BIG Moccasin Review: Part II {And another giveaway!}

{Update:  The giveaway on this post ended on Saturday 12/21.}

To see Part I of my BIG Moccasin Review, with other mocc makers, click here.

Another bunch of moccasins and a Happy and the Hectic giveaway!  Read about all of these awesome mocc makers and scroll down to win a pair of Fox Mox!

(Indie Nook shirt)

Little Mocc Shop

 (Raine and Monet sweatshirt and bow)

About:
"Hi! My name is Claudia Soto. I'm the proud mother of two boys, ages 8 and 3 as well as a baby girl who is 5 months old. I'm a photographer who works from home. We live in a small border town away from family due to my husband's job. I first discovered boutique moccasins when my daughter was a newborn and fell in love with them. I'm a crafter by nature so it sparked my interest. I had never in my life sewn before. It took lots of practice and headaches to master working with leather. It's such a tricky medium to work with as a beginner. I find so much joy in creating every single pair, sometimes with the help of my husband (who has known how to sew since he was a kid---he would kill me if he knew I said this). Hey, a family that crafts together stays together!"

Style:
I received a pair of Claudia's dark purple moccasins in a size 5 inch ($30).  She offers sizes 4 inch to 6 inch in her shop.

(Photo courtesy of instagram.com/littlemoccshop)

Fit:

I'd say these moccasins are true to size and have some room for Lemon to grow into (she recommends that you order a size .5 inches up for room to grow).  These moccasins are super easy to get on and I love their fit.  They are also not as slippery as other moccasins we've tried.  I would say these are a wide fit for chubby feet.

Durability:

These are great quality moccs and are one of my favorite pairs.  They are extremely well made and the stitching is solid.  The leather is soft and flexible but sturdy, and I feel like they will last us a long time.  Can we talk about how cute the color is?  Love.

Overall:

Claudia is amazingly efficient and easy to work with.  She got back to my right away after I contacted her in regards to a review, and sent her moccs out super fast.  She does weekly sales and offers pre-ordering at specific times/days (follow her on Instagram for more information).  I would totally recommend getting a pair of her moccs and I'm totally into the gold presale that's going on right now!

Social Media:
Instagram

Crew and Lu

About:
I actually met Uyen (far left, below) at the Phoenix Flea a couple of weeks ago and she was very sweet.  I had no idea she was local or how cute her moccs were in person!

"I am a native of sunny Arizona.  I am a daydreamer, go-getter, and a fly by the seat kind of gal.  I have been blissfully married for 3 years and have a son, Crew.  We are also expecting a little girl in May.  I am totally addicted to my family and delighted by my friends.  I welcome laughter and am always up for an adventure.

I have always been infatuated with fashion.  I grew up figure skating and dancing and have been coaching ice skating since I was 15 years old.  I found my creative outlet by designing and rhinestone-ing skating costumes.  I had my son a year and a half ago, and I never found exactly what I wanted in the stores so that fueled me to learn how to sew.  Once I made him a few leggings I was hooked and couldn't stop.  I designed my own fabric and people kept asking me where I got his leggings so I started selling and gifting them to my friends.  Which then led to Crew & Lu.

I opened up my shop in June of 2013 and I am so lucky to be a part of this amazing handmade community.  I expanded my line to include leggings, rompers, moccasins, and headbands.  Seeing littles in my creations is so rewarding and I just hope to fill your babies closets with modern glam.  My brand encompasses the feeling of a fresh, hip and versatile lifestyle." 

I have no idea how Uyen manages to update her blog, sew her moccs, keep up with all of her social media channels AND be a part of local events.  This girl is busy!  Follow her blog for more about her and her cute family!

Style:
I received a pair of Crew & Lu's Pink Tassel Moccasins ($62) in a size 5/6 (I think, a 5 inch pair).  She offers sizes 1 - 10/11 but does not specify inches on her site.

(Photo courtesy of crewandlu.bigcartel.com)

Fit: 
These moccs fit a standard foot, they are not thin but are not wide.  They are a bit snug on Lemon's foot so I would say they run just a tad small.  There is not a lot of give in the elastic around the ankle so they are a bit harder to get on but stay put when they are on.  The bottom is kind of slick because the leather is a thicker style.  

Durability:
These are so well made.  The fabric is sewn to the leather beautifully, the tassels are just too cute and the studs are secure and centered.  You can tell that Uyen takes great care when crafting these moccasins.  The leather is also thick and durable and they seem like they will last a long time.

The only thing I don't really like about them is that the fabric does get dirty easily so I'd say these are more "special occasion" moccs than your every day mocc (not a crafting error, a user error!).  I have seen a few mocc companies that mix leather with fabric and I'm sure this is common with them all.  I got so mad at my husband when I found Lemon playing in sand at a friend's house this past weekend, wearing these moccs!  They definitely aren't for playing (in my opinion) and will be saved for inside/fancy events from now on, they are just too cute to get dirty!  (And, I need to find out how best to clean them just in case!)

Overall:
I have to say, I think these are the cutest moccs!  They are so different than all of the others and you can totally tell that Uyen has her own unique style and puts time into making each pair just perfect.  She has an eye for the aesthetic and definitely crafts beautiful things.  She is so amazingly talented.

Uyen's prices are on the more expensive side but I'd say if you buy a pair of her specialized moccs, like these, it is worth it.  She does have suede and leather moccs for $50 each but I think if I were to order a pair I'd stick with this style, her Bow Mary Janes (to die for!) or her Lace Up Moccs - something different.  She also makes leggings, headbands and hats - check out her site to see all of her cute, baby goods!

Uyen is extremely busy, may have mom brain (a common pregnancy side effect!) and keeps up with so much while being a mom to a boy around Lemon's age.  She was hard to get a hold of at first, tough to coordinate with but ended up being very efficient in the end.  You can tell her business is booming!  I told her that I wanted a pair of her moccs that were "different" or ones that "set her apart" but this style was what I secretly wanted and I'm so glad she sent them - they are really SO CUTE!  Go snag a pair, you will not be sorry!

Social Media:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest

Mommy Makes Moccs

About: 
"Hello everyone!! My name is Gabriela Ramos and I am married to a soldier who is currently in the United States Army. I am also a stay at home mommy who loves to get crafty. I have always been interested in crafting since I was as tiny as my little moccasin wearers. But, it all really started after I had my little Audrey. I started painting paintings for her room and making her headbands and hair bow hangers for her bows. I even sold some to others but it wasn't going anywhere and I was spending more then I made.  My daughter has chubby feet and it's hard to find shoes for her so I found moccs online (and on Instagram) and I just couldn't spend so much for them knowing she would outgrow them quickly. So I had to try making them. 

It all started with an old suede curtain, but after the first pair, it was a total fail. It took me like over ten tries to get one done. And boom, it was all my daughter wore (leather of course). Then I started making them for family and friends and I started thinking - why not share the love and low prices? Making baby moccs has literally changed mine and my family's life. I wake up everyday and go straight to my sewing machine, and I go to bed right after leaving my sewing machine. I love it, I truly love making people happy!" 

Style:
I received a pair of red leather moccs in a size 5 inch ($20).  The color is not as bright as in the picture.  She offers sizes 4 inch to 7 inch (0-3 months to size 10/11) and her prices are the cheapest I've seen yet!

Fit:
These moccasins run fairly small.  They are for a wider foot but order a size up than you would normally get.  They have plenty of elastic and are super easy to get on.

Durability:
These moccasins have double suede bottoms so they aren't slippery (I personally think everyone who makes moccs should do this for the larger, walker sizes).  They are well made but are a thinner style of leather so I'm not sure how durable they will be over time.  They would be great for an Arizona summer though and seem to be comfortable and airy.  They are oh so soft and thin, perfect for spring/summer.

Overall:
Gabby is really sweet and totally on top of things.  She responded right away after I emailed her, sent out a pair of moccs and also sent emails checking to see if they got to me.  She runs her business very efficiently and will do well based on her prices and products.  I think that for a pair of basic moccs you can't beat her prices and I may just have to order every color!

Social Media:
Instagram

Happy and the Hectic

{Giveway Time!!!}

(Indie Nook shirt)

About:

"Happy and The Hectic started back in May. I went to my favorite thrift store, as I did every week but, this time was different. As I was shuffling through the racks, I came across this really cool black leather jacket with distressing all over it and decided that I would try to make a pair of the moccasins that I had been seeing on so many baby feet. When I got home, I tore the coat apart at the seams, dusted off my old sewing machine, and traced out my 4 year old sons foot. Once I finally got a pattern to work, I posted a picture proudly on Instagram. What would happen in the following months, was completely unexpected and has changed my life. 

Going from stay at home mom, pajamas all day, watching every season of PLL in one week [ha!] to a full fledged business owner and seamstress, has been the most rewarding experience of my life. The name, 'Happy and The Hectic' originally came from my children, Happy (my 8 month old daughter) and the Hectic (my two rough and rowdy boys), but has since come to describe every aspect of my life. Things have never been so hectic around here, but we have never been so happy. And I am so thankful to every one of my customers for that. Stay tuned, 2014 is going to be amazing!"

Style:

Amanda sent me three pairs of moccs (so fun!) and I just about DIED.  Her moccasins are definitely TO DIE FOR and are the cutest things I've ever seen!  I received a pair of her Fox Mox ($50), her Little Chief Moccasins ($60) and a new leather color she is debuting in the Spring - berry ($30)!  I am pretty sure she sent me the 5 inch size (3/4) and she offers sizes 4 inch to 7 inch (0-3 months up to 3T/4T) in her shop.

Fit:

The Little Chief moccs are the most narrow of the three and run a bit smaller than the others.  I would totally order a size up if you are purchasing this style of moccs.  The Fox Mox are a standard width and fit perfectly and the berry moccs are definitely a wider fit but are great for chubby feel like Lemon's.  All of the moccs are easy to get on, have just the right amount of elastic and only the Little Chiefs are tricky because there is no back fringe to pull on (like I'm used to!).  But, this is also what I love about them and what sets them apart!

Durability:

These moccasins are incredibly made.  The leather is soft but sturdy, there are hand painted details on both the Fox Mox and the Little Chief moccs and I just can't believe how much time Amanda must put into each pair.  These feathers are sewn on at just the right places and attaching every piece must take so much time.  The stitching is great and they seem like they will last a long time, too band Lemon will eventually grow out of them - it will be a sad, sad day!  

Overall:

I found Amanda because she started liking and commenting on my pictures on Instagram.  Then I started hearing the buzz about her moccasins and just KNEW she had to be a part of my review (and do a giveaway so that you could win a pair of her super cute moccs!).  I could tell she was super busy but took the time out to write me, and was great to work with.  She has since hired someone that will help her communicate with customers and that just tells me that her business is booming.  And so it should!  

With her prices for such specialized, cute moccs, she will be in business a long time.  I think her moccasins are fairly priced for the time she puts into them and are so different from all the rest.  I will definitely need to order these Fox Mox in a larger size when Lemon outgrows them and I die for a pair of her wolf ones too!  Go snag a pair while you can!!!

Social Media:

Instagram

Happy and the Hectic Fox Mox Giveaway! 

For a chance to win:

• Follow happyandthehectic and I (allisonpants) on Instagram and repost our giveaway picture.  (If you don't have an Instagram account, just follow my blog and comment below to be entered!)
   
• For an extra entry, follow my blog and comment on this post saying why you would love to win a pair of Fox Mox!  (You've got to follow in order for your comment to count!)

Winners will be chosen at random on Saturday, December 21st at 4pm MST.  If you win, you can choose a pair of Fox Mox in any size from 4 inch to 7 inch.

Good luck!!!

Thank you to all of the mamas that sent us moccasins - Erica and Lauren from Humble Hilo, Amanda from The Coral Pear, Knotty Tots, Jamie from Hello Little Scout, Lauren from Feather & Filly,  Claudia from Little Mocc Shop, Uyen from Crew & Lu, Gabby from Mommy Makes Moccs and Amanda from Happy and the Hectic.  You ladies are ALL so talented and I'm so happy I have "met" you through this mocc search!  We love supporting small businesses, and other mamas, it is my absolute favorite!  Please check out every single one of these shops, they are all so different and so wonderful, they ALL deserve your support.  

I hope to review more moccs in the new year (there are more out there!) and hope you have enjoyed these reviews.  I am still awaiting moccasins from two shops and will post a review on them when I receive them.  As always, thanks for reading and I hope you win a pair of Fox Mox!!!  xoxo