These shoes are great. I wanted something elegant but with a low heel that could work for period costume and modern attire. I ordered half a size up for comfort. The buttons can be tricky but I have a buttonhook from a different pair that I utilized.
I was pleasantly surprised as to how comfortable these shoes are. They look super cool and I use them often. I love them so much that I got a pair of the Mae Edwardian in French blue they are as beautiful as theses ones and I get plenty of compliments
These were perfect for my wedding. My feet never hurt at all, even after standing on cement for hours.
I didn't know it when I ordered these shoes, but I LOVE that you can choose to button them on either side of the shoe!!! Sometimes it's hard for me to button a shoe on the outside. (^_^)
This is my 3rd pair of AD shoes. Same high quality workmanship & fit as my others. I really like the lower heel for long days at the museum.
Not as comfortable as I’m used to American Dutches shoes being but still fine. I like that they give you replacement buttons just in case.
I bought these for my upcoming wedding! They are even more beautiful in person!
Theses shoes are interesting and picturesque. They are comfortable as are all AD shoes.
Just a wonderful style for my foot! SUPER comfy from the very first wear. I love this shoe - wishing I had it in black too.
Got these for my wedding. I ordered a half size up from what I usually wear after a previous mistake I made ordering a different pair from this company (went with a 9 instead of my usual 8.5). It worked perfectly! These are going to be lovely, I’m so excited. The buttons were definitely a fight, I had to use a screw driver to pry them off and then force them back in, but once they were secured, they weren’t going anywhere. No sagging or anything, and they felt super safe, not flimsy.
Hi Bethany,
We're so glad you love your Astorias! We do recommend using a button hook over a screwdriver, as a screwdriver could damage the buttons or the leather. You can find the button hook we carry here: https://www.americanduchess.com/collections/historical-footwear-accessories/products/reproduction-victorian-button-hook along with a helpful video on how to use the hook. You can also find less fancy, more utilitarian button hooks pretty easily online.
I have a pair in oxblood, so I know this model is very comfortable for hours of wear.
I will warn those unfamiliar with this brand that the Gibson model is not quite so comfortable. Your best bet for comfort is Mae, Bellatrix and Astoria.
These shoes are perfect for my upcoming wedding. They fit comfortably and don't pinch or hurt. The button hook was a good thing to get for them, because trying to do the buttons without it is fiddly.
This is a comfortable, yet stylish historical shoe that works well with my early 1900's summer clothing. I already had this shoe in black and was happy to be able to buy it in this color as well, as I have trouble finding shoes that both look good and fit my wide feet.
I am the curator of our welcome center's museum, which is in a Victorian house. I look forward to wearing these shoes for events!
Just needs a button adjustment, almost perfect.
These are both the cutest and most comfortable heels I've ever own. I didn't feel any discomfort walking on city sidewalks while wearing these heels. Will definitely purchase more shoes in the future from American Duchess.
The heel is lower so I expect to have good comfort when I dance with these at the Balls I go to. Regarding size: I'm a reliable size 8, medium width. The rounded toe area provides enough room for my toes to stay comfortable (pointed toe shoes are more of a challenge for me). I don't have a high arch so there is no problem with buttoning the shoes. Do get a button hook if you don't already have one.
This charming and well-constructed shoe is just the right height, comfortable and simply beautiful.
As a violinist, it’s hard to find elegant shoes that are comfortable enough to stand and balance in while performing.
These shoes have really come in handy! They are so well balanced that I don’t feel like I’m wearing any heal.
I recommend them for anyone who has to be on their feet for a while, and is not willing to compromise comfort or range of motion.
The shoes looked a bit more delicate in the pictures than they are in real life. The leather is thickly layered and stiff. The height of the toe box seems a little excessive. I had to wear substantial socks with these, which is not what I had envisioned.
But these are small issues when compared to the high quality of these shoes!
Good arch support and they stay on my feet when I walk because of the straps. The color is a little darker in person than the photos show, however. This may be the result of using flash to take the photos.
I've been wanting a pair of navy shoes for awhile and these are just perfection. The lower heel means they are very comfortable. Even wearing them a whole day my feet felt just fine which is rarely the case for any obvious heel for me.
Of AD shoes they're on the narrower/tighter end, similar to the Mae style rather than the Pompadour. But wearing them for a day with a thick pair of socks they fit just fine now. Definitely not enough to size up unless you plan to wear these with thick socks/inserts. Oh and get the button hook tool if you don't have it already. It makes life so much easier, though once you do up the buttons a few times the button holes break in so they're easier to do.
These are, hands down, my favorite pair of shoes ever. They are comfortable, cute, and versatile; I can wear them with jeans at the grocery store or with a dress for a nice dinner. The straps adapted to my high arches after only a few wearings, and my toes never feel cramped even though my feet are a bit wide. After two years during which they've been worn at least four times a week, I had to have the heels replaced - mostly because I walk on the outsides of my feet and had worn the heels unevenly. An unexpected benefit is that leather soles mean that the bottoms of my feet don't get chilled walking on frozen pavement. Worth every single penny I spent and more.
These are by far the comfiest nice work shoes I’ve ever had. The toe box is large enough and the height is just right for 8-hour wear. Plus, compliments for my snazzy footwear from coworkers.
Amazing shoes! I was kind of nervous about the heel height, since I have unstable joints (thanks, hEDS), but I feel super secure and haven't even turned my ankle once. Admittedly, I bought these secondhand (but worn literally twice, with nearly pristine soles), but wow were these comfortable right out of the box! I expected to need to break them in at least a little bit, but nope! I wear a 8.5-9 US shoe and I have a slightly wide forefoot and narrow heel, and the 9 is great, enough room if I wanted to wear thick stockings, but not too big. Will absolutely be buying another pair of AD shoes, probably several pairs.
I have worn these shoes so much over the past few years, that I now need to have them resoled! I love them so much!!! I was able to move the buttons with ease for a more snug fit. Simply beautiful and comfortable shoes.
These shoes are gorgeous relatively comfortable to wear. But beyond the quality shoes, I have to give a shoutout to AD's awesome customer service team. After my first shipment was stolen, they helped me resolve my issue with USPS in a timely, friendly manner. I wish every CS rep were as helpful as Chris!
