Every once in a while, I see a new cute shoe brand everywhere–and then I realize how many of those posts are sponsored or gifted to influencers. That was the case with the Tony Bianco Gatsby loafer this year, and I was sooo taken in by its vintage look and promise of super-comfortable leather. So I decided to try the brand for myself! Here’s my Tony Bianco women’s shoes review, including my thoughts on comfort, support, and if the brand is worth the price!
Tony Bianco shoes I tried!
I ordered the Tony Bianco Gatsby loafers and the Bobbi flats. I hadn’t seen the Bobbi flats on anyone but loved the square toe, the strap for more comfort and security, and the crinkled patent brown, which I thought would add a little something extra to my office outfits.
I liked the style of both right away; however, the Gatsby loafers didn’t look quite as cute on me because of my larger shoe size (IMO). ALSO, the sizing is a bit complicated. The Gatsby loafers run small — I ordered a size 10, but I could not even get them on my foot. I reordered in an 11 (more on that process in a minute).
On the other hand, the Bobbi flats fit perfectly in a size 10. The reviews wouldn’t have helped anyway, because they didn’t mention that the Gatsby sizing was small. The joys of online shopping!
Tony Bianco support and comfort
As with all teachers, I always wonder if a new pair of flats or loafers will be comfy enough for a full day of work. Overall, I found the level of padding and support to be ok but not stellar. The Bobbi has a little cushion in the bottom so your feet don’t feel like they’re hitting the concrete. The Gatsby has a small heel.
I didn’t get a chance to assess the Gatsby support too much, however, because my pair had a very painful little piece of thread poking out of each shoe, right on top of the foot. I considered cutting a little moleskin to put over that thread, and then I thought, “Should I be doing this much for a $200 shoe?” Ultimately, I returned them.
The Bobbi has been great, though. I needed a band-aid to prevent heel blisters the first day I wore them, and now they are quite comfy!
US shipping and returns
Whenever I order from a brand based outside the US, I wonder about shipping times and the return policy. Tony Bianco is based in Australia, but one of my pairs of shoes shipped from an LA warehouse and arrived in a few days. The other pair took the long way over from Australia to Singapore and arrived in two weeks.
Back to my Gatsby loafer exchange: Tony Bianco offers a 30-day return and exchange policy. However, once I completed my exchange request and shipped the shoes off, nothing happened for about 14 days. I chatted with customer service, and my return was processed the next day. Then the new pair shipped, which took another week. Overall, the process took about a month, so just be aware!
The bottom line
Clearly, my thoughts are mixed. I ended up with a pair of shoes I really like, but I spent 30 days exchanging and returning them. I will put the brand on my “maybe” return to list. However, I am tempted by this little Parisian-looking heel….
That’s my Tony Bianco women’s shoes review. If you’re on the hunt for sensible and stylish women’s work shoes, I have also checked out…
Plus, my general favorite work shoes right now!
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