The soles are shockingly fragile. Here's pictures from one day of outside use. Apparently this is normal and to be expected, but it's definitely not something I was prepared for.
Yup, this is completely normal for sealed leather soles. The sealant is meant to protect the spots on the sole that receive less wear (like the sides of the sole and under the arch), but will start to wear away on the ball of the foot the second you start to walk on hard surfaces like tile, sidewalk, and asphalt. Without it you would need to treat all areas of the soles right out of the box, but this sealant gives you a little time and means only the spot with the most wear will need to be treated with mink oil over time. You can read more about sole care once the factory sealant starts to wear away here: https://www.americanduchess.com/pages/how-to-care-for-leather-soles
The pro is these are very comfortable and awesome boots looks wise. For the price point of $300 after tax, I expected the stitching and quality of leather to last. This is not a case of brittle leather due to age - I’ve only had these for about 6 months! Not even 1 year, and the leather is tearing and flaking like a synthetic leather, particularly around the ankles. The toe still looks good, but I expected these to last years before looking this bad. Disappointed in quality.
This is highly unusual and we've never seen leather look like this on any of our boots! Please reach out to us at info@americanduchess.com with more photos of the boots from a few angles, and some information about how often they're worn, in what circumstances, how they're stored, and what products you maintain them with so we can troubleshoot and see what's going on!
I've been dying to find shoes in my size (11-12US) that are still cute and feminine. The Paris Boot is perfect. It fits great and it is super comfortable. They are my new go too for every day wear with almost any outfit. Well worth the price~
I selected the same size as the work shoes I wore and these lovely new boots are very comfortable straight out of the box! These laces can be tightened over my foot and loosened at the ankle and tied just the same as I remember lacing up skates as a child, and I can wear with warm socks!!
Holds up beautifully to NYC streets and is a go-to for a work day that goes from the office to being on feet for hours. Love this shoe and was thrilled to add this to pair with the black pair I already own.
I’ve been wanting a pair of Paris Boots for years. We live in a historic district and my husband and I do a lot of reenactments, function as docents during the holiday home tours and just like to play dress up. I prefer a boot style that would have been worn by an older and perhaps working class person, and the Paris Boot fits those requirements nicely. And they certainly are fashionably current as well! I wore them for the first time last night on Halloween with my witch costume and got so many compliments on my boots! I ordered a size 8.5 to allow room for my toes but truthfully I probably could have gone with an 8. But the 8.5 will allow for thicker socks or tights so I’ll keep these. The quality and craftsmanship of these leather boots is excellent, making them well worth the price. The heel height is just right and even after wearing them for 4 hours standing to pass out treats my feet were still very comfortable. I highly recommend the Paris Boots!
I got the black suede in wide and they’re so, so comfy! They feel so witchy!
I have had these boots for over a year now and just love them. They are very comfortable for a heeled boot and fit like a glove right out of the box. I have average width feet and always wear a 6-6.5. The 6.5 fits me perfectly. I don’t neglect them and regularly use leather conditioner and heel blackener so they still look almost new.
Something about these shoes has improved the way I carry myself. I am more mindful of my movements. I care more for my material things because these will be my lifetime boots. I will wear them regularly, i will wear them through and need to have them repaired. Not just tossing them aside and buying a new pair. (I am also buying another pair, but because i want to add a pair of oxfords to my wardrobe.)
Stunning and very comfy! I got so many compliments
These are my dream shoes!!! The kind I’ve wanted since I was a child! They were snug when I first got them, but they adjusted to my feet SO fast and now they’re incredibly comfortable. So far I’ve been styling them with modern outfits, but I have some Victorian events that I’m planning on wearing them for. I couldn’t be happier with them, and I’m so grateful to this company for designing such stylish, elegant shoes that work for larger feet like mine!
I had been eyeing these boots for quite a while and finally decided to treat myself to a pair. They're lovely and you can really see and feel the quality. I initially ordered a pair on the larger end of my typical size range. The fit wasn't ideal, so I reached out to customer service and they were super helpful and responsive. I exchanged my first pair for a slightly smaller pair and the fit is much better. Very happy with my purchase!
Been dreaming of these for a few years. SO GLAD I finally bought them!! They fit nicely- haven't worn them yet-In winter I'll have to buy a half size up so I can wear thicker socks. Wondered why you didn't use the fast "hook eyelets"- that would have made it really easy to get in & out of. Maybe in the future? I have some other of your shoes on my wish list for the future!! Sincerely,Marty Beljean
I love these shoes. The sturdiness of them stood out to me immediately. I could feel the quality. I took the advice of other posts and ordered a 1/2 size larger. I would have been fine with my normal size. The shoes look great with my 1896 teacher costume. I definitely want to get them in black in the future. I highly recommend the Paris style.
I've worn these Paris boots almost daily since they first arrived in 2021. At first they were very snug, but they quickly shaped themselves to my feet and became the most comfortable, perfectly fitting, everyday walking boot. I've worn them so constantly that I'm getting them resoled for the second time. Every day that they're in the shop is a day I think 'I wish I could wear those boots'. They're still going strong after five years and always get compliments from strangers!
These wee a birthday gift from my sisters. I had been waiting some for years!! Sturdy and very eye catching! Goes perfectly with both my Edwardian and Regency dresses.
These were a birthday gift for my daughter. She adores American Duchess shoes. And, she is vey excited to add these to her collection.
The boots fit well, true to size. They are comfortable and stylish. Like the quality.
I was looking for a classy boot for skirts and dresses, and these were perfect! I initially ordered 8.5W after reading the reviews. I exchanged them for 8.5M. Thankfully, there's just enough room for my toes with thin socks. These are comfortable and built well.
I got these shoes and then wore them the next day for several hours at a wedding. I didn't get a single blister or experience discomfort beyond what I would from being on my feet for several hours. They look great and feel great and are very well made!
I bought these because I have a pair of brown boots that were just completely falling apart. I’m so glad I did! I got them in Cordovan, size 5W. I have a pair of Londoners in 5, which fit me perfectly. As expected, these are slightly too wide for me, but are so comfortable! Couldn’t recommend more.
