A selection notebook by Natalie Rachel Arce.
Before CHOUOL, I was editor-in-chief of a shoe-design magazine. Today, I select the footwear for this store. The setting has changed, but an editor’s question still feels useful: what deserves a closer look?
For this notebook, I am starting with five shoes and five ways into a selection. A color might catch your eye first. The outline might hold your attention. The practical details—model, intended category, size system and width—help turn that first impression into a considered choice. Together, they give a shoe its place in the edit.
1. Begin with the outline: Bondi 9 in Black/Black
An all-black palette makes the shape easy to study. On this men’s HOKA Bondi 9, the curved sole and tonal upper form a strong side profile. Black laces and dark lettering keep the color story close together.
If your starting point is an all-black shoe, this is one way to explore the road-running selection. Open the Bondi 9 in Black/Black and look through its listed men’s US sizes and separate width options.
2. Look at the quieter contrasts: Clifton 10 in Vanilla/Birch
Neutral colors still have differences worth noticing. The women’s HOKA Clifton 10 in Vanilla/Birch brings cream and beige tones together, with tan lettering and a pale sole. Those small changes in tone give the eye something to follow around the shoe.
For a starting point in warm neutrals, explore the Clifton 10 in Vanilla/Birch. This model sits in our road-running category; its product page lists women’s US sizes and the available widths.
3. Let color carry the design: Skyward X 2
Blue Blossom/Celestial Blue takes the women’s HOKA Skyward X 2 in another direction. Blue continues from the laces through the upper and sculpted sole, while darker side lettering creates contrast. The layered lines of the sole remain visible within that single color family.
If color leads your search, take a closer look at the Skyward X 2 in Blue Blossom/Celestial Blue. Check the model’s road-running category and its own women’s US size options as you compare it with the rest of the edit.
4. Start with the category: Speedgoat 7
A product’s intended category deserves attention alongside its appearance. The women’s HOKA Speedgoat 7 is listed in our trail-running selection. In Alabaster/Morning Dew, off-white and pale green tones meet dark side lettering and a visibly lugged outsole.
For a search centered on trail-running footwear, begin with the Speedgoat 7 in Alabaster/Morning Dew. Review that exact model and the size information on its page before choosing.
5. Change the silhouette: ORA Recovery Mule
The unisex HOKA ORA Recovery Mule brings an open heel and closed toe to this notebook. Its Black/Black color keeps attention on the curved lines and visible openings across the upper. The slip-on shape gives this part of the selection a distinct outline.
Explore the ORA Recovery Mule in Black/Black and read its size labels carefully. This unisex listing uses US men’s numbers, shown with an “M”; follow that stated system when making your selection.
The last step belongs to the details
Each linked page opens the color pictured in this edit. Choose your own size and width before adding a pair to your bag. A men’s, women’s or kids’ US number is not interchangeable, and a unisex label needs the size system stated on the specific product. Fit can also vary by model.
Our sizing guidance in the FAQ explains how to read the options. If a detail is unclear, contact CHOUOL with the exact model, size and width you are considering. Customer service is available Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Pacific Time, at nataliearce@chouol.com.
That is the rhythm I want this notebook to offer: a reason to look closely, followed by enough detail to keep choosing thoughtfully. You can continue through the full CHOUOL selection or read more about the story behind the store.