As I mentioned in my What I Bought in December post, these Birdies shoes were my last purchase of the year. We were in LA and browsing Abbot Kinney (a street with a bunch of DTC brands like Everlane, Cuyana, All Birds, nadaam, etc.) when I popped into the Birdies store just to try it on. Were these shoes really as comfortable as all those Instagram ads promised they would be?
That would be a yes, but it depends on the style. I liked this shoe, called the Swan from the moment I saw it on an Insta ad, but when I tried it on in the store I loved it. First a note on sizing, these run TTS and I found the size 8 to be a perfect fit. Second of all, I’m already a huge fan of mules (my favorite go-to shoes are my St. Agni leather mules) so I find these easy to walk in. The Swans are slightly less secure than my St. Agni mules since the toe cover area is a lot shorter, but the crystal strap helps. I would not recommend getting the Swans without the strap across the top of the foot since those are much harder to walk in (they’re less secure on the foot).
I’ve walked around in my Swans multiple times since getting them, but the longest time was probably walking around a grocery store and then Target. They felt great but I could see that if you’re walking miles and miles in these shoes that the crystal strap could start irritating the top of the foot (but especially for those with a high profile foot like myself). An Insta friend said it best, these shoes are “home-car-dinner-car-home” shoes. I think they would also work in an office setting (or maybe an office party) where you might be on your feet but you’re not walking around a lot. Or maybe for a photo op in the redwoods (but definitely not for a real hike in a forest). But they’re hands-down the comfiest fancy shoe I’ve ever tried.
My feet have a fairly high arch and high profile, but I didn’t have any problems with the arch supports (which I sometimes have with flats—that’s the reason I eventually had to sell my Rothy’s). It doesn’t look it, but these Birdies have great arch supports. In fact they have “7-layers” of comfort, which you can learn more about here. And I can feel it. My foot feels cushioned and yet supported. I especially like the satin-y soles since they make the shoes feel a bit like house slippers (which is actually what the founders originally intended Birdies to be—and this also makes sense why this is a great slipper for standing in but maybe not walking miles in). I also like the rubber soles on the bottom, which make it really easy to walk in.
At the Birdies store I also tried some other styles of shoes including the Starling, which is their most popular shoe. I tried on size 8 (the same size as the Swans I got) and I found it to be a tad snug. When I asked the sales associate (who was wearing the Starling and swears by them), he said that the shoe doesn’t really stretch out though it will loosen a bit. I probably could have gone with the 8s and be totally fine, but I also wanted to see what the shoe felt like in an 8 wide. And I have to say I’m glad I did because the wider size was waaaay too big. It was wider and longer, and it didn’t fit at all. So I have to say don’t go with the wide size unless most regular sizes don’t work for you.
In the end I just stuck with the Swans because I was only in the market for one shoe, plus I like pointed-toe shoes best (for that leg-lengthening illusion). But if I were to get a second pair of Birdies, the Starling would be on the list (along with the Heron).
The only negative thing I have to say about this brand is that I wish they would be a bit more transparent about their production standards and their workers’ welfare. I learned they make their shoes in China (through an article but not on their site). And they don’t talk about ethics or sustainability. This is their one liner about it: “Our future plan also includes making significant strides towards reducing our environmental footprint." So I definitely wish they had something more concrete (like what are your actual plans?). Their social focus is more about uplifting women through partner programs including Project Glimmer, Angel City Football Club, and Soles4Souls. So I think they’re trying but I hope they start producing an impact report to let us know what they are actually doing to be more ethical/sustainable.
Oh and for their suede shoes, the sales associate highly recommended using Kiwi spray to protect them. And one last thing he said was that Birdies will take back your shoes (even worn—which probably go to their Soles4Souls program), no questions asked, if you return it within 30 days. If you’re interested in trying a pair, this referral link gets you $20 off your first pair (and it also gets me $20 off my next pair so thank you).
Please note I was not paid for this post nor did I receive this bag as a gift. But this post does contain affiliate links that could result in my earning a small commission (at no cost to you) if you click and make a purchase. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!