Flats for Work and Play – That will last

Black flats are a must in my closet – for work and play.  After wearing out what seemed to be my 100th pair of pointed black flats, I decided to give Rothy’s a try. I really wanted to find a shoe that would last me more than just a couple of months and one of the brand’s primary claims is that their shoes are machine washable. The ability to throw them in the wash when they start to get a little worn sounded amazing. On top of that, they are made from recycled water bottles and other “good for the earth” materials. They are actually spun from thread derived from single use plastic water bottles making them durable, washable, and sustainable.

First Impressions

I bought my pair of Rothy’s black pointed flats over a year ago. I decided to go with the black because I knew I would get a lot of use out of them, especially for the office. In the “before times” when I would go into the office everyday, I would wear out a pair of black flats in just a few months. I scuff them up, I wear them without socks, my feet sweat, things get stinky – it is what it is. I like to be comfortable and put together at work – so as soon as my flats start to look and feel messy, I was on to the next.

When I pulled my pair out of the package, I immediately thought they looked a little narrow and was wary about how comfortable they would be. Once you actually put them on your feet, they feel like socks and are very soft and flexible. I didn’t feel any discomfort, or feel that they needed to be broken in at all. They clearly look woven/ made with fabric so they aren’t as chic and luxurious as some of the other pairs of flats I had gone through. With that being said, I don’t think they look unprofessional or inappropriate for the office. The shape and pointed toe adds a touch of sophistication.

Over TIme:

Not taking into account the time I spent in my house not wearing any shoes due to the pandemic, I would say I wore these regularly a solid 5-6 months before needing to wash them. And in that time, I had a mostly pleasant experience with them.

My first time experiencing discomfort in these was during a very busy season at work. My team was working on a big project and we were spending long hours in the office. I was wearing these the majority of the project, and after wearing them for 12+ hour days (law firm life) I could not wait to take them off! My feet would be throbbing, and I realized that the toe box is too narrow for my feet to wear for long periods of time. To be fair – I think my feet are on the wider side, and I think overall it is difficult to find a pair of shoes that would be comfortable to wear for this long of a work day.

I did also notice they were not the most comfortable when walking longer distances. I would not wear these on any trips to the amusement park, zoo or anywhere else that you might be walking a lot.

I do think they are otherwise pretty comfortable for a pointed toe flat. I have read that some suggest sizing up a 1/2 size, but I grabbed my regular size and I do think they run pretty true to size. But something to keep in mind if you have a wide foot! Now that more brick and mortar Rothy’s stores are popping up (including one in Chicago!) it might be helpful to walk in and try a few sizes in each style to see what feels the best.

The Washing:

The washing is was has impressed me the most and why I am willing to overlook the two cons I mentioned and still recommend them to women like me, who wear and depend on black flats in the workplace. These shoes will last. Remove the soles, place both pieces into the washing machine and run a cold cycle with like colors. They come out looking NEW. No discoloring, no weird puckering, and they hold their shape. Obviously, you do not want to put these in the dryer! You need to let them air dry after the wash, but they dry very quickly. I was able to put mine on the next day after leaving them out to dry overnight.

The Verdict:

These shoes cost $145, guys. They are by no means cheap. But, I have worn out many ballet flats – ranging from $40 to $100+. If you are going to wear the shoe regularly- for work and play, you will definitely get your money’s worth and then some. The durability and sustainability factors make this one of the most eco-friendly options out there.

Other styles I would try if pointed flats are not your cup of tea:

The Driver – a loafer style which comes in a few colors including a beautiful cognac and raspberry.

The Sneaker – A pull on classic that comes in 13 colors and patterns right now. I personally love the color “sand.”

In the month of September, you can get $30 off your first purchase by clicking my referral link here. Let me know if you end up purchasing something and how you like them!

Until next time,

Jannette

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