I rarely, if ever, buy "cheap" shoes. If these hadn't gotten great reviews to begin with I never would have purchased them based on the fact that they are not real patent leather. But I am so, so glad I did. As a hardcore shoe junkie with a terrible back, I have fought desperately against giving up my heels and settling in to flat shoes. But lately I have made it my mission to find flats that I can love as ardently as I have loved my heels. These are that pair of shoes. They could not be cuter. The Intolerant-of-toe-cleavage brigade can definitely pass on these, because they do show a bit of cleav and I have pretty short toes (for those with long toes who hate toe cleavage, stay away from this shoe) but since I find a little toe cleav fetching, it is not a problem.

They are of exceptional quality for the price and super comfortable so far, straight out of the box. I will definitely be purchasing a second and maybe even a third pair. I love them that much. Most flats are just that - flats, pretty boring, and we have seen enough of them to know they don't vary all that much. This is a truly different style of flat while getting the same - if not greater - comfort as a *yawn* ballet flat.