Beautiful shoe with serious sizing issues
928247
Three stars for these shoes. First, the pros: they're beautiful shoes. They have a patent leather look in a very rich black/mahogany type color. The sole is flexible and rubbery which provides comfort and decent traction without having a big, knobby tread. My hope is to wear these with both dress pants and skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans, etc. The cons: I'm a straight-up size 7.5 and typically have no trouble ordering shoes online. Because of the previous reviews, I ordered these shoes in both 7.5 and 8. When I received them, I pulled out a box and put on a shoe without looking at the size. As other reviewers have stated, it was horribly tight *over* the toes and, for me, also snug in the heel. I was surprised when I checked the box and saw that the shoe I had tried on was an 8! Very bummed, I figured I'd have to order a 8.5. Then, because why not? I tried on the 7.5. Amazingly, the 7.5 fit 100 times better than the 8. Some tightness over the toes, but not nearly as much as with the size 8. And, b/c these are leather, I'm thinking they'll stretch. The 7.5 also fit much better in the heel. Long story short, I'm keeping the 7.5. Obviously, the sizing in these shoes is inconsistent. If they weren't such a great deal, I'd probably return them and keep looking b/c, with such crazy sizing issues, I'm really suspect about the quality. However, for the price, I'm willing to take that chance.
3393836
Based on the reviews, I bought a size larger than I normally would. I wear a 10 so I bought an 11.  The shoes came and they are AMAZING!!  I love them! But even an 11 was to small.  So I returned the 11 and got a 12 (which I have never had to do).  The shoes came and even a 12 is to small!!  They fit but are so uncomfortably tight they are unwearable. I didn't return them because I love them so much I figured I would "make it work" however after 6 months I have not been able to wear these for more than 10 min.  Wish I had sent them back.  They are beautiful, they come in the prettiest box I have ever seen.  I cant say enough that if the sizing was more consistant my review would be a 5 star review and I would own many more pairs in every style!!!
3114726
I couldn't get a pair to fit. The 7.5 was to small and the 8 was too big.  But the coral patent leather with the gold streaking is beautiful! I SOooo wish this shoe would have worked. I ordered a different pair of coral colored shoes through Amazon because the return service was so easy - thank you!
2192237
Wonderfully crafted shoe that even 1/2 size larger than I have ever gotten from Allen Edmonds before was still a bit tight. I have purchased over 20 pair of AE shoes in the last 25 years. The last purchase perhaps 3 y ago was too tight and I can not wear them for more than a day at a time, then purchased as a 9.5 D, my usual. I purchased 2 pair recently at 9.5 D and had to send them back. I used the sizing system which said a 9.5D should have worked but allowing for room, I re-ordered a 10D which should have worked. These, too, were too tight but have loosened a bit in wearing them for a week--the old fashioned break in that seemed to be true with lesser shoes many years ago. I bought 3 pair this time and expect to have to break in the other 2 pair as well. That "runs a bit tight" complaint is one I have now seen online for AE shoes from others.
Do plan to order a 1/2 size larger than usual. The problem w ordering wider is that then the heel is too loose.
Again, these are beautifully crafted shoes otherwise, as always.
4141917
Opened the box and WOAH! Beautiful shoe! I love the suede-like (or is it true suede?) material. The color was like in the picture, a vibrant berry-ish color. Beautiful! I love the style and color. Put the shoe on. BAM! No go. Too short and too slim. I wear a 9 in basically, every shoe. I've only ordered or purchased in-store a different size if the seller blatantly states it runs small/big, if reviews blatantly state that (e.g., DSW reviews are combined to show a little graph for the width, length, and comfort), or if I try them on myself and find I need another size, which is rare. So.. I took a chance. It's not the seller's fault, by any means. The shoe just wasn't right for me. I could tell that the shoe does not offer much arch support, even by the pictures. I bought it for looks more so than actual walking for exercise or anything like that. So yeah, I would give it a second try. I didn't with these, I suppose they just felt too stiff.  Either way, I'm giving the shoe 3 stars for the following reason:
1. The color is accurate and it's BEAUTIFUL!
2. The style is adorable.
3. I can't fault the seller/brand, really, for the sizing being different than I expected. Their shoes, I ordered online, I didn't try on before buying, it happens. No biggie.

Return was easy.
1036637
I wish I could give a 5 star rating because the shoe itself screams quality. Im a 10 1/2 normally and received a size 11 as a Xmas gift. Unfortunately they were way to tight for my liking, so I exchanged them for a size 12. Now, they're unfortunately too big! However, im keeping the 12s and just electing to double up on socks as I do love the shoe. If you're a 1/2 size I feel like they're going to be either to tight or to large no matter what you do, if you're an even number shoe size just go 1 size up and it should fit perfectly for you.
599457
The look of this shoe was great, loved the brown and black together. It's even better in person than in the picture. However, I'm sending it back because it's way too small. I'm a 6.5, have never bought a 7 in my life, and this feels more like a small 6. It's not just tight, it's a six, or smaller. I kept checking to make sure it wasn't the wrong size, but they have it marked 6.5. Maybe it got mismarked. I love it so much that I'm exchanging it for the 7, my first 7.
4570528
These shoes are absolutely beautiful!! This is what my daughter wanted for homecoming as they were having a Wizard of Oz theme. I bought a size she normally wears and they were way too small. She couldn't even get them on her feet. So I ordered another full size up. They fit a little better but were still quite snug and hurt her feet badly. She could only wear them long enough to get to the school and then she took them off right away. It's such a shame because they are so beautiful! I would highly recommend them if you can find the right size. Thankfully, returns are free.
2056211
I love the shoes, however, the sizing is so off.  I have to return them.  I ordered two sizes down than my women's 8.5 size, as recommended and they are HUGE! Love these shoes, just please beware of sizing with this type of Converse shoe before ordering.
1065327
Great looking shoe, way too small and narrow.
4610345
What a great shoe; nice leather, well made, etc, however the sizing is more like European sizing with 8-81/2.  My husband is a true size 8 and we unfortunately had to return these.
It is very disappointing, although I would recommend them to anyone who does well with the 1/2 sizing.
1422967
i liked the quality and build of these shoes when they arrived. however, as the other reviewer mentions the sizing is not correct, at least compared to every other shoe i own. i wear a size 10.5 universally. so i ordered in this size only to find that they are painfully small, hopefully only by half a size, though i fear it may be by a whole size. i reordered in an 11, but i am not sure still if this will be the correct size. backcountry was very helpful on the phone in offering me a return, but could not speak for the sizing issue with these new balance shoes.

so ill try the 11, and if that is too small, ill return again for a refund this time. so a word to future buyers: they are sized smaller than what you normally wear. order accordingly.
769930
These were beautiful shoes! HOWEVER... I ordered them and they ended up being too small. I tried wearing them just around the house and decided there was no way I could wear these anywhere else. I returned them with no problem, however I looked for hours to find another pair my size and had no luck.  These are absolutely gorgeous and it's a shame I had to return them.  If you're looking to buy them, you need to go up one whole size in order to fit. I'm really sad that I couldn't keep these. Wish the seller could somehow find me a pair! (Size 9.5 is what I would need!!) it's definitely an excellent buy for someone else though!!
1940178
I ordered the size 40 since the official Arche website size conversion chart indicates that the EU size 40 is equivalent to US size 9, which is my size and the size of my other Arche shoes. However, this shoe fit more like a 9.5. I had about 1/2 to 2/3 of an inch of space between the front of the shoes and my toes. This wouldn't have been as much of an issue in a closed shoe but this is an open-toed sling back shoe. I am so disappointed that I have to return them. These are beautiful and exceptionally well made shoes as I have come to expect from Arche. I would recommend them highly but keep in mind that they run long.
4296882
Gorgeous shoe! I bought the Ironstone suede, detail and color are beautiful. Sadly, I had to return due to sizing.  The shoe felt  1/2 size too big for me.  I am a 9 medium but it felt as though it was 1/2 size larger in length.  Also, it is narrow as other reviews have stated - for me fit was not an issue.  Would have loved to exchange but the price doubled:(
4465541
I'll begin by saying that this is an absolutely beautiful shoe. It's very sturdy, crafted with expert workmanship and impeccable attention to detail. Everything about this shoe is just perfect, except for the width... I wear anything from a 9 EEE to a 10 EE, depending on the fit of the brand.  Having found several pairs of 10 EE dress shoes in other brands that fit very well, I assumed that ordering these in a 10 EEE would mean that I should at least be able to jam my feet into them, if nothing else.

When I tried them on, I was so disappointed! The width of the EEE is a C/D, at best. I couldn't even get my whole foot into it! The length was off, as well, looking more like an 8.5-9, rather than a 10. My advice to those with wide feet is to keep looking. If you can wear a B/medium width or are just a BIT wider, these will probably fit you perfectly, though you may wish to order a half-size up in length. This is a pair that I am very sad to return.

Buyer beware: you WILL fall in love with the exceptional quality and graceful look of this shoe, and you will be overjoyed with your purchase... unless you have wide feet. :(
689109
Beautiful shoe, but one shoe was a full size bigger on me and even with cushioning I couldn't get it to fix, and had to return them.