I've always loved oxfords and had, for years, been meaning to get a black pair that didn't give too much of a 'school shoe' vibe.
'But isn't this a review about white oxfords?' you ask.
Well, yes, we're getting there. It's just that I cannot seem to write a concise review of anything without going into a detailed story of how I came to purchase the thing in the first place. I did say this was going to be a diary-like blog.
These shoes had been on and off my mind for a couple of years before I finally took the plunge in early February. I first saw them on some blog, touted as Serge Gainsbourg's shoes of choice (see below). I'm the sort of person who likes to look into the history of the things I buy, particularly if they're very expensive like these shoes are, so them having ties to such figures appealed to me. Back then, however, I was still looking for something more structured and sturdy-looking - something hardier that would give a more men's officewear, ready-for-a-meeting-in-a-big-law-firm kind of vibe.
While I'm still attracted to that aesthetic, in the past year I have, for various reasons that I may go into in a future post, come to embrace a softer, more 'feminine' look.
These Repetto Zizis came back on my radar: the soft lines, the rather rounded toes, the unstructured leather that moulds to your feet, even the light, airy white colour all seemed very attractive to me now. I searched around some more and found 1. very little reviews on them, which didn't endear me to purchasing such pricey shoes online before I could see them in real life at all, and 2. lots of pictures of ex-Girl's Generation member Jessica Jung wearing them in airport photos, which did endear me to buying them for myself. This kind of celebrity endorsement really speaks to me, and gave me a lot of ideas about how I could incorporate white oxfords into my closet, which now meant that I needed a pair.
My earlier point still stood - I didn't want to buy online, especially after hearing that Repetto shoes run half a size small for some people but not for others - but I passed a Repetto store near my hotel by chance when I was in Hong Kong and went back the next day for a pair.
Sizing
I'm normally a US size 8, and size 38 or 39 depending on the brand. For this pair though - I had to size up to 40. The shop assistant recommended me to go one full size up, and insisted that size 40 was the correct size after I had put it on. I was undeterred, feeling it was a little roomy, and asked for a size 39.5 to try just to make sure. It was a little too tight, and I'd wasted too much time with trying to stretch those just-that-tiniest-bit-too-tight leather shoes in the past, so I ended up getting size 40 instead and have been happy with my decision.
tl;dr go one size up from your usual size
Quality and Comfort
The leather is pretty much the softest leather I've ever felt on shoes. This means that it's incredibly comfortable but the shape of your foot will show underneath. Before buying, I felt this might be a con, but I now don't really care both because of how comfortable this makes the shoes and how it adds this charming insouciant vibe to a style of shoe that is normally very structured. And guys - it's so soft.
The white leather has so far been quite easy to keep clean - a couple of swipes with a piece of cloth and marks are usually gone. Nonetheless, I've mostly worn them indoors in malls and restaurants and such, so perhaps I am not the best judge for this.
In comparison to other oxfords on the market, this pair initially felt a bit flimsy for the price. I've worn it regularly for a month or so, and I have to say - it feels that way while you're wearing them too. The stitching seems impeccable and it's not as if I'm worried it's going to fall apart while I'm walking in them, but the sole feels cardboard-thin, probably due to the brand's origins in ballet shoes. There is a small heel at the back and that feels very sturdy, but the rest of the sole is the type where you can really feel the ground you're walking on. It's not a big problem for me because I'm usually walking on flat, smooth ground but it is something to take note of, especially if you're going to be walking around on, say, cobblestone. This can probably be alleviated by having a cobbler put some rubber soles on the bottom, which will extend the life of the shoe as well, but so far I've been too lazy to do so.
These shoes also have basically no arch support, but I have very low arches so they're comfortable for me on that front. It's probably not suitable for walking around in all day long, but I've walked in them for 2-3 hour stretches at a time and my feet felt perfectly fine.
Overall
They're a great pair of shoes and I love them, though moreso for the look than the comfort, which is average. The colour was a worry of mine, but I realised they would be quite versatile - they can work with outfits you might normally wear your usual staple white sneakers with, and also with outfits where the aforementioned sneakers would be a little too casual for. They add quite a lot of brightness to my outfits, but in a very understated, nonchalant way. I've had a lot of compliments on them - they really do stand out despite the clean simplicity of the design. It feels like a modern update of a classic staple, and I'm so glad I got them despite my initial reservations.
A side note - I had also decided against Nisolo's Oliver oxfords for the same reason I initially dismissed these Repetto Zizis but, again for most of the same reasons I ended up buying these, I've really come around to them. These black ones might be my next shoe purchase.
