Everlane V Slingback Review

How many times have I mentioned that shoes are my weakness of late? Clearly, there’s a lot of truth in that sentiment, with the latest addition to my shoe-drobe being these gorgeous rust-hued shoes from Everlane. There is seldom an occasion where I’m not excited to try a pair of shoes from the brand, and I was looking forward to giving the Everlane V Slingback shoes a test drive. Admittedly, from the get go these felt a little too modern and fashion forward for my style, but I’ve been having a bit of fun incorporating them into my wardrobe. So, let’s talk a little bit about whether the Everlane V Slingback flats worth the splurge…

Wearing Hatch frill sleeve top, Everlane cheeky straight leg jeans, c/o Everlane V slingback shoes, Reliquia earrings

QUICK FACTS

Price: $145/$195 USD
Available in six colours: Black Suede, Rust Suede, Light Taupe Suede, Light Coral Suede, Light Tan Woven, Black Woven
Made in: Santa Maria a Monte in Italy
Fabric: 100% Italian leather
Care: Treat with protectant, and spot clean with a cloth.

SIZE & FIT

SIZE: As usual, I opted for a US9.5 which is my usual size in Everlane shoes. I’ve gotten a few new pairs of shoes from the brand recently and found that they’ve all fit true to size. For reference, I usually pick up designer shoes in an EU40.

FIT: When I received my Everlane V Slingback shoes, I didn’t anticipate for them to fit as well as they did. Visually, they looked like they might be on the small side, but when I slipped them on, I found that they fit snugly on my foot without being too tight in any particular spot. Aside from the odd initial blister on one heel – a rite of passage when wearing in new shoes – these were a perfect fit. The vamp is cut a little higher on the foot which means that the shoe doesn’t expose any toe cleavage, and the thick elasticated strap around the heel doesn’t dig in nor does it fit too tight. One thing you may notice from the photos is that while these hug the inner side of my foot quite nicely, the shoe doesn’t sit flush against the outer part of my foot.

QUALITY

FABRIC COMPOSITION: The shoes are made of 100% Italian leather; or in this instance, a high quality but malleable suede. The sole of the shoe is tunit, which has a little bit of grip to it and lasts longer than a leather sole typically would.

DETAILS: The unique point of difference that the Everlane V Slingback offers is the subtle almond toe design, combined with the V-shaped vamp. The style is very reminiscent of those Celine slingback flats, if not perhaps a little more wearable. The sole of the shoe has a thick cushioning, with a ‘step’ in the toe bed which has a nice fit to it. This relieves a lot of pressure, and makes the shoe very comfortable to wear even after hours on your feet. The high vamp is a more conservative detail, which hides any toe cleavage, and you’ll notice that the elasticated slingback strap is segmented which makes the shoe easy to slide onto the foot and fit snug, without causing too much restriction on the heel. Perhaps the best feature? These can be pretty effortlessly dressed up or down, depending on the occasion.

FINAL VERDICT

Given that the Everlane V Slingback Flats were released not too long after the Everlane Day Gloves, I can appreciate that naturally there will be some comparison between the two. So.. where do the similarities begin, and where do they end? Aside from the close cut design, and the high cut vamp, these are ultimately two very different shoes (though spoiler alert, I did find the slingbacks to be slightly more comfortable overall…).

I’ve always been quite upfront with the fact that I do love a good suede shoe; I have wide feet plus a bunion on my left foot, and I find that suede tends to be a more malleable and forgiving than leather or patent, and it’s case in point with these shoes.

In terms of wear, these will pucker or crease a little where the big toe is on the inner side of the shoe – this is inevitable with most leather shoes and I’ve noticed that this seems to be the only real major crease point with these slingbacks. I can’t speak for the woven leather, though I would highly recommend spraying your shoes with a leather protectant of some kind as a precaution against any spills or marks.

While I did initially get a blister at the heel of my left foot, I noticed that the discomfort softened as the day wore on, which to me can only be a good sign; it means that the leather is malleable enough to mould to the shape of the foot, while maintaining a comfortable level of wear, long-term.

The design is definitely a little more fashion forward than I would normally reach for. The high vamp combined with the almond toe feels very modern, which has meant that these haven’t felt as natural to style as a more ‘basic’ shoe. Honestly, I’m still a little on the fence about the style, and how it works with the rest of my wardrobe, but I’m always open to trying out something new as sometimes, you can really surprise yourself.

I think the thing I’m most impressed by though, is that it with this newest shoe launch, you can really see that Everlane are making steps to try and increase the comfort and the quality of their new and upcoming designs, and I’ve tried enough shoes to know that is no easy feat. Instead of playing it safe with a black pair of the Everlane V Slingback shoes, I decided to try out the rust suede. I’ve been a big fan of earthy tones of late, and I really like the vibrant pop of colour that these add to my outfits, plus they’re a natural fit with my autumn wardrobe.

For argument’s sake, I wouldn’t say that the new Everlane V Slingback shoe is p-e-r-f-e-c-t, but there’s a lot to like about the shoe. The design is a little more fashion forward than some of the other offerings from the brand; it’s a modern take and the brand’s interpretation of the classic slingback flat. The vamp comes up quite high on the foot which may ultimately play a huge role in how much you love the shoe, but there’s no denying that these are pretty comfortable after a full day’s wear as they don’t dig in (though you may find your feet feel a little hot by the day’s end). Will you be getting a pair? x