We've all been there. There's an event to go to, you're planning a swanky evening out, or even having a night out on the tiles (A rare occasion for me these days, I must admit). You dig out your best heels, coordinate your outfit perfectly and off you totter feeling fabulous. However, when you come across an uneven cobbled street, or you've had a few too many cocktails, you start to curse yourself. Why did I wear these godforsaken shoes? My feet hurt. I can't walk properly. I really wish I'd worn flats - I'm never wearing heels again. Well, this is where Sinderella Shoes would come to the rescue! The concept of folding shoes is not new, of course - I believe that they have been a thing for quite some years now. However, I've never owned a pair myself and there has been more than one occasion where I wished I did, so I could change into something more comfortable. However, being comfortable doesn't mean having to forsake looking stylish - as this jazzy number will show you!




These shoes are pretty much what you would expect; extremely functional, but they manage to look pretty at the same time. I chose the Leopard Print Ballerina Flats* in my usual size 7, which fit perfectly. They come extremely well packaged - unlike your regular flats which usually just come on their own - with a cloth carry bag, and a plastic zipped case that keep them safe and protected. If I was going out and putting these into my handbag, I just use the cloth carry bag, as it minimises bulk. When folded, they go down to about half the size of the shoe which obviously makes carrying them around a lot easier, and would save space in your luggage too if you were going on holiday or something similar. The heels fold very easily into the front of the shoe as the sole is very flexible, yet it is still sturdy and I don't see it cracking or coming apart any time soon. My only concern was that with wear, the underside of the shoes obviously become dirty/wet and would therefore end up inside the shoe, but actually that hasn't really been a problem at all. A quick wipe down with the bag usually does the trick, or I just wait until I get home and give the whole shoe a once over. In truth, unless you're planning on wearing them in mud (obviously not a good idea!), the shoes don't tend to harbour much dirt or water at all.




Sinderella Shoes was started in 2015, when they realised that the prices of ballet flats were on the rise, despite the quality seemingly getting worse. I know first hand that this is true; I've had many pairs from Primark, for example that were so uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. This is because they're often flimsy, with little or no cushioning on the sole to protect your feet and it often felt like I was wearing no shoes at all - and not in a good way. Strangely, I usually have problems with them rubbing, too, especially if I'm wearing them with bare feet. Where Sinderella Shoes stand out from the crowd is with this increase in quality and comfort, to really give your feet a break when you get out of those painful heels! These feature cushioning at the ball of the foot, padding at the heel and a memory foam sole throughout, which really does make a difference when you wear them for a while like I have. Usually my feet are aching and sore after a few hours wear, but in comparison these are like wearing slippers! The only downside I feel is that they don't have any support for the arch of your foot, which I do need, but I can manage just fine without. They're also elasticated around the tops, which to me looks a bit funny sometimes but for the comfort, it's absolutely worth it. No rubbing, extra flexibility and of course it makes them easier to fold - it's a small price to pay for the convenience of having feet that don't hurt!



In short, if you regularly wear heels and your feet suffer because of doing so, you need a pair of these in your life. As mentioned, nights out these days are few and far between, and less so when I have the occasion to wear heels. However, back a few years ago when most of my weekends were spent tottering around the streets of Leeds wearing ridiculous heels, these would have been my saviour. No more walking around with no shoes on at the end of the night (don't judge, we've all been there)! I've taken to wearing them on my way home from work, when I've had enough of being on my feet in heels all day. Not only that, but they're excellent, comfortable flats just to wear as normal too, without switching from heels. They come in a variety of colour ways and styles should the leopard print versions not be for you - I myself was tempted by the quilted black pair, but seeing as I have black ballet flats coming out of my ears, I decided to mix it up a bit. That, and I've had a penchant for leopard print shoes lately, so I couldn't resist. Invest in a pair of these instead of buying cheap ones from the high street next time you need some ballet flats - I promise that your feet will thank you for it!

Sinderella Fold Up Ballet Flats are available from their website and are currently on sale for £19.99 instead of £29.99