There's something so horribly cruel about the fact that flats, which should seemingly be way more comfortable than heels, can actually cause more pain and agony than their higher friends. I was thrilled when we started seeing celebs and street-style stars start wearing them for casual outings and red carpet appearances alike, but slipping into my own pair hasn't been quite as pleasant as I'd imagined (blister city!).
When Everlane debuted its loafer earlier this month (its first real shoe following up an earlier sandal) I was skeptical but willing to try. Imagine my delight when I found out I could wear them for a trip to dinner and my local mall without any rubbing or pinching. Puzzled by my other flats that would've left my feet raw after 30 minutes, I contacted the brand's head of design, Petra Langerova, for some insight.
She explained that the leather used will make a difference, with some never stretching and others stretching too much. Lower vamps (the part of the shoe that rises over and covers toe cleavage) will also tend to correlate with a more universally comfortable fit.
The most intriguing lesson I learned was a sizing trick that, while totally sensible, had never really dawned on me.
"The two extremes are very pointy and very round toes, and both are tricky with sizing," she said. "Pointed toes add extra empty space in the front and round ones don't at all." With that in mind, if you're shopping for a pointed style (which typically feel and look a little fancier, making them the perfect evening alternative to pumps) you should size a half size up. For rounded styles, like ballet flats, go a half size down.
Hurrah! With this little nugget of info in hand, I'm excited to try and reintroduce super points back into my closet.
Have you worn flats for evening before? Love the look, or will heels always feel more formal to you?
PS: Her go-to trick for breaking in shoes? "Wearing wet socks with new shoes around the house."
PPS: Shop the Everlane loafers here.