Minnetonka Womens Back-Zipper Bootie

I'm actually so happy with these little elf booties. I personally think they run big. While in theory I'm a true 7 (like 20 yrs ago), in actuality I can't remember the last time I was able to squeeze my feet comfortably in anything but an 8 (except for Birkenstocks) after two babies back to back followed by a year of high dose steroids. I ordered these in a 7 1/2 because I sized down a whole size to my "true size" before in Uggs at review suggestion and they never really stretched out enough for true comfort. This was likely a mistake. They fit in the width though by no means tightly but are a bit long and after three hours of wear had considerably loosened all over. I really should of purchased a 7 at least so they would be fitted like a sock as they are meant to because I'm sure these are going to be way too big way too quickly but when they are I'll use them for around the house and get a new pair for outdoors. That being said, I'm not sending them back because I don't want to spend another day of my life without these shoes. I purchased the black and its a true, deep matte black and the fringe is neutral and lays perfectly flat. I also got them in the suede sole and I'm glad I did, I used to have a pair of suede sole mocs when I lived in Seattle and even walking at least ten miles a day mostly on concrete in that weather which isn't optimal conditions for these types of shoes (I didn't drive during those years) the mocs lasted three years before finally developing a hole. In more normal climates and usage these could easily last ten yrs (live in Texas and drive now lol). Don't believe people who say these can't be worn out of doors, they simply have to be seasoned properly by getting them wet and wearing on dirt and grass till the get slick and hard. The seude on these is perfect. No its not the nearly nubuck softness of some higher end seude shoes I have but its not the rough cheapie suede either and in reality you wouldn't want a shoe like this to be any softer. Don't get me wrong, they ARE soft but they are thicker and sturdier than some suede which is just right. One thing I didn't realize is that these booties have like some kind of memory foam insert which my old mocs didn't and this makes them even more comfy. Like wearing suede socks with some cushioning, I think if I added a little arch support stick on insert it would be like going bare foot with arch support and foot protection. The zipper seems to work well but I could see where it could slide down. I would say these may work better on people with a more delicate foot and smaller ankle because I have bird bones and it looks like if I had a normal sized to large sized ankle then they might be fitted and look odd. They have enough room around my ankle and fit around my foot so well that they look ultra flattering. Also thanks to the simplicity and matte black of the shoes they also look more hip and less boho. So far I've only worn these with a pair of slim fit, vintage boyfriend ankle jeans and they work perfectly. Adorable perfection. I almost exclusively wear ankle length jeans due to my proportions and that's actually what I wanted a flat ankle boot for and these look super cool. However I think these will also look really good with summer dresses and even leggings and tunics this winter. I honestly didn't think I would like this, both fit and style but haven't been able to find an ankle boot that worked for me so I decided to give these a quick try. I'm so in love. They're surprisingly comfy tho I will add an insert. I do have pretty nasty arthritis in my feet so I'm a bit particular about my shoes but these make me feel like I can leap about like an elf. And my feet kinda look Elvin too. I can't think of enough good things to say about these booties. No, they may not be for everyone especially if you have a wider foot or ankle and if you prefer true orthotics but otherwise these are amazing. I've owned hundreds of shoes, many costing hundreds of dollars and these are surprisingly enough the absolute favorite shoes ever. They have everything I could ever want in a shoe. Even my mom, who rolled her eyes when I said I ordered this, flipped out when I put them on and even more when she tried them on. She hates completely flat shoes and has truly disformed arthritic feet and she ordered a pair an hr after I received mine. Plus she hates these kind of styles but thought these looked surprisingly hip and sophisticated for a moc bootie. So...another convert. If you think these may work for you please give these a try but read up on seasoning the sole and they'll last a good while depending on your usage and weather conditions. Now I'm ordering some in other colors and I really, really wish minnetonka would bring these back in pebble leather and not just as the occasional overpriced promo product because seriously, how much more versatile!!! Edit: while these are still my favorite shoes ever the tab on the back crumbled the second time I wore them making it difficult for my arthritic fingers to close the back. I am going to contact the sender and hope they are able to send me a replacement tab but its disappointing quality for that to happen the second time I out them on and makes me sure the other side will do the same. I will still purchase more because I love the style and comfort but they need to put better quality pulls on the back. Read more

I have worn this brand and style on and off again over the years. I have also worn other brands in similar styles. The one thing to remember, especially with the soft sole variety, is that leather stretches. What fits "perfectly" when brand new WILL become "too large" - and faster than you might think. With other types of shoes, even when "all leather", they are constructed with layers and have internal supports and firm toe-boxes, and all of that, so that stretch is minimized and merely becomes "shaped to your foot". With these more simple one-layer leathers, the stretch is not minimized at all. You can make this a feature, instead of a bug. I always buy "too small" with such shoes. My feet are a US women's 7.5 wide. So, I will buy a 6.5 or a 7. Now, a 7 will be easier to "break in" and make it conform to my foot, but it will ALSO become "too big" sooner, rather than later. A 6.5 will be very uncomfortable and take more time to "break in" and conform, buuuuuut, it remains truer to my foot for longer. And, yes, I wear socks in them. While breaking them in, I tend towards stocking or tights, and as they stretch, I will move towards my "regular" socks. This is not to say that you can't just buy your regular size and have them be comfy right out of the box. Absolutely, you can! But, keep in mind, they will stretch. There is no way to not have that happen. That is just what leather does. So, if you are ok with that and you want to avoid "breaking them in" - order your size. If you want them to be more shaped to your foot for longer, order down. I currently have two pairs of these. One is my older pair (going on 4 years of almost daily use, as I practically live in them) and that's a 7, and is loose even with my thickest socks, now (and started off quite tight), and the other is a newer pair of 6.5s that are broken in nicely now, and I have on reserve for when these 7s finally give up their ghosts, as well as for when I want nicer looking, less lived-in looking shoes. The one thing about these shoes, for me, is that the toebox is a tad long - even with the 6.5s, there is a wee tad extra room, even when new. Not side-to-side, but above the toes. They're long. I wish that the company made them a little wider and a tad less longer-than-necessary. But, all in all, my way of ordering and breaking them in, helps fix those two issues a little bit. For me, anyway. Read more