L'Artiste Tanja Wedge Sandal

These sandals have proven in only two wearings to be a great casual sandal for style and comfort. L'artiste has become my go-to brand when I need to replace a shoe type because I know they're made well and I always feel beautiful in them. This Tanja sandal in particular has been put through the ringer this weekend on my first two wearings: a lot of walking, hunting for a special dress in hot weather. The materials are soft around my feet: no blisters, no sharp edges on the straps. The Velcro makes for easy adjustments to get started, and then you only need to do or undo the top strap afterward when you put them on/ take them off. They're cushioned but are just firm enough to absorb the shock from concrete floors and concrete or cobblestone sidewalks. My feet never got sweaty and stuck to the inner sole because the bed is sueded, as opposed to sandals made with a vinyl-ish footbed. Highly recommended.

Bought these about a month and a half ago. So far they're pretty comfortable. Not in a cushy way, more in a birkenstock way. The good: Comfortable for several hours. Endlessly adjustable - great for if you're someone with circulation or swelling issues. Seem like they'll be long wearing - even the spots where I see potential issues are things that can easily be taken care of by myself or a cobbler if they become a problem - a rarity these days! Straight up make me happy to wear them. The bad: Thin sole that may mean I have to resole before too long. For some reason they never burnished the edges of the leather straps before putting them on, which means they're more likely to be a bit uncomfortable due to the hard edge. You may want to budget another few bucks for a leather slicker if you're touch sensitive. BRIGHT red velcro on all straps, even on the 2/3 straps which are dark. I'm going to have to unpick the stitching and put more appropriately coloured velcro on. The fabric lining the sole wasn't fully glued on for one of my shoes. Only for a very tiny little part on the side that isn't actually a problem... but it does create a potential weak spot to keep an eye on. The quirky: The top strap is black, not dark blue like I'd thought from the photos. The straps are velcro, not a buckle. I definitely had a "thinking there's one more step on the staircase" moment when I went to unbuckle them for the first time. At least for me, for the first hour or so of breaking them in they tried to slide my heel inwards. Be aware of where your foot is for the first few hours while you break them in so that you don't get your imprint in a bad spot.

Just what I wanted in this shoe. Light and airy and cute! Comfy and like that the straps can be adjusted.

Fantastic and beautiful shoe, I just wish the closures were buckles instead of Velcro.