. Bright colors are my favorite, and I LOVE to let my shoes do the talking. I am also on the shorter side (5’5”) but I love to feel tall and ginormous so heels and platforms are a big part of my wardrobe!
What does a typical day in your life look like, and how does your footwear play a role in it?
No matter where I am or what I'm up to, I walk around… A LOT. Even though style matters to me, comfort has to come first. In the end, practicality will always win out, and I REALLY hate blisters. On days at home, I need to be able to walk the dog, run to the post office, go out to lunch, etc., ideally without any shoe issues. When I am traveling, I am often taking 20,000+ steps a day and trying to look adorable and take cute pictures. I also play in a folk band (banjo fans anyone??), and we have an aesthetic we try to stick to, but I still need to be standing for 3+ hours while playing, so shoes have to be comfortable AND cute enough to be on stage.
What were some of the biggest challenges you've faced with finding footwear that fits in the past?
I feel like my constant struggle has always been needing to choose function over form. All I have ever wanted is to look cute in a little sundress and shoe combo and still be able to walk all over a random city in the South of Spain like the Pinterest girls do! Yet it is SO HARD to find wide shoes that keep up with trends. Having wide calves basically rules out all cute boots, and before Wydr, I truly never thought I would have a knee high boot in my wardrobe. I am very used to having to size up in my shoes in order to get the width I need, but then rubbing experience or pain points due to the shoes not fitting properly. So usually, this just means wearing sneakers and only taking pictures from the calves up…
Do you have any memorable stories or experiences tied to the footwear you've worn over the years?
So. Many. Blisters…. I have a little habit of always carrying around blister tape with me because my shoes used to never fit right. All of my friends have watched me switch shoes in the middle of the day or need to tape up my feet in order to keep the day going. A few months ago, in New Orleans, I genuinely made my boyfriend give me his socks because my platform sandals were trying to destroy me.
What are the top three things you look for when choosing a pair of shoes?
Comfort, Longevity, and Style
How did you first come across Wydr Studios, and what made you decide to give Wydr a try?
I was specifically looking for wide calf tall cowboy boots, and I found Wydr on TikTok, right before it formally launched. I spent a few weeks keeping the website tab open on my laptop and continuously coming back to it before I finally just decided “what the hey, lets go for it”, and I'm so glad I did!
What stood out to you about our footwear compared to other brands you've tried?
I was really impressed and encouraged to actually make the purchase because of the in-depth sizing charts provided on the website. I felt confident in my sizing decisions, which was a first for me, especially shopping online.
Also, the shoes are ACTUALLY WIDE!! Crazy! AND they are following current trends and styles that I am actually looking for!
How has wearing our shoes impacted your daily life or activities?
Primarily, I just feel way cuter all the time! I feel so grateful to be able to walk all day in shoes that I feel confident in and that look cute! I don't feel like I am compromising anymore. And I've even started leaving the blister tape at home…
What are some of your favorite activities, and how does your choice of footwear support these?
I love to explore new places, meaning lots of walking, so good shoes are a requirement. My mom always said you should pay for quality shoes and a quality mattress, because one way or another you're always in one of them! (I have expanded this to also include my office chair haha!) I love to hike and climb, which obviously requires pretty dedicated footwear, that I don't really wear outside of those activities, but I also love to walk around with my dog, on local pathways and light trails. In these situations, I love to be comfortable but still know I won't slip and fall because of bad tread. Where I live, we get a lot of snow and ice, and traction is one of the main shoe qualities I have to look for in an outdoor shoe. I've taken to wearing my Highland boots a lot in the winter when taking walks. I perform in a band and go to a lot of concerts. Standing in one place for long periods of time can be excruciating if you're in the wrong shoes! I also love to get a little extra height to be seen or see over the crowds, so I love a platform or a heel, especially one I can handle being in for longer periods of time.
I love to go dancing! Jazz and swing music is a huge part of my life and I always need a shoe I can get a little funky in.
What role does comfort and functionality play in your footwear decisions?
I feel like these days, I'm too old to be in pain all day from my shoes. That was very early-twenties of me, and now I just cannot be bothered. I would rather look boring and not hurt than feel cute and be in pain. Conveniently, since Wydr, I don't actually have to make that choice anymore!
What advice would you give to someone who struggles with finding the right pair of shoes?
Really know your measurements! And know what kind of support you like. I have wide feet, but I don't have flat feet, so sometimes really built up arches can be uncomfortable for me! It's good to know what kind of support/cushioning you like, or where your common pain points are.
Also, don't give up! It took me a while, but I have finally found shoes that match my style and don't hurt me!
How does the footwear you choose reflect your values, such as sustainability, quality, or fashion?
Gone are my days of buying shoes that only last one season. It's not good for the earth and it's not good for my wallet. These days, I am pretty committed to paying a bit more for something that was intentionally designed with me in mind, and that will last me a lifetime.
In what ways do you see footwear as more than just an accessory—perhaps as a reflection of identity or a means to tell your story?
For me, style has always been a means of self expression, making it really hard when certain items are out of reach due to my body shape/size. It can feel really confining to not be able to dress how I want because nobody is making things that actually fit me. It's easy to say a shoe is just a shoe if you have always had every option available to you, but those of us who can't just wear anything really know that a shoe that matches who you are in your mind can be so freeing.
What would you say to someone considering trying Wydr Studios for the first time?
If you have never felt like shoes were made for you, or you have always felt like you have had to compromise your sense of style or sense of self to wear shoes, you've gotta check out Wydr.
What is your favorite pair of Wydr shoes to date and why?
Without a doubt, my favorite pair of Wydr shoes is my brown Dolly boots (Dolly Western Embroidered Leather Mid-Calf Boots). Genuinely I cried the first time I put them on, they were so life changing. I think the right words would be body euphoria? I had never felt more like myself. Tall cowboy boots were shoes I have truly always wanted but had never found before in a cut that fit me right, and putting them on for the first time actually changed my life. I wear them basically whenever I can these days!
