A Letter From Patricia

I'm 64, and for the first time in years my feet don't ache by lunchtime.

A roomy loafer with a soft bow, a wider front and a low, steady block heel, made for long days on your feet that still look put together.

At 64, I have learned that my feet decide how my day goes. If my shoes pinch by ten o'clock, I am counting the minutes until I can get home and kick them off.

For years I switched between two kinds of shoes. Sneakers that were comfortable but made every outfit look like I was heading to the gym, and pretty flats that squeezed my toes and rubbed the top of my foot raw by the afternoon.

I wanted one pair I could wear to the market, to church and to lunch with my sister. Something with room in the front, a little lift, and enough charm that I would actually want to wear them.

The day they arrived, still wrapped in tissue paper.

That is how I ended up with these loafers from Eliza & Maren. I chose the black, because I knew they would go with almost everything I own, and they have.

Here are five little things that make these loafers worth a closer look.

Room where your toes actually need it

The square front gives my toes room to lie flat.

The first thing I noticed when I slipped them on was that nothing squeezed. The front is wider and squared off instead of pointed, so my toes can lie flat instead of being pushed together. It sounds like such a small thing, but it is the reason I could keep them on all afternoon.

If my toes have room to breathe, I know I've found a good pair of shoes.

Dorothy Sullivan, Boston, MA

A higher top that doesn't dig in

So many flats cut right across the top of my foot, and by evening there is a red line there. These come up a little higher over the foot, so the pressure is spread out instead of sitting in one spot. They feel snug enough to stay on, but never tight.

I love a shoe that stays comfortably in place without pressing against my feet.

Karen Mitchell, Nashville, TN

A low block heel you can trust

I gave up on heels years ago, but completely flat shoes never felt right either. This heel is low and wide, so I get a little lift without wobbling. I have walked on brick sidewalks, gravel paths and a slippery church floor in them and felt steady every time.

A little height is lovely, but feeling steady on my feet matters even more.

Sharon Campbell, Chicago, IL

The bow makes a plain outfit look finished

I am not one for fussy details, but this soft bow on top is just enough. With plain jeans and a sweater it makes me look like I made an effort, even on days when I didn't. My sister noticed them before she even said hello.

Sometimes all it takes is a pretty little bow to make an outfit feel special.

Betty Robinson, Charleston, SC

One pair for jeans, dresses and trousers

Saturday morning at the farmers market.

This is the part I love most. I wear them with cropped jeans to run errands, with a midi dress to lunch and with trousers when we go out for dinner. I have stopped packing a second pair of shoes "just in case," because I don't need one.

If I can wear the same shoes to lunch and dinner, that's a winner in my book.

Sandra Edwards, Denver, CO

These loafers, against your usual flats

	Typical flats	These loafers
The front	Narrow or pointed toe	Wider, squared front with room for your toes
The top of the foot	Cuts across and leaves a red line	Higher cut that spreads the pressure
The heel	Completely flat or too high	Low, wide block heel for a steady step
The look	Plain, or pretty but painful	A soft bow that dresses up any outfit
Wearing them	Off by mid-afternoon	Comfortable from morning to evening

The price right now

I always enjoy finding something lovely on sale, and this one was a nice surprise.

Right now these loafers are $59.95, compared with $199.95. That is a saving of $140.00 against the listed compare-at price.

And if you are buying for a sister or a friend too, the more you add, the more you save. The discount is applied automatically at checkout.

Three outfits, one pair of shoes.

The older I get, the more I appreciate things that make ordinary days a little easier. A pair of shoes I can put on in the morning and forget about until bedtime is worth more to me than anything trendy.

These loafers have become exactly that pair. Roomy where it matters, steady underfoot, and pretty enough that I feel put together when I meet my sister for coffee.

If you have been choosing between comfortable and nice-looking for too long, I think these are well worth a closer look.

Patricia Miller · North Carolina

Black · Sizes 5–11

This review reflects Patricia's personal experience as an Eliza & Maren New York customer. She recieved no payment or compensation for sharing her experience · Eliza & Maren New York · Free US Shipping · 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee