070. I Shopped The Shoes On Your Wishlist
Reviewing The Row, A. Emery, Everlane, Staud, and more.
Back by popular demand. I’ve learned my lesson from last summer; I know that by mid-August, most readers have summer fashion in the rearview mirror and started thinking about what wardrobe additions will make the cut this fall. September can be a time for reinvention, and these are often synonymous with abundant shopping. It felt like a good time to review the brands on your wishlist. I compared seven pairs of minimalist leather ballet flats - from the popular deconstructed ‘glove’ style to structured pointe-inspired designs. I looked at value for money on pairs ranging from $138 to $890 across brands like Everlane, Substack-darling A. Emery, The Row, fashion-set favourite Tove, Staud, Aeyde, and Le Monde Béryl.
I hope you have a mindful and well-informed shopping (or not) autumn.
*I started including links to secondhand offers. This is to help you shop more affordably and sustainably. Note that I cannot vouch for the authenticity of secondhand listings. Whenever shopping secondhand, it’s important to run thorough due diligence as these sites (even those claiming authenticity checks) are crawling with counterfeits. Be especially careful when shopping for popular luxury brands. I addressed this more in detail and gave out tips in this newsletter. Secondhand recommendations do not include affiliate links. Happy secondhand shopping!
I Shopped Your Wishlist is a monthly column for paid subscribers of Every Body Gets Dressed. In it, I publish in-depth reviews of the most hyped-up products and brands of the current season to help you tell real value from hype. I regularly invite experts and industry peers to weigh in. You can find past editions of this column here. If you have suggestions for specific brands and products I should review in next month’s column, drop a comment below.
The Day Glove, Everlane $138
Also available secondhand in ‘Very Good’ to ‘Brand New With Tags’ condition here*: size 7.5, size 8, size 8.5, size 9, size 9.5, size 10, size 10.5.
Fit: They run a little small, according to me, and very small, according to many other reviews. Go up at least half a size unless you like a very snug fit.
Width: Even the regular fit felt a tad narrow.
Materials: Leather upper and lining. Rubber sole.
Made in Vietnam - average monthly wage of garment workers in USD: $125 - $180.
Ethical supply chain information: The brand is very transparent compared to industry standards. They share many details, including the name of the factory where each item was made.
What’s Good
I love that the brand is transparent about the conditions in which the shoes were manufactured.
The tab detail at the back looks great. It’s rigid enough to support the foot and keep the shoe's shape but not so stiff that it hurts when you walk.
The leather, while not being of premium quality, feels thick and sturdy. Although rubber is a much cheaper material than leather, the rubber sole makes the shoe very flexible and will also wear off less quickly than a leather one. All this points towards a shoe that’s been made with longevity and repeat wear in mind.
What’s Not So Good
The hierarchy of leather, from highest to lowest quality, is ‘full-grain’, ‘top-grain’, ‘split’, (surprisingly) ‘genuine’, and ‘bonded’ leather. It’s very hard and unnecessary to call out what category a specific shoe falls under, but observing the grain, the finish, the appearance of the flesh side, and gently bending the leather should tell you if it’s a high or low grade. The leather of this shoe feels a little plastic-y. The grain shows a hyper-regular (i.e. possibly not natural) grain. The inside of it feels rough and fibrous. These are all signs of a lower-grade leather.
I tried both and find it odd that the regular fit is somewhat narrow, and yet they offer a narrow-fit version but not a wide-fit one.
The shoes are comfortable in the practical sense of the word. Nothing like some of the other shoes below that are delectable to slip your foot into.
From an aesthetical standpoint, I wish the soles were black or more discreet. The brown rubber soles give them a slight orthopaedic slipper vibe.
Value: 4.5/5
Quality: 2/5
Look: 3.5/5
Fit: 3/5
Comfort: 3.5/5
Overall Score: 16.5/25
What Does The Internet Have To Say?
Wherever I looked for comments on the longevity of this very popular style, I found almost only upvotes. To quote a user who has worn them five times a week for over a year, they ‘hold up exceptionally well’. Users say that the leather does get scratched but that stains are easy to clean.
Would I Buy Them?
The leather quality reflects that the price is a fraction of the other shoes I'm reviewing today. That’s why it’s important to discuss quality and value separately. This is a shoe of mediocre quality and great value, as corroborated by the reviews of long-time users. The materials aren’t premium, and the craftsmanship isn’t sophisticated, but they look nice enough and will work hard for your wardrobe. I would buy these if I had a small budget or needed a reliable pair of shoes for travelling or commuting from the office.
Briot Leather Ballet Flats, A. Emery $235
Also available secondhand in ‘Very Good’ to ‘Brand New With Tags’ condition here*: size 9.