Thank you, all! I do have fairly low volume feet with a narrow heel, so the gap between toes and vamp and a gap in the heel are common, but I definitely can't size down in any of these... the toebox sizing is just right. They also feel snugger than they look in the pictures (I don't feel any slipping in my short trial walks), and the heel gap goes away if my feet are warmer; I also have some adhesive cushy heel pads that should help fill the gap if they slip and rub. I haven't experimented with pads at the ball of the feet, but maybe that'd help close the gap at the vamp, too... it's worth some experimentation. Thank you all for helping me identify that issue! (Which is common across a lot of my shoes, but I don't think I realized it's not an issue for everyone and every shoe.)
Gigi, argh, low volume feet are annoying sometimes. I share your fairly narrow heel issues, too... most shoes slip on the heel (I'm in the middle of experimenting with various styles of heel pads to fill gaps and stop the rubbing and blisters from that extra movement). The shoes you pictured are lovely, but that strap doesn't allow for any extra inserts or pads, so I can see how they just didn't work for you.
Kathie, I do really like the block heel, too! It feels so much sturdier than a thin heel, and looks very modern. Because block heels have been a trend, I'm not sure if it'll look dated faster... but frankly, I should really replace my shoes more often than I do, so getting a trendier pair, wearing the heck out of it, and then retiring it when it starts to get dated/uncomfortable/tired-looking isn't a bad idea.
Dana, I'm agreeing with you about the wedges being less versatile... I'm not sure I'd be happy with the look in skirts and dresses.
Hi Sterling! I've been pretty well... busy, which is a very good thing. Walking out of shoes is definitely an issue for me in general, but all these pairs actually feel less likely to slip than many of my older shoes (which probably means I need to do a hard shoe evaluation soon). Oddly, the Marc Fishers and the Louise Et Cies are the exact same height (2.75"), though the block heel on the Fishers *looks* much higher visually. I can't figure out how that illusion works, but it's not a bad thing.
La Pedestrienne, I'm with you on the wedges. While they're the most comfortable, they're not what I'm looking for visually. Good point about black suede photographing better than leather; they also look like a deeper and more matte black in person. I'm leaning toward the block heels, too, though the Louise Et Cies are so lovely and classic... but I think I have to trust that there will *always* be an elegant classic black pump available somewhere.
kkards, good point about the year-roundedness and the heavier/chillier-weather look of the block heels. I *am* looking for a year-round shoe. I do wear a lot of black and gray year-round, though, so that may mitigate a bit. Thank you for the Everlane suggestion... the elastic heel looks like an interesting feature that might work well for narrow heels. I just wish the visual shape was a bit different; for work shoes, I prefer a pointier toe for a little extra formality.
Echo, I also really like the Taryn Roses (because of my low-volume feet, I tend to prefer boots and booties... they stay on better in general). But that's also the highest heel of the lot by a smidge, and I'd need to see if the size up actually did fit. I also have black booties that I really love already, though, so the Taryn Roses would be a little too close to overlapping with what I've got.
Jenni NZ, I completely agree on wedges tending to look clumpy... I think if they're not completely black, it can be less of an issue, but the all-black feels a bit visually heavy (and my year-round ghost-white feet and legs exacerbate that).
smittie, yes, that stiffness is the one thing that gives me pause. The leather on all the other pairs feels really soft, so that's the one strike against the Marc Fishers. But that *may* be fixable with pads... the one advantage of low-volume feet is that there's usually room to play with inserts that may solve various issues.
It helps *so much* to have your thoughts, comments, and musings, ladies! As comfortable as the wedges are, I think they're less my style and I wouldn't be as happy with the look, especially with skirts and dresses. I'll keep debating and trying on and walking around, but the Marc Fishers are in the lead right now... though I *may* compromise by getting the Louise Et Cies in black, and the Marc Fishers in a different color (especially if I can't brush out what might be a fully-worn down scuff on the suede from the poor packaging in transit... it looks like the black suede may have sold out, so I may not be able to exchange for a less beat-up pair). By trying on a bunch of options, I'm realizing that some of my older pairs of shoes fit less well than I thought they did, so it may be time to replace a few of those as well.
