Elegant black and white ballet shoes of soft leather; check sizing carefully.
I ordered these HeySiMey Women's Flats Shoes Ballet Flats Bowknot Square Toe Comfort Light Weight Slip-On Ballerina flats because the black and white color scheme and small black bow were a perfect match to a 1950s vintage inspired spring dress I recently got.These flats are made from lamb skin and suede; the leather is very soft and flexible. Is this what they used to call kid? The soft white leather reminds me of vintage shoes/boots I’ve seen that were called kid. The shoes are beautifully made; the classic black and white color scheme is simple and timeless. The ballet flats are white with a black toe cap and bow; there’s also a slim black band outlining the opening of the shoe.These have a very slight heel; they’re not completely flat like some ballet slippers. The heel is about 3/4” tall and very easy to walk in. I usually wear flats because I have a pretty messed-up spine (broken neck, fusions, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stimulator), mobility can be a challenge for me, and I found these slight heels comfortable.Unfortunately, the shoes ran just a touch small for me; I usually order a size 9. I ordered these in a 9 and they were just a bit tight; especially across the width of the toe box. The shoes fit, just more tightly than I prefer. It’s been a long time since I had to “break in” shoes. (I probably measure out to an 8 or 8 1/2, but I size up 1/2 size; no break in period, and extra room if I’m on my feet all day.) I think I’m going to try to stretch these; they’re so pretty, and even an extra 1/4” would make a difference.The show are cut a bit slim, especially in the toe box. Maybe consider sizing up half a size? My feet aren’t wide, but the shoes fit is narrow across the base of the toes.These arrived nicely packaged; the shoes were carefully stuffed to maintain their shape. Even the bows were padded out so they arrived pristine. A small, lightweight dust bag was included to protect the shoes on the shelf or when traveling. There was even a thank you card from the company.I struggled with how many stars to give these shoes; this is where I wish Amazon had a 4 1/2 star rating. I love the design of these shoes, and they’re a perfect match for the dress I bought them for. They’re excellent quality; I love the softness of the leather and the vintage style. But they’re just a bit tight on me. If there were half stars, I’d remove a half star for fit. Since there aren’t any half stars, I gave this five stars for the boutique quality and high end feel. Just be aware, they seem to be cut slim, especially in the toe box.At the current price ($102.60) I think you get excellent value; that being said, these are a touch spendy for my family’s everyday budget. These aren’t everyday shoes, and they’re worth spending a bit more for. But I’m very grateful to have been offered these through the Vine program.These remind me of great vintage fashion icons; I could see Audrey Hepburn or Jackie Kennedy wearing these back in the day. I remember my grandmother wearing two-tone shoes like this that matched her Chanel suits. These shoes whisper memories of the Storm Club, ladies lunching, cocktail parties and breakfast at Tiffany’s. But they’re sleek and modern enough to wear with today’s styles, too. With capris, a little black dress, or my black and white, bowed spring frock, these shoes add style, chic, and elegance.