These Tory Burch Flats Make Every Summer Outfit Look Better

2 min read

Lately, I’ve been really into what I call my “single brain cell” outfits—also known as the ensembles that require zero effort. These are the outfits that, when pressed for time (or mental bandwidth, if I’m being completely honest), will feel undoubtedly put-together in a matter of minutes. As you might guess, these typically involve wardrobe staples like a classic white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, a cute designer bag—all of which you’ll find in my capsule wardrobe—and a head-turning statement accessory to give the final look a bit of oomph. And right now, said accessory is the Tory Burch Studded Ballet flat.

Now one of the brand’s footwear icons, this studded shoe is one I’ve had my eye on for a few seasons now. First, when it seemed like the edgy shoe trend was practically everywhere, and now, as a cool alternative to my everyday sneakers and easy loafers, as demonstrated by Jennifer Lawrence, who was spotted riding a Citi bike in them last summer. When the brand restocked this bestselling style earlier this season, I knew it was time to get myself a pair. I haven’t looked back since.

Studded flats are nothing new to the fashion scene, but boy, are they making an impact. Sure, many fashionable women are still leaning into the quiet luxury aesthetic, but these will be just the thing you need to zhuzh up your looks without going too far out of your comfort zone. They’re flashy—in the first two hours I wore them around the city, I got a handful of compliments from onlookers on my morning commute and my colleagues when I arrived at the office (and that was when they were simply styled with the aforementioned jeans-and-tee outfit formula)—but they don’t steal the show, either. Rather than taking the attention away from my sartorial workhorses, I’d go as far as to say these elevate my easy ensembles to cool-girl status. And if you’re asking me, that makes the cost-per-wear of these $395 shoes go a long way.

On the more practical side, these are supremely comfortable. Featuring Nappa leather for the upper, lining, and footbed, these mold easily to the foot, becoming increasingly comfortable as you wear them. My one (small) gripe is that the elasticated topline—which keeps these firmly on my feet through many, many steps—gets a little uncomfortable after hours of wear. That said, in terms of the overall shoe, there’s no break-in period, and I’ve had no qualms with the hand-applied studs (a testament to the quality).

If you’re looking for a pair of ultra-soft leather ballet flats that add a boost of serotonin to your daily looks, I highly recommend these.

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