Updated Everlane Day Heel Review: 12+ Months Wear & Tear

If I had to pick one of the most worn items in my wardrobe, it’d have to be the Everlane Day Heel. This shoe has come on countless trips, been my companion on my daily 45+ minute walking commute to work, and the pair I reach for when I just don’t know what to wear. So I thought, since I’ve had them going on close to two years now, I’d share an update on whether they’re really worth the hype.

Wearing Everlane bodysuit, Everlane cheeky straight leg jeans, Everlane oversized blazer, Everlane day heel in black leather, Everlane market tote, Linjer watch, Madewell earrings (also here), Mejuri rings, Nadri bracelet, Orelia star bracelet

This is a shoe that if you follow my outfit diaries on YouTube, you will have seen pop up time and again – I can’t seem to stop wearing them. For those of you not familiar with Everlane’s Day Heel, I thought I’d run through some quick facts on the style (as well as take the opportunity to rock a #everlaneheadtotoe look!).

EVERLANE DAY HEEL QUICK FACTS

Price: $150-160 USD
Available in eleven colours: Black, Bright Red, Pale Rose, Pecan Stacked, Honey Stacked, Bone Stacked, Natural Suede, Black Suede, Cognac Suede, Bronze Stacked and Iron Stacked
Made in: Monopoly in Val D’Arno, Italy
Fabric: 100% Italian leather
Care: Treat with protectant and spot clean with a cloth

SIZE & FIT

The first thing to note is that Everlane shoe sizing runs small across the board by a half size. For reference, I wear an EU40 in designer shoes, and a US9 in brands like Sam Edelman, Marc Fisher and Loeffler Randall. After much trial and error, I’ve finally settled on the fact that I’m a US9.5 in Everlane shoes.

So I made a bit of an error when deciding on sizing for the Everlane Day Heel. I got the US9, which by my standards above – and my experience – are a touch small. From a fit perspective, you probably wouldn’t know the difference to look at them on my feet, however they are snug, particularly at the heel. As a result, the elastic does dig in, and can cause some serious discomfort. Usually what I’d do when wearing these is slip the heels off my foot and rest them on top of the elasticated section when sitting down.

I can vouch that these do run true to size, for Everlane sizing, and this is based off my experience of trying this shoe in other sizes, and in the day high heel style. If you’re typically a EU40/US9 like me, then you’ll want to order the US9.5.

QUALITY

While I’d been impressed with the quality of Everlane shoes before adding these to my wardrobe, the quality and feel of the day heel truly was something else entirely. The older styles like the modern loafer are crafted out of a premium, thick, sturdy leather that doesn’t have a lot of give, and I remember feeling a little cynical at the time that the day heel would be as comfortable as Everlane claimed. Boy was I wrong. The leather is soft, buttery smooth to the touch, and feels almost glove-like fresh out of the box, which is all down to the snug fit.

While Everlane doesn’t state what kind of Italian leather the day heel is made from, I’d hazard a guess that it’s lambskin due to the supple nature of the fabric. The sole of the shoe – at least on my original black pair – is a thick rubber which is matte to the touch.

Other details include the high cut vamp, which conceals your toe cleavage (take note if that’s a particular bugbear of yours); a stitched seam that runs all the way along the edge of the shoe, a two-inch block heel, and elasticated back with pull tab. The interior is fully lined in leather, and according to my original review, the sole of the shoe (near the toe), is padded.

WEAR & TEAR

Given that the Everlane Day Heel is made from such a soft and supple leather, I wasn’t quite sure how they would wear, especially as I didn’t have any plans to baby them. After almost two years of running around in these (both metaphorically and literally), the main signs of wear that I’ve noticed are: creasing across the toe – in particular, where my large toe ends, and near the vamp where my foot “creases”; general wear and ageing to the outer leather near my small toe; some small nicks and scuffs to the leather at the toe and heel due to use; and the degradation of padding along the insole – especially near the toes.

The one thing that’s really surprised me is that the sole is still 100% intact. With the amount of times I’ve worn these shoes, I would have reasonably expected that this would need to be replaced with a rubber sole at the cobbler. And the elastic at the heel is still stretchy. It’s given – a little – since adding these to my wardrobe, but the back still feels very secure when worn on my foot.

FINAL VERDICT

Classic wardrobe staples really are the backbone of my personal style, and often, I’ve wondered if it’d be a little lost without the Everlane Day Heel. These shoes have been a faithful closet companion for close to two years now, and have been my fail-safe option when I don’t know what to wear. Meeting with external clients at work? Drinks with the girls? Semi-formal events? Casual outfits I want to elevate? There’s very little in my closet that I wouldn’t pair with this shoe; the black leather makes it a classic option, the block heel makes these comfortable enough to walk miles in, and the rounded toe stops them from feeling too fancy.

I’d hazard a guess that I’ve worn my Everlane Day Heels well over 200 times, and they’ve definitely proved their mettle. The leather has held up despite scuffing or spills, and still has a lot of its integrity (though it’s softer than fresh out of the box). I’ve been impressed that the sole hasn’t required replacing, a true mark of quality materials used – something I try to look for when adding anything new to my wardrobe.

As to my thoughts on the style? I still love it, as much now as I did when they first launched. They don’t feel overly formal, and are a perfect match for my casual lifestyle. The block heel is perfect – it gives me a bit of height and is enough to elevate any relaxed outfit. Perhaps the only thing I don’t “love” is the glove-like effect at the toe, which does make the outline of your toes prominent, however it’s not a deal breaker for me.

Shoe sizing when shopping online can be a tricky beast, and I stand by the sentiment that the pair I have are a half size too small. The elastic still digs into my heels and can become quite uncomfortable when worn for a long time, so choose wisely and be sure to refer to the sizing chart if you’re not sure.

So, would I buy these again? Ultimately, yes, and I’d be more mindful of ordering the right size (a US9.5 for me!). The black leather has worn well and concealed a multitude of sins, despite repeated scrapes and knocks, and I still really love the way they look. For a quality shoe that I’m going to be reaching for frequently, I think the price is right, and the craftsmanship has really hit the mark – a 10/10 from me. What do you think of the Everlane Day Heel?