Shoes for Spring – J’adore Jambu

Disclosure: This ‘shoes for spring' post is a sponsored collaboration with Jambu & Co. As always ALL opinions are my own.

Since most of the world has been remotely working and socializing distantly for over a year now, the idea of wearing shoes again, at least ones that aren't slippers, may still feel a bit strange! But I'm hoping that very soon we will all be able to step back out into the world—and into our shoes! As for me, I am staying my usual optimistic self and know that soon we will be living in a world that requires real shoes again. I am (re)starting with shoes for spring with my favorite brand, Jambu!

I'm ready to spring forward, how about you?!

I think spring is the toughest season for the wardrobe. The weather is flighty. One day it can feel like winter is lingering a little too long, another day those April showers make everything wet and wild, and on another day it feels like summer is going to start toute suite! How to plan? How to pack?

As for the clothing, it’s all about layers. For your shoes, might I suggest Jambu…

I love collaborating with this adventurous shoe brand and this spring the collection from Jambu, including Jambu, Jambu Originals, and JBU by Jambu are once again fabulous. It is always incredibly hard to make selections from their lookbook, this spring? Mon dieu was it tough!

In the end, it really didn’t matter which styles I pick as I knew any shoe I wear from Jambu will be reliably versatile and comfortable while always being fashionable and ready for adventure.

TL;DR – My picks:

• Jambu Juliet in charcoal
• Jambu Nicole in saddle
• Jambu Sahara in red
• Jambu Originals Spirit Too Eco-Vegan in denim
• Jambu Wildflower MOC in blue

Back to spring and its weather fluctuations. We experienced one of those flighty successions of moments during a weekend in the Outer Banks with weather that included rain and then sunny skies and temperatures between 30 and 67! Besides our weekend camping and hiking on the North Carolina coast, I had a few vacation days that I had to take (or lose) so Mr. Misadventures and I spent some time exploring some spots in Raleigh in the middle of the week. It was clear and blue and warm until the wind kicked up…brrr.

If you are wondering what shoes to wear for spring, I've got you covered. Here is what I wore out and about:

Jambu Juliet

One of the first staycation outings we did was to revisit Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh for an early morning walk around the millpond and tour around the fully restored corn gristmill. We read about it in Our State Magazine where they detailed that the mill dating back to 1756 was restored in 2006 and every third weekend March through November, white and yellow corn is ground into an old-fashioned meal at this historic location (4620 Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh).

We had the entire park and mill to ourselves. It was cold but clear and we watched ducks, looked for turtles, and scoped out sunrise photo spots. We hiked a good portion of the 3-mile loop on a leaf and gravel trail and there were no complaints from my feet. At a time when most of us have spent the past 12 months contemplating why anyone should wear shoes, the Jambu Juliet made me feel like I was walking on clouds!

We arrived around 8 am and left at 10 just when cars were starting to pull into the lot. 

I got these sporty flats with bungee sides in charcoal and they are also available in dove grey, blue, and sand.

Features of the Juliet:

• All Terra Traction: Non-slip and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.
• Microban® antimicrobial treatment: All Jambu shoes have this treatment that helps with odors and promotes cooler, drier feet.
• APMA Seal of Acceptance: The American Podiatrists Medical Association gave their seal of acceptance to these shoes for promoting good foot health.
• Available in Extended Sizes. Available in Wide Sizes too!

Jambu Nicole

Confession. I am not big on brown shoes. I will usually pick any other color than brown. BUT, the very first pair of shoes that caught my eye in the spring lookbook from Jambu were these Nicole mary jane flats in saddle so that is saying something! We took this photo while walking around the warehouse district in Raleigh. Love rules* and my love for Jambu is certainly strong. Whether I am walking lots of blocks in an urban environment or hitting a light trail outside the city, these Jambu shoes will take me far without any complaints!

[*It is actually “Love Over Rules” and not Love Rules, but I improvised a little. This public art piece located at 302 S West St in Raleigh is by Brooklyn-based Hank Willis Thomas who created it to honor his cousin. Learn more here.]

I brought them with me for our trip to the Outer Banks. After a chilly morning searching for bears in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge we headed to Corolla to Corolla Park for a picnic lunch and walk around the park. The last time we were there was last summer in there were quite a few people so we didn't spend too much time visiting Currituck Beach Lighthouse. This time it was just us and the ducks!

I got these mary jane flats in saddle and they are also available in charcoal, and denim (want!).

Features of the Nicole:

• All Terra Traction: Non-slip and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.
• Microban® antimicrobial treatment: All Jambu shoes have this treatment that helps with odors and promotes cooler, drier feet.
• APMA Seal of Acceptance: The American Podiatrists Medical Association gave their seal of acceptance to these shoes for promoting good foot health.

Jambu Sahara

Can you ever have enough pairs of red shoes? Answer: jamais! I have several pairs of red shoes from Jambu and it is sometimes difficult to select which ones to wear. Since the vast majority of my wardrobe is navy blue and lots of striped shirts, finishing off my outfit with red glasses and red shoes is my go-to style. I love the playful accents in the heel and the bungee straps which are present on many of the spring shoe styles from Jambu this season.

During our time in Corolla, we went back to the park to check out the Whalehead Club. This restored hunting retreat from the 1920s still has original art-nouveau decor and American Craftsman style and furniture. We are BIG fans of that style (we loved the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff!) and this spot on the National Register of Historic Places was open, we did not feel comfortable being inside buildings yet. We will definitely have to return in the future. 

I got these mary jane shoes with bungee straps in red and they are also available in light denim, charcoal, tan, earth, and champagne shimmer.

Features of the Sahara:

• All Terra Traction: Non-slip and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.
• Microban® antimicrobial treatment: All Jambu shoes have this treatment that helps with odors and promotes cooler, drier feet.
• APMA Seal of Acceptance: The American Podiatrists Medical Association gave their seal of acceptance to these shoes for promoting good foot health.
• Available in Extended Sizes. Available in Wide Sizes too!

Jambu Originals Spirit Too Eco-Vegan

I was the most surprised by the Spirit Too Encore Vegan. I don't know why as I have its predecessor, the Spirit Encore Vegan and they did fabulously in the Grand Escalante, but these babies are even MORE comfortable if that is possible. The desire to feel comfortable and dress easily is an essential element in the clothes I wear at home and while traveling.  These athleisure slip-ons have the ideal balance of sport and street, but they also did just fine on trails.

I wore them out on another day of exploring outdoor spots in Raleigh. We picked up oat milk lattes from Morning Times Coffee in downtown Raleigh and headed back to the park associated with the North Carolina Museum of Art. We can't wait to eventually get into the museum which has an impressive Rodin collection (if you can't get to Paris 7th arrondissement, it is a good substitute!) but we prefer to remain outdoors at the moment. Given the wanderlust for the great outdoors,  the 164-acre campus that includes trails, sculptures, and art installations is perfect!

After camping at Oregon Inlet campground (more on that below with the next shoe!) we headed to Merchants Millpond State Park for a hike around part of the 700-acre millpond and Lassiter Swamp. Our loop was supposed to be 6 miles, but because of a trail detour it ended up being 7 and my Jambu shoes were both comfortable and practical.

I got these vegan sneakers in denim and they are also available in light grey, charcoal, nude, and gunmetal.

Features of the Spirit Too Eco Vegan:

• All Terra Traction: Non-slip and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.
• Vegan: This sneaker is certified vegan and is constructed with no animal parts for materials or bindings. Made with tumbled, brushed vegan leather, and microsuede.
• Eco-friendly: with a partially recycled plastic knit upper, recycled elastic for the bungees.
• Microban® antimicrobial treatment: All Jambu shoes have this treatment that helps with odors and promotes cooler, drier feet.
• APMA Seal of Acceptance: The American Podiatrists Medical Association gave their seal of acceptance to these shoes for promoting good foot health.
• Available in Extended Sizes. Available in Wide Sizes too!

Jambu Wildflower MOC

After a fully-packed day in the Outer Banks – seriously, we started at 5 am from Raleigh to get to Alligator River early enough, then over to Corolla Park for lunch and afternoon walk – we headed to the Bodie Lighthouse to map where the Milky Way extends for a future nighttime photo shoot and then headed to camp at the Oregon Inlet NPS campground where we had camped at Thanksgiving.

There are 3 loops with a total of 120 sites for both tent and vehicle (RV, etc) camping. In the whole campground, there were only 12 parties including us.

What we love about this spot other than it doesn't seem to get too crowded is that it has direct access to the dunes and paths to the beach along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It is constantly windy, it is rare when it isn't blowing, so it can be quite cold, but when the sun is out it is fantastic! In the winter and early spring, the sand is still cold and hard and easy to walk on. So I was just fine in my Jambu Wildflower Mocs as we watched for pelicans that frequent the area.

I got these petal-pusher slip-ons in blue and they are also available in dove grey, charcoal, blush, cream shimmer, and gunmetal.

Features of the Wildflower MOC:

• All Terra Traction: Non-slip and partially recycled compressed rubber outsole for superior traction and durability.
• Memory Foam Footbed: Contoured Memory Foam Footbed for support and comfort.
• Microban® antimicrobial treatment: All Jambu shoes have this treatment that helps with odors and promotes cooler, drier feet.
• APMA Seal of Acceptance: The American Podiatrists Medical Association gave their seal of acceptance to these shoes for promoting good foot health.
• NOTE: This style runs big. Jambu suggests ordering a half size down from your normal shoe size.
• Available in Extended Sizes. Available in Wide Sizes too!

Given that WFH life will continue for a little longer and outdoor adventures will be the norm, Jambu nailed the shoe trends for spring with beautiful flat sandals that are comfortable and playful along with the athleisure styles that allow you to go from the jogging track to the trail with ease.

As warmer weather comes there will be more opportunities to be outside (socially distanced, of course), and Jambu's spring show offerings allow you to be dressed up and comfortable at the same time. Sandals are an essential must-have shoe for spring. Even if it isn’t possible to head off on vacation this year, a pair of sandals will be perfect for days at home.

Again, Jambu has you covered! 

What else is in the Jambu Shoes for Spring collection?

After a year of working, playing, and schooling at home, your heels may be in the back of the closet. That’s okay! If you take a look at what the spring/summer shoe trends are, comfort was definitely on the minds of designers at Jambu and you will find platform heels that will give you the height you desire without killing your feet. The fluctuations in weather make boots an important part of your spring wardrobe. They keep you warm and dry and still allow you to wear skirts and dresses when it is cooler and wetter outside. 

The world is like a spring flower at the moment. Hesitantly lifting its head towards the sun in the hopes we can spread our petals soon. Start this season of rebirth and renewal off with a new pair of shoes and get ahead of the spring and summer footwear trends with comfort, versatility, and style. You will be ready and primed for your next adventure, I know I am!