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The Vine

The Tomato Nation advice column addresses your questions on etiquette, grammar, romance, and pet misbehavior. Ask The Readers about books or fashion today!

Home » The Vine

The Vine: August 15, 2008

Submitted by on August 15, 2008 – 10:25 AM16 Comments

Okay Sars,

I hope the eagle-eyed readers out there can help me.I was getting a bagel this morning and saw a woman with these awesomely cute quilted ballet shoes on.I asked her where she got them and she said “several years ago at Nordstrom’s.”

They were black and as mentioned previously, they were quilted.I’m not sure of the material but if I had to guess, I’d say a very smooth suede with a tiny strip of patent up the front of the toe of the shoe.The patent part was quilted too if I remember correctly.

These shoes are the closest I’ve been able to find so far but I don’t know if the ones this lady had were Cole Haan’s or not.They had a similar-looking low wedge heel and these, the strap across was closer to the front of the shoe.

Hopefully your readers know which ones these are and can help me.I have to have those shoes!I just hope they aren’t super-budget-busters.

Thanks so much,

Don’t wanna be Shoeless Joe

Dear Say It Ain’t So,

I’ll make the usual suggestions: Zappos, Piperlime, and Endless; search eBay for “black quilted flat Nordstrom” (use that hack they have for misspellings; that gets you more results).

Readers, if you know the flats she means, please post an URL, either TinyURLed or broken up for formatting.Thanks!

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16 Comments »

  • bristlesage says:

    I don’t know the flats she means off-hand, but London Sole makes ballet flats a billion different ways, so she might try there if she hasn’t. I’m not spotting a shoe exactly like she describes, but I just did a very quick look-through of their black shoes.

  • Anne-Cara says:

    The strap’s not at the front of the shoe, but they might be these ones by BCBG: http://tinyurl.com/58l7sh. And if they’re not that specific pair, I know BCBG’s done other similar designs in the past, so that’d be worth a search on eBay, too.

  • Amanda says:

    I’ve got a pair of black, suede-looking, patent-toe, wedged, QUILTED ballet-style shoes, with a strap.

    I got them at TJMaxx for 30 bucks. Maybe the woman was embarassed to say they were from the ‘Maxx, I don’t know. My aunt refuses to admit she buys anything from there, but I mean, half her closet she owes to them.

    I recommend trying TJ Maxx.

  • Lindsay says:

    On the Nordstrom note, I HIGHLY recommend dealing with Nordstrom.com customer service for these tougher problems. A few years ago, I was desperately seeking a particular pair of shoes in a certain size (7) and color (blue). I could find the size (but not the color) or the color (but not the size). Nordstrom.com customer service confirmed (after some digging) that NONE of the branches nationally had the combo that I needed, and the chain wouldn’t be getting more at this time. No need to worry! My Nord.com Customer Service Savior ordered the shoes direct from the manufacturer, and had them sent straight to me. Halleluja!

  • Miranda says:

    I bought two pairs of quilted ballet flats from Old Navy’s website a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if they still have them (can’t shop at work because of the firewall), but you may have some luck going to a local store if the website is out.

  • attica says:

    Maxx buys unsold goods from the Nordstroms (and others) of the world, so it’s quite possible that the Nordie ref was right, and Amanda got hers the following season/year at Maxx.

  • Rachel says:

    @Lindsay – I was just going to suggest something similar! The Nordstrom.com customer service peeps are total ninjas. Love them.

  • Laura says:

    The trouble with “several years ago” is that the shoes in question may no longer be produced — ebay might be the best bet, in that case, if you can ID them.

  • Whitney says:

    I am wearing my one-year old quilted ballet flats right now, and I can tell you that they are “So” brand and came from Kohl’s. Mine are just fabric, though. But they are really comfortable.

  • Freya says:

    I third the idea to talk to Nordstrom.com people. Or even just the shoe department of your local Nordstrom. If it’s a shoe they made (B.P. shoes for example), they might still make them. I just re-bought a shoe that I had for 7 years that finally gave way from them.

  • Bev N says:

    Sars,
    you said
    “use that hack they have for misspellings; that gets you more results.”

    I understand the sentence, but WHAT hack is that? I would love to use it, but i don’t know the name, URL, etc. I would like to use one that is known to be safe from viruses, etc.

    Thanks.

  • jenny says:

    Steve Madden did that shoe a few seasons ago–If you have a Marshalls in your neck of the woods, I would suggest looking there. They are carrying alot of his shoes these days.

  • Bo says:

    An URL? Have I been saying this wrong? Isn’t it “you are el” in which case it is a URL? Or is it really “earl” and you’re right and I’ll go to the corner?

  • Oh man, finding once-spotted shoes can be like chasing the dragon. They become a thing of lore, the equivalent of men’s “I once caught a fish this big…”

    Thankfully, this is something people often ask me to do for them and I’m pretty good at it. In this case, since we’re a few seasons off, it makes sense that I haven’t found your exact pair, but there are a few in the same vein:

    Glider by Penny Loves Kenny at Zeta Zappos
    http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7341157/color/3

    Wimbley by Delman
    http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7283751/color/11415

    Caraway by Easy Spirit
    http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7374823/color/4418

    And if none of these works for you, just let me know which characteristics you loved the most (quilting, patent toe, wedge, strap) and I can find you a bevy of suggestions tailored to what you’re looking for at Style Bard Shoes (www.style-bard-shoes.blogspot.com).

  • Saerah says:

    I saw these at Dillard’s today – Antonio Melani “Quiltit”. They came in several colors, and sound like your description. Cute… I may have to get a pair myself! http://tinyurl.com/66x9cl

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