Aside from my Chanel look-a-like pumps (and also here), my Everlane day heels quite quickly became a firm favourite in my every day wardrobe. As basic as it is, I love a good low heeled black pump, and if it’s in suede, it’s even better. Long gone are the days where I’m happy teetering around in a pair of sky high heels – though I’m sure they’ll have their moment again; fashion has a funny way of repeating itself.
Outfit one; Everlane cheeky straight leg jeans, Stella McCartney sweater (similar here)
Outfit two; ASOS denim skirt, Seed Heritage netted bucket bag
Outfit three; H&M sweater (old but similar here), Dr Denim skinny jeans, Everlane form bag
So, when I saw that Everlane were launching a new pair of heels, I was immediately on-board. I might love a shoe that has a bit of quirkiness to it, but for the most part, it’s all about the classics for me. While I’m still on the fence about the way the V-Slingbacks look on me, what I liked about the design was that these were free of the elasticated back that is synonymous with the day heel, and they had a sturdy-looking low block heel.
QUICK FACTS
Price: $155 USD
Available in four colours: Black, Mustard, Light Blue, and Light Pink
Made in: Santa Maria a Monte, Italy
Fabric: 100% Italian Leather
Care: Treat with protectant and spot clean.
SIZE & QUALITY
SIZE: Everlane shoes tend to run a little narrow, so I’m always wise to their sizing chart before I pull the trigger on some fancy new footwear. Given the suede and my sizing experience with V Slingback, I went for my usual size, which is a US9.5 and they’re a perfect fit. As predicted, on first impressions they fit snug across the foot due to their narrow width, though this has relaxed considerably since wearing them a number of times.
FABRIC COMPOSITION: These shoes are made from 100% Italian leather. The suede is pretty soft and my foot feels pretty comfortable in the ‘toe box’ area, however as the fabrication at the heel is quite stiff, there’s little avoiding the blisters that will follow – especially if you’re planning on wearing them to walk long distances on their first outing. And the sole is tunit – while I can’t speak to how these wear long-term, my understanding is that it’s a hardier alternative to a leather sole, made from vulcanised rubber.
DETAILS: From a design perspective, there’s something very vintage about how these look, and coincidentally, they are very reminiscent of a pair of pumps my grandmother used to wear over 40 years ago (and subsequently offered to pass on to me). The elongated pointed toe is rounded off, and the v-cut detail across the vamp feels both retro and modern at the same time.
FINAL VERDICT
Shoes can be a pretty personal thing, and often, it can be all down to the little details. The Everlane V Heel has so many attributes that I look for in a low heel these days, but there’s a few niggling things that I can see stopping me from getting the same wear out of these, as I have from my day heels.
First, let’s talk about the positives. I really love the suede fabric – it was a winner for me from the V slingbacks too, as it’s soft, supple, and has a fair amount of give to it. While the design might run a little narrow, I find that the material can be a deciding factor in whether a shoe will relax over time and work with my feet – particularly given I have a bunion from my teenage years on my left foot. And my instincts were right. These felt quite snug across the foot at first, but they’ve slowly given and I don’t feel any pressure across the front of my foot when wearing the Everlane V Heel.
And I love the block heel. Over the last decade my taste in shoes has dramatically shifted – where I once wore platform heels daily, I now look for something that looks chic yet is practical for every day, with a little bit of height. It’s not too much to ask for, right? And these deliver on that – I find them so easy to walk about in, and the low heel does a lot to elevate my outfits (both figuratively and literally).
Then there’s the quality – it’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from Everlane’s Italian-crafted shoes, and I had little reason to suspect otherwise when ordering these.
The pros seem to far outweight the negatives, but that being said, I wanted to highlight some of the minor details which could be a make or break it decision for those of you thinking of dropping the USD $150+ on these shoes.
Firstly, the design across the vamp of the shoe; it’s a pointed v, quite angular, and has a bit of a retro feel to it when combined with the other design elements. I have mixed feelings about how these look. I don’t find them overly flattering when wearing jeans, but I think they look great with a mini skirt or a little shift dress. Perhaps it’s what I’ve become used to, or perhaps it’s purely a matter of personal taste, but I tend to prefer a rounded or square-shaped vamp, and ideally one which doesn’t sit too high up the foot. I also thought they looked incredible when paired with some black opaque tights.
You will also quite naturally get creasing across the toe, which I think is particularly pronounced given the shape of the vamp, and would be much more noticeable with one of the lighter colour options.
And finally, I wanted to touch on how difficult these were to break in. I’d seem some other people mention that they found the Everlane V Heel incredibly comfortable, which has had me wondering whether I’m alone in this experience, but rather generally, I’ve come to expect that blisters are part and parcel of buying a new pair of shoes. While the front of the foot fit perfectly, I found my issue was mostly at the heel, which rubbed considerably given that the material of the shoe is quite stiff – and I’m still in the process of breaking them in weeks later. In part, this is because I’ve been unable to wear them for more than one consecutive day, so have been doing my bit to give my heels a break from ‘testing’.
Overall, it’s a great shoe, but whether it’s really for you will come down to your thoughts on the design. Will you be investing in the Everlane V Heel?
