Fidji reviews (and should I keep this shoe?)

So to follow up on my recent thread on needing to find good work-appropriate walking shoes, after learning that I would be getting a full month of free rent to compensate for the inconvenience of the flooding in my apartment, I decided to pick out a pair of Fidjis to try out at home as a treat for myself and my feet.

I tried out the following pairs at Nordstrom:
E174 pump - the one that Angie got. Surprisingly, I found these incredibly uncomfortable. The leather was soft, but the vamp of the foot was so high that the rough seam dug into the top of my foot. I could tell that I'd have blisters in minutes. I've never had this problem before with other high-vamp shoes, so it's odd that I would experience this with a pair of shoes that fussy-footed shoppers loved!

B684 pump - very cute and low-heeled, but way too pointy-toed to suit my foot shape.

I can't find a picture online, but I also tried out a pair of cream pumps - I believe they were Mary Janes - that had a large silver button. The vamp came down slightly lower than the E174s and was slightly "notched". They were extremely comfortable, but I wasn't crazy about the big silver button.

The shoe that came home with me was the E144 pump in yellow. I was slightly suspicious about the slingback style since when I do get blisters, my typical "hot spot" is at the top of my heel right where slingback straps tend to sit. However, this strap is wide and very soft. I've clomped all over the apartment building (I won't wear them outdoors until I decide whether I'll keep them) and they seem to be a great fit for my feet in terms of toe shape, heel height, and overall comfort.

Now, here's the part I'm not sure about: given that I've never spent even close to this amount of money on a shoe, are they keepers from a style perspective, and will they be versatile enough? Yellow isn't really a staple color in my wardrobe, and it might not be a color that I can pair with everything. Originally I intended to get a dark cream pair of Fidjis to feature as a leg-extending not-quite-nude shoe.

Here are a couple pics of me trying out the shoes so you can see what they look like against my skin tone. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
(From the front and a side view.)

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Kari, I had the same problem with the E174's. They were comfy otherwise, so it likely would have just taken some shoe stretching, but I didn't think that was really acceptable at a $169 price tag. I would probably give them another chance if they went on sale, but I doubt they will unfortunately. I'm glad someone else had this problem and I wasn't just crazy. The problem was really in the 36.5's, and not in the 37's, but the 37's were just so big on me and looked kind of funny.

I ended up with the E144 shoes in yellow as well. My heel isn't my hot spot so I can't really say how well they will treat you, but they have been good to me so far. I added a little ball of foot cushion just to keep my foot from sliding and give a little padding where I need it, and I wear peds to cut down on the friction, but that's it.

Frances

Active Member

Oh, Kari, those are heartbreakingly beautiful on you! I love them in the yellow too. Out of the three styles you linked to, the ones you brought home are my favorite.

Shoes really do look entirely different on the feet than they do all by their lonesome in photos. I wish more online retail sites would post photos of shoes actually being worn on a model's feet. Thankfully Zappos is now posting video snippets like this.

Patience

Love love love! So glad you found some that worked for you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You and Maya are Fidji twins! KEEP. Definitely. They look fabulous!

Feet are fussy in different ways, Kari. I did not find the Fidjis that you and Maya bought nearly as comfortable as the pumps. The footbed and the leather wasn't as soft and my foot felt too arched. And so we keep each other company sharing our various foot and shoe comfort discoveries :0)

I have flat feet naturally so mine are probably just arched normally rather than overarched. Perhaps that is why I didn't find them as uncomfortable. I'll definitely concede that the footbed isn't as cushioned, but for me blisters are the main issue and I knew those pumps would rub my big toe bone.

marianna

You MUST keep them, Kari! I LOVE those shoes and will also buy them as soon as I have a steady income. Keeeep.

(Anthro top twins! ;))

Laura

Those shoes are divine!

Lisa

Please don't return those shoes. They look wonderful on you! The yellow color is nice against your skin. Also, there's been a number of posts with yellow shoes lately, so I think it is a very versatile color to have in your footwear collection. Besides white, you can wear with gray, blue, black and I'm sure many others.

Queen Mum

LOVE those!

Tanya

Kari those shoes look so good on you! Please keep them! Even tough I do not wear much yellow, I have two pairs of yellow shoes and find them very good to add some interest to an outfit.

MNsara

Oh, Kari - they look fab on you and I love that they are yellow. I think a yellow of that shade can be the not-quite-nude shoe you were after. It is yellow, but in such a way that it doesn't shout yellow. (and it is another yellow shoe to fuel my yellow shoe envy!)

Louise

They look wonderful on you. They are a fairly pale yellow I think they will work fine as a nude shoe x

yublocka

I looooove them Kari. Yellow shoes are so much fun, especially if its a colour you can't wear near your face like me. I wish the ones I had weren't too small for me to wear comfortably. These look gorgeous and are my fave of the 3 you listed anyway!!

I'm wearing mine today with trouser jeans. I just love how they look peeking out from the hems! Give it a try!

Rosie

First, so glad to hear about the month of free rent - definitely appropriate given the situation.

I love the outfit you're wearing and I LOVE the shoes. I tried them on and wasn't sure if the size was right but I really love them and love them on you. You must keep them.

Scarlet

When I looked at the photo of the shoe, I was like ugh. But when I saw it on you, it looks really delicate and lovely. Wow! Hot! If they are comfortable I think you should keep them.

Kari

Well, the Fidjis stayed, and they have definitely passed my comfort test so far. At first they were a little uncomfortable, but I realized that I didn't have to lace them so tight - the laces still stay put.

Maya, that's awesome that we are Fidji twins! (How funny - usually our feet are picky in very different ways.) I'll have to look through your photos to see how you are wearing them.

I agree with others who said that it would be helpful for Nordstrom to show the shoe on a model's foot on their website. I liked the shoes *much* better on me than I did when I first saw them.

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