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It’s been a hot minute since I’ve shared a shoe review. And this year, I’ve added a fair few classics to my collection – a recurring theme of my wardrobe. I’ve raved about Sarah Flint many times on my blog. And that’s no coincidence. She’s been one of my greatest discoveries this year. I’ve built up quite the collection of Sarah Flint shoes since becoming a brand ambassador earlier this year and they’ve become absolute mainstays in my wardrobe. Instead of prioritising new styles and trends, she focuses on seasonless designs that you can wear forever.
In this post, I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on her bestselling and most popular style to date – the Natalie Flat – a polished pointed toe flat. Royal watchers might recognise these shoes as the shoes Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wore when she stepped out with Prince Harry for the first time at the Invictus Games back in 2017. The Meghan Effect took hold and she sparked a 25,000 person waitlist for these flats after wearing them!
L: Sarah Flint Natalie Flats*, Sarah Lloyd blazer* (review and discount code here), Arket tee (sz S), Frankie Shop trousers (sz S), Everlane bag*, Ray Ban sunglasses; R: Sarah Flint Natalie Flats*, Toteme jacket (via Vestiaire Co), Everlane knit* (sz XS), Sarah Lloyd trousers* (sz 10, use WVW20 for 20% off), Everlane bag*, Ray Ban sunglasses
Design
The Natalie Flats are a pointed-toe flat with an asymmetrical bow. I opted for the Saddle Vachetta leather version as this was the originally released colour way. The saddle hue is a rich brown tone that is versatile enough to be styled in both polished and casual outfits. And since adding them to my wardrobe, I’ve learnt they can be worn with virtually anything in my wardrobe.
The Natalie flats have all of the features that make them quintessentially Sarah Flint shoes: there’s additional padding, a wider toe box for comfort and a rubber sole to prevent slipping. As is the case with all Sarah Flint shoes, they’re all handcrafted in Italy.
What is Vachetta Leather?
When I first unboxed these, the quality of the shoes really stood out. They’re incredibly well made, and the vachetta leather is noticeably more robust than the other leather shoes in my collection. Vachetta leather is a high quality vegetable-tanned leather that is designed to develop a beautiful patina with age. It’s mainly used in handbags and luggage (Louis Vuitton use vachetta leather and even have a line of bags named after the material) so it’s amazing to have a pair of shoes in the leather and much like your tried and true denim, it will become yours over time as it takes on the elements.
L: Sarah Flint Natalie Flats*, Scanlan Theodore jacket (sz XS, currently sold out), Everlane pants* (sz S, review here), Celine bag (review here), Ray Ban sunglasses; R: Sarah Flint Natalie Flats*, Uniqlo trench coat (sz XS), Everlane pants* (sz S, review here), Everlane bag*, Ray Ban sunglasses
Sizing & Comfort
Straight out of the box, the shoes were comfortable. And while the leather is much more durable than the usual cowhide leather on shoes, they didn’t give me any blisters and there was no break-in period required. As with all leather shoes, they will soften as I wear them more, and I can see myself wearing these a lot in years to come.
Sizing-wise, I took a size IT 37 and they fit me perfectly. While I’m usually a size AU 6.5, I have a wider foot and feel like the IT 36.5 would have been too snug on me.
The shoes come in eight colourways to give your wardrobe more versatility. Aside from the saddle vachetta version, there’s black vachetta, navy suede, sand calf and some fun limited edition styles! There really is a Natalie Flat for everybody.
The Verdict
I’ve been wearing these shoes now for a few weeks and I really like them. I’m not venturing too far out right now because we’re still stuck in lockdown here in Sydney but I get a lot of compliments when I wear them out and about running errands. And they really are as beautiful and well-made as all of the reviews say.
The shoes do retail for a pretty penny – $365 USD / ~ $495 AUD. Do I think they’re worth the money? That’s not an easy question to answer. If you’ve been on the hunt for designer flats, I have no doubt that these will bring you a lot of joy when you wear them and you won’t even think about the price tag. It ultimately comes down to what you value. And while these were sent to me, I’ve had these on my radar for years. And now that I have them, if these were to somehow leave my collection, I’d buy a replacement in a heartbeat.
Discount Code
The discount code ‘SARAHFLINT-BAWHATVEEWORE’ will take $50USD off your first purchase at Sarah Flint. If, like me, you’re not based in the US, that equates to free shipping. And the code is good on any pair of shoes, not just the Natalie Flats (though you should seriously consider getting a pair!).
As always, thanks for stopping by!
P.S. My comprehensive review of the Sarah Flint Perfect Pumps and the best handbag styles for work.
