My 10 Best Purchases: No. Nine
Oct 25, 2018
Do you know what I have in common with the Duchess of Sussex, aka. Meghan Markle? Practically nothing, but we do both love Rothy’s flats.
My lifestyle now vacillates from professional to casual in a place (Spokane) where what I consider casual, they consider professional. The biggest source of angst? My footwear. Spending money on really nice shoes makes no sense in a place where Old Navy flip-flops are considered office attire (I know). Rothy’s are a nice balance between super professional and business casual.
I have four pairs of their Point Flats, and I will probably end up with more. Unless your face is right next to my feet, you can’t tell that I’m not wearing leather flats. But they’re much more comfortable and so easy to wear. Plus, they’re machine washable.
If you need arch support, however, these are not the shoes for you. I may be the only fashion blogger who routinely gets reader e-mail asking for shoes with enough room for orthopedic inserts. I wish I had better suggestions for you, maybe some of your fellow readers can leave theirs in the comments.
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Actually, I have orthopedic inserts (both full and partial orthotics). I was able to remove the insole of the Rothys and just insert my full-length orthotics. They were a bit more snug than with the insole, but ultimately it worked fine. I hope this is helpful to others. I spend a LOT of time searching for work-appropriate shoes that don’t look like they’re for a 90-year-old grandmother, so these were a nice find. An adhesive heel insert in the back helped stabilize everything, since I seem to be between sizes for them.
For your readers looking for an interesting shoe brand that permits full orthotics, they could try Vionic (though they do run a bit large/wide, so may need to size down). I can sometimes find something from Munro, but their offerings right now are not particularly stylish. The Robyn is a solid bootie, though. Otherwise, Zappos and Nordstorm both offer the ability to search for a removable insole, which is usually my starting point.
Are you able to share how you removed the original insole? I was just researching this online last night as I have a pair of flats where the outside has held up beautifully, but the insole is torn up. Thanks!
The Rothy’s inserts are removable. That’s part of their whole selling point. You can take them out to wash the shoes in the washing machine or switch them out so they don’t get too stinky. I’ve never been able to remove the insoles from non-sneaker footwear, but haven’t really tried. If your shoe doesn’t allow you to remove it, you can probably take it to a cobbler to have them do it.
What kind of inserts do you use for the Rothy’s?
How warm are these? Can I wear them in the fall/winter in DC? Also, how is the sizing? TTS?
True to size. I’ve only had cold feet when they’re wet. So I don’t wear them in the rain.
I wore my Rothy’s practically every work day for 10 months, and they’re still going strong. And I’m about to start at an office that’s flip-flop casual. After having nylons in the dress code for 5 years, I kind of can’t wait.
I recently got a pair of the black pointed Rothys after reading that they’re good for people with bunions. They are comfortable and stretch to accommodate my bunions well (although I wish the shoes came up a bit higher on my foot to disguise it a bit better). I’m a student, and the shoes are a bit above my usual budget for flats, but my hope is that because they are stretchy and machine-washable, they will outlast my typical cheap flats and justify the cost.
Do you also use an orthopedic insert? I’ve been hesitant to try Rothy’s because I need inserts and have sizable bunions (I was lucky enough to be born with bunions, so you can imagine what they must look like now) and wasn’t sure if the shoes could accommodate both.
I don’t have sizeable bunions, but do get occassional bunion pain. The point is fine, but the regular flat is even more comfortable and might hid the bunion a bit more. My mom got the loafer and that’s pretty cute too.
Abra, a sidebar note…speaking of Meghan Markle, I’d love your comments and suggestions for HER and esp on this tour. I feel like she needs to hire you as her stylist, you could fix these little wardrobe issues and make her a fashion superstar!
I wonder what wardrobe issues it is you’re talking about. I following Buckingham Palace on IG and have seen many outfits from this tour that are lovely, can’t think of any issues.
I think originally it was fit issues. Sometimes the outfits seemed too tight or too loose or didn’t seem proportioned to her frame. The internet seems to be divided on the messy bun as well. But now that she’s been dealing with fit and a pregnancy, I think she’s been doing really well! I think her clothes skim the bump and keep her comfortable, which is all you can ask for! She also looks like she got blessed with the pregnancy glow, so her skin looks great.
I think she has great style, especially street style, but I haven’t loved some of her outfits. She needs a stylist who knows how to work with an early pregnancy. Her pregnancy glow makes up for a lot, though!
Agreed, Susan!
Check out Elizabeth Holmes’ instagram with So Many Thoughts! It’s awesome.
I LOVE my Rothys. I have two pairs and one that I took with me to Portugal and walked more than 15K steps a day. They’ve help up great and I wash them all the time!
I wear my Rothy’s with an orthopedic insert. The removable insole makes it easy to accommodate.
Mary, which orthotic insert are you using? And it fits in Rothy flats?
Do they really look like new after washing? They retain their shape? I have such a hard time believing this – would love your and your readers’ best washing practices and feedback 🙂
Yes. Nothing special about it, I wash mine with my colors and air dry. 1.5 years of multiple times a week wear and mine are going strong. I won’t ever buy another flat.
Yes, they seriously look the same and the shape is perfect after washing. I wash mine in a delicates bag in COLD water only! Then I air dry them, and they’re good as new. It’s SO nice to not deal with stinky flats anymore.
Yup, they totally are easy-clean. I remove the insoles and toss them in the wash – sometimes in a bag if I remember – just don’t put them in the dryer! My bf did and they shrunk 1/2 a size… I love them enough that I wear them still, and they’ve maybe stretched back out 1/4 a size, but are still smallish. Ah well. Worth the money.
The only wear I’ve found is at the very tip of the pointed shoe – it is just barely starting to fray on one shoe.
Would also recommend sizing up 1/2 a size. I don’t consider myself to have wide feet but the point feels a little tight.
Just wanted to say thank you for including the info about orthotics. Very helpful to know!
I never spend this much for shoes – but I bought them last year and don’t regret it one bit!! I always get compliments on them and they are like no other shoe I’ve owned.
I have had 5 pairs of Rothy’s – two points, 3 loafers. I want to love the points, as I think the shape is so flattering on others, but on me, my toes seem to make the front of the shoe lift up a touch because of my foot’s shape, and because the shoe is so flexible. I hate the resulting elf-look, so I’ve sold one pair of the points, and the second one is probably getting listed too. I love the loafers though, so so much!
I can recommend superfeet insoles! They have great ratings and is well known brand (among physical therapists etc.) they’re a little pricy but you get what you pay for.