The Burch
Can we talk? Okay. I know I’m going to ruffle a lot of feathers with this post. But I really need to get this off of my chest. It’s going to be controversial. I know. But it must be said. Here goes. How in the name of all that is reasonable, holy and righteous, do you spend $225 on that Tory Burch Reva ballet flat? If you’re reading this, you know the shoe I’m referencing.
How Sway? I am befuddled and bewildered because these are one of the most uncomfortable flats you will ever try on. Ballet flats and comfort should be synonymous. Women wear flats to be comfortable, not sexy. So let me get this straight, TB wants me to be in flats AND uncomfortable? All of the nopes. Nope. Nope. Nope. I know several people who have multiple colors. But why? I don’t understand. Help me to understand. There is really nothing to this flat. Now don’t get me wrong. It’s a great basic staple to have in your wardrobe. The quality of the shoe is definitely there. That TB logo is everything and you will have these shoes for years. But I should not have to break in flats. That’s simply not fair. I can’t bring myself to do it. Therefore, I never rode the Reva flat train and never will.
However……………..I was shopping, as usual, and I came across this tonal flat by TB. The flat looks almost identical to the Reva flat, but the logo emblem is tonal and not the usual gold or silver. I’m checking it out because I’m mildly obsessed with tonal shoes. I also noticed that this shoe is called the Minnie, not the Reva. Okay, I’ll bite. Tried on a pair……………..oh yes. These shoes are comfortable. They are not the most comfortable flats you will ever try on, but they are pretty close. I couldn’t believe it. How did I not know about it? Same price tag……but okay. Now we’re getting somewhere. Check out these super cute vermillion (that’s pink) color flat from the TB site. It also comes with its own travel bag which does come in handy for people who travel a lot or are always on the go.
Find them here:
http://www.toryburch.com/Minnie
Now don’t worry beautiful people. I haven’t forgotten about the fantastically frugal readers. I know that everyone is not prepared to drop $225 on a pair of flats, whether they can afford to or not. I get it. And I got you. I’ve included some great options for you as well below:
Cole Haan ZER0GRAND Stagedoor Stud Ballet, $140. First, what the heck is up with that name? Second, these are basic, but very wearable, and they are excellent quality. The gold metallic makes this shoe very current and the classic ballet styling is very……..well classic. But most importantly, this shoe is comfortable, my basic requirement for a flat. It does what a flat is intended to do, which is give comfort. Look at that beautiful outsole. That screams, I’m comfortable! I dig it. This shoe is still pricey at $140, but that leaves an additional $85 in our pocket. In Staci math, that would cover about two and a half happy hours. You’re welcome.
And for the extremely frugal and fabulous, I have another option for you that I think you’ll like. Another traditional ballet flat option is the Emmie flat by Lucky Brands. This shoe typically retails for $59, so it’s very frugal friendly and most of the time you can score a pair for 30 or 40% off on www.luckybrands.com. They have plenty of options, suede and leather, prints an solids. But more importantly, these shoes are like walking on clouds. The quality is very good, given that they are made with genuine leather, no matter the style. My suggestion would be to size up half a size, as I typically do with most ballet flats. The adorable flat seen below is currently on sale for $34.50! YASSS! As a matter of fact, every single flat is on sale. Get to shopping. You know you want to take a peek.
See the link below to purchase:
http://www.luckybrand.com/emmie-flat/
Okay, now let’s get to the good part. The flats listed below are traditional and good staples to have in your closet. You need at least one pair in your closet that you can throw in your bag for emergencies, such as when you went against my recommendation and wore 6 inch heels and now you can barely feel your feet. Every cute girl’s worst nightmare is having to go barefoot because she can no longer suffer the consequences of her ill-advised life decisions. But I’m beyond traditional. I need a little bit of edge to my shoe collection. So…..as I’m strolling the hard mean streets of the strip mall, I stop into Aldo Shoes. I always stop in Aldo Shoes. People really sleep on Aldo, but they are really my go to for flats and sandals. I have a pair of gladiator sandals from Aldo from about 6 or 7 years ago that are in perfect condition and I still wear to this day. Beyonce had the exact same pair.
But I digress. Aldo has an amazing selection of comfortable ballet shoes at affordable prices. There are almost too many to list. But don’t worry, I’ll curate the best for you so you don’t have to do the work. Let’s start with the Biacci, $65. This shoe comes in Black, Navy, Bordeaux and Nude. It has the strap look that is very on trend for now, but the great part is that you don’t have to ever mess with those annoying straps that usually the punishment for such a cute look. It zips from the back. Oh yes. And this shoe is extremely comfortable. Also give you that slight point at the toe, which is by far, the most popular silhouette for fall. Remember to size up.
Find them here: http://www.aldoshoes.com/Biacci
Up next, the Cavizano, $70. This is a more traditional looking ballet flat, with a cute hardware strap across the front of the shoe. This shoe is super cute on and it gives the traditional ballet flat a little bit of an edge. Love it. Love it. Love it. It comes in black and coral. The description says peach, but it's coral and cute!
Find them here:
http://www.aldoshoes.com/Cavizano
Next, the Bazovica, $70. This shoe is everything. It’s a cross between a ballet flat and loafer. Loafers are HUGE right now, so this is the perfect shoe. And this is one of the most comfortable shoes I have ever tried on. Seriously. You don’t even need to size up. These are genuine leather as well. Zara has a similar style for about the same price, but this one just feels better on. There was something a little bit off about the fit at the one in Zara and the outsole was just a tad bit too flat. So pass on that one. Pick this one up. Comes in Nude, Black and Gold. The Gold is my favorite and you can pair this with just about anything. And it’s just so cool looking. So damn chic.
Come closer. Let’s talk about this last pick. This is my favorite pick of season so far. But I’ll be honest. I have no clue if these shoes are comfortable or not. And you know what…..don’t really care. I’m copping them anyway. I tried to do my due diligence and try them on in the store, but they are not sold in stores, or they weren’t sold in the store I was in. There are two styles that I like. Unfortunately, Zara doesn’t really believe in naming their shoes. All you get is “lace up leather ballet flat. So I’ll just insert the pictures. The first pair is $70 and the second pair is $60. I don’t really care because I am getting them both. They are adorable, a little bit edgy, and they won’t take all of your coins. Both are genuine leather as well, which is always a plus. I typically have a love/hate relationship with Zara shoes, but I love all of my Zara flats. If you’re that girl who doesn’t like to wear flats because…..well because fashion, then you should be getting your flats from Zara. They always have styles that are a bit more avant garde, but still very wearable.
Well there you have it. This is my perfectly curated list of flats you need in your life. No applause please, but I will take a bow.