Ipanema Women's Cleo

I was on the hunt for comfy but cute sandals for my "maternity" feet. On my last pregnancy, I was confined to Crocs (which served their purpose) but now, I wanted to be able to still wear sandals that looked cute but would still feel comfortable whenever my feet expanded at the end of the day--which happens a lot now that I'm on my third trimester. I purposely ordered one size up (I'm usually an 8) because I was anticipating how much my feet would swell up. I literally just got these in the mail today and as soon as I put the first one on, I wanted to put the second one on right away and wear them for the rest of the day. Sure, there's no great arch support--then again, I'm flat-footed so I'm not the best reference for that. The material is super comfy--almost like Havaianas, They are a step up from your usual thong sandal that you can get wherever. The adjustable straps are convenient and don't feel like they're digging in to my feet. Feels like there's going to be plenty of wiggle room. I am already looking up other colors and designs as I type this review!

This is the 4th pair of Ipanema shoes that I own. The first two were flip flops and I loved them. The rubber on these shoes is very supportive, unlike traditional flip flops. I found a knock off brand, but the rubber is hard and does not provide the support to wear them for extended periods. I have very high arches and my feet hurt when I where flats, but because of the nature of this rubber I am able to wear these for long periods of time without my feet killing me. My first two flip flops were chewed on by a new puppy (almost killed him), then I found another pair with the back like these. I wear them all the time. So I started looking for another pair in black. I do not love this weird design on top, but they are very comfortable for summer. They run true to size, (a bit on the smaller side) and have no metal parts to wear out, rust with salt water or break. Truly my most comfortable pair of sandals.

I purchased these last summer and they became the ONLY pair of shoes that I took with me on my 2 month backpacking trip around Asia. For a shoeholic like me, that is a huge accomplishment. However, they were perfect for the trip and I'm so glad I had them. I wore these every single day for 64 days straight on the beach, in forests, in mud, in rain, at temples, in dirty cities, etc. They held up very well and were super comfortable, lightweight and stylish. I received many compliments. Of course the only problem was when I had to walk 2 miles down a muddy path during a downpour. They slid all over the place, but any shoe of this style would do that. I also missed out on several hiking opportunities because these aren't made for that, but that's my fault for bringing only one pair of shoes. The fit was pretty good, but I wish there was one more hole in the ankle strap because they were rather loose around my narrow ankles. I'm looking forward to wearing them again next summer.

These have become my favorite sandals. I love them because they are are attractive shoes that are actually comfortable from the moment you take them out of the Amazon box. It is rare to find shoes that you can take on vacation and wear while sporting shorts and t-shirt, shopping or to dinner with a maxi dress. I typically need to give shoes a few days to break them in, but so far no blisters or issues with any of my 3 pairs. I started off with a rose gold color. I am not much of a pink fan, but liked the color as it seems neutral enough to wear with almost anything. I typically wear 6 and sometimes have a hard time finding sandals because I have wide feet and the top half of my foot spills over the sandal. I'm happy to say that the 6 fits well. My friend who typically wears size 7 needed to borrow shoes was able to wear them by adjusting the strap and felt it was comfortable too.

I wanted to love these sandals. I really did. I read about eight reviews elsewhere on the web that said they're the absolute best for travel. Unfortunately I had to return them because they were so narrow. I can usually wear a standard-width shoe (except for running shoes, which these aren't), but in the Ipanema sandals, my feet were simply bulging out uncomfortably on the sides, though the length was perfect. The plastic decoration looked nice though obviously plastic, and the sole was sufficiently grippy that I wasn't worried about walking on odd surfaces. My go-to summer sandals are the Old Navy cheapo flip-flops, and I was hoping for these to be a classier and more supportive supplement to my wardrobe, but unfortunately the [lack of] width was a deal-breaker for me.

Comfortable and stretchy enough for lazy people like me who don't like to sit down to put their shoes on. This is my second pair of Ipanemas and I will probably keep buying because this brand's sandals have fun details and are comfortable to walk in for long distances. I have become pickier about comfort as I've aged and now have to tote around a toddler and baby too. This is a convenient sandal for that purpose. Easy to clean, and no fuss. Plus dressy enough to pair with casual skirts and dresses, which is a must for CA. I've even worn mine to church. I docked one star because the rose gold was not the most flattering for my tanned Asian skin tone. Otherwise, a great sandal.