So, I got some black flats.
Remember how my cheap flats finally bit the dust?
And how I was mulling over a bunch of different high-quality ballet flat options?
(The comments on that post are really helpful-you guys had so many great ideas! I actually made a Pinterest board to organize them all.)
Well, a little while after I published that post, I got an email from Bali ELF because they noticed I'd linked to their site, and they offered to send me a pair of their Aise black ballet flats for review.
Yay!
Bali ELF makes leather shoes, bags, and accessories all by hand (in Bali), not in a factory, which is pretty cool. If you follow them on Instagram, you can get a peek at their process and also see the gorgeous place where they live and work.
(I kind of want to live in Bali now that I've been getting regular peeks at the beaches!)
I traced and measured my foot and sent off my measurements, and when the shoes arrived, they were just a bit on the small side.
So sad.
BUT! It turns out that they fit Lisey, so I thought I'd just blog about Lisey wearing the shoes.
However, the sweet people at Bali ELF said they'd like to send me one more pair in a larger size for me too.
So happy!
The larger size fits me perfectly.
These are really, really soft ballet flats...the shoe is very unstructured, which makes it super comfy. They feel almost like slippers. And I like that the top part covers my toes because that means I can wear the sock liners meant for flats without worrying about them showing.
Because the shoes are made of such soft leather, you do see the outline of your toes a bit, but that doesn't bother me, especially for a casual shoe like flats.
I have a pretty wide toe box, though, so if your feet are narrower than mine, you might not see your toes, since the leather wouldn't be pulled as tight.
(Here's another blogger wearing the Aise flats, and hers do look a lot smoother than mine.)
I have difficult feet.
Joshua wasn't around when I needed to take pictures of these, so I handed my camera to Lisey.
But sometimes she didn't actually get the shoes in the shot.
Or my head.
Note to self: plan better so that Joshua can do the shooting. 😉
I did find one with my head and my shoes in the same shot.
I feel quite confident that these flats are going to be with me a lot longer than my cheap ones were and that makes me so happy.
Since Lisey and I both have a pair, we'll be able to give them a nice test run. Remind me to report back to you in about a year, ok?
Edit: Initially, I forgot to include a picture of the bottoms of the shoes. So, here you go:
They're definitely more...what's the word? Grippy? Than the bottoms of other ballet flats I've owned, which will be quite lovely when I have to be out in the rain.
Bali ELF has a bunch of other cute flat options in addition to the Aise that I have, and they all are $110 per pair.
$110 is way more than you'd pay for a pair of run-of-the-mill flats, but these shoes are real leather and are handmade, so they should last far longer than cheap flats.
And $110 is nothin' compared to designer shoe prices. 😉
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For those of you whose style is more adventurous than mine, Bali ELF also offers some more out of the ordinary shoe styles, such as this one!
(Whoa.)
Oh, and if you're as disgusted as I am with how difficult it is to find a real leather purse or wallet, go browse through Bali ELF's purse and wallet collection.
Disclosure: Bali ELF sent me two pairs of shoes, but this review was not sponsored in any other way.
Kristen, had you narrowed it down to a few options you were considering buying, before you received these? I'm curious to know which were your top picks. I'm still in the market for a good pair. Thanks!
My top three choices were the Aise, the Clark's flats (although the elastic did concern me a bit), or the Ecco. But some of that preference is based on style...some of the others from my Pinterest board would be REALLY good shoes, but they weren't as much my style.
If you try any of the ones I pinned, do let me know how they are!
Try Vionics.. they are both stylish and comfortable
Those are some serious FLATS. Do they have ANY arch support at all? Wondering if I could wear them with zero support?
No, not really. Most of the flats I was looking at didn't have arch support, actually.
I have very, very high arches, so arch supports pretty much never reach my arches, so I am completely accustomed to having no arch support. My feet seem to do the job ok on their own, I guess!
Oooh! I'm intrigued. I "invested" in a pair of Tieks a few years back. They fell apart after a few months of wear.
We walk everywhere so I need a durable shoes. Plus, I wear a women's 11 or 12 so I am limited in what I can buy. Just read that these shoes go up to 12 - yeah!
I looked at Tieks and was a little shocked by the price. And how awful that they fell apart so fast!
Last thing Kristen, are these flats comfortable to wear for all day? cause I am thinking about getting a pair of ELF Aise flats. Thanks
I haven't worn mine all day yet...I tend to only wear them when I'm out and about and then as soon as I'm home, it's bare feet for me!
Thanks Kristen. is the heel height 1/4 inches? do these flats let breath well your feet?
I'd like to follow-up on your comment about the shoes being really unstructured and therefore really comfortable. For those with flat feet or unusually high arches, unstructured shoes are generally quite uncomfortable.
They're also possibly dangerous: if worn for long enough, the wrong shoe can literally ruin one's feet. The likely negative outcomes include long-term pain or surgery.
That's funny, because I have really high arches. As I said to another commenter, arch supports NEVER are tall enough for my feet anyway. They might as well not be there! For some reason, though, unstructured shoes are very comfortable to me, as is going barefoot or wearing flip-flops.
Actually, barefoot is my very favorite. One of the least marvelous things about our Disney trip for me was that I had to wear shoes for days on end. Ha.
I don't really know what dangerous things happen when you wear unstructured footwear, but for me personally, it has not been a problem.
I do hear that people with flat feet have far more problems than people with high arches, so if I had flat feet, I'd probably have to be more particular.
I have really high arches too. And though I've bought arch supports in the past, none have actually hit the darn arch. Pair that with reallllly narrow feet... well... lets say "support" isn't exactly what I go for in shoes. Comfort wins over and over.
I have a few pair of flats that are my favorite. None have support in the arch, but they've lasted quite a long time (Borns are currently what I'm rockin, though I'm wearing Ecco sandals today...).
I'm dying to know how these work out. Keep us updated in another 6 months? Also, would be adorable to see both you and Lisey in them together! (her feet are as big as yours almost? Ohhh how time flies!)
I get what WilliamB is saying - I have really high arches and need support. Super-flat flats make me feel hobbled by the end of the day. I go barefoot as often as possible (even at work) and wear flip flops or slippers around the house, depending on the season. But any shoe I intend to do any kind of walking around in...I need the support. My dream is a pair of custom made shoes from the Aurora Shoe Company here in Central NY.
I have flat feet and plantar fasciitis (the band of tissue connecting my heel to my toes gets irritated & inflamed) so I am with William B on this one, supportive shoes are important. People with both flat feet and with high arches are at risk for developing this and it's painful to walk, especially first thing in the morning. I would probably never pick flats like this because I know the price I would pay ... that being said, I do occasionally wear "cute" shoes rather than functional ones. I just make sure it's not at times when I will be on my feet a lot! I think that for everyone, it's important to wear shoes with good support the majority of the time and protect the health of your feet. You won't be in your 20s or 30s forever ... yeah, I never believed I would get older, either, but it happens ...
Huh. I don't live a very formal life, so I don't generally have to wear flats for more than a few hours once a week. Most of the time I go barefoot (or have slippers on in the winter!)
Would you say that going barefoot also makes me more prone to plantar fasciitis? Because I am going to die if someone tells me I have to wear supportive shoes even at home. Ack!
Going barefoot is not one of the conditions that is commonly associated with having planar fasciitis.
If, for some reason, you think you're getting it (check out WebMD's site on it), there are very simple exercises you can do to alleviate the condition, such as picking up marbles with your bare feet.
Phew. I love me some bare feet.
I looked up the WebMD article and it seemed that stretching was also recommended.
And the shocking conclusion of the comments to my comment is ... it depends! ;-}
I read a comment from a podiatrist (sorry, no source, it was in a magazine awhile ago) that barefoot is fine but flip-flops worn for prolonged periods of time can lead to plantar fasciitis. I was very guilty of this in my 20s--I wore flip-flops to work for hours at a time and was on my feet a lot--so I've wondered if this was the source of my problems. I think it has to do with the toes clenching around the toe-thingy in flip-flops. Anyway, I hope I didn't sound preachy or like I was using scare tactics--I just know how uncomfortable it can be and I hope a little awareness might prevent a similar problem for someone else! You will probably be fine, Kristen.
Hi William and Kristen,
I am Young men and after having and injury on the top of my left foot I know how important shoes are, so I started to wearing ballet flats cause I wasnt able to wear closed shoes, what I do to avoid more problems on my feet: I wear flats made of leather and that have a cushioned insole or at least that feel comfortable for walking 4 hours per day, I alternate flats with low heel sandals or thongs that have arch support and thicker sole(Birkerstones, Reef and top sider sandals), walking barefoot on the grass, after work or walking a lot wear the rest of the day slippers and doing some exercise for my feet with a towel or a small ball. That helps a lot. I avoid flip flops , they are comfy for 2 hours but no more cause they cause problem on the feet sole as you mentioned .
Ever since your Instagram post of these shoes I have been DYING to read your blog entry about them! Please do keep us posted on how they hold up: I'm particularly interested to know whether they are good for walking/standing for long periods of time. In the meantime, I'll be saving up for some quality leather goods from Elf!
I will! I haven't stood in them for long yet, but I will pay attention.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Well-made ballet flats are like my Holy Grail. I haven't found anything that stands the test of time. I'm a firm believer in "splurging" on high quality items, because it saves money in the long run. Finding those items isn't always easy, though, which is why I really value reviews like this.
Yes, me too. I would so much rather buy something once than multiple times.
I'll let you know how these hold up. Mine are brand new, so my opinion is pretty brand new as well. But they ARE leather, so they shouldn't have the peeling/cracking problem my cheapies did.
Those do look nice! I might have to try to the Elf (like yours but with a strap) when my current pair wears out. I would rather have a few pairs of hundred dollar shoes than many pairs of cheap shoes.
I especially love my SAS sandals. My mother gave me a pair in 2008 that she was tired of--I got another four years of heavy use out of them! But they don't sell online, so they are not as easy to find. If you do find an SAS store, they have bags of popcorn for a nickel, too :-).
I hear good things about SAS, although I've never tried them.
I really like those flats. I never used to be much of a flat person. I always wore heals or wedges. One day i came across a pair of flats much like yours at Salvation Army. They were like new and only $1 so I took the plunge and bought them. I love them and have yet to find anything as comfortable. it will be a sad day indeed when they die. I might have to check out the shoes you bought.
Those ARE really cute. I'm eager to hear how they last.
What are your expectations for how long they should last, if you had paid the $110 per pair? Do you have a rough estimate of how long you like a pair of shoes to last, based on purchase price? (like months/years to x dollars spent)
Well, a $35 pair, worn sort of infrequently lasted at least 4 years (although I did have to do a repair to the sole). So I guess I'd want these to last 12 years? We'll see. They're a very basic style, so I'm hoping that they will still be fashionable for a long time.
Okay, I'm seriously in love with their Simple Life bag in Emerald! {Swoon}
The last pair of casual shoes I bought have lasted me at least five years and were about 40$ from Walmart. They aren't flats but have a very low heal and are leather made. I think they are called "Earth Spirit". They still look like new and I have worn them out in some pretty miserable weather. I am quite sure they were probably factory made in China but unfortunately price for me is a major decision consideration. Anyway, just thought I would put that comment out there for your readers who might not be able to afford 110$. I could definitely not afford 220$ for my daughter and I especially since she is still growing and her tastes change often.
That's good to know!
I wouldn't normally get flats like this for Lisey either, since she is growing so fast. A reader alerted me to some leather flats that Target sells, and I'd planned on buying those for her. I included those in my Pinterest board if anyone is interested.
That sounded curt and I didn't mean for it to....
No worries! I completely understand where you're coming from, as the owner of some inexpensive flats prior to this. You gotta do what you gotta do. I just had some room in my clothing budget when my cheapies wore out, and I was going to opt to pay more for a pair. But I completely understand that sometimes, there's just not room for expensive shoes.
I just wanted to add that I really appreciate it that you're so transparent about these things. Please let us know how they hold up!
How is the sole? I keep finding that women's shoes, especially flats, have no traction of any kind, so I can't actually wear them safely in the winter! I actually tore a muscle a few years back slipping on ice, so I feel like I shop for traction more than for looks.
These have pretty good traction, actually. I should take a picture of the sole.
Thanks! I looked on the website and there are no sole pictures, which made me a little apprehensive.
Just out of curiosity would you have been able to return the pair that didn't fit without shipping costs? Also, I remembered that I have a pair of leather sandals that are several years old too made by "Earth Spirit" and they too look brand new. Mind you I should add that summer is short here (Cape Breton) so I can only wear them for 4 months max!
How flexible is the sole? I'm opposite of most of the other comments in that I am looking for a minimalist (barefoot) flat. I have tried 2. The first was from Merrell and it was not a good barefoot shoe. The sole was too stiff. The second pair is from Vivo Barefoot. This one was much better, but it is vegan. I would prefer leather.
So, how flexible is the sole? Is it like walking with thick socks on (that's the best way I can describe barefoot shoes)? I would wear my my vibram five finger shoes everyday, but I work in an office. Let me know if you think yours are minimalist.
Thanks.
I would say that this is a step thicker than barefoot shoes. Have you seen the Soft Star flats? http://www.softstarshoes.com/adult-shoes/casual-wear/new-adult-ballerine-flat-smooth-black.html I bet they're more what you're looking for.
Also, I don't know if you're allowed to have open toes, but some of these would look cute with casual wear and they are definitely minimalist, sole-wise: http://www.unshoesusa.com/feather.html
Nothing better than a well made pair of shoes. I have been wearing El Naturista shoes, hand made shoes from Spain. Super comfortable, wear well and because they are leather, they don't make your feet smelly. Nothing like man made products to make smelly feet. Eew. I'm super curious about your ballet flats. Very tempted to order a pair. I also have a wide toe box and high arches. I need a decent shoe. Oh the temptation. Can't wait too long as summer is fleeting and is taking forever to get here. I'm a firm believer in paying good money for a good shoe. Nothing worse that having sore feet.
I love those flats! So cute. Do they arch support? My flat feet need extra love and for $100 they better have support.
These do not. Check out some of the other shoe options on my Pinterest board for some with arch support.
My arches are SO high, arch supports never touch my foot anyway.
Thank you so much for this post. Love the flats and well all the shoes and bags from Elf. I was looking for some new wedges for the summer for a while but no luck until now. I just found the perfect pair of wedges, guess where? yes at Elf. They are a little bit on the expensive side but sometimes I buy cheap shoes and I end up not wearing then because they are so uncomfortable so now I rather to spend more money on a well made and comfy pair of shoes that I can actually wear.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I can’t believe I remembered it from 5 years ago! There’s a certain brand that pops up every time I open Social Media. I couldn’t afford it this year, so I opted for a pair of cute Sketchers flats instead! They will probably last me two years of normal wear but I have been wearing them almost every day, so I’m thinking of the Bali flats again!
Oh my word, those are adorable! I clicked on their page and their prices are not so adorable! LOL
I am adding these to my wish list for when we have lots of money.
Enjoy your new shoes!
How are your flats holding up? Worth $100+?
They're good so far, but I'm just now coming into the cooler months when I will be wearing them more. So in six months or so, I'll have a more accurate idea of how great they are!
I'm thinking of ordering some of the ELF shoes, I'm curious about how they are holding up now, about a year later?
Mine are doing great so far...no issues, and now that I've been wearing them, the leather is doing a nice job of conforming to my feet.
Thanks very much for the update! 🙂
Can we get another update? How are they holding up? How frequently do you wear them? Do you ever wear them all day or to do a lot of walking?
They're holding up great! No problems with the sole pulling apart or the leather wearing.
I don't wear them all day, generally, but that was true of my old flats too, and they still fell apart! So, these are working out much better than my cheap flats were.
I haven't worn them for long periods of walking, only because when I walk a bunch, I'm usually wearing casual sneakers, not flats. So I can't testify as to how comfy they'd be for mile after mile in a row. I imagine they'd get uncomfortable after a while, though, because flats are just not very cushy, no matter how nice they are.
I love the pictures of you in the ballet flats. I wonder if you were wearing them barefooted as that is how I wear my ballet flats even when cold out, I have been buying my ballet flats at BANNANA REPUBLIC.
I usually wear little liner socks because my feet get too sweaty!