Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole Women's Bay Unique Flat

These shoes fit like a dream. The criss cross elastic straps look cute and keep the shoes firmly on my feet - unlike some ballet flats that have been known to fall off as I was running across the street. The zipper in the back makes them easy to get on and off. I was afraid that the zipper would rub the back of my foot, but the lining has a flap that goes over the zipper, so no problem there. The only quibble I have with them is that they don't have a great arch support. They have a bit of additional padding in the arch area, but it isn't much. I don't know if I'd wear them for a day long excursion where I was on my feet all the time, but for the office or going out, they're great.

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. They fit perfectly (I'm a size 9) and were super comfy right out of the box. I took a 6 mile walk in these on the first wearing and only had a tiny bit of rubbing on my left heel (now they're broken in and there is no more rubbing). I also wear custom orthotics and they fit nicely in the shoe. These are perfect for city strolling and commuting.UPDATE: I bought the suede version of these in 2014 and they are just now getting replaced by a new pair in black leather because the foot bed of the first pair is starting to disintegrate (the upper part of the shoes still look pretty decent). They are comfortable right out of the box and the elastic holds up even though I never bother unzipping the back zipper when putting them on.I can't even tell you how many miles I put on these shoes, and they are worth every penny. I've walked upwards of 15 miles in these shoes in a day around cities near and far and they are my go to walking shoes. They look cute with jeans and skirts and are classy enough to wear for a nice dinner when you've got limited space for shoes in your luggage. You can often find them on sale at various shoe sellers on line, and Amazon has shoe discounts on occasion.Picture shows the wear after two years of intense walking in my first pair vs the new pair. If you wear these only occasionally, they should last you for many years.

I have bought these shoes for the past 6 years. The suede model has its upper and sole sewn together. They will last you several years until the suede becomes marked and damage but the interior lasts forever. . Last year I bought the smooth leather version of this shoe but had to return them after 2 months. For some reason, the leather model does not have sewn upper and sole but is instead glued and the glue separated from the shoe after light usage. I was reimbursed for my return and have had to go back to the suede version.

I had a hard time deciding to buy these because of the price, but so far, on a cost-per-wearing basis, the Gentle Souls Bay Unique is a bargain! This shoe is extremely flattering with shorts, slacks and skirts -- and the sole, while providing sufficient grip, is still danceable. Perfect for outdoor summer parties with dancing on decks, tile or even concrete. I never had a flat that was both so attractive and so comfortable ! In fact, I once loaned them to a friend (at her desperate insistence) because she had no dance shoes, so I got to see them from a distance: Lovely!I have narrow feet and a high arch and instep, and I've had no trouble with the zipper in back nor experienced any other discomfort. Although I usually wear a 9, I had to size down to an 8.5. The shoe is quite roomy on my foot, but the ankle elastic keeps everything comfortably in place. There is a little arch support in the moldable sole, which is not high enough to actually touch my foot, so I add an insert if I think about it and it does increase the long term comfort, but it's probably fine for medium width feet. Probably not good for wide sizes, though.The black suede has become my summer go-to shoe, and I get compliments and queries about them every time I wear them. Today I'm ordering the concrete (color, not shoe)!

I wear a 7.5 this shoe kind of hits that mark, but it's very wide. The elastic straps are great I love them, probably why I bought the shoe as flats do tend to be a bit boxy. But that's the good news. The suede is of very poor quality in fact there were a couple of bald spots when they arrived. I've worn them twice and the black finish around the sole is already worn. They have not yet started to conform to my foot, perhaps that takes a bit of wearing. I'd love these shoes at a $49.00 price but at $150 they are not anywhere near that quality.Months down the line I've revised my review somewhat. These shoes aren't perfect but I'm glad I bought them. If they were priced more affordably I'd buy a bunch of them. The straps are fantastic.

I love these shoes!! They are the best! I took them with me to Chile on an LDS mission where I walked miles a day for a year and a half, and they lasted the whole time! They were comfortable to walk in, and I was climbing hills and mountains.The soles did wear down a bit, but only after a long time. The color also changed a bit from the sun-exposure and from the dust in the streets, but both of those things were just minimal.I say that these shoes are somewhat large because I normally wear a size 7, but from the other reviews I read saying that they run a bit large, I decided to order down a half-size, and they ended up fitting perfectly.After a year and a half of almost constant wear, I finally threw them away, but am so in love with how they look and feel, that I would definitely hope to buy them again in the future! I recommend these shoes to anyone and everyone. Buy them.

It can be really hard to find flats with a wide toe box and a flexible sole and even harder to find in spring/summer friendly styles, but these closed-toe sandals fit the bill! They're comfortable, cute, and versatile, and the elastic around the ankles is perfect for accomodating skinny ankles too and keeping my feet nice and secure :) I only wish they came in more summer-friendly fabrics and colors - they're definitely worth the investment!

This is my second pair of these shoes. Get compliments every time I wear them and if I let a friend try them on...they are shocked at how comfortable they are. Fabulous shoe for many different outfits. If comfort is really important to you as it should be...but you are still looking for interesting and funky style - this is a great shoe for you. Particularly great when you can get it less than regular price with Amazon.

Amazing flats. If you're looking for something that won't ever hurt your feet, and you want to wear them all day ... these flats are for you! Exceptional quality and speedy shipping. I have had 5 co-workers specifically ask me for the product name as they want to buy them now!! They are super adorable , can be worn with many styles and feel luxurious.

they fit perfect

Very happy with this purchase

These shoes have already fallen apart. I've owned them for about a month and the sole has come apart from the shoe.