Now if you have read any of my show reviews then you will have pretty much guessed I have quite an expensive obsession especially when it comes to anything Kurt Geiger! However, I do have days where I don't wear heels especially during the days at the weekend if I am not riding and just wanting to do odd jobs around the house and having to nip into town etc. Therefore, my expensive heels just won't do and I need something flat and very comfortable which is where my TOMs come in!

I bought my first pair of TOMs last year before my holiday in August and at the same time my other half also bought a pair although different colours! TOMs became a huge hit last year and have reached major popularity so much so that they continue to be sold in their hundreds this year. But where exactly did TOMS come from as they pretty much appeared out of the blue! These canvas shoes which come in a variety of different colours and now styles suddenly hit our shelves and made quite an impression!

Well to answer that question TOMS were the brainchild (or shoe!) or American traveller Blake Mycoskie. The basic story is that whilst on his travels he had befriended children in various villages in Argentina and saw that they had no shoes to protect their feet and once back from his travels he created TOMS - a company that would provide a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair bought. In 2006 alone he was able to donate 10,000 pairs of shoes due to the sale of TOMS. Argentinians where this sort of shoe and have done for years upon years so it only made sense he'd try and replicate it.

I have two pairs of the Classic style TOMS namely the black canvas and the black sequin version. Compared to all the styles that they do have mine are pretty boring and I have been tempted by quite a few other styles! To look at TOMS are a typical canvas shoe, the canvas material which is the upper part of the shoe seems tough and quite durable but for easy on and off at the front of the shoe there is an elasticated 'V'. The shoes doe feature almost panelled canvas material at the front with toe-stitch giving them a bit of character rather than just a plain canvas shoe.

The outsole is a made from a mixed rubber type of composition and it is incredibly flexible but also quite durable too. My Classic Black Canvas shoes have a white sole and my black sequin version have a black sole but either way they are made from the same material. Inside the shoe they have a lovely tan suede insole which is nicely cushioned offering much needed comfort together with a latex arch which gives you added support which is nice when wearing such a flat shoe. The lining to my black canvas is cream with what looks like buffalo images on and for my black sequin pair it is lined with black and cream patterned material in almost an Aztec style pattern.

Now despite having two pairs of the Classic variety they are no different other than one pair is black canvas and the other pair is adorned all over with small black sequins which are all stitched on. No difference in terms of materials used for the main part of the shoe. I bought mine in Office and was told to go down a size as these do stretch. I am a 5 and a half and opted a 5 which although when tried on they did feel a little tight they were never tight enough to rub but certainly felt a bit snug and I did wonder whether it had been better to have bought them in the half size instead just to give my feet a little more breathing room.

I did find these at first with both pairs a bit hard to get on even with the elastic 'V' at the front. However, since having my pairs for over a year now the canvas has given a little and although it doesn't stretch it seems to loose a bit of its tightness which is nice as I can now get both pairs on and off easily and the shoes haven't lost their shape at all. The cushioned insole is really nice and does certainly offer comfort when wearing them and I do find that the arch support is needed as these are so flat I think anyone would find these a bit uncomfortable after a while if they didn't have the arch support. Now although my pairs are not worn on a daily basis the sole looks just as good as when I bought them, no real signs of wear and tear and neither does the canvas making them a very durable shoe.

Overall, my pairs have never rubbed or caused any discomfort and although the canvas doesn't stretch it gives a little without loosing the overall shape of the TOMS. After wearing them for a while my size 5's proved a good buy as although snug they are comfortable to wear. Definitely a great pair of shoes for wearing around town (on dry days as they will soak up the water!) and on holiday as they are great to walk around in. There are plenty of cheaper versions out there but these are definitely worth the money and they are not the most expensive pair of shoes out there either and of course with every pair you buy they will donate a pair to children in need - I don't know many places that would do that. Definite a recommendation from me and a big 5 stars.

~ Useful Information ~

Brand: TOMS
Availability: TOMS stockists - E.g. Office
Price: From £34.00
Sizes: 3 to 10 (half sizes available)
Colours: a wide variety