Bloch Stardust Ballet Flats

by unconventionalgeek

For some unknown reason, I was provided with a £50.00 voucher from net-a-porter. Any sane person would delete the email, place the BlackBerry back into its holster, turn the lights off and go to bed.

Well, isn’t it a good thing I’m FAR from sane? I did any insane person would do. I squealed with excitement, I forwarded the email to Paris and Tine. As if that wasn’t enough, I tweeted it!

To be perfectly honest, £50.00 wouldn’t really make a dent much into a pair of Jimmy Choos going at £350.00. Add in £20.00 for shipping, it’s really not worth it.

I did, however, go to sleep that night dreaming of many pretty dreams filled with the prettiest neck-breaking Louboutins, Jimmy Choos and the YSL Muse Two I’ve been hankering ever since I pawed my grimy hands through it in Hong Kong. Pretty dreams indeed.

That stupid voucher gnawed at me. Or, rather, I gnawed at it like a dog after a bad bone. It haunted me!

The defining moment came when the AUD slowly climbed back up with some stronger economic news and went above parity with the USD. I saw our currency strengthen against the British pound and I pounced! (I know, bad choice of words done deliberately!)

I logically laid down my choices. I don’t need anything. Heck, what I need is another damn shoe rack! Or wardrobe! Or both! But summer is approaching and I live in ballet flats in summer. They’re the only acceptable footwear to work for me. Flimsy strappy heels really isn’t just my thing.

Getting net-a-porter to filter out only ballet flats and to sort them in ascending order in terms of price, I fell in love with a pair from Bloch. Nondescript. Black. Adorned with only a tiny bow, it practically had my name on it. It is something that’s dear to me as well because it’s shaped exactly like pointe shoes.

For 7 long years, all through my childhood, I did ballet. I was not fantastic at it. I was not crap at it. Given a little bit more pushing and practice, I might have wanted to go to dance school. As an adult, I’ve always thought of re-enrolling in an adult ballet class – as a form of exercise and also to re-live those memories. So, getting the Bloch Stardust Ballet flats was quite a skip down memory lane for me!

Image courtesy of net-a-porter

Bloch started off with developing character shoes, ballet slippers and pointe shoes for ballerinas in Australia. I believe, the company started off in Sydney. Today, there are multiple Bloch stores around the country stocking dancewear. I’ve stepped into their stores countless of times all due to curiosity but all I’ve ever seen are footwear for dancers, not for your everyday wear.

True to net-a-porter’s style, my shoes arrived less than a week from order date!

I slipped them on immediately and they felt like walking on clouds! They’re so soft. So comfortable that I could wear them for all 10 hours today without them cutting into my feet as so many pairs of new shoes do! It’s one of the best pair of ballet flats I’ve ever owned (the French Soles come close but these are way more comfortable).

The shoes are a little narrow and fit true to size. I ordered a size 36.5 and they did feel a little tight initially but after a while, I’d forgotten about them – the whole point to shoes!

They’re not the flashy red-soled Louboutins nor are they adorned with a tiny gold Jimmy Choo bar across the back. They’re simply ballet flats that will go with absolutely anything in your wardrobe.

For £70.00 delivered, they’re really a steal considering how hardworking this pair will be.

Now excuse me while I stop this insanity of wanting every single pair in every single colour possible from Bloch.