Okay, you guys... this review is waaaay long over due! I was obsessed with the Wave this entire weekend. I had a ton of fun with my one woman photoshoot on Saturday (I was the stage builder, the clothes editor, the model, the photographer, the graphic designer, and now -- the blogger) . It's too bad that my homework eventually got in the way though. But even as I programmed late Saturday night, I only longed to blog about the double buckle half back Maryjane clog... which is why I'm happy to finally open up some free time, even if only for a few moments!

Have any of you ever heard of aniline leather? Well, I learned that aniline leather is leather prized for its softness. It's the type of leather that undergoes the least amount of processing. What this means is that it will develop a rich luster (or patina) over time. What this also means, though, is that it will fade with prolonged exposure to the sun.

Well, I learned that the Catalina Wave is made of aniline leather. The pair that I received had a few scratches and at first, I thought that this was a flaw, but later learned that scratches are characteristic of aniline leather -- it's not processed to conceal such blemishes. As noted by the Wikipedia, this type of leather has often been called *naked* leather since it "allows the leather to breathe better, making the leather more comfortable in both hot and cold weather". So if you see scratches on a pair, don't be alarmed -- celebrate them instead.

Okay, enough about leather. You may be curious about colors! The sample I received came in Blue. The Wave also comes in Red, Black, and Cognac. When I requested a sample, I had asked for either Blue or Red.

Alright, already, so they're cute -- yada yada -- but are they comfortable? You know, when I got the package last Tuesday, after I recorded my "Hear My Nasally Voice" shot, I gently placed my camera on my kitchen table before violently ripping the package open. I paraded around the kitchen and loved the lightness that embraced my feet. I almost felt like I was wearing my Scutes!