Hi guys and hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Back with a review today (this one's for you Edwina), but it's not quite the same as my usual reviews since this is a bit of a high-end item. But if these shoes were made in Italy and I'm assuming by skilled craftsmen (as most high-end luxury items usually are--though now that I research it, Valentino really needs more transparency about their production because I can't find anything on it). For me these are definitely considered slow fashion since I've had the same pair of Valentino rockstuds (the 2.5" kitten heel ones) for over 3 years and I've worn them to pretty much any function that requires dressy shoes (basically to every wedding and holiday party in the last 3 years along with some Vegas nightclubs). And because these are high-end luxury shoes they have held up like a beast. Seriously, Vegas nightclubs are not a good place for shoes (people stepping on your feet and drinks spilling all the time). But they look almost as good as they day I bought them. The elastic for the small buckles are still holding up, all the leather is still good and no major marks on them (but that's also because I went with nude patent and it's fairly hardy compared to the regular leather).
And because I loved them so much I purchased another pair, a flat version (I think I'm getting old because I can't even handle kitten heels if I have to wear them for over a couple of hours). And to be honest, I love these flat versions even more. They are way more comfortable and less prone to blisters than the kitten heel version (3+ years and I still get blisters in the kitten heels sometimes--usually when I have to walk a lot). I know the age of the Valentino rockstud may be fading (it was trendy for quite a long time) but I don't really care. I love these shoes for how they look, not just because they're "in". Sometimes, under certain lighting, these shoes look super blingy and sparkly. Just what you need in a party shoe.
As for sizing, I'm usually a 7.5-8 (I wear 7.5 in TOMS, 38 in M.Gemi shoes and 8 in Everlane shoes) and I'm a 38 in these Valentino rockstuds. The flats are definitely more forgiving than the kitten heels when it comes to my wide feet.
I also love the nude patent because 1) it goes with everything and 2) like I said above, the patent is more forgiving in terms of stains or marks
Some pictures of the kitten heel version above and below.
I also once owned a pair of the 4" heel versions in black patent (pics below) but I couldn't handle the 4" heel. I am just not a heel kind of gal (to me it's foot torture akin to foot binding--it serves no purpose other than to give women pain but be aesthetically pleasing). So I sold them awhile ago and they found a happy home.
But if you've ever contemplated splurging on these heels, trust me they are worth every penny. And because these shoes have been my only pair of party heels for the last 3 years, I think the cost per wear is somewhere in $50 range (that's not great, but also beats buying $80 Aldo party shoes 3 years in a row and then donating them to Goodwill. Plus how many wears can an Aldo shoe really take?). I see it that at least this way, these party shoes will last me several more years and each year I'm not contributing to the pile of party shoes that end up in landfills. These may quite possibly be the last pairs of party shoes I'll ever purchase. Now that's slow fashion.
P.S. I'm curious to know how do you guys feel about luxury items. Yes, they're ridiculously priced but at the same time they are made by skilled craftsmen who should be paid fairly well (I mean I'm sure Chanel pays more than minimum wage right?) and they're made to last. Luxury items can also be mended and rejuvenated (like bag spas for handbags and cobblers for shoes). Plus most authentic luxury items can be resold and used lovingly by a number of people before they're chucked. So can they be considered ethical and sustainable?