I never originally reviewed these Vince Blair slip-on sneakers (similar here) because they’re not particularly ethically made so I thought it didn’t fit within the realm of my blog (though I did do a comparison post about it here and you can see how they first looked brand new). But as a reader reminded me, an ethical closet is not just about buying secondhand or from companies that tout themselves as ethical and sustainable, but it’s also about slowing down your consumption and really using what’s already in your wardrobe. And you want what you have to be durable and worth it, so I really like doing these “100 wears later” posts (the first one was the Everlane Day Market Tote) to showcase how some of my favorite items have lasted. And since starting to use the Stylebook App (since Jan 2018) to keep track of my wear and cost per wear, it’s easier now than ever to see when I reach this 100 wear milestone. So how have these Vince Blair sneakers fared? They’ve held up like a champ!
These are my first pair of Vince shoes but I’ve eyed their shoes in the past (oh and just to note, these run true to size for me. I got these in a 7.5 but I wear an 8 in Everlane and other narrow shoes. But if you have narrow feet I think they run large so you would want to go a half size down). Yet I could never bite the bullet and purchase them because of their somewhat steep prices. But when I found these at a Nordstrom rack (while shopping with a Nordstrom employee so I got even more of a discount), I couldn’t resist! And I’m glad I didn’t because these are my most worn shoes in my closet (other than my Everlane street sandals which are sadly no longer sold). I got a gray pair of Blairs, similar to this one or this one, and they hide the dirt well. Even the white parts of the shoe don’t look that bad. They’re super comfortable to slip on and off, and have a great rubber sole for grip. I wear these without socks and even 100 wear later, there’s no smell (granted I don’t wear them that often in the summer because it can get quite warm and I hate sweaty feet)! The inside are lined with leather and that might be why there are no smells (and definitely why they’re so expensive). The inner leather lining is so luxurious but comfortable and it would be awesome if all slip-on sneakers came this way.
I’ve tried other similar slip-on sneakers, like the M.Gemi Cerchio (reviewed here) and the Rothy’s slip-on sneakers (reviewed here), but none can hold a candle to my Vince Blairs. The M.Gemi ones were too heavy and the Rothy’s are okay but just don’t feel as comfy as the Blairs and they’re also a tad heavier than the Blair.
I also wear my Blair sneakers out in light rain and it does fine (though this might not be true of the ones that are all leather on the outside as well. I think my pair has a synthetic gray material for the top). The elastic pieces make the shoe fitted but not too snug and the inner sole is padded just right so I can walk in them for hours. These have been my go-to shoe especially during the last 6 months of pregnancy because they’re so easy to slip on (no shoe-laces baby) and they have such a great grip so I feel safe walking around them in even the most slippery of situations.
Just like my last 100 wears post, I hope to write another review for these Blairs titled 200 wears later!