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I’ve been curious about Rothy’s for a couple years – ever since my best friend Margaret bought a pair and started raving to me about how much she loves hers. Plus, who hasn’t seen the slew of ads for these shoes on Facebook, Instagram, CNN – and basically everywhere?!
One of the first wave of direct-to-consumer fashion brands, Rothy’s was founded in 2015 and has since gone the way of Everlane and Away (both of which I also love) by becoming increasingly ubiquitous. I bought my first pair of Rothy’s in 2017 and my biggest question was – how do I decide between their classic round-toe shoe (The Flat) and the pointed-toe version (The Point)? Read on for a full review of each shoe and what you should know about fit.
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About the brand
First, a little about Rothy’s – the company truly prides itself on the sustainability of their shoes, which are woven out of a sustainable textile made from 100% recycled water bottles. To-date, the company has given new life to more than 69 million water bottles with virtually no waste along the way, thanks to a 3D knitting process.
The company also aims to carry very little physical inventory at any one time, avoiding overproduction, and encourages women to keep their shoes longer by making them machine washable. Good for your look and good for the planet? Win-win.
From their website: “Our mission was to create the most stylish, comfortable shoe for today’s on-the-go woman. And do it with low-waste, low-impact materials, hand-assembled for high quality and durability.” I’m down with that. With most of their shoes ranging in price from $125-$165, Rothy’s aren’t cheap, but I figured if they’re as durable and washable as advertised they could be well worth it.
I’d seen Margaret rock hers for a while and thought it was high time I give them a try, so last year I went online and took a look. Rothy’s flats come in a variety of styles, two of which I’m reviewing here – The Flat, their original round-toe silhouette; and The Point, a classic pointed toe version. Both of these come in classic solid colors as well as some fun intarsia patterns – color-blocking, geometric, and animal prints.
The Rothy’s Flat
The Flat is the original round-toe style. I purchased it in my usual size 7.5 in Spruce Python, a deep teal that looked like it would go with everything.
My first impression of The Flat was that, true to the Rothy’s word, they’re incredibly light and soft. Just taking them out of the box felt like I was holding nothing but air in my hands. On top of that, the knitted body was soft but very sturdy, and the insole felt positively buttery. I knew these were going to be super comfortable. Once I slipped on the shoes, I was immediately in love with how they felt.
My Rothy’s are the best travel companions because they’re lightweight and easy to slip on and off.
From their website: “We’re proud to say that we (finally) figured out how recycled plastic water bottles can be transformed into a comfortable knitted shoe that fits like a glove and is soft like a sock.” That’s the truth – it felt like I was wearing nothing at all on my feet.
Fit-wise, these worked ok on my narrow feet. For reference, my feet measure 7.5, and I often size down in pointed flats to accommodate my foot width – but with these I was able to take my regular size.
It feels like Rothy’s knits their shoes on the narrow side, and probably relies on the flexibility of the material and some slight stretch over time to mould to wider feet. The round toe was ultimately slightly less comfortable for my narrow feet than The Point (my toes naturally taper into, well, a point). While I was initially happy with how The Flat fit my narrow feet, I ended up giving them away a few months later and now I exclusively own Rothy’s in The Point style.
Final Verdict: Rothy’s run slightly narrow but have some give, so purchase your usual size. If your feet are very narrow, especially through the toes, The Flat may not be the best choice for you.
The Rothy’s Point
The Point is the pointed-toe variation of the original Rothy’s flat. I purchased a 7.5 in Inverse Stripe – a medium/light grey with stripes of burgundy, yellow, and dark blue across the toe and heel, perfect for fall. (2024 update: The Point II is a new, wider version of this style with a cushier insole).
Because of my narrow feet, The Point was definitely the way to go. These were also true to size and super comfortable, gripping the heel and not crowding the toe. I was very impressed at being able to purchase The Point in my normal size, 7.5, without having to size down.
Final Verdict: I ended up loving The Point style so much I bought it in several other colors as well. It’s my go-to shoe for work, weekend errands, and everything in between! This is a great option for women with narrow feet and based on what I’ve heard from friends, work great on normal width feet as well. Ladies with wide feet may want to size up a little to accommodate your toes.
Final thoughts
The allure of a washable flat is undeniable, especially for travel when you need something versatile and comfortable – as well as lightweight and packable. They bring a touch of sophistication to the fashionista’s travel dilemma, “Do I wear sneakers for comfort, or cute sandals for the style?” Rothy’s flats bridge that gap in a very functional way.
From the website: “It’s attainable luxury not untouchable fashion; and it works as well at a day in the office as it does when you’re playing tourist.” I couldn’t agree more.
Follow me on Instagram @theprimpysheep for more style inspiration, and if you enjoyed this post you might also like:
Are Rothy’s Worth It? 6 Pros and Cons to Help You Decide?
They look great on you!! (:
Thank you so much! Many other reviewers I found had wide feet. I will certainly try these out.
You’re very welcome! Please let me know if you have any questions. I found that the Rothy’s loafer fit ok width-wise as well, but the merino flats ran wide.