These are my new Zorro shoes for obvious reasons. Think they look familiar? Well, if you're a fan of Palladium shoes, you might recall an identical style called the Kassel flat. The company has a new name, OTBT, for "Off The Beaten Track" and the Kassel has been renamed "Park City" and now comes in the most gorgeous metallic shade of blue.
I have to admit, it was the unique color and fun black "z" straps that initially drew me to this style . I was a bit skeptical about the comfort level as my feet often balk at ballet style flats for reasons such as limited toe room, bunion irritation, lack of arch support and heel rubbing. How did the Park City measure up?Let's find out.
Toe room: For a ballet style flat, the OTBT Park City has a very accommodating toe box. This comfortable shoe has a rounded toe that runs wider than most shoe of similar style.
Bunion irritation: It's a horrible word and I hate bringing it up, but many of you have bunions from either chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis or from years of wearing ill-fitting shoes. The OTBT Park City upper cuts across the top of my foot RIGHT BELOW the bunion area which makes for a much more comfortable fit than I'd find with most ballet-style flats.
Arch support: Not much. But the footbed is so wonderfully cushioned and the outsole is extremely flexible making the Park City feel like a lightweight slipper. Need a bit of arch support? Although I haven't personally tried these yet, I've read great reviews. Dr. Rosenberg's Instant Arches to the rescue!
Heel rubbing: None so far! But if you are prone to irritating heel-rub from flats, try Foot Petals Heavenly Heelz. I have these and they're wonderful.
So if you're looking for a youthful, comfortable flat to dress up your jeans, capris and trousers, I highly recommend the OTBT Park City flat. Plus they look great with leggings and a tunic!
A word about the straps. My feet swell easily so after wearing for a few hours, the straps do feel a bit tight. Just something to keep in mind...
Where to buy OTBT Park City and other OTBT styles (runs true to size, best for medium width feet):
- MustHaveShoes.com: $78, free shipping
- Shoebuy; $78.95, free shipping and returns. Running a 20% off Back-to-School sale currently.
- Endless; $79.95, free overnight shipping and returns.
- OnlineShoes.com; $79.95, free shipping and exchanges.
- PlanetShoes.com; $79, free shipping and returns.
