I think many brides-to-be are always concerned that they are forcing their girls to buy dresses and shoes that they will never wear again. Well, she need not worry for these puppies! I was lucky to have been with my friend when she saw this shoe in a store. The MOH and I both tried it on and agreed that the color was a lovely neutral (the color I remember was a slightly pinker than the picture shown here; just a hint of blush), the heel perfectly conservative, and the padding -- ohhh, the padding! Let's just say it was a real pleasure to slide these on, and I was very reluctant to take them off and return them to the display. Having just tried the shoe on and not being able to wear it until the Big Day (at least, not without promise of pain and death!), perhaps my 5-star review is a bit premature. I do wear my fair share of heels, though, and I know what to look for when shoe shopping. Here's a run-down on what I encountered with this heel: Sizing: I wear exactly a 6.5, though due to size discrepancies amongst brands, this range encompasses sizes 6-7. Width-wise, I have slightly wide feet - not enough to necessitate purchasing shoes in Wide, but sometimes I will do so if I found the shoe runs small. The size I tried on was 6.5M (normal width) and it fit a smidge on the tighter side with regards to length and width. Most notable was a slight pinching in the toes. Since Wides only solve the width issue but not the length issue, I moved up half a size to a 7M. This got rid of the crowded toes, though now the length was a hair too large. As this is easily solved by padding with heel grips, I am OK with it. Color: The picture shown is very close to the actual color, though the color-savvy may notice that the picture is actually showing more of a cool nude rather than the "taupe glory" promised in the description. Be advised that the description is more accurate - this shoe is most definitely a taupe, with just a hint of more pinkish/purple in real life than shown in the photo (and when I say "a hint," I am talking about a drop of water in a bathtub). As I said: the stock photo is close enough. Comfort: I'll start by saying that I do not think any bandaids will be necessary for these! The back of your heel is safe; I did not notice any rubbing in that area as I walked around. Any blisters that may form would probably be on the ball of your foot, as is wont when wearing basically any shoe without socks on. As a disclaimer, I would like to point out that as comfortable as this pump is built to be, it is, in the end, a heel. Your feet will probably still be sore if you strut around in these for hours. It's inevitable. Having said that, there is a good amount of cushioning, and the heel is low to the ground, which will help reduce the discomfort of wearing pumps. Let's just say that I was originally going to bring some flats for the reception, but after these shoes were picked, I fully intend to keep them on all day. Durability: They feel like a sturdy shoe; very solidly built, yet also VERY light. I am a huge fan of light shoes. They make me feel nimble and graceful. These pumps are well constructed and will probably last miles and miles. The heel itself is low to the ground and a decent thickness. More importantly, the heel does not feel like it will snap off (I have had this happen to me and it is a terrible experience). The shoes do feel like they will be easily scuffed, due to both the light color and the nature of the material. Proper care and treatment will keep them looking new; just make sure to address any scuffs sooner when they are easier to remove. All in all, this pump is a good shoe to add to your arsenal. They are a steal at $30 - I have paid more for shoes that have only been worn once. I would, without hesitation, recommend this to friends who are looking for a decently priced heel for work, formal occasions, or even adding a little sophistication to day-to-day wear. They are a great, all-encompassing shoe. Just be sure to go up half a size. --update Dec 12, 2014-- My friend's wedding has come and gone, and I wore these shoes from start to finish. I think it was around hours 5-8 where I noticed that the balls of my feet were beginning to hurt. It never got to the point where I wanted to kick them off. In fact, these were on my feet from 11a til sometime after midnight--a full 13 hours! All of the bridesmaids sans one kept these on until they left, actually. The one who removed hers was 16 years old and had revealed this was the first time in her life she'd ever worn heels; she swapped hers out for flipflops when the dancing started (around hour 8). The aftermath, you ask? Happy to report that no blisters were formed while wearing these heels. The balls of my feet felt a little sore at the end of the night, as is wont when wearing heels for a prolonged period of time.
