I have never posted anything on a forum. As a guy, I have never bought a purse nor do I want one. I was brought to this thread by looking up the Tory Burch Eddie flats on the internet. I find responding to a Purse Forum thread very funny and cool. So I thought it would be fun to reply. I like to do different things, so here goes...
I love soft, comfortable shoes and especially sandals. I own several pairs of Tory Burch sandals and love them. A woman's size 11 fits me perfectly... how lucky a guy I' am. I find many wonderful and comfortable sandals made for women. So I wear them! I have never worn ballet flats, but they look comfortable.
I saw the Eddie flat. Quite comfy looking. Some information: The outersole is made of real leather, not plastic. Real leather can be sometimes slippery, as opposed to synthetics. The little heel of the Eddie is made of some synthetic material. Except for the sole and heel, the leather is a very soft lamb skin. The padding is real memory foam. I have checked this all out.
The lamb skin and memory foam give this shoe it's wonderful feel. The very thin real leather sole adds to this effect, but will obviously wear out faster. I do not know what kind of leather the sole is made of, but it is made of what is called an oak. That is the type of leather that is usually used for soles, but this one is very thin which adds to the feeling of softness of this shoe. It makes them like soft soled moccasins. Softness and comfort in exchange for longevity. Placing a thicker sole will decrease the softness of the shoe. A soft shoe does let you feel the gravel and other things you walk on, for it is basically a protected form of going bear footed. But that is the trade off... softness and comfort with increased perception of objects vs less sensitivity but increased stiffness. Again, a preference.
With many years of experience in wearing very soft soled moccasins, I can share some my experience with you. Tenderness to gravel and stones will subside as you adjust to wearing such shoes. This actually occurs neurologically, as the brain selectively adjusts the responsiveness of the relevant pain tracts within the spinal cord. This is one of the functions of the body's endorphins. As you adjust to soft soled shoes, the pain sensitivity to gravel and stones goes away. But the sensation of softness and the pleasantness of the soft shoes remains. These sensations travel up different pathways within the spinal cord to where they are perceived in the brain.
I went through this with my first pair of moccasins. Once you neurologically compensate, such tactile sensitivity actually becomes quite pleasant. It's as if your feet interact more with what your walking on. You become more aware and responsive to the surface. It probably would help you to become less likely to slip. Your feet were designed to grip the surface you walk upon. This ability is lost with hard soled shoes. It is also one of the reasons that shoes become more comfortable as they wear out. Such shoes often become beloved, but if resoled seem to feel quite different after such repair.
Neurological compensation takes time. If you find your feet too sensitive, wear the shoes for short periods in the beginning. As you acclimate, you will find yourself wearing them longer. You will get to the point of having the tactile sensations, but without pain. I guess it's obvious I'm a doctor. I hope I have not been overly boring with this information.
I have loved and worn many pairs of soft soled moccasins before. A tip: place a thin layer of shoe goo on the sole as a wear surface. Re apply to areas as it wears out. This will extend the life of the sole as long as you keep applying the goo. Without adding goo, I could get a soft soled pair of moccasins to have a hole in a month, for Hawaii's cement is based on coral sand which is quite abrasive. With shoe goo, I could get soft soled moccasins to go on as long as I used it... for years.
I have never owned a ballet flat before. We have a new Tory Burch Store that just opened here in Honolulu last October. I tried a pair of Eddie's in size 11. One of the most comfortable shoes I ever put on, as far as walking around in the store was concerned. I don't know if I would wear them outside, but I know I would love wearing them at home. They are like one of the most comfortable pairs of moccasins I ever owned, and I love moccasins.
This evening I was in the store again. They had a golden Eddie in a size 10.5. They had a silvery black in as size 11. I like the golden color the best, and it is on sale for $50.00 less. The silvery black is ok. The 11 felt as if it was already broken in. The 10.5 was comfortable, fit fairly well, but was tighter than the 11. My toes were right up to the front, but did not feel uncomfortable or like they were unduly pressing into the shoe. They were just abutting the front of the shoe, just right there. Is that how this shoe should fit when new? The people in the store were of differing opinions. Any advice? The smaller golden? The larger silver black? Get a brain transplant? Go back to square one?