I purchased these for theatrical and historical interpretation and the are fabulous. They look great, are incredibly comfortable, and I've worn them for hours at a time indoors and outdoors and on my feet for hours.
Well I was so excited to finally buy American Duchess. My suspicions immediately was aroused when the packaging came- it smacked of Chinese origin. The leather of the shoes is barely above plastic. It probably costs $10 to manufacture a shoe with an insane profit markup. You guys are hocking cheap junk at a premium. Consider me swindled.
Our Londoners have always been made in China from high quality leathers, and the origin is disclosed on every shoe's page so that you can make a fully informed choice. We also have a sourcing page that discusses our manufacturing choices in depth. All of our shoes are well made by skilled artisans from high quality materials, and that care and quality is reflected in the price we pay to make them. Should you be unhappy with the Londoner, we have a very generous returns policy.
I ordered a pair of the Edwardian Oxfords in Black. My sister has a pair in the Oxblood color. I have wanted these shoes for so long, and I finally ordered a pair. I am SO pleased with the quality and fit of these shoes....I may just order a pair in Oxblood as well. They're SO comfortable. Thank you so much American Duchess!
Quick have become my favorite oxfords!
These shoes look incredible and they’re very durable! I’ve been wearing them every day for about a week and they’re hardly scuffed.
Going from not wearing heels at all to wearing these has been a bit painful. They put pressure on your toes and knuckles, but with the right socks and a little moleskin, they’re quite comfortable! The heel is surprisingly stable, and I haven’t had any balance issues.
We're glad you like them! A brand new pair of leather shoes does require a bit of breaking in, so we do recommend taking it slowly at first and only wearing them for short periods of time until they've softened and molded to your foot a bit. That goes double if you're never wear heels - give your feet some time to adjust, and your skin time to adapt too!
The color is a bit more purple than red,
otherwise a perfect fit! I can walk in them for hours and not experience any pain that i normally feel in modern heels.
I LOVE these shoes. I am always worried about fit when I order online, but these shoes were perfect. They are true to size. The heel height is quite manageable. The shoes are of excellent quality. This is my 2nd pair of American Duchess shoes, and I'm absolutely obsessed. I hope they come out with an even lower heel Oxford, too, as that will be on my list. Love, love, love.
Great quality, I’ve wanted a pair of these for awhile, glad I finally pulled the trigger.
I fell in love with the picture of these shoes on the website and bought these as a Christmas present for myself. I was very excited when they were delivered this week. I ordered size 9W, the size I usually wear. When I tried them on tonight though, it was immediately evident they were far too short and narrow for my feet, and that their shape made them so painfully uncomfortable and pinched my toes so badly that I didn't even try to lace them up or walk around in them. Off they came and straight back into their packaging and shipping box they went.
I didn't have this problem with my Paris Boots which I bought last July and which are the same 9W size. I can see from reviews that other people who have bought these same shoes had much better luck with the fit and comfort than I did. Maybe my feet are just not the right shape for these shoes. Or there are some of us who need them in double wide.
We're sorry to hear these weren't a good match for your feet! The Londoners do have a much pointier toe than the Paris, so they will feel a bit differently for some feet, especially if your personal toe shape is very squared off or broad. Luckily, we have a very easy returns policy!
Our team is always happy to assist with sizing and fit questions, both before and after purchase - just reach out at info@americanduchess.com and we're happy to help!
I just received my brown Londoner oxfords yesterday. They are so beautiful, and the heel height is just right. But ...there's a problem. The right shoe fits like a dream, but the left one is far too narrow, and I can scarcely get my foot into it. The problem seems to be in the widest part of the toe box, right where my foot flexes - it's just way too narrow at that point.
I'm not sure what to do - I can wear it and hope that it stretches and doesn't injure my foot in the process, or I can send it back, but the 10.5 shoe is sold out, and size 11 will be far too large.
We're always happy to assist with fitting questions - just message us at info@americanduchess.com and we can ask you some questions to find out more about the fit and then walk through the various options! Everyone's feet are at least a little asymetrical, but there's various tips and tricks to get a good fit that's more customized to your particular feet.
These are like the shoes we could buy 60 years ago. All leather, beautifully made, very comfortable. What a thrill to get them. They look great with my wide leg pants as well as maxi skirts.
I had to size down. because they are leather they will stretch a bit and conform to the foot--just like the great shoes we used to wear. I will be getting more!
I was blown away with just how beautiful these were! Packaged well and arrived quickly. The workmanship and feel is outstanding! Put them on immediately (on carpet) to check the fit and feel….perfect!!! Ordered my normal size and was able to wear for hours with no discomfort at all. Felt custom made. Will definitely be ordering more in the very near future.
Such quality and beautiful too…then they feel comfortable too??? Yes, all the way around. So happy with them.
I've worn these several times now, including a few days when I was on my feet all day and walking several miles. They were relatively comfortable, look great, and they will hold up. (I appreciate the extra heel inserts!) They are a bit tight on my larger foot and perfect on my smaller foot, so I think they run a tad bit small. But I'm very pleased and will happily order again.
My mom got me these for my birthday. These fit me perfectly! For reference, I usually wear a size 3 in big kids shoes, approximately equivalent to a 4.5 women’s. The size chart on these is super exact. These work for my fairly narrow feet super well, but if you have wider feet, I’d probably say to go for the wide sizes to be safe.
As a victim advocate, I am on my feet all day. Often traveling to several courts within a single day to support victims of domestic violence, my attire is professional and conservative. I need footwear that is supportive and comfortable without being Dowdy.
This shoe is so very beautiful with buttery leather that perfectly forms around the toes, the joint, and the arch.
A sculpted & perfectly balanced heel allows me to step confidently with a Sound that makes me feel Just Right.
Indeed the Londoner Oxford feels like an extension of my body and my purpose. If ever a shoe inspired confidence, This would be That Shoe.
All I need now is More American Duchess!
Lovely shoes, I feel like I'm transported through time when I put them on. A little uncomfortable when first put on, but once broken in they are extremely comfortable.
I visited Colonial Williamsburg last autumn and wore them for three days straight from early morning till evening. I walked over six miles per day in them and my feet felt no more tired than if I'd been wearing running sneakers all day.
Cannot recommend more.
I just spent $200 I really don't have to spend on a second pair in brown.
These were perfect. I have women's size 4 feet, and size 5 is the smallest AD goes. Some of AD's shoe designs are too big, even in a 5. These must run small, as size 5 fits my size 4 feet like a wonderful glove! Perfect for me, but others may want to size up. I got the blue and cherry. Wish the green size 5 would come back.
This shoes as like any other shoes ordered from AD is beautifully crafted. It fits me perfectly out of the box without any need of breaking in. It versatile and so gorgeous - effortlessly elevating any outfit from casual chic to elegant sophistication. I’d recommend it to anyone.
I make Edwardian inspired clothes, and have been longing for some American Duchess shoes for years! Finally I got them, and I am not disappointed at all! They are absolutely beautiful, and they fit quite well. I have kind of annoyingly shape feet, so I will want to use the stretch spray to help shape them a little better, and maybe use some arch support. Other than those things (which are totally on my side), they are perfect. Even more beautiful in person!
I got these shoes after hearing Bernadette Banner and Nicole Rudolph talking about how older heel styles are more comfortable than modern ones. I've had issues with heel pain and still love to wear higher heels at work. These shoes are perfect! Classy, comfortable and I'm looking forward to wearing them for a long time. The folks at American Duchess gave me some tips for finding the right size after I tried on a pair someone else had bought that were my usual size. They helped me determine that I needed to go up a half size to fit my longer great toe with the pointed toe box of the shoe. If you have any size questions, definitely reach out to them.
Definitely recommend!
I got these shoes for Christmas, and in the 2 months since then have given them the absolute runaround. I've worn them to class. I've worn them to an interview. I've worn them to a Broadway show. I've even walked home through a surprise snow storm in these shoes. And when I tell you, not one. Single. Blister. Granted, after a few hours walking around on hard leather soles my feet do get a bit achy, and I had to exchange 9s for a 9.5, but break these shoes in slowly and they will treat you well.
These are the literal dream edition to my wardrobe. I've gotten countless compliments on them. The sound they make when I walk down the street is enough to make them the best shoes I've ever owned. 1000000/5 stars.
I have not had the opportunity to wear them. They are gorgeous and well made. I do wish I could have ordered a blue pair before they sold out. They will definitely be worn at every opportunity and I am saving up to buy a different pair of Edwardian shoes. It would be wonderful to have all of my Edwardian dress shoes from American Duchess. Thank you for making such lovely, well made shoes!
Interesting shoes are my guilty pleasure - and I have finally found a shoe worth the money! These oxfords are comfortable after many hours on my feet at events and walking for hours on tile and marble floors. The look great, too, and are consistently complimented by men and women alike :-)
