Customer Reviews Merrell Plaza Bandeau

These shoes are cute, very comfortable, and great to walk and stand in. Right from the box they were eminently wearable. So far my only complaint is that the rubberized toe and sides seem to affect breathability when wearing socks (vs tights or hose).

Fit great - love these shoes. I think they are true to size based on my experience. I wear the same size I wear for all my other street shoes. These are very versatile as they can be dressed up or down depending on the day.

I was looking for an "athletic" Mary Jane style shoe and was so excited when I found these. I bought the brown suede ones in my normal size 9. At first they felt wonderful, but after about 2-3 hours my toes felt so pinched (width wise!). I could not wait to take them off! I am so frustrated because I love their look and the heel height is perfect (can't do flats) and am hoping beyond hope I can break these in to where they are comfortable. I'd buy them in every color if I could make them feel better around my toes. (The band doesn't bother me at all.) I have a pair of Merrell MJ "Encores" and had to go down to a size 8.5 on those! I guess you just have to try them on and see for yourself. I so want these to work!

I love the Merrell brand! As a teaching assistant I am on my feet all day and at recess. I needed a shoe that was professional looking, but could handle some outdoor use on the playground. The Plaza did just that. Comfort, style, and rugged. The toe covering protects my shoes from gravel, roots, and those odd things on the playground. I also don't have to worry about wet spots or dew in the grass messing with the leather. The grippy surface tread lets me skip over rocks and keeps things safe when there are spills in the lunchroom. Still it is a cute little Mary Jane style that works well with a skirt, slacks, or my jeans. One note: to some of you with not a high arch but a higher slope on top, the shoes might be a bit tight. The leather will stretch, but it will be a bit tight to begin with. Also, as mine got broken in I noticed a rotten squeak that came in side to side motion in the heel.

These are cute shoes, but they are not comfortable, so far. I bought them to wear on a trip of New York City. By the end of the first day, I was dying. My feet were sore, so I didn't wear them the rest of the trip. I liked the heel height because some of my athletic style pants are kind of long for my Nikes. I will try to wear them again. The leather is very stiff and even though the sole is rubber, the inside footbed feels hard and inflexible.

I live in NYC and need shoes that I can walk in all day. From street to office and back again. I wear my running shoes almost all the time as they are the only shoes I can wear and be 100% comfy all the time. But, they aren't exactly stylish. These merrill's are pretty good. Very comfy with great heel cushion. But, not as much arch support as I need (I have very high arches). And after a full day of walking, my legs kind of ache - these shoes are built at an odd angle. Definitely recommend if you need casual, comfy shoes. But, if you are going to stand or walk ALL day, they may take some getting used to.