Customer Reviews Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole Bay Braid

Was looking for a good Italy walk-long-distances shoe that would look good with slim jeans. While this is cute, it's a bit wide, my feet come out of it even with the straps. I have the Naturalizer Referee, which served me well last Europe trip. This is not any cuter (and I use that term loosely, since neither is that cute), so will just stick with good ol' Referee.

Got these shoes out of the box and without any need for breaking them in, I wore them on a 9-day trip to Spain--lots of walking on cobblestones and uneven surfaces, hills, etc. Super comfortable and could be worn with tights and a skirt or with pants. Great traveling shoes. I did put lightweight inserts in them for a bit more arch support.

These shoes are very comfortable! I have a very narrow foot and have trouble keeping flats on my feet. The straps are tight enough to hold the shoe on without binding. I liked them so much I bought another color.

Shoes are heaven and very stylish with outfit. More amazing is customer service rep, Mike, who listened to a description of shoes in a Babettesf ad and sent me pictures of perfect shoes. Worked with me for almost 30 minutes. The best customer service ever!

I simply and purely love these shoes! They are perfect for me. And god knows I'm picky about shoes and crazy about my comfort! I have 4 different pairs of this brand, but these are the best. I would like to buy a new pair, and maybe I will do so soon.

I love these shoes. They were recommended by a friend who wears them traveling around the world. I have always had trouble with shoes hurting and causing blisters, so when I find a shoe that is comfortable, I buy it in every color. (Unfortunately Bay Braid only comes in two colors. I would snatch it up in blue. )I've worn the same set of Nina Simone loafer-flats in five colors for 20 years, but now my feet have become wider, and I've had to search for replacements. Not easy. To make it harder, I've begun square dancing, 3 hours one a week, the real test of whether a shoe is comfortable. Bay Braids are like a miracle, a night of dancing and not one moment of discomfort or heel slipping. I usually wear 7 1/2 or sometimes 8 (one foot is a little larger). Because these shoes are soft and conform to your foot, size 7 1/2 was perfect. Thank you!

Most comfortable shoes I've ever had. Dressy enough and comfortable for casual walking. True to size.

This pair of flats by Gentle Souls is amazing. They are roomy and very comfortable. I wore them all night while working at a busy restaurant, and it was as if I had on sneakers. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who wants stylish, supportive flats.

Finally! Comfortable, yet stylish shoes. I am a hair stylist so I am on my feet all day long. I have been searching for durable and fashion-forward black flats that will support me all day and can weather the one mile walk I take to work. I have worn out many pairs of flats before I decided to invest in quality shoes. I have no regrets after this purchase. I get a lot of compliments on these shoes and people even say it that they look comfortable. I tell them that they are. I will definitely buy from this company again!

Let me start by saying I think flats, in general, look awful if you have wider, short foot like I do. But not these! They are cute and comfortable! I wear them all day and forget I even have shoes on. And seriously, the softest leather - they're like gloves.

These are charming flats: soft, light, probably even accommodating to my bunions, with room to wiggle toes. Just not enough height in the toe box for my curly big toe. Sadly, back they go!

Bands do not hold it onto my foot

Loved the look of these and they were very comfortable with tights but too high on my heel if I wore them with bare legs. Am checking out some other flats.

I love this shoe, I wear it practically every day. It's comfortable and it has withstood the daily abuse that comes along with standing on my feet the majority of the day. My only complaint is the color on the bottom sole - the black has worn off in the month I've been wearing them, most noticeable around the front of the shoe. This isn't the end of the world and it doesn't change how much I love the shoe, but it's has affected the look of the shoe. Wish I could upload a picture to show what I mean. Anyway, if you're thinking about buying this shoe, do it! It's worth the money.

These shoes are really flat. If you are on them all day you will probably feel it (I notice pain in my feet and knees after wearing them). The soft leather is nice and they are cute, but this is not a true comfort shoe. Needs more support.

This is a very soft, well-made shoe. However, everyone's feet are not the same and these shoes are not quite as comfortable on my feet as they are on other reviewers. I often have a problem with shoes that have straps that come across my bunion, as the top strap on these shoes do on my feet. On first wearing, they also rub on my little toe. I've only worn these shoes a few times so far and I will continue to wear them. I have the feeling that these shoes are going to mold to my feet and become more and more comfortable over time. And they're so darn cute!

I ordered these shoes to wear while touring DC, knowing that when I put them on I would wear them all day. They pair well with slacks as well as casual dresses. The shoes are comfortable for all day wear but the only change I would make is more arch support. True to size and I loved the go with anything color.

Very long and floppy feeling. Soft, but no structure or support. The elastic could be tighter across the foot, did not feel secure.

Not the same comfort or quality as previous Gentle Souls shoes that I have owned.

These are not my favorite shoes. If I wear these to work (in an office, where I do not walk around much), my feet hurt at the end of the day because there is not enough padding at the bottom of them. They are comfortable enough up top, but the bottoms are so thin that using them as daily shoes feels kind of like wearing house slippers in the real world.

These are really cute shoes but because they had no arch support, unfortunately I have to return them. I just need more support in shoes.

I was really looking forward to these shoes, but I have to say -- I am a bit disappointed. I walk 8 minutes on the sidewalk to get to my bus, and I am sad to say that my feet don't feel supported. If these shoes were under $100, I might consider them. For shoes that are this price, I expect to not feel the pavement pounding the soles of my feet. The soles are very thin, despite all the "flax" and foam/leather lining. These are not good if you need any arch support, or if you will be on your feet all day. At least the shape is comfy -- no pinched toes, and heel is nice and soft. Too bad the soles don't have more padding. Too bad there isn't any arch support. I would return these if I could, but I wore them in the office one day. Pout.

The soles in these shoes are not very supportive, and the bottoms of my feet hurt after wearing them for a day. I also thought the shoes look clunkier in person, although that may be because I have small feet. I have other Gentle Souls shoes that feel wonderful, though, so I'm not sure why these did not feel great.

I should have listened to the reviewer who said there was a lack of padding. After wearing these shoes for a day, my feet hurt like crazy. I ended up purchasing some Dr. Scholl's gel insoles. Let's hope that helps.

They look quite cute, and the inner support feels nice - but unfortunately both shoes had a very rough stitch right at the center of the heel top edge. This guarantees rubbing raw to blisters for me. Going back.