Is This the Comfortable Dress Sandal of Summer?

Fast Facts

• Material: nappa leather
• Size range: US 3.5 to 14
• Available widths: medium, narrow, wide
• Colors: 4

How I Tested the Shoes 

I evaluated the shoe on the PW100 for five attributes: quality, versatility, comfort, durability and value, for a total score out of 100 points. Over the past couple of months, I’ve worn them to professional and formal social events, including a four-hour stint in which I barely sat down.

Easy to Style 

Given that The Cleo qualifies as a “barely there” shoe, it wasn’t difficult to style with any of my outfits. I wore it with a dressy-casual sundress for a work breakfast, then slipped it on again with an ‘80s-inspired satin gown for a museum’s garden party. At every turn the shoes felt elegant, but they weren’t screaming for attention. 

Soft Leather = No Break-In

I love leather shoes, but I hate the break-in period. It’s always a little brutal, with one blister or two as collateral damage. The Cleo surprised me with its buttery leather that was so soft it was almost slippery. At both the ankle and the metatarsal, I was blister- and pain-free, even after walking/standing in the shoes for four hours.

Walkable High Heel

I love a chunky kitten heel, but it often tends to feel casual. I love Margaux’s heels, which, unless they’re platforms, tend to fall in the 2- to 2.5-inch range. The Cleo sits at 2.5 inches and is New York-friendly. I felt stable navigating the endless subway stairs, hopping in and out of cars and tromping across a museum lawn in them. 

The Straps Could Be Thicker

Again, the selling point of The Cleo is its inconspicuous straps, but for stability, I think they could have been a smidge thicker. There were a couple instances when I thought the shoe might slip off my foot, and having a strap that was a little wider would have fixed that. 

Great Padding But Weight Distribution Is Uneven

I learned something new while researching for this review: straps can help distribute the weight over the shoe. Because The Cleo’s straps are a little skimpy, I could definitely feel the effects of that weight distribution. The night of the garden party I attended, I barely sat down, and at the end of the night my feet were tired, and a little sore. In contrast, a similar, now discontinued pair of 25-inch Margaux heels I own with thicker straps are much more comfortable, even with the same amount of standing. On occasions where it was a more even balance between sitting, standing and walking, the Cleo performed great. But for marathon stretches on your feet, you might feel a little tired. 

The Cleo is great for both formal events and occasions where you want to be a little more dressed up. I’d recommend it for times when you know you won’t be 100 percent on your feet the whole time. (That being said, it’s a great wedding guest shoe.) I love how dainty it is, while still having a stable block heel, and the way I can style it with anything. The next time I have a night out, these will be on my feet.