Customer Reviews Birkenstock Lora by Papillio

To the New to Birks crowd: There are multiple different Birkenstock insoles, fits, and soles in various combinations. And there are two widths, regular which is wide in US sizing, and Narrow which is narrow to medium in US sizing; the widths also interpret differently depending on the fit, insole, etc. Add to those the many materials (leather, Birko-flor, canvass, suede, nubuck, and so on). For the most part, once you figure all those factors out as well as what's best for you, you can guarantee the same will work for you over time. It takes a bit of research and effort to identify your favorite fits, insoles, and soles, & width. The traditional fit of the Arizona, Gizeh, Boston, Paris, London, and others, with which most of us begin our Birk Journey, is *larger* and *wider* than most others of the brand. Closed heel Birks, other than the above (Paris, London...) will typically have less support and no toe bar (you don't need one because your toes don't have to hold the shoe on, see?). Bottom line: not all Birks are the same across all lines and the diverse people wearing them. I say this to attempt to manage expectations because I have read so many disappointed reviews over time. Now as for me, I learned the hard way, through serious injuries while wearing other brands (do NOT wear Danskos on uneven surfaces unless you want to break your ankle or worse), and I have a very large collection of Birks, so you can trust me on this stuff. The good news is that Zappos, and most other sites, have great return policies. Zappos' is the best one. Start here when entering the Birks world so you can figure things out stress-free. Birkenstock shoes require between a few days and a month to break in properly so avoid purchasing them immediately before a need (like a vacation! get them ahead of time!) Oh and one more general piece of wisdom: Once you figure out what works for you, you'll be able to find them for a fraction of the price elsewhere. But you want to know first. It's a trade off. The Lora. I prefer closed heel Birks for work, so I was excited for these. I have these in black leather and wine nubuck. I ordered up one from my sandal size (so 38 Regular up from 37 Regular) and I am pleased. There's actually a little extra room and it makes me wish they did half sizes, but they'll be just fine. If I had gotten the 37 Regulars in the nubuck I think they would soften nicely and break in, but I'm sticking with the slightly larger 38s because these are for summer and my feet like to expand in summer. The diagonal strap is elegant. The nubuck softened faster than the leather but they both molded to my feet within a week or so. These are great with all kinds of outfits. The black pair goes with everything. The wine nubuck pair is more of a dusty rose color (with red rather than purple undertones), more pastel than anything, but they will probably develop a darker patina over time. I'm happy I got these and I will be wearing them to work every day until September I am guessing.

These seem shorter than most Birkenstocks, and way too narrow, despite being the "regular" or wide width. I normally wear a size 39R, and the toe box in these was way too tight - my toes were jammed, which is not what I'm looking for with Birkenstocks (or any shoes, for that matter).

pros - i love these shoes! extremely comfortable if they weren't so small. they are well-made and exquisite in black leather. i purchased 40 narrow and presumed lora sizing would be the same as my boston 40 narrow clogs, but not the case. the length is almost right. perfect for my left foot but not my right, bc my right foot is slightly longer. bottom line - the footbed takes up wayyy too much room in the toes box. i would recommend sizing up a size and going with the regular length. love these shoes as they are exquisite in black and if they were less shallow ( toe box ) they would be perfect.

If you are between sizes (I am between a 38 & 39) I would advise that you NOT order a size up as is suggested by many customers. I ordered a 40 and it was HUGE. Also, this does not have the same insole as the sandals - no toe grip and less arch support. A super cute shoe, but overall very disappointing. I have noticed that the Regular width seems to be getting narrower.

These are perfect and cute. I wanted Ballet flats, but since the heel slid up and down, I settled on these. Birkenstock arch insole and quality.

I’ve worn Birks for decades. These are the first typical “shoe” I’ve purchased from them. As expected I love how they feel. Additionally, they’re super cute and can be worn with pants or skirts. I love these shoes.

Although the Birkenstock insole would no doubt give great arch support, I need to use custom orthotics. I was able to remove the insole in this shoe and replace it with both a flat layer of cushioning plus my orthotic insert on top of that. I have a lot of trouble finding shoes, esp for warmer months, that are tall enough to work well with my orthotics. This shoe is pretty cute and the adjustable strap works well to keep my foot in. I wore them all day today for the first time and had very little of the usual rubbing I get when breaking in a new pair of shoes. So I'm happy to have gotten these shoes.

I regularly wear a 6.5 as a shoe size. For Birkenstock clogs I were a 5/5.5. For the shoes I have found 6/6.5 is usually perfect. I just purchased these shoes to were at school (I am a teacher) with casual dresses. They look great and feel great. I love the support of the Birkenstock footbed in this shoe.

I think Birkenstock needs to stick to sandals. I tried the ballerina flat and this maryjane, and they just don't fit right, and the footbed feels different from the sandals. There's no arch support or toe bar, but there's a big bump under the metatarsal. The strap is way too long, and doesn't hold my foot in the shoe. My regular size 40 fit best, but really didn't fit. My big toe hit the top of the shoe, and the regular width was very wide. I'm normally a 9- 9 1/2. I also tried a 41, which was way too big. These are also very ugly, and that's coming from someone who owns the Arizona in all colors.

Birkenstock is one of the few brands I can wear due to needing a wide width and a wide toe box, and these shoes do not disappoint. I got these in the same size I always wear (41 R/W) and they're perfect. I really like the look of the asymmetric strap, which looks just a touch more mature and in my style than a straight Mary Jane. The taupe color veers towards pink but I've found it goes with a wide variety of neutral colors. A great summer shoe!

I was looking for a pair of flats that were still comfortable and these hit the mark perfectly. They look cute with dresses and skirts and are comfortable enough to wear all day.

I wear a 40 in Birkenstock sandals, but a 41 in this shoe (and in Birkenstock boots too, actually). I seem to have a foot that is wider at the front and narrower at the back and this shoe fits well. The toe box is roomy enough for me and the heel does not slip. The leather is very soft (no breaking in period and super comfortable to wear without socks) and the sole is supportive. I'm on my feet a lot at work and I can wear them all day in comfort. I love this shoe and wish it came in other colors. They are different from the sandals, but for me the support and comfort are just as good.

Fit is true to Birkenstock fit. I wear a 10 in Keen and most other shoes, a 9 in Chaco sandals and shoes, and a 40 (9-9.5) in Birkenstock and Dansko. Arch support is very prominent. No toe bar (unlike in sandals), but very similar fit to some Birkenstock boots from a few years ago. These Mary Jane shoes are roomy in the toe box and can accommodate a no-show sock (such as Smartwool Secret Sleuth) comfortably. These are not the dressiest shoes, but they are comfortable and still look okay with ankle pants and dresses. Will be perfect for my job where I need to be comfortable but still look nice!

I love the look of these shoes! The color is very pretty. The width was great, but the length is definitely a little off. I wear birk sandals and boots year round and these definitely run a little small by comparison. If this was a shoe I'd be wearing with socks, then I would have sent them back. The back of the ankle sits a little higher than I would have liked, but it's not uncomfortable.

I have been wearing Birkenstock sandals and clogs (mostly Florida, Sydney, Bern and Rosemead) for over 25 years. I loved this shoe and really, really wanted it to work. Sadly, it did not. I wear a 40 narrow in most sandals and clogs, but ordered a 40 regular/normal in this shoe. Unfortunately this shoe was too narrow and too short. My big toe hit the top of the shoe. I would have sized up to a 41 regular, but since I have a bunion on my left foot, I did not think the 41 regular would have worked either. I was so disappointed as this was a great looking shoe. Just not for me. ??

I ordered my regular size Birkenstock and they fit perfectly. (I double checked with an on-line PDF fitting guide.) I cannot say enough about how wonderful they feel on my feet! Foot problems run in my family so I aware of the need for good shoes. (Cheaper than foot surgery!) These are cute and comfortable and I want to wear them all of the time!!

At first, my foot was bothered by tightness across the inner edge (over the top of my foot), but one day, miraculously, that disappeared (I assume it stretched out over time), and these became my most comfy Birks! I had worn my Arizonas one long day in DC but my plantar fasciitis flared up, so I wore these all day the following day—pain free! Have these in black and taupe to match everything. Can wear year-round. Stay snug enough for the ups and downs of travel. Love them! I’d have given 5 stars for comfort but for that break-in period.

I wear a 40 in Birkenstock sandals, but a 41 in these shoes (and Birkenstock boots too). I chose the light nubuck. The upper is very soft and comfortable, the sole is very supportive.

Very comfortable and you have to break them in for two weeks. Nice with

I normally wear a 7 or 7.5, and so a size 38 seemed perfect at first. I thought this would be a good walking shoe for travel and errands. But, then I noticed that my big toe was touching the end of the shoe and all my little toes were touching the side. I have now broken the shoes in a little, and the problem persists. Customers might want to consider sizing up. The medium width works fine for my wide foot: it is the length that is the problem.

I've been a Birkenstock fan and wearer for decades. These, sadly are not the same fit as a Birkenstock. They are narrow, not the Birkenstock "regular" fit. Sizing up one size didn't help me as it seems it did for some I tried both. Crossing my fingers Birkenstock comes out with a cute style like these true to the original Birkenstock.

These are cute shoes! However, when I put them on the fit comes right at my big toe joint that has a bit of arthritis. It hurt immediately. So sad...

I've worn Birkenstocks almost daily for 45 years, specifically for the excellent arch support & soothing comfort I can always count on. I have several pairs of sandals, shoes and boots, and still have my original pair of sandals that's been recrafted multiple times over the decades. So, I was thrilled to see the Lora and absolutely love the design, but I'm so disappointed with the fit. The footbed provides minimal support at best because the arch of the footbed is located too far back and doesn't rest within the actual arch of my foot. And as others have pointed out, there's no toe bar. Such a disappointment.