If you have access to the internet you are probably familiar with some of the attention the the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act (SOPA & PIPA)have been receiving, however you may not be aware of how these bills would effect your interaction with the internet. The following is pirated re-posted from a Google explanation of what SOPA and PIPA would mean to you:
Stop SOPA & PIPA
Hollywood Boot Sightings!
With boot season in full swing, we have spotted some of our favorite Dardano’s Shoes brands gracing the feet of a few of our favorite celebrities!
*Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com
Justin Timberlake was spotted wearing a pair of Sorel Caribou boots while on the set of his movie Bad Teacher.
The 12 Days After Xmas Sale!
Santa still has some presents left on his sleigh! Visit Dardanos.com everyday between December 26th and January 6th to see which one of your favorite brands is on sale that day. Everyday there will be a new coupon code posted for 12 of our top selling brands. The coupon codes can be used on our in-season full price merchandise and even our clearance merchandise, but they are only good for one day, so don’t miss out!
Looks We Love…Boots Edition!
It is that time of year to retire your strappy sandals and flip flops in favor of a pair of warm winter boots. Here at Dardano’s Shoes we love all shapes, sizes, and heights of boots, but it’s important to find a style that speaks to you. We put together a few of our favorite boot worthy outfits to inspire you to stay fashionable and warm throughout the cold weather months.
FREE Holiday Gift Wrap!
At Dardanos.com we understand that the holidays can get pretty crazy and we want to make it easier on you. Not only do we offer FREE shipping on all orders over $75, but we also offer FREE gift wrapping. Save yourself a step and have us wrap your gift for you. Simply write the word GIFT WRAP in the message section at checkout and we’ll take care of the rest.
HOLIDAY SHIPPING INFORMATION
Please note the following dates for guaranteed Christmas delivery (Dec 25th)
Ground Delivery: December 16th
3 Day Select: December 19th
2 Day Air: December 20th
HOLIDAY STORE HOURS:
Christmas Eve, December 24th: 9am – 4pm
Christmas Day, December 25th: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve, December 31st: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Day, January 1st: CLOSED
Holiday Shoe Giveaway Sweepstakes!
During the holiday season it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, with that in mind we would like to take the opportunity to give back to our loyal supporters! For that reason Dardano’s Shoes is hosting a Holiday Shoe Giveaway Sweepstakes where we are offering exclusive prizes and discounts simply for being a fan of our company! To take advantage of this offer “Like” our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DardanosShoes, and then enter the Holiday Shoe Giveaway by using the Sweepstakes tab on the left hand side of the page. Good luck and happy holidays!
UGG Australia
The roots of UGG Australia can be traced back to the sandy beaches of Byron Bay, where Australian surfers began wearing sheepskin footwear for warmth between sessions. Located on the eastern edge of the Australian continent, Byron Bay carves out a crescent of clear blue water that is separated into wonderful natural surf breaks with names like The Pass, Wategos, and Cosy Corner. In the late 1960’s and early 70’s surfers first discovered these breaks and came in small bands to ride the unique waves. They would stay for weeks on end, and during these stays, many looked for ways to keep their feet warm and dry. Because of an abundance of sheepskin in Australia, the surfers often turned to hand-made basic sheepskin “footies” for natural warmth, comfort and to wick away moisture. It was here that the foundation was laid for a brand that would later become a worldwide phenomenon.
In 1978, Brian Smith landed in Southern California with a bag of sheepskin boots and hope. He fell in love with the sheepskin experience and was convinced the world would one day share this love. The beaches of Southern California had long been an epicenter of a relaxed, casual lifestyle, a lifestyle that Brian felt was a perfect fit for his brand. So he founded the UGG brand, began selling his sheepskin boots and they were an immediate sensation. By the mid 1980’s, the UGG brand became a symbol of relaxed southern California culture, gaining momentum through surf shops and other shops up and down the coast of California, from San Diego to Santa Cruz. UGG boots reached beyond the beach, popping up in big cities and small towns all over, and in every level of society. Girls wore their surfer boyfriend’s pair of UGG boots like a letterman jacket. When winter came along, UGG boots were in ski shops and were seen in lodges from Mammoth to Aspen. The UGG brand began to symbolize those who embraced sport and a relaxed, active lifestyle. More than that, an emotional connection and a true feeling of love began to grow for UGG boots, just as Brian had envisioned. People didn’t just like wearing UGG boots, they fell in love with them and literally could not take them off. By the end of the 90’s, celebrities and those in the fashion world took notice of the UGG brand. A cultural shift occurred as well – people were embracing, and feeling empowered, by living a more casual lifestyle and UGG became one of the symbols of this lifestyle. By 2000, a love that began on the beaches had become an icon of casual style. It was at this time that the love for UGG grew in the east, over the Rockies and in Chicago. In 2000, UGG Sheepskin boots were first featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things® and Oprah emphatically declared that she “LOOOOOVES her UGG boots.” From that point on, the world began to notice.
Breaking into the New York fashion world is no easy task. But by the early 2000′s, UGG Australia began to take it by storm. The evolution of UGG from a brand that made sheepskin boots, slippers, clogs and sandals for an active, outdoor lifestyle to a brand that was now being touted as a symbol of a stylish, casual and luxurious lifestyle was swift. Much of this was due to a brand repositioning effort that transformed UGG into a high-end luxury footwear maker. As a fashion brand, UGG advertisements now graced the pages of Vogue Magazine as well as other fashion books. In the mid 2000′s, the desire for premium casual fashion was popping up all over the world and UGG was now perfectly aligned with this movement. Fueled by celebrities from coast to coast wearing UGG boots and slippers on their downtime, an entirely new era of fashion was carved out. As a result, the desire and love for UGG increased as people wanted to go deeper into this relaxed UGG experience. UGG began offering numerous color and style variations on their sheepskin boots and slippers. Cold weather boots and leather casuals were added with great success. What started as a niche item, UGG sheepskin boots were now a must-have staple in everyone’s wardrobe. More UGG collections followed, showcasing everything from knit boots to sneakers to wedges, all the while maintaining that luxurious feel UGG is known for all over the world. UGG products were now seen on runways and in fashion shoots from coast to coast. Before long, the love spread even further.
When the New York fashion community notices your brand, the world soon follows. The widespread love for UGG extended to Europe in the mid-2000’s along with the stylish casual movement and demand for premium casual fashion. UGG boots and shoes were now seen walking the streets of London, Paris and Amsterdam with regularity. To meet the rising demand from new fans, UGG opened flagship stores in the UK and an additional location in Moscow. As the love spread farther East, concept stores were opened in Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo. UGG Australia is now an international brand that is loved by all. This love is a result of a magical combination of the amazing functional benefits of sheepskin and the heightened emotional feeling you get when you slip them on your feet. In short, you just feel better all over when you wear UGG boots and shoes. In 2011, UGG will go back to its roots and focus on bringing the active men that brought the brand to life back with new styles allowing them to love the brand again as well. Partnering with Super Bowl champion and NFL MVP Tom Brady, UGG will invite even more men to feel the love the rest of the world knows so well. UGG will also step into the world of high fashion with UGG Collection. The UGG Collection fuses the timeless craft of Italian shoemaking with the reliable magic of sheepskin, bringing the luxurious feel of UGG to high end fashion. As the love for UGG continues to spread across the world, we have continued to offer new and unexpected ways to experience the brand. The UGG journey continues on and the love for UGG continues to spread.
OUR MATERIAL
The UGG Australia story begins with one magical material, sheepskin. The mastery of this distinctive material in the fine craft of boot and shoemaking is deeply ingrained in our rich history, it’s what defines us. By fashioning boots, shoes, sandals, apparel and accessories using the finest available sheepskins, we deliver a luxurious comfort that is truly one of a kind, escapes words and cannot be equaled by any ordinary material.
We only select the highest quality Twinface sheepskin available which we truly believe is the perfect material. No other material so naturally keeps your feet cool and warm at the same time. Or, for that matter, is able to bring together cozy and cutting edge in a single pair. Once you have experienced this wondrous material, you’ll understand why you have to feel it to believe it.
QUALITY + CRAFTSMANSHIP
UGG Australia uses only the finest, most luxurious Twinface sheepskin in the world. Only Grade-A, Twinface sheepskin which is luxuriously soft, dense and malleable need apply. We put each sheepskin through an extensive process to ensure it will provide the signature UGG experience. Both sides of the Twinface are thoroughly examined as each pair of boots requires a large swath of material and even the slightest blemish will be cause for exclusion. We look for uniformity and a flawless, fine-grained texture with no visible defects. On the wool side there has to be an even “stand up” thickness across the entire piece. At six different points in our process we select, re-select and select again against these criteria ensuring only the highest quality sheepskin make it through. The final product is a finished piece of sheepskin worthy of the UGG Australia name.
Bringing out the best in shearling isn’t something that just anyone can do. For over 30 years, UGG has worked with, tested, improved and pushed the limits of this amazing material, and through this, has done more with it than any other designer. Our design team believes in the durability, comfort and style inherent in every piece of sheepskin. Designing and crafting footwear in sheepskin takes a patience and creativity unknown to working with other materials but the results are a distinct style that suits both a casual weekend as well as the runways.
Shop our selection of UGG Australia products here.
The Frye Company
About The Frye Company
Founded in 1863 by John A. Frye, The Frye Company is the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the United States. Mr. Frye ran the business for nearly 50 years and after his death in 1911, his family continued to run the business until 1945.
Frye’s footwear has a long and illustrious history…
When homesteading sparked adventurous New England families to head West in the mid and late 1800s, many of those pioneers wore Frye boots along the journey.
Frye’s Harness Boot is rooted in tradition and continues to draw inspiration from the American Cavalry. During a 1938 trip to Washington, D.C., John A. Frye’s grandson and namesake met a U.S. Navy Admiral who noted his difficulty in finding the Wellington styles he liked so much. As a favor, John agreed to make him a pair. Frye continued to fill these requests for boots through World War II.
By mail order, the company supplied thousands of servicemen with Frye Wellingtons, known as Jet Boots. Our boots traveled the world on the feet of American soldiers during the war — even General Patton wore a pair. Today our classic Harness Boot holds a treasured place in American culture, its has been featured in international fashion spreads, and enjoys strong sales all over the world.
In the 1960s, Frye re-introduced the Campus Boot based on its original 1860s original. The style featured a bulky toe and chunky heel that came to epitomize the attitude and the styles of the 60s and 70s. There was nothing like these “new” Frye boots on the market, and consumers began to demand “Original Fryes.” The Smithsonian Institute, in its search for items to best represent America during the Sixties, chose a pair of Fryes that proudly remain on display today.
The Frye brand remains true to its heritage and vintage American roots with finely crafted, fashionable boots, shoes and leather goods featuring rich leathers and quality hardware.
Dedicated to Quality Craftsmanship
The very first pair of Frye Boots was benchcrafted in 1863. What made them America’s best footwear back then still holds true as Frye’s quality is timeless. For almost 150 years, our leather products have continued to be benchcrafted from the finest full grain leather uppers with genuine leather and premium rubber soles. With our steadfast commitment and painstaking attention to detail, it takes more than 190 steps to make one pair of Frye boots.
Frye’s styles are timeless: From our heritage boots to newer styles that grow into old Frye classics, the look is ageless. From casual to dress to work, Frye offers something for everyone to be enjoyed over time. And what could be cuter than our Small Frye Collection?
Frye footwear can be seen equally on the streets of America’s bustling cities and towns, as well as on the feet of countless celebrities and in fashion magazines every month in the U.S. and abroad. A respected part of Americana, Frye proudly continues to hold an esteemed place in the forefront of American style.
Browse our selection of Fryes here.
A family tradition since 1938
For over 70 years, it has been the tradition of the Dardano Family, to provide quality comfort footwear, expert repair services, and exceptional customer service, making Dardano’s Shoes your One-Stop Shoe Shop!
