AK Anne Klein Impress Shoes Question - YouLookFab Forum

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AK Anne Klein Impress Shoes Question

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I just got the yellow AK Impress shoes that Angie blogged about in March:

http://youlookfab.com/2008/03/.....ring-flat/

I am usually a size 8 or 8.5 in shoes, depending on brand. I ordered the 8.5 from Endless because they are on sale and they only had the yellow left in 8.5, plus I thought becauset they were patent leather, they would be stiff (even though they turned out to be very soft and flexible!). Anyway, the 8.5 fits pretty well--they are a little long. Not a ton long, just a little. The end of my big toe comes to the top of the buckle. And I have some toe cleavage going on, which doesn't really bother me, but I'm not sure I'm *supposed* to have it with these shoes. I can shove my foot in further, but then it gets tight. I'm not used to wearing pointy shoes, I stick to round toe, so I was wondering if any of you have this shoe, how it fits? Is this just because of the shape, etc, that it seems long? Will these stretch out? If they do, then they may really be too big. I like the width though, it's perfect for my feet. I really like these shoes, and I'd like to order them in more colors, I just need to nail down the size.

I have included some pictures, so you can give me your opinion:

This is a mirror shot, sorry for the poor quality:
http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....0007-9.jpg

Top View:
http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....004-20.jpg

This shows how much room is in the heel if I smoosh my feet in. If the shoes stretch a lot, then I may want to go down a half size:
http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....006-10.jpg

This is where my toe ends:
http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....005-18.jpg

If worse comes to worse, I might be able to order the 8s off zappos, but then I'd have to convince my husband to let me spend another $83.00 (even though I would return one pair), which might be tough right now, seeing as I just bought a bunch of stuff this weekend, hee hee.

Thanks guys!

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Maya

Veteran

This always happens to me with ballet flats. You're always supposed to have 1/2 an inch of space between your big toe and the front of a shoe, but with ballet flats, that space always ends up in the heel area. So in order for them to fit, they have to fit your foot exactly with absolutely no wiggle room which is uncomfortable. So I don't know how to advise you since I haven't figured out the solution myself, but I just wanted to say it seems pretty normal. You could always try a heel insert.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestion, Maya. I may put a heel insert in if they stretch out. They actually fit well in the heel area, they don't slip at all when I walk. All the room is in the toe box, which is why I think they feel long. I'm just not used to wearing shoes without short, round toes. So, to me, I think, "Geez, my feet look gigantically long." But other people might not see it that way. If not, then I may stick with the 8.5, since when I push my foot into the toe box, it's not really that comfortable.

Maya

Veteran

If they allow you to have space in the toe box without slipping off, that's actually a good thing. I'd keep them.

shannon

It is so funny that you bring this up! I am having the very same issues with the Impress flats that I bought from Endless. Everything you mentioned is true for me. They make my feet look long and I wear pointy toe flats. There is a big gap at the heel. I have toe cleavage also, but I don't like it. There seems to be a lot of space in the toe. I bought an 8 and I wear an 8. I was thinking of ordering a 7.5 but I think the sides of my feet in front would be squished. They are too wide for me also. I know you said you liked the width, but I think they look wide on you as well. I just can't fall in love with this shoe. I have been going back and forth for 2 weeks. I know Angie loves them, but they are just not for me no matter how hard I try. They are cute though! I think mine are going back.

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks for posting this! I am debating ordering this same shoe from Endless and I also wear an 8 and was wondering if 8.5 would be too big. Actually, I'm trying to decide between that AK shoe and this Franco Sarto shoe:
http://www.endless.com/Franco-.....B000PHGZM0

I like the FS one better ( it's a more lemonny shade of yellow which I prefer), but the AK ones are probably comfier. And now I know they might be too big as well. Dilemmas...

Ana

(website)

Veteran

They are a bit wide around my mid-foot to heel area, but that is really typical for my feet because I have a much wider forefoot than heel. They don't slip at all though, and I have a little mini bunionette forming on the pinky toe of my left foot, so I want to be really careful about how tight I get shoes--I don't want it to get worse. These don't aggravate it at all. I wouldn't go so far as to say I LOVE the look of these shoes right now, but I do love how they feel, and the color of them, and that they are dressier than my other flats, so I really like the way they look with skirts especially--not so frumpy. Maybe I will wear them around the house and see if I get used to their look.

Tanya, those FS shoes are cute! I love Franco Sarto. If you end up ordering those, let me know how they feel, would you? I have a problem with shoes that have an open mid section like that, in that the edge of the toe box really rubs against the side of my foot and gives me a blister. Those look soft though, like maybe they would be flexible enough not to do that.

shiny

Veteran

Oooh.... this sounds like just the shoe for me!! I do best with shoes that are wide at the base of the toes, leave toe cleavage, and lots of toe room.

This is what I was saying before: pointy toe shoes can work if the pointy part extends beyond your toes, i.e., it's just for looks, your toes are really farther back at the wide part before the point starts.

My feet are only size 6 so I don't mind if they look like they're half size longer.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Shiny, these shoes sound like they would be great for you, because they fit exactly like you describe. Like I said above, I have a mini bunion forming and it was pretty painful earlier today when I was wearing my black shoes, and I put these on and it doesn't hurt at all. These might work for your bunions, too.

I know Angie said on her post that you may want to go up a half size since the toebox is snug. I wear an 8 or 8.5 (8s are usually just a smidge too short, 8.5s tend to be a bit too long), so you may want to consider a 6.5 if you want that extra roomy toebox.

Julia

Ana you must have ordered these shoes the same day I did, I got mine today too!

I wear 6 and I bought 6, they fit me the same way they fit you but I don't think they are too big or too wide. Like you said they don't slip off when walking and shows a little toe cleavage, which I think is cute. The best thing I like about them is the color, it's muted yellow for lack of better words and goes well with jeans.

I'm going to keep mine and I think you should too, it looks very cute on you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

There is room in the toe box because I have the impression that the shoe is quite narrow and not wide. My toes fit “further up” in the toe box. A wider foot requires a larger size in this shoe which subsequently causes “wasted” toe box space and possible heel slippage. The “wasted “ toe box space causes the illusion of a longer foot. Make sense?

I have regular width feet ( neither wide nor narrow) and usually take 6.5 ( Euro 37) and 6.5 was perfect in the Impress. They look good Ana, they sort of look good on everyone! But you HAVE to be comfortable. Give it a day or so to think about.

I’m with you Julia. I like toe cleavage. I think it’s alluring. Love your toe cleavage, Ana!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I don't mind toe cleavage, really. I'm neutral on the subject. I really do like the shoes, I'm just not used to my feet looking so long. But if people don't think my feel look too long from the photos, then I'm fine with it. I want to order more of these in different colors, and I just want to make sure I am wearing the right size before I end up with a whole slew of unfashionably overlong shoes.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I think I'm going to just order the 8s from zappos, since they are out of them from Endless. It's the only way I'm going to know once and for all. My feet aren't too wide, but sizes are tricky for me.

How is zappos return policy? Do you get credited back pretty quickly?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

They credit VERY quickly.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Fantastic! Well, I ordered them, so we'll see how they work out. They are super comfortable and flexible, and I love the colors and how dressy they are. I'll give an update when they arrive.

Tanya, have you decided which shoes you're going for yet?

shannon

So if a wider foot requires a bigger size do you think a narrow foot would require a smaller size. I am about it box up a bunch of shoes and send them back, but I can't quite make my mind up. I should just order the 7.5 and send back the 8's. I hope Endless credits as quickly as Zappos does. I'm racking up the credit card. Hubby is not going to be happy if all this sits for too long.

Maya

Veteran

Ha, Shannon, I have a massive shoe debt from all the returns I have to make. Endless isn't as quick as Zappos but they're not bad. Endless actually carries a lot of brands that Zappos no longer stocks, so they have some benefits.

I am honestly not sure about all this sizing up and down business because although the width of a shoe does get bigger as you go up in size, the length does as well. So if you're a 7N and you go down to a 6.5M to accommodate for the width, it might feel too short and your foot will be cramped. That's why I don't bother to go up in size even though my foot is wide. It just falls off. That's just my experience. Feet are very personal.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I just got my AK Impress flats in 8 from Zappos. I put them on briefly, and they felt pretty good, a little more snug than the 8.5, but not completely uncomfortable. They look much better though. I'm going to wear them around the house tonight and see how I feel about them. I really don't like the way the 8.5 look, so if I can't make the 8s work, I think I'll have to take a pass on these shoes, which would be disappointing, because I love the look of them and color selection.

Shannon, maybe you should try the 7.5, because the 8s don't squish my forefoot at all, they are very flexible, and I have no toe cleavage with the smaller size, either.

Maya

Veteran

If you really like them and they're just a little bit snug you can always get them stretched. I just bought a bottle of shoe stretching liquid but it hasn't arrived yet. Supposedly you can just rub it on the area of the shoe that needs stretching, put a sock on (to keep the fluid from irritating the skin), and walk around for about 20 minutes as it dries. It relaxes the leather so it can remold to your feet as it dries. I don't know if it works but I have some hope.

shannon

OK I will probably be ordering a 7.5 in a little while. Do you think that these will be too hot for summer? I am not a huge sandal wearer (only when very casual) so I would be wearing these through the summer. I typically wear a lot of peep toes for a little ventilation.

Maya

Veteran

A lot of ladies here have mentioned ballet flats with cutouts as a good summer option Shannon. Maybe that would be a better idea?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I think they will definitely be too hot for summer, Shannon, but come fall they will be good to go again. The 8s seem good. I'm still wearing them around the house to watch for rubbing, etc.

As far as summer shoes, I am planning on doing exactly what Maya suggests and buying ballet flats with cut-outs and maybe one pair of gold sandals.

shannon

Well, I just received my 7.5's. They fit much better! I like them a lot more now. They don't slip or gap at the heel. The toes are snug, but not uncomfortable and I don't have a lot of toe cleavage. Did you decide yet Ana? I think I'll keep this pair.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, I decided to keep the 8s and wore them out today. They are a bit snug, but have stretched since I put them on this morning. I think I will take them to a shoe doctor and have them stretch the shoes even a little more, then they will be perfect. This is a really common problem with me, because my feet are a tiny bit bigger than a true size 8, but 8.5 is way too big a lot of the time. I need a size 8.25.

I don't have as much toe cleavage as before, either, and I think these look much better as well. Now--what color to order next?

Tanya

Veteran

I vote for the bright green! Hot pink is my second choice!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad that the smaller sizes worked out Shannon and Ana. I'm beginning to feel that yellow shoes are a must this season.

Ana, are you looking for another Spring or Autumn shoe?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hmm....probably Autumn. I am planning on buying a pair of gold ballet flats with cut outs, and a pair of gold sandals (similar to what Christie is looking for) and that will do me for summer shoes, I think. Gold would be a good shoe choice for all the colors I wear regularly.

As far as colors of the Impress flat, I really love the green, and I wear a ton of navy, so that would be really neat. Maybe not that Autumny though. I'm leaning towards red next, since that seems to be a good year round choice, and then green or the berry pink pair after that. Zappos is offering 2 shades of red, and I can't decide between the two. What do you all think? The Relish Patent, or the Medium Red Patent?

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/30183174/c/3298.html

Tanya

Veteran

I prefer the relish patent, because the color is more wine, but I think that the medium red patent would go better with your usual clothing colors.

Julia

If you have more cool colored clothes then choose relish, otherwise the medium red. I actually prefer the later because it goes with more colors than the relish.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Red is definitely a better choice. It’s a year round colour. I prefer a brighter red personally, but the relish is nice too.

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