VISCATA Sitges - Navy Blue EU44

In the less than a year, I've taken these shoes from my backyard, to Mexico, and even to Cuba. They're my go to casual shoes when going for strolls in the outdoors or running errands.Let me be honest: I don't recommend wearing these shoes for long walks In urban areas. I initially bought them with the intention of wearing them on campus, but because the rope sole is firm, they made my feet really sore after a while. So heads up if we're planning on using these in a city. Now you might be thinking, "Well, aren't they supposed be comfortable?" but again, they're made out a rope, with a layer of rubber on the sole (which doesn't add any cushioning) so their support is not on par with regular shoe soles.Where these babies do shine is when you walk on soft surfaces. From carpet to dirt paths, these are the type of surfaces these shoes were made for. I don't wear any socks with them (I don't believe you're supposed to anyhow), and I thoroughly enjoy the texture of the rope insole, more so that I find myself wearing these over my casual sneakers. Another reason as to why that is, is because they don't overheat. I wouldn't say they "breathe," but the canvas feels fresher. Quality wise, they looked sturdy from when I opened them to months after wearing them. I definitely felt like a really got my money's worth. In terms of fashion, they look great in person and even better on your feet. They look more sophisticated than TOMS, which I considered getting, but ultimately, the Sitges offered better versatlity. I made the right decision because I've gotten plenty of compliments on my pair. With all this in mind, these shoes earned a 5-star rating.Now in terms of durability, it all depends on how often you use them and what kind of conditions you put them through. Over a month ago, the rope sole on my right shoe started to unravel and overtime it got worse and worse, to the point where I stopped wearing them because they seemed they would fall apart. All of this was under a year since I purchased them. Now this is probably on me, because I've put them through some rough conditions (rain, mud, rocks), not to mention the extent of use. They were my main pair of shoes when I went to Mexico and Cuba. Had I gone easier on them, I'm sure they would have lasted much longer. I actually contacted Viscata's Customer Service (in about an hour, someone had replied to my message. Talk about prompt service!) about the unraveling, and they told me same thing. Here's some recommendations they gave me to extend the life of my espadrilles:"These type of shoes will all eventually start showing wear given they are made of natural plant products and depending on use frequency the jute threads will unravel a bit. However, they should be able to hold up enough that they won’t come completely undone. What you can do is just begin trimming as much of the loose threads as possible and if there are any big loose pieces if you put a little bit of glue it should help keep it together."I know this was a long review, but I just like to be clear and thorough, since I heavily depend on reviews when shopping on Amazon.

Okay, here we go.These espadrilles are a great construction, well made shoe. I would say get used to them and really break them in before you go and try to walk around some music festival all day because they are not a soft shoe. Really have the feel as more of a driving moccasin.Sizing:Contrary to most of these reviews, these shoes DO NOT RUN TRUE TO SIZE. I wear a size 12 and finally ended up with a size 13.5 that fits well. They will break in a bit but when you can't force your foot in, try the next size up.In fact, I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing 1 and 1.5 sizes higher than your regular size and simply sending back the shoe that doesn't fit. I personally didn't do this. I ordered the 12, it didn't fit, so I sent it back. Then I ordered the 12.5, it didn't fit, so I sent it back, then I ordered the 13 and it didn't fit so I sent that one back too. Finally I ordered the 13.5 and they fit well. (Note, this is the only reason I did not give these shoes 5 stars, had the listing explained that the shoes ran 1.5 sizes small, I would have given 5 stars)Styling:Definitely an must add to your wardrobe if you're looking for something that goes well with a pair of nice shorts and a button down shirt. The kind of outfit you'd where to stroll around a city in the summer but also wouldn't be out of place walking into a nice restaurant. These shoes offer the perfect solution between sneakers and dress shoes. Plus you automatically look more cultured than the guy wearing white Dad sneakers with the athletic socks.Also being in my late 30's, Toms shoes were out of the question so Viscatas are a much classier choice.Tip of the day, don't wear socks with these. If you must, wear no show socks.Break-in:Being that these shoes are canvas, expect them to break in over time and they will widen. They WILL NOT lengthen so make sure the size is long enough to fit your feet. I wore mine around the house for about an hour or two a day for two days and they fit great. (Also a shoehorn is your friend in the beginning)

I normally wear size 13, but after reading all the reviews here I was expecting the size 13 to be too small but I took a chance anyway. People are right, the shoes feel narrow and size 13 was very tight...at first. Having tried espadrilles before I knew that they do stretch after a while, and these were no different. For the first week they were very tight putting them on, but after 15 minutes or so they fitted properly (as always with espadrilles, no socks should be worn). In the second week, after wearing them for probably 10 times or so, they are no longer tight at all, not even when putting them on. They are now very comfortable! The quality seems good so far, and I was somewhat hesitant to spend so much on such simple shoes, but since they are original and imported I decided to take the chance. For those who think the shoes are too narrow, I do have somewhat wider feet (I never have to buy extra wide shoes however, I'm just a bit wider than a medium width) and these are just fine (again, after a couple of weeks of wear). Happy with my purchase and ready for summer!

Material & workmanship looked good, but the size was all wrong. I bough a size up to make sure they fit, but could not even get my foot into the shoe. Very disappointing.