The last time I wore a pair of suede* shoes, I was five years old and bored out of my skull at my sister’s high school graduation. It’s not that I’ve been avoiding them all of these years, it’s just that I’ve never really had any occasion to wear them. Luckily, the Evo-Lite Albans Suede Shoes by Cushe don’t need a special occasion. They are a great pair of knock around sneaks, stylish (in that way that only suede can be) and comfortable as well.
When I first got my pair, the shoes felt a little stiff. This was surprising considering how lightweight they are, 13 oz to be precise. But after wearing them around for about a week, the material softened up and the comfort that I was expecting from a name like Cushe really started to come out. The uppers are a little thinner and less structured than most of the shoes that I own (these are definitely not court shoes). This is not a problem, it just took a little getting used to. The tongue does have a tendency to kind of roll in on itself when the shoe is not being worn, which is not really a problem either, unless you try to cram your foot into them without much care or the use of the opposable thumb.
I really like the little bit of elastic that is sewn into the sides of the shoe making it super easy to slip them on and take them off without having to deal with those complicated shoelaces. The elastic also allows you to fold the heel down into the shoe and wear them like a supremely fancy pair of slippers. This is handy, particularly if you own a dog that likes to wake you up in the middle of the night, and you don’t feel like taking him outside in your bare feet, but are still really hoping that you can navigate the next five minutes without fully waking up. I’m sure it’s also handy if you bring these to the beach or toss them into your backpack just in case you end up in some situation where flip-flops are not really appropriate.
The good:
- suede is nice
- comfortable
- elastic bit makes them easy to slip on and off
The bad:
- not much structure (hardly a problem, just don’t be expecting a rugged shoe, they are suede after all)
Would I recommend them? Yes.
Currently on sale at Cushe for $48.99
The more you know: The term suede comes from the French phrase “gants de suede” which translates as “gloves of Sweden”
Boring stuff:
All images via Cushe’s website.
Cushe supplied me with a free review sample. This did not affect the opinions expressed in the review.