What Make a Nota Bene Shoe? See the differences in design that make our shoes more comfortable and stylish.

Full Leather Linings: You just think you don’t care about the linings. Although expensive, we know you’ll discover leather linings are worth it. Colorfast, all-leather linings help shoes — or really, your feet — breath. As a result your feet feel cooler and drier and you might not lose your stockings after the first wear — at least not because of your Nota Bene shoes. But then, the linings feel so comfortable you might just prefer your feet bare.

Shock-Absorbing, Cushioning Insoles: You’ll feel it right away. But this is no ordinary padded insole. This space age stuff is what goes in running shoes, and it works hard to absorb the pounding of walking so your feet don’t have to. A second layer cushions your feet — essentially re-distributing your weight over a greater area. And both materials have been designed to bounce back and hold up over time. As a result, these shoes will not disappoint you after a month or even a year of wearing. (You’ve experienced what we’re talking about!) This is not just the marketing department talking here, our design is original and based on the best that science and sound medicine have to offer.

Modern Sizing: Many shoes begin their life as a pretty shape conjured in the imagination of a designer. Our shoes start out as space for a foot around which we design and construct a shoe. Our lasts and sizes are based on modern anthropometric (size and shape of body) data, and adjusted with the help of an orthopedic surgeon. You will notice your feet feel they are in a comfortable position inside the shoes. You may also notice that we have developed an array of shapes; this is not just for looks but also to provide good fit options for different types of feet because you get a better fit when the natural geometry of your foot matches the basic shape of the shoe.

Accommodating Toe Boxes: Regardless of their shape, our toe boxes minimize lateral and medial compression and hence, joint deformity. Translation: they are a little deeper and wider to give toes room to wiggle, reduce blisters, and promote better long-term foot health and comfort.

Fit and Wear Testing: We do not use foot models with perfect feet. Normal, active, interesting, imperfect women wear the shoes several full days, sometimes weeks, to methodically test and correct fit and comfort. Often we ask them to walk a mile right after getting their shoes out of the box. To participate contact us: weartest@notabeneshoes.com.

Thoughtful Design: Nota Bene, means ‘take note’ or ‘pay attention.’ Another way to interpret this is thoughtfulness — both to think of others considerately and to give meticulous attention. Meticulous attention throughout production is a must in how we achieve beautiful, quality shoes. But what really sets us apart is the thoughtful consideration that happens even before the first sketch. Our thoughtful design process begins when we bring together European and American fashion trends with the biomechanics of walking, material science, and even a dash of magic trompe l’oeil. The design process also includes rigorous fit and wear testing so we can ensure the shoes we imagined and created are as comfortable as they are beautiful.

Foot-Friendly Soles: Ah the pleasure of a leather sole. There is nothing like it — especially the way we’ve designed these. They’re flexible; you won’t feel like you have to break them in. Their finish is velvety, so even during the first weeks of wear you’ll feel sure footed. They are 33% thicker than the industry standard, but their beveled edges keep them looking svelte. This added leather not only protects your feet from cobblestones, heat, and cold, but it gives you longer wear.

Heel Taps: We opt for quality even where you might not notice it at first. After a while wearing them, we know you will appreciate that the high-abrasion material of the heel tap wears longer, but is not so hard that it causes you to slip.

Sleek but Stable Heels: You don’t have to wobble. Always feminine and flattering, our heels are also balanced, stable, and comfortable. We design them this way, and then we test them to make certain! Heights range from flats to nearly 3 inches.

What Makes a Nota Bene Shoe?