I’ve always been a shoe aficionado. I remember when I was thirteen, I bought a pair of black t-strap pumps that had heels  covered with shiny metal. They were epic. I was so excited to wear them to church with an Angela Chase-esque dress and cardigan. On Sunday morning, My father took one look at them and told me no. I stuck to my guns and the resultant argument was so bad that he actually took them outside and THREW THEM IN THE DUMPSTER.

It was awful. My mom tried to recover them but she could only find one.

Now that I don’t need my dad’s stamp approval on my purchases, my tastes are not quite so wild. To help my ST choose presents for my birthday, I created a Pinterest board filled with stuff I’d love to receive. This year, my favorite item were the Realove shoes by Steve Madden in classic black suede.

Then, a few days before my birthday, I stumbled upon the Soiree by Jeffrey Campbell, also in black suede. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was love at first sight. I haven’t been that excited about a shoe in a long time. ST gave the OK to order them and that’s how I found myself with both pairs for my birthday.

When I was ordering the Soirees, I couldn’t find information about fit anywhere, so I just ordered my normal 6.5 from Urban Outfitters. For the Realoves, I also requested my usual 6.5. My experience with Steve Madden is that they are very consistent with their sizing (from flats to boots to wedges to sandals), which I really appreciate.

The Realoves are beautiful. The bottom strap is actually slightly diagonal, which is subtle in the image above. When you put them on, the skewed strap adds comfort and interest. They fit perfectly. Despite the thin heel, they are comfortable and feel sturdy.

Unfortunately, the Soirees run big. When I press my heel to the back of the shoe, there is nearly 1.5 inches between my toes and the top of the shoe. When I tried to walk in them, they looked good on my feet but felt ridiculous because there was such a large gap between my heel and the back of the shoe. My foot kept sliding forward, making it both awkward and comical to walk. Additionally, they cost $152 after tax, which is $72 more than the Realoves. So, back they went. For what its worth, they are gorgeous and feel luxurious.

I’m a little sad about returning them and am contemplating repurchasing them in a size 6, but the truth is I really don’t need both pairs. My club days are long gone so that minimizes my opportunities to wear them. They’re also a bit trendy and run the risk of becoming outdated. I tend to shy away from trendy stuff because I like to wear my stuff for years and years.

Anyway, I hope this is helpful for anyone who is thinking about purchasing the Jeffrey Campbell Soiree.