Dawgs, creators of The Ultimate Shoe Replacement, sent me a pair of their Ballet Flats Bendables in patent red to review for All Things Chic. As the name suggests the flats are bendable shoes. They are available in five color/fabric options: black, black patent, red patent, snakeskin, and white for $15.
Each pair of shoes comes packaged with its own satiny bag and when the shoes are folded up inside it is about the size of a medium filled-to-capacity wallet. The Dawgs bag fits perfectly in one of the side compartments of my handbag.
I took them along with me on a shopping trip last week with my friend Lana. I was wearing 2+” short boots which are fairly comfortable for none shopping activities. After a few hours I was more than ready to give the emergency Ballet Flats Bendables a try. They are a cute shoe that opens up easily enough with just a flick of a finger. They slip on and have a wee bit of elastic at the heel for a snugger fit that is necessary for the combo sizing they offer (mine was 9/10). I am not sure how they would fit a thicker foot.
The inner sole has a soft fabric on the inside and as you can see they are securely stitched and have no rough edges. And there is no annoying logo on the heel to worry about.
There is enough thickness so I did not feel like I was walking in bare feet but not enough to walk for hours over uneven terrain where there are pebbles or gravel. I definitely felt the pebbles I stepped on in the parking lot. That being said they were perfect indoors for the remaining three stores of our shopping adventure.
I wore the shoes for the remainder of the outing and they were a definite relief and I did not feel self conscious as at first glance they really do look like any other ballet flat. But they are definitely an emergency or back-up shoe — no side or sole support for daily wear.
While I think they would make a great emergency shoe (ride home from work, broken heel, bad shoes) I also think they would make a fabulous bridesmaid party gift. After a day in heels the women would appreciate stepping into these Dawgs to hit the dance floor and they are so much dressier than the flip flop sensation that has hit weddings lately.
Dawgs Ballet Flats Bendables are available in the United States (www.usadawgs.com) and Canada (www.canadadawgs.com) at their official sites for $15.
About Maureen Wood