I’m always on the lookout for comfortable and functional heels. These days I’ve been setting aside my 3” stilettos and opting to wear mid-heels. Instead of commuting to the office in flats and switching over to my higher heels once I’m at work, I’ve been leaving home in my mid-heels and wearing them for the whole day. I like the idea of leaving home in heels – I’m 5’2” so the extra height is a great boost of confidence.
The Everlane Day Heels have been on my radar for a while. They’re a hugely popular shoe for Everlane and my curiosity was sparked even more as the feedback has been varied across the board.
SHOP THE LOOK
I’ve been road-testing these heels for the past few weeks to see how they fair with my usual routine. I’ve been wearing them to work (including the usual drop off/pick up of kids routine before and after work), to run errands on the weekend and on date nights with my husband.
I have my fair share of black shoes so naturally, I opted for a black suede pair. The heels comprise of 100% Italian leather. The toe is a round ballet-inspired toe with a modest 5cm (2”) block heel. There is an elasticated back with a pull tab and the insole is cushioned.
Size and fit
I’m typically a size AU/US 6.5 (EU 37) and I have wide feet. Having read the reviews about Everlane’s narrow shoe make and the elastic potentially digging into the back of my ankle, I went up half a size and opted for a US 7 – and I’m glad I did.
Even though I sized up, they still felt really snug in those initial days – especially around the toes. I also found the elasticated back dug into the back of my ankle which caused some discomfort in the late afternoons, after wearing them for the whole day.
It took a solid week for the area around my toes to loosen up (including a pretty uncomfortable second day in them). As for the elasticated back, it hasn’t loosened up as much as I’d like but it’s certainly got more give now that I’ve been wearing them for a few weeks.
Wear and tear
At first wear, the plush cushioned insole was a standout feature. This continues to provide a huge source of comfort when wearing the shoe.
As for the suede, I generally love the understated look it gives and I’m very impressed with the quality and feel of the Italian suede used in these heels. The suede looks to be of premium quality, feels sturdy but is soft to the touch. Suede, particularly black suede, seems to be typically more of an A/W combination – but I’ve had no qualms wearing these during the height of summer here in Sydney. And, of course, because they’re suede, I avoid wearing them in wet weather (…not that we’ve had any rain during this particularly troublesome dry summer).
I’ve found myself reaching for these heels regularly since I got them, particularly for work and on Casual Fridays. My shoe wardrobe comprises mainly of pointy toed styles so I do like the change of pace of the round toed style. I think they’re a less dressier and more relaxed heel.
The verdict
The Day Heel retails for $212 AUD / $145 USD.
I think they’re a great price for the quality of Italian leather. The heels are incredibly versatile and provide simple elevation to my wardrobe without much effort. The heel height is modest and practical – making them perfect for me and my lifestyle.
In terms of comfort – they’re comfy for heels but they’re not my most comfy pair of shoes. My biggest bugbear is the elasticated back that is still not as loose as I would like, though I’m hoping with time it will give a bit more.
SHOP THE DAY HEEL IN SUEDE
SHOP THE DAY HEEL IN NAPPA LEATHER
Thank you to Everlane for kindly sending this pair for me to road-test.
And to those tracking Everlane’s push for no plastic, my order arrived in a recyclable box and was packed with tissue paper and brown packaging paper.
