I remember my 16th birthday like it was yesterday. My parents took me to Toronto to see Phantom of the Opera and go shoe shopping. I got my first pair of knee high black boots and it was true love. I wore them to school with a denim skirt, black tank top and colored tights, and boy did I feel fabulous. Keep in mind this was 1994, and rockin' such a style wasn't quite as common as it is today. My obsession was already deeply rooted at this point in my life, however, and I think I have my parents (and the red T-strap mary janes I had when I was three) to blame.
With that I welcome you to a new column here on the blog dedicated to one of my favorite things, shoes! Each month I will review a few pairs of shoes that I either own or have tried and discuss the pros, the cons, how I would wear them and where to find them. I thought it was only fitting to start with some shoes from my favorite brand, Seychelles. They find the perfect balance of vintage elements and modern design, have awesome colors and are always comfortable.
First up, the Potion Pump. This is currently my favorite shoe in my closet. I will tell you, I'm a mary jane girl, plain and simple, but besides that, there is so much to love about this shoe. I wear heels casually a lot and the low 2 1/4" height of this style is perfect for that. The chunkier wedge design also really helps with comfort, you barely feel like you are wearing heels. Seychelles typically have nice padded, cushy insoles and these hold true to that.
I found most Seychelles run pretty true to size. I typically wear an 8.5 and size down to an 8 about 40% of the time. I can comfortably wear an 8.5 or an 8 in this style, but the 8 fits a bit better for me.
I got these in the clay and teal, which is a unique and lovely color combination. While I think it's a versatile color, some may disagree. The clay is more of a mushroom color, rather than a rich brown, so I don't think it looks good with anything chocolate or warm brown colored. Because I loved them so much, I also got them in the vintage white. At first glance, I never would have expected to love them, but upon receiving them, I really do. They seem to match just about everything in my closet. The darker trim almost adapts to what you're wearing, looking more brown or more grey depending, making them even more versatile. They also come in black with a burgundy trim.
I definitely recommend these shoes! And if you're not a fan of wearing pointed toes, this is a nice alternative that you can wear for work or a special occasion. I think they look just as cute with jeans and a tee as they do with a dress, and here are a few looks I put together:
WHERE TO BUY POTION:
endless.com $79.95 (free shipping both ways)
zappos.com $84 (free shipping both ways)
Next up, the Duchess T-Strap Pump. This style is a little dressier in my opinion, but just as cute. The heel is higher at 3" which made them just a little too high for the day to day wear I was looking for, but perfect with a dress or skirt or for a casual night on the town. I tried them in the plum color, and it was really cool. They fit true to size and also come in black, brown and taupe.
The little toe cut out is a cute accent but didn't quite work for me and it may be different for everyone depending on the shape of your foot. I expected to see a little toe, but it fell in between mine, so I just saw the sole of the shoe. It didn't look bad, but just a little weird. If the heel had been lower or if I still worked in an office, I would have kept them anyways because they were super cute, very comfortable and the color was beautiful. I would recommend these shoes!
Here are some ways to wear them them:
WHERE TO BUY DUCHESS:
endless.com $66 - $90 (free shipping both ways)
zappos.com $76 - $80 (free shipping both ways)
amazon.com $47 - $90 (free shipping)
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Last up, the most practical of all, the Boy Short Flat. I was really drawn to the beautiful plum color and the ankle strap detailing in these shoes. I also thought they would be very versatile for the warm months to wear with capris and shorts or a cute sundress. I was not disappointed at all when I received them but the fit is a little strange so they may not work for everyone.
These shoes are fairly narrow, which I like because I often have problems with the sides gapping on flats, but if you're foot is any wider than average, they may be snug on you. The ankle strap is adjustable with the buckle and also moves through the loop in the back, so that shouldn't be a problem for anyone when it comes to fit. The top of the shoe is cut low and wide, so you do see some toe cleavage, which some may not like (I don't mind) and the sides may hit you in a funny place. As with most flats, they have minimal arch support, but the insole is cushy and comfortable. The 8.5 was a little long on me and the 8 was a little snug, but I kept the smaller size as I think they will stretch a bit.
These worked out nicely for me and I can't wait for some warm weather, but if you try them, I recommend wearing them around the house for at least an hour or so to make sure they don't rub funny on your feet. Also, as I mentioned before, the ankle strap does slide in the back but on one pair I tried it was stuck as if it wasn't supposed to move, so you may have to fidget with it a bit to loosen up the leather.
Here are a few ways I would wear them:
WHERE TO BUY BOY SHORT:
endless.com $50 - $80 (free shipping both ways)
shoes.com $70 (free shipping one way)
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I hope you've enjoyed the first edition of The Shoe Review! I'll have a lot of variety for you moving forward in both style and price, and even some guest posters reviewing shoes for guys!
Once the weather warms up a bit here (or I figure a suitable setup indoors), I'll be including photos of myself wearing the shoes when possible and outfits of my own as well. This column will be a work in progress, so if you have any feedback on what else you'd like to know about a shoe or what you'd like to see, I'd love to hear it!
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