Lately, none of my work shoes have been cutting it for me, and I’ve wondered if I need to invest in higher-quality options. The internet seems to know this, and I’ve been seeing a relentless number of ads for M. Gemi ballet flats. Made in Italy, the reviews are stellar. But most of the social media coverage I see is from influencers. So here is my entirely unsponsored M. Gemi shoes review.
Are M. Gemi shoes good quality?
I read an M. Gemi shoes review on Reddit and became a believer. Hoping to get what I pay for, I ordered the M. Gemi Una flats this month. The brand boasts that its shoes are made in Italy, in small batches, and are incredibly soft. And, they better be, because they clock in at around $300.
My first impression upon opening the Una box was “wow, these are thinner than I thought.” In every regard: the leather and most notably, the insole. The leather is very pliable, which is typically a good sign for me. I get blisters from just about every shoe that exists! And, I picked the python leather, but I wonder if a solid color like the black nappa leather would be much softer.
Are M. Gemi shoes supportive?
In arch support? No.
Lol ok, but seriously, for $300, the insole is 1) not thick and 2) not removable. So, where does that leave us? How can I turn these into my Italian-gelato-sampling European vacation shoes if they have no arch support?!?
They don’t suck to stand around in: I wore them around my house for an hour and found them perfectly comfortable in that setting. I just doubt they are a great walking shoe because the insole does not impress me in any way. I would recommend them if blisters are your number one concern, but not if you need a lot of arch support.
How do they run, size-wise?
I picked a European size 41 in M. Gemi. I typically wear a women’s 10/10.5 in US sizing. I found them true to size in length. The width was fine for me, and I have a narrow foot, so I’m not sure I could recommend them if you have wide feet.
I did appreciate the elastic straps on the Una, which I believe would reduce the chance of blisters, especially if you have a narrow foot!
The final verdict
I stood around in the Una flat for an hour. I didn’t feel bad, by any means, but I didn’t get that “omg these are THE SHOES for me” feeling I hoped for, especially given the price point. I found the Una flats to be very stylish, and I loved the snakeskin print, straps, and square toe. But for $300, I expected softer, thicker leather and better arch support.
A few additional shoes I’m considering trying that have a similar look:
-This Python pair from the brand that never gives me blisters
-A splurge, but has anyone tried Margaux? The arch support looks a bit better.
-You know Quince is making a dupe of most of these brands…
Have you tried any M. Gemi shoes? I would love to know if I just picked the wrong style for my foot needs! The sacca donna loafers also look great and are popular… maybe a more substantial shoe would be a better option.
Those are my thoughts on my M. Gemi shoes review. If you’re looking for more women’s shoe reviews, here’s my latest round up of recommendations!
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