Honest Review | Poppy Barley Eyelet Oxford a.k.a The Perfect Travel Shoe

The Poppy Barley Eyelet Oxfords!  The shoes that feel like slippers. No seriously they do.  I first tried these shoes on about a year ago and was immediately shocked by how comfortable they were;  Sadly, I wasn’t in need of them at the time so I left them on the shelf but you better believe that I did not stop thinking about them.

So when I started packing for our trip to Italy and realized I was going to need to bring a single pair of shoes that basically looks good with everything and are very walkable I did not hesitate to order a pair! 

And let me tell you, I put some serious miles on those babies.  We walked around 14km a day exploring the streets of Florence, the beaches of Cinque Terre, and the Canals of Venice. If I’m honest, it still feels a little unreal!  The only shoes I wore were these oxfords and my Birkenstocks.  And you guys, I have zero regrets.  They were exactly what I needed.  My love for Poppy Barley shoes hath grown ever deeper.

Now that being said let’s dig into the pros and cons of this cutie little shoe!

PROS

1. I am cannot over state how comfortable these are from the first wear. Almost unbelievably soft leather.

2. No tie laces. I’m lazy about my wardrobe pieces. If it’s too much work I likely won’t wear it. Needless to say, these slip one flats have been worn relentlessly.

3. So versatile. These shoes have such a minimal, classic look that works with so many outfits.

4. Great quality, my oxfords are still in incredible shape despite constant wear, being shoved in bags, and traipsing through less than ideal terrain.

5. They are always available in a variety of colours! I decided on toffee because I really needed them to be able to match everything, but Poppy Barley has some seriously cool colours and prints that change throughout the year.

CONS

1. They are very flat. I am quite short at about 5’2” and I have to admit I sometimes missed the little bit of height I get from some of my other shoes.

2. The sole is super soft and fairly flat. To be fair I think this is partially why they feel like the most comfortable pair of slippers. But if you are someone like me who has really bad feet you may want to consider adding a pair of orthotics. I used a pair of inexpensive Dr. Scholl’s and it’s been perfect!

So there you have it, my new favourite traveling companion. Besides my family of course! If you have been in need of an everyday, versatile shoe this one is without a doubt an absolute winner. Me, I am 100% saving up for their brand new Victoriana Boot!! It’s the black boot of my dreams friends!

I hope this helped! If you have any questions about the shoes or Italy, get at me girl! <3

Warmly,

Karmen

P.S. For more Honest Reviews follow me on Instagram, @karmenmeyerphotography, and check out my posts on buliding a capsule wardrobe.

As always, in the interest of full transparency, I want to let you know that Poppy Barley traded me these shoes in exchange for photos.  My review however was NOT paid for.  It is just honest feedback on my experience. Additionally, I don’t make any money if you buy these shoes. I just know how intimidating it is to purchase ethical clothing as it often mean more $$$ and ordering online without seeing the garment first hand. It’s truly my hope to help make that easier for you with these reviews! Thanks for hanging out and letting me do a wee bit of reminiscing today!

The Story Behind the Photos // The Mojave Collection

Travel Inspired Art in the Mojave Desert by Karmen Meyer Photography

Travel Inspired Art - the Mojave Desert by Karmen Meyer Photography - Roy's Motel and Cafe -Amboy- Route 66 - California Road Trip

The Maui Collection // The Story Behind the Photos

Here's to trying new things!

I'm going to do something that I've wanted to do for AGES friends. I'm going to make some of my favourite photos available as Fine Art Prints (and you didn't hear it from me, but maybe iphone cases and tapestries too!) so that all of you (my favourites) can enjoy them as well!! Seriously, who doesn't want a little piece of Hawaii or California Desert to stare at in the dead of winter?! I am feeling so, so excited about this but, if I'm totally honest, I still have a lot of details to work out lol. So stay tuned!!

In the Desert | Mojave Preserve California

Driving the through the desert is a magical experience (highly recommended), you come across sights that seem like they could only be from another planet.  Some you drive by with eyes widened, others require you to slam on the brakes and turn that car around.  This was one of those times.  A lone Foo Dog just off of Route66 in California.Model: Rebecca Hughes Poncho: sweetjolieboutique.com Jewelry: volerra.com  (PS.  Volerra is having a HUGE sale today!!)Travel Dates for the remainder of 2018 are listed HERE on my website.  I will be taking portrait and brand sessions at all locations, just shoot me an email or comment below if you have any questions!

What did I do before photography? | Embarrassing Photos Included

I recently had someone ask me, "What did you do before this."For a second I was confused, but soon after realized what she meant; what was I doing before I became a mom and started taking photos.  My reply, "Nothing.  This is what I went to school for!"She had no idea, and I suspect a lot of you didn't either.  You guys, the becoming a professional photographer part of my life was so long ago, in fact it's been 9 years since I got that business licence.  Sometimes I forget just how much that stage in my life shaped both me and my business. So what do you say, shall we do a little reminiscing today? 

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 It all started in 9th grade when I signed up to go to Mexico with our church.  Before this trip, I had been to the Calgary Zoo haha.  So ya, let's call it the beginning of Karmen's love affair with travel.  My mom lent me her beloved camera (honestly still can't believe this, thanks Mom).  It was her baby, a Nikon F80, silver and black, rather large for a young girls hands.  Attached to the front was a zoom lens, and in the back I loaded roll after roll of film.  You guys, I easily shot a roll of film a day and was quickly promoted to trip photographer lol.When I got home I dropped that giant ziploc bag of film off at the local London Drugs and waited.  Oh my word, does anyone remember the gloriousness of waiting for your film to be developed?!  Everything about it, right down to that weird chemical smell is something I will never forget about shooting film.  When they were finally finished, my mom and I sat in the car in the parking lot (like we did every time a roll of film was developed) and looked through them all.  She thought they were really good, and I mean that's all that really matters amiright?She encouraged me to enter them in some contests, I won.  I was shocked.....  But basically my head was in the game to graduate High School and to go to university for something BIG.  You see, at the time, both my Mom and Nana had been single moms who devoted their lives to raising their families.  No post-secondary for them meant I WAS GOING TO GO UNIVERSITY!  I was going to get a degree and it was going to be for something important.  Together we thought that perhaps I would be a great lawyer or a doctor (soooo not smart enough haha) or a nurse.  I wanted to be a Archeologist.I focused on my core subjects throughout highschool, I didn't take a SINGLE art class haha.  The irony.  I had an after school job at a local coffee shop (shout out to Kavaccino's!!) and I savvvved and savved for tuition.  But, truthfully, I ended up spending most (ALL) of it on a trip to Europe and then a trip to Bolivia. My logic here, the government certainly wasn't going to give me a loan to travel..... and I still needed some time to be 100% sure I knew what I wanted to be before spending an insane amount of cash on schooling...You see this idea of being a photographer was creating a lot of doubt (and excitement) in my mind, something about my previous plans just didn't seem right anymore.  But a photographer?  I mean, is that really something that can be a career?  I decided to wait another year.  I got a job at a cricket farm.  Yes you heard right.  I was indeed a cricket wrangler lol.  During this year one of my former teachers said the magic words I needed hear, "I think you would make a fantastic photographer"...  That was it, apparently that was allll the validation I needed.  I decided the time had come to be brave and leave all my carefully laid plans behind for something entirely different.  I was going to apply for NAIT's competitive photography program, and if I happened to be one of the 28 people chosen for the program then I would be starting school in September!!  Weeee!  Cue the nervous anticipation.Needless to say, I got in and, oh friends, the fit couldn't have been more perfect despite the fact that I hated the city (not for long tho, Edmonton won me over with her subtle charms).  I LOOOOOVED both the artistic and technical details of photography.  I loved breaking down lighting and understanding it.  I loved the chemistry of developing film. I loved rich history of photography and photographers.  I loved it's impact.By the end of my first year I was already working for several incredible photographers and I will always be so grateful for all the knowledge they shared.  It didn't take me long however, to realize that I didn't want to work for someone else.  I wanted to start my own studio.  I was clueless, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.But here we are today, through all the ups and downs.  9 years, many trips and two babies later;  I still LOVE it. 

Explore Edmonton

 I jussssst realized that I have never blogged my session with the lovely J.  She was writing a an article about hidden gems in Edmonton and I had SOO much fun wandering around some of her favorite neighbourhoods.  Edmonton has become such a special place to me.  It is where I went to school for photography, it's where Brad and I bought our first home, it where our oldest daughter was born!!  And even though we live outside of the city now, it will always feel like home.  I absolutely adore our frequent visits with it's places and wonderful people.If you are an Edmontonian or will be visiting this summer I highly recommend checking out Justine's blog posts about Highlands and Westmount.  Below I've linked up some of my favorite stops, come tag along with us!  

THE TEA GIRL

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If there is one thing you probably know about Justine, it's that she has a SERIOUS love of heritage homes.

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LISTEN RECORDS

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ARTURO DENIM

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DARAVARA

OK now let's hop and the car and head over to Highlands, shall we?

CHICKIES ANTIQUES

MAJESTY AND FRIENDS

MANDOLIN BOOKS

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