Tradlands is a brand I discovered in the last few years as I began my personal style journey and endeavored to shop more intentionally all around.


They have some really high quality pieces and some iconic designs that come back season after season. I actually love this about the brand. It’s the whole idea of slow fashion -- not turning over so many new designs you can’t keep up as a consumer.

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Tradlands focuses on designing really solid pieces that become so loved they can keep bringing them back because you’re going to want that in another color.. or you want to save up to make a responsible clothing purchase. Or your best friend heard you raving about it all year and now they’re ready to make an investment. 

​Ironically I spent my 20s boycotting wearing white and now in the subsequent decade as part of refining my personal style, my closet audit capsules have already made it abundantly clear to me that I could use a few white/light pieces...

Included in the wardrobe gap “In Search Of” list is a light, neutral colored flat, preferably leather for longevity, that can look polished with skirts and dresses. I’ve found that I love a pointed toe shoe, especially if it’s a flat (over a round or square flat), and especially if I’m in dresses or skirts and I want to look put together. The pointed toe shoe style is very flattering and lengthening on a petite frame like mine.

I decided to go with the color cream, over say taupe, because I thought it would suit my wardrobe elements better. We’ll see if that was a good choice or not.

Update: Upon arrival, at first I was a little surprised at how white the “cream” colored shoes looked! I thought they would be a touch more off-white. After wearing them, I feel like they have looked great in every outfit so ... so far so good!

Historically I have always snagged size 8 shoes but lately I’ve found myself bumping it up to an 8.5. I’m not sure if it’s just because of the brand differences, if I always should have been an 8.5, or if it’s just my foot changing over time. I also think I have a bit of a bunion situation on one foot so I’m always curious to see how a shoe will handle that. Everlane advertises the 40 hour flat as true to size so I added the 8.5 to my cart but I dallied and it sold out as it happened to be on a pretty nice sale at the end of 2020. Sooooo... I took a gamble and went for a 9. It could be a huge mistake but I took comfort in knowing that these shoes seem to resell well online and possibly the extra .5 size increase could be good in a pointed toe shoe. We shall see. 

Love the simple outer packaging for this Everlane order with a cardboard box and paper tape. When I opened the package I was surprised to see my sweater (review here) in a plastic bag, a different packaging approach to my previous purchase from the brand in 2019 (read about it here) The 40-hour flat was in a cardboard shoe box, but something seemed off when I opened it. I actually think these shoes were used. Well, maybe not "used" but they were definitely a return based on 1. Subtle creasing 2. Random hairs inside 3. Fibers at the back of the shoe possible from a sock? But the worst part was a plastic shoe shaping piece (idk what this is truly called) was loose in the box and poking against the leather of one of the shoes leaving a mark. (QC where you at?) Now these were a steal for 50% off, but still it's not a great experience with the packaging this time around. But, let's try them out!

Why did I choose the 40 hour flat over some of Everlane’s other shoe offerings? My purpose in buying this flat was to have a light colored leather flat that would look fantastic with skirts and dresses primarily and I always love the look of a pointed toe for that goal. I think it really elevates an outfit, but it can be tricky to find a pointed toe flat that works for your foot without causing paint or issues. So that was a gamble. The Day Glove is wildly popular and reviewed at 4.58 Stars over 5,767 reviews at the time of writing, but I worried that I may feel frumpy in the round toe and also that the vamp would come up too high on my foot and possibly irritate my toes or exacerbate a bunion situation. The tapered day glove is a cute option that almost merges the aforementioned designs, ending in an almost pointed-squared toe with a nice center seam detail. I think I still prefer the look of the point toe 40 Hour Flat, though. And as for the 40 hour flat re-knit - i guess this is Everlanes’ ​answer to rothys, but if I wanted that knit kind of style I would just get another pair of rothys (save $20 here, review here) and I think the look of leather is more refined than the mesh anyhow.

First Everlane Order? Free shipping & returns here • Check for Cashback here

Right away I am loving the style of the 40 hour flat, the pointy toe which is ever so slightly squared off just pulls that "put together" vibe so easily. I slipped my foot in and guess what? All of my toes have wiggle room! I can tell a difference right away in the size of the toe box compared to my tieks (read here and here) and my rothys points (read FAQ here). My big toe is definitely not smashed into the point, which is what I was looking for. I'd rather the point extend a little further than have my toe smashed, bunion exacerbated and who knows what other foot issues incited. As for the length, I think the 9 is a tad bit loose. I am so curious as to how the 8.5 would have fit side by side to know if it would be a perfect fit or if my toe would be smashed into the point? I think I would rather have the looser fit than have my toe smashed, what about you? I can try some of my tricks to make shoes fit better (read here) to improve a slightly loose fit, but if it's too tight forget it... 

Day two is a WFH day. Right now I am 5.5 hours in to wearing the 40-hour flat at my desk and my feet are still feeling good. I opted to add this  heel insert for comfort and a better fit. I tried my custom insoles but they were too high for a good fit. Also the heel grips, and these heel inserts, but I think these were the best for me, so far at least. I'm always wearing no-show socks as personal preference. The pair I have  stick out slightly so I'm looking to try some with a lower profile. It's hard to balance a super low profile sock that actually doesn't roll down at the back. I heardSheec is good so I'm hoping to try them too! As for marks on my feet - A very subtle red mark on my pinky toe and bunion (side of big toe at the main joint) where they come into contact with the side of the shoe. This is a huge improvement over my tieks (I think I should have sized up) and also better than my Rothy's points. Additionally, the leather should give a bit as I wear them in so I imagine this will further decrease with time!  I can't speak to the shoe hitting the top of my foot yet since those socks were creating a bit of a barrier. 
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Okay so you always think you’re going to remember everything you don’t write down, which we all know is a total joke, so all the rest of the days blended together, but here’s the sum up:

I wore the Everlane 40-hour Flat for more than 40 hours last week and I am honestly quite impressed. The shoes look great with skirts and dresses which is the main reason I was looking for a comfortable leather pointed toe flat. I find that the toe box width is generous compared to other pointed toe shoes I have (rothys), but I also sized up to a 9 in these whereas my rothys are 8.5.

As for sore spots, at the end of 8-10 hours wearing these shoes straight I had some red marks where the joint of my pinky toe hit the outer side of the shoe as well as more subtle marks where my big toe hits the side of the shoe. I have experienced way worse sore spots on other shoes when worn for much shorter time, not to mention these are brand new shoes so I think that’s pretty impressive and I look to see those marks lessen over time as the leather molds to my feet.

What socks did I wear with the 40 hour flats this week? I wore these socks I got ages ago (2016), as you can see from the pics, they showed a bit and actually they kind of left marks on my foot from the elastic rather than the shoes lol. I also wore these lace socks I got years ago too. They peek through a bit and I think they look better, but I also came to realize these socks are actually too small for my feet. I’m sure they were a size range like 7-9, but I discovered they put pressure on my big toes and cause my foot to scrunch up in a bad way..

Sheecs would be a great option if you want a true no-shoe with this shoe. Discount code here.

I noticed when I wore the lace socks that were a little lower profile on the sides, every step I took the shoes made kind of a squeaking noise? I didn’t have this issue with the other socks I wore. I know some people have issues with tieks making weird sounds too.

The only thing I really wish is that these shoes just had a little more love in the sole. If there was just a bit more cushioning and support these would be absolutely amazing shoes. It would be nice to have some cushion without having to always buy something extra to stick into the shoe because often that alters the way the shoe fits which is not always desirable. I just think that if I was pounding pavement, commuting on public transportation, or traveling, while I love the look of the 40 hour flat, I wouldn’t choose them because there’s little-to-know absorbing of the impact of pavement.

First Everlane Order? Free shipping & returns here • Check for Cashback here

Overall I am really happy with this purchase so far. I think the 40 Hour Flat is a great addition to the more streamlinedcapsule wardrobe I am working to curate this year. It definitely fills a gap - close toed, flat, light neutral shoe for dressy clothing. I had absolutely nothing like this and I am already loving how it is working with a huge portion of my dress clothes Closet Audit Capsule January 2021. I am hoping to have these shoes for years to come, taking care of the leather and to update this post with how I feel about them in the future, how much wear I am getting from them etc.

First Everlane Order? Free shipping & returns here • Check for Cashback here.

Easy Eco Swap: Last Swab - reusable cotton swab
​discount code TRIPDONTFALL

​Bought: September 2019
Size: 00
Color: Royal Blue
Estimated Cost Per Wear: ~1.20
Like Love or Let Go: Love

Why I bought it:  

1. For all my adult life I have not owned a single button down shirt. It was time to give them a fair chance!
2. I wanted something with natural fibers (this is silk) that wouldn't cause the skin and temperature regulation issues that synthetics like polyester do.
3. Loved the color and it's 100% aligned with my style and can make endless outfits from what's already in my closet. 
4. It went on sale!

Pros

1. It fit so much better than I imagined!!
2. Love the color in person
3. Have been finding a variety of ways to wear it
4. I feel polished when I wear this top. 
5. Washable silk

Cons

1. I wish it tapered in just a bit more, but I'm learning to embrace this relaxed style!

How I Wear The Everlane Relaxed Silk Shirt
I love to wear dresses and skirts. My favorite way to wear this silk button up shirt is tucked into an a-line or flowy skirt. I also love to leave it unbuttoned, and tie the ends at a flattering length! This is a great option instead of wearing a cardigan or blazer if you want to mix things up. I also enjoy layering it underneath tops and dresses so the collar peeks out. 

Truly not much, as I mentioned above if it tapered just a bit (in other words less of a relaxed fit lol) but I think I'm just used to always having more fitted pieces so it's just a newer style. 

What I learned from buying The Relaxed Fit Silk Shirt

1. I learned that I can wear button up shirts and feel great in them! I think a nicely draping material is better for me than a rigid one, though this is pure conjecture since I've not tried on any other button ups. :)
   
2. I love this royal blue silk button up shirt so much that I started to notice how often I would love to have a light/white/off-white one to wear. I am searching for one (ISO White Button Up) and I have ordered one here, I'm waiting for it to arrive and give it a try!
   

Tip: I always wear something underneath this silk shirt and this cuts down on the need to wash it. I think it is dry clean only, but I washed it on delicate and hung to dry with no problems. ymmv.

Washable Stretch Silk Blouse - $59.90 here
90% Mulberry Silk Double Georgette / 10% Spandex
19mm fabric weight
$10 off your first purchase friend link

Premium Washable Silk Blouse - $59.90 here
100% Crepe de Chine Silk 
$10 off your first purchase friend link

101 Elms White Oxford - $167 on sale for $99.99 here
​100% Cotton Oxford
$25 off your first purchase friend link

The Comfy Dress Shirt $134
Lenzing Modal & Spandex
Not a button-up or collared top, but encircled is one of my faves and this is their current answer to a "dress shirt" so I thought I'd share. 
US/Global_here Canadians_here

Linen Lille Collar Shirt $84.44 on etsy
Medium weight (200g) linen
Measurements can be customized!

Linen Collar Shirt Marle $87 on Etsy 
Medium weight (200g) linen
Measurements can be customized!

Washable Silk Relaxed Shirt  - $110 here
​100% silk

Clean Silk Relaxed Shirt - $98 here
​100% silk

The Silky Cotton Relaxed Shirt - $56 here
100% Cotton

The Double-Gauze Relaxed Shirt- $58 here
​100% Cotton

The Linen Relaxed Shirt  - $58 here
​100% Linen

I'm wondering what my preferred fabric and style are. Remember, I'm new to the button up / button down world!

• The Tradlands button-up shirts are really highly recommended and well-loved. My concern is they may be a stiffer fit than I'm looking for?
• The Quince silk button-up shirts are very reminiscent in style to my Everlane silk (review here) which I like a lot! I wonder if it would be better to get the 100% silk or the stretch silk? Also, I would like to research the difference between Crepe de Chine Silk and Mulberry Silk Double Georgette .
• The Comfy Dress Shirt from encircled, I know I would love. Look. At. That. DRAPE! It would be fantastic with a lot of my skirts (not to mention pants), but I don't think it would truly fill my dress shirt/ button up gap. I want something with a collar to layer under certain tops and dresses like my All Day Work Dress!
• Not Perfect Linen has been on my radar for a while. They have a real loyal customer base and you can even send custom measurements which is awesome. I wonder, though, if linen is going to have the right drape and look for my primary use with dress clothes or will it come off too casual?
• Everlane has at least 5 potential options and again it's going to come down to fabric (silk, cotton, linen) and fit.
• Also, I'm wondering how I feel about pockets? Part of my says go for it, but another part is wondering if I won't like how they look and if they will create weird lumps when layering. So I'm leaning toward no pockets at this point.

Nothing yet! Still in the researching and saving $$ phase, but drop a comment as to your favorites!