To make up for my serious lack of steps during quarantine, I’ve started a daily lunchtime walk ritual around my neighborhood. Since this is sometimes my only interaction with people outside my house for the day, I make it a point to wear real clothes and try to look cute. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for me to realize that most of my current stylish shoes aren’t up for walks of 30 or more minutes, bringing on blisters and heel pain.
So when Rothy’s targeted ads for its new lace-up sneaker started following me around the internet, I was immediately sold on trying them. I tested the Rothy’s Lace-Up Sneaker in Bright White, and I’m happy to report that these comfortable kicks are now my new go-to shoe for neighborhood walks, patio dinners, and grocery store runs.
Rothy’s Lace-Up Sneaker: Style
The new Rothy’s Lace-Up Sneaker is that elusive fashion shoe—one that can actually be worn with dresses or skirts without looking like you’re a harried commuter with a pair of heels stashed in your purse for later. These lace-up shoes are low-profile, with clean lines and an unobtrusive style that goes with pretty much anything. The entire shoe (with the exception of the Rothy’s distinctive blue accents on the heel and laces) is white, including the sole.
Unlike my collection of formerly-white-but-now-dirty-beyond-repair sneakers that I’m too ashamed to wear anymore, Rothy’s Lace-Up Sneaker is machine-washable, meaning these shoes will actually keep their clean hue. (If you prefer a little color with your wardrobe, the sneaker comes in four other colors: navy, lilac, spearmint, and vanilla.)
Rothy’s Lace-Up Sneaker: Comfort
Do Rothy’s Lace-Up Sneakers have arch support? That is always my first question upon seeing a fashion sneaker, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they have great arch support. Despite the sleek look, the lace-ups also have a two-part, plant-based footbed that makes it feel as cushioned and sturdy as an athletic shoe.
The upper part of the lace-up is made from Rothy’s signature knit fabric (made from 100 percent recycled material) that’s breathable and never causes blisters like leather does. No breaking-in period is required—I wore these on a five-mile walk straight out of the box, and didn’t have any uncomfortable moments. This might also be due to the padded ankle collar which cushions the back of your foot (a typical blister hotspot).
The shoe’s tongue is lined with a soft Terry fabric that gives the whole sneaker a sock-like feel, so you can get away without wearing socks with these.
Rothy’s Lace-Up Sneaker: Sizing
The lace-ups are only available in whole sizes, and Rothy’s recommends that people who wear a width of a B or wider go up half a size, and those with narrower feet go down a size. I have standard width feet and generally wear either a 6.5 or a 7 in shoes, and I opted for a size 7, which fits perfectly.
