Review and Giveaway! Eleven Shoes

I reviewed my first pair of Eleven shoes last fall during our Shoetacular. Nadia has put her Sofias to the absolute test over the past few months, and they have held up to all that a preschooler can dish out on a playground. I'm even more in love with Eleven shoes now than I was back in September. They are so insanely cute, super easy for my 3-year old to put on, and appear to be ultra-comfortable. When I got my email about the new spring/summer styles, I couldn't wait to get a new pair for Nadia. When you see the new styles, you'll see why.

Click on Read More below to check out Eleven's newest styles and to find out how you can win a pair!

I'm going to start by sharing some of my favorites from the new spring/summer collection, starting with the way too cute Astrid below.
Like Nadia's first pair of Elevens, the Sofia, the new Astrid is a style that can be worn with just about every outfit. The velcro closures are essential for fostering the independence that my daughter insists upon having. Plus, I don't have to tie and retie her shoes a thousand times a day!

One of the things that Eleven has going for them in addition to being comfortable and well-made is that they also have styles for boys that are as hip as the ones they have for girls. I love the Aubin above. How cute would your little man be in these and a pair of jeans?
And, my absolute personal favorite, the Laura. I LOVE these shoes. I want a pair for myself, and I'm being pretty serious. They are even more gorgeous in person than in the picture above. I never, ever want Nadia to grow out of them.

And finally, the Caper, one of Eleven's signature trainers. This time in olive with navy and gray accents. Again, with jeans, so cute!

Those of you out there with preschoolers know how hard they can be on their shoes. Nadia is no exception. She has stomped through puddles, climbed up slides, and run many laps around the park in her Elevens. Thanks to the supportive, but still slightly flexible soles, I never worry about her climbing the rope ladder at the park. I'm amazed at just how much these shoes really move with her feet, helping her grip the rungs of the ladder. The padded collars have prevented her from suffering that "break-in" period that I always seem to have to deal with when I get a new pair of shoes. And, again, most importantly, no buckles and no laces! All Eleven styles feature velcro closures making it possible for your independent little preschooler to put her shoes on all by her big grown-up self!

If you've priced "big kid" shoes before, you know that a good pair is going to set you back between $40 and $50. This is the price range for the latest styles of Eleven shoes as well. For those of you new to the big kid shoe market, you'll be happy to know that while $40 may seem a little pricey, your child's feet are going to stop growing so fast. You'll be able to get two if not three seasons of wear out of a pair of shoes. I personally would rather spend $40 on one pair of comfortable and well made shoes than buy a new pair of cheap shoes for her every season. However, you can get some great deals on the Eleven site right now, including the Sasha for only $25! And, you get free shipping when you buy 2 or more pairs!

Eleven shoes are available in whole sizes 9-3, typically for ages from 3-8.

The Good People at Eleven are offering a pair of winner's choice shoes to one lucky Kid Buy Products reader. To enter the giveaway, first go and browse the selection at Eleven. Choose your favorite pair and leave us a comment on this post telling us which one you like the best. We'll choose one winner using random.org. All comments must be received by 11:59 CST on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. Winner must be 18+ and a resident of the United States. You can read our giveaway rules HERE. Thanks for reading and Good Luck!