Franco Sarto Lima Reviewed

Franco Sarto was a well-spoken, sharp-dressing, Italian man who knew at a very young age that he was meant to make his life’s work out of shoes and fashion. He was born in 1949 in Dolo (which is in the outskirts of Venice). Franco was an apprentice craftsman at age 14, working in a shoe factory where he sat on a stool and hand-lasted shoes with a hammer and nails. In his early twenties, Franco moved to Stra (the epicenter of Italian shoe design), and opened a design studio. In 1990, he launched his very own namesake line. Franco’s success didn’t come as a surprise. His exquisite designs feature stunningly elegant lines and sleek leather, both characteristics that are sought after by busy working women or moms. Franco's shoes reflect confidence and ease. As the brand expanded and met the needs of more and more savvy, fashionable women, his following grew. Franco started a new collection in 2015 called Sarto. It is a footwear line specifically designed for women, mixing effortless style with modern Italian sensibility. This line is a chance for women to get a taste of what it’s like to slip into a piece of Italy. Mr. Sarto’s start as a shoemaker and his vision as a designer are the things that set him apart in the business. He had the advantage of being able to design shoes with the skill of a craftsman and the passion of an artist. Every shoe that bears his name reflects effortless style and continues to woo women worldwide.

This sleek, modern pump features uppers that are made of quality leather, suede, or snakeskin (depending on what color you choose). They have a statement making pointed toe and a wide ankle strap with an elastic back that will make it much easier to slip in and out of. The heel is an eye-catching 3 ¼ inch stiletto. The outsole is man-made synthetic rubber, and it is textured to aide in grip and traction. The lining is man-made, and the footbed is fixed and lightly padded. These pumps are very lightweight at just six ounces each.

There are three options for upper material with the Lima Pump. Two of the colors come with suede material, two come with leather, and one with snakeskin.
Suede is split-leather, meaning it is cut from the thickness of the leather and does not include the top layer of the animal’s skin. Because of this, it is not quite as durable as full-grain leather, but it is still strong. Suede is plush and beautiful, making it very captivating and easy on the eye. Suede is a wonderful choice when you’re going for aesthetics or style. You will need to be sure to invest in some suede shoe care products to keep your suede nice. It is very easily stained or ruined by rain/snow/salt.

Leather is a great choice if you’re going for a more sleek, professional look. It is also more durable than suede, therefore will last longer. It is not so easily ruined. It can handle more abrasion and weather than suede can. You will still want to invest in leather protection products if you care to extend the life of your pumps.

Lastly, there is one snakeskin option available. If you’re looking for heels that will give you sass, spunk, attitude, luxurious aesthetics, and a sense of heightened sexuality, snakeskin is for you. Women often opt for snakeskin when they want to have a night on the town.

The Franco Sarto Lima Pump has an outsole that is man-made rubber. It is textured at the forefoot to provide some grip and traction, which are hard to come by in high heeled shoes. You will still need to be extremely careful when walking in any kind of slippery conditions because the stiletto heel has no grip or traction since the surface area is so small. One benefit of a synthetic sole is that it is more comfortable than a leather sole. Even though it is very thin on heeled shoes, it still provides more cushioning than leather. A synthetic sole is not as durable as a leather sole, but it’s also not as expensive, and if you’re taking care of your shoes, you’ll still be able to get a nice, long life out of them. A synthetic sole also can’t be repaired or replaced, so when it is ruined you have to replace the entire shoe. With a leather sole, you can repair and replace the leather instead of the whole shoe. Really, it’s up to you to decide what you want and need, and where you’re willing to make sacrifices or compromises.

Finding a truly comfortable high heeled shoe is almost impossible. Especially when you’re in the market for a stiletto heel, or any heel over a couple inches tall really. They force your feet into an unnatural position which makes your stride unnatural as well. This puts unfamiliar pressure on the balls of your feet, your heels, your arch, legs, knees, and back. If you’re not used to walking in heels, be sure to ease yourself into it. Wear them around the house for an hour, then a couple. Then venture outside for a bit. Wear them for half a day. And so on. Your body will thank you for the gradual dip into high heeled fashion. Being 3 ¼ inches tall, these pumps are still in the category considered “comfortable”, so those who are used to heels will find them to be satisfactory right off the bat. There is a padded footbed in this pump. However, when it comes to shoes like this, there isn’t much room for very thick cushioning. I wouldn’t plan on wearing these for twelve hours without a break so I’d be sure to have flip flops or tennis shoes in the trunk of my car.

As I’ve mentioned above, the heel on the Lima Pump is a 3 ¼ inch thin, bold stiletto heel. It is considered to be a “comfortable” height because it is under 4 inches. In the fashion world, 3 inches is the average heel height, so that will give you a bit of perspective.

Cons of wearing high heels: Heels that are two inches or higher actually propel the body forward. This makes walking awkward. The also point the foot downward, thus reducing its ability to flex and absorb shock. Your knees and hips then have to pick up the slack, which can aggravate or even sometimes cause arthritis.

Pros of wearing high heels: Heels give your calf muscles more shape, elongate the look of your legs (making you appear longer and leaner), improve your pelvic floor muscles (heels place pelvic muscles in the perfect position to contract and strengthen), and cause a boost of confidence.

When it comes to choosing heels for yourself, you really need to think about your personal wants and needs. What are your feet used to? What kind of statement are you looking to make? Do you have foot trouble? If you decide that a 3 ¼ inch heel is right for you, these pumps are a wonderful choice.

It’s pretty easy to see just from looking at them that any kind of high heeled shoes aren’t very protective of your feet. The Lima Pump does cover your toes, so you have that bit of protection from stubbing your toes. The elastic band around the ankle/heel helps give you a more secure, comfortable fit and can help keep your foot where it’s supposed to be, protecting you from slipping off the side of the platform. Heels do not protect your body from pain, discomfort, or injury however. If some problems are left untreated, like corns, calluses, and ingrown toenails, they can lead to long-term problems like hammertoes, bunions, and bony bumps at the back of the heel cause by shoes rubbing. You can also develop problems with your knees, hips, and back. Some high-heel wearers can even experience pain when walking in flats. Women who wear heels for many years in a row can actually develop a physiologically shorter Achilles tendon. This results in the inability of the heel to fully touch the ground. Be sure to know your body and your limits. If you feel pain, take the heels off.

The Franco Sarto Lima Pump is available in five colors and three upper materials.

Aqua (Suede) is a breath-taking sea-colored blue/green that can be the perfect accent color to your outfit. Aqua is super versatile and can be paired with a wide variety of colors. You can choose to keep your look soft and feminine and go with pastel shades of pink, lilac, yellow, or peach; or create a bold look with attitude by pairing it with black, gold, green, navy, or plum.

Blush (Leather) is a very soft, pastel baby pink. The sleek leather makes it look even more soft. You can try pairing blush with navy, chocolate, olive, charcoal, black, burgundy, teal, emerald, and more. They all would help balance out the muted and washy qualities of the blush color.

Coral (Suede) is a salmon pink with an orangish red tint to it. It is a gorgeous color. One of the most stunning color combinations with coral is teal and grey. Mix the perfect shades of each and nothing can beat it. Coral, navy blue, and yellow also make a great mixture. Coral with green or gold makes a subtly loud impression.

Sunkist Yellow (Leather) is a yellow that is slightly on the mustard color side, but not so much that it isn’t still a pretty shade of yellow. This shade of yellow pairs well with black, violet, brown, berry tones, and blues. Try adding a couple shades of yellow and a dash of white throughout your outfit to have a balanced palette.

Lastly, there is the snakeskin option. If you’re choosing snakeskin high heels, you’re obviously going for the wow-factor. Why not keep it going and make your outfit contrast dramatically with the heels? Wear bright colors to compliment and contrast with the black and white of the snakeskin.

The Franco Sarto Women’s Lima Pump is a show stopping beauty with a modern, sleek design that can be incorporated in almost any outfit for any occasion. They are fun and flirty but can also be classy and sophisticated. It all depends on how you dress up the rest of yourself. Whether you’re pairing them with leggings, skinny jeans, dresses, etc-you can feel secure knowing that the highlight of your outfit is going to be your heels. Everything else will just support them. You can wear them to go out to lunch, go shopping, go to work, on a date, or to a work event. And with so many color and size options, you’re sure to find the perfect pair for you.