OUTFIT: Review of Gap lace up flats

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Blazer: Gap, thrifted (similar) (It's navy, not black, by the way.  Lighting is misleading)
Tee: Old Navy (exact)
Pants, Gap, thrifted and refashioned (similar)
Shoes: Gap (exact)
Earrings: Robindira boutique, Petaluma CA (similar)
Watch: Michael Kors via ebay (similar)
Bag: thrifted (similar)

Lace up flats seem to be the it shoe of the season (not to mention the cutest things ever).  Since I had some credit card reward points to use, I thought I'd try these adorable denim lace up flats from Gap.  Here's my review (not sponsored in any way), in case you're considering the same flats.  Hope it helps!

REVIEW OF Gap lace-up ballet flat: (retail price is currently $49.95, they come in chambray fabric, gold, sage or tan leather)

Size: These run true to size, as far as I'm concerned.  I usually run between 2 sizes, and because I chose the fabric option, which wouldn't stretch like leather, and because they were pointy-toed, I decided to order the larger of my two sizes.  It turned out perfectly.

Width:  I also decided to order the larger of my two sizes to be sure the width would work for me.  While I don't usually have to order wide width shoes, I do have to be choosy about the style in order to have comfortable shoes with my bunions.  These feel great, not tight at all.  If your feet were slightly narrower, you could slightly tighten the width (just a bit, not much) using the laces.

Color:  The chambray denim color is so versatile!  Not dark like a navy blue, but deep enough to be somewhat stain resistant.  Looks great with navy or black, as well as most other colors.

Sole: The bottom is rubber, which I prefer for walking, but it wasn't so sticky that I couldn't dance well in these shoes at the party I attended while wearing them.

Heel: Basically flat.

Arch support: None, but I still found them comfortable enough to literally dance on them for a couple of hours.  I'm not sure I would have enough room for an arch support, but possibly a small one would fit if you sized up a bit.  The lace up straps do allow for some customization of the fit.

Quality:  These look very nice, without obvious defects you sometimes see in fabric shoe styles sold at clothing stores.  While I was happy I only ended up paying around $20 (retail is $49.95) once I used my reward certificates, the quality is adequate, especially if you wait for a sale or use a coupon code.  I don't think the lace up straps are actually leather (at least in the fabric version of the shoe), but they are a decent imitation, and are finished unobtrusively so as not to detract from the look.  The lining of the shoe also feels like faux leather and faux suede to me, but they felt okay when I was wearing them, so I can't complain. 

Style:  A+ for style quotient.  I'm happy to have an adorable pair of shoes that hits the trend dead on, for a decent price.

Comfort:  As mentioned, I danced in these for several hours and was comfortable.  I don't have any pinching around the pointy toes nor the width, but I think that's because I chose to order the larger of my normal 2 sizes.  

Comments:  These are really cute shoes!  And, if you like the chambray look, they are the only ones I came across with that fabric.  All the others are nude or black, so this is a unique, but versatile version.  I almost never buy shoes at Gap, or any other retail store.  I usually view my shoes as more investment pieces, and I stick (mostly) to certain brands, like Cole Haan Air or Dansko.  This was a fun departure for me, and I really debated about ordering them, but I'm glad I did!

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