new no6

So, clogs are from Sweden, right? Well according to a native Swede living in Portland and known simply as "the clogmaster", there are no authentic makers of clogs left in Sweden. The brand Swedish Hasbeens, while being super cute (look out for their new striped ones) is apparently no more authentic than Dansko. The company was started very recently by a girl who discovered an old box of throw-back clogs and decided to reproduce them. According to the Clogmaster, the Hasbeens are only imitations of the real things - aren't stiff and don't follow the strict rules of clog-making. The clogmaster insist that the only one who makes clogs the real old-world way is Sven's of Minnesota, a Swede who immigrated to the US years ago and has been making them since the '70s. Since his clogs tend to be more of the run-of-the-mill variety, good thing No6 came along to style up Sven.

No6 - the brand started by a pair of NYC-based former models and known purveyor of fine Swedish clogs made authentically by Sven's of Minnesota - just debuted their Fall line of clogs. And, boy, are they something to behold. And own. (I have already snapped up the saddle shoe clogs) The new lace-up model is pretty killer. Something new for this season is that all models are on the "high" heel (the classic short ankle strap boot that made them famous is only on a "mid" heel). I was worried they would be impossible to walk in. Not so. I think I might actually be able to run down the street in mine if necessary.

No6 is available online and in select stores - including Frances May in Portland, Creatures of Comfort in LA and Totokaelo in Seattle.