Rothy's - Are They Worth It?
The targeted ads finally got me. I’ve been getting native ads on Facebook, Instagram, everywhere for years for Rothy’s magical machine washable shoes. Then I’d look at the price and about fall over. $145? For flats? No way. But, eventually, my low-waste mind came forward. Why am I buying $20-40 pairs of flats twice a year, when I should be able to theoretically buy these and use them for years?
But can they deliver on this hype train?
What I Need
Some things that I absolutely need in my flats are something durable. When it’s not quarantine, I’m a teacher and on my feet all day. I need some flats that last. I wear them to death and would like that to be a couple of years at least if I’m dropping that kind of change on these. They also have to be comfortable. I’ve got big feet. They’re a 9.5 and wide. I’m also (again) standing/walking/sprinting all day. I don’t have time for things that look cute but pinch or leave blisters. I can’t teach in socks. They need to be versatile. I want a pair of shoes I can throw on with lots of outfits and get a lot of use out of. Finally, my feet stink. I should feel more ashamed about it, but it’s just a fact. I am not typically a sock-wearer with my flats, and I need them to repel that stink. If they can’t, again, longevity is going to be an issue. Finally, cute. I have kind of a colorful sense of style and want something that looks cute and that I'll get compliments on.
Big Promises
First, these are supposed to be good for the environment. They’re made of recycled plastic bottles. Their website says that they are made from recycled plastic pulled from within 30 miles of coastlines. That’s over 50 million water bottles that didn’t make it into the ocean, which does sound like a win. They also purchase carbon offsets for their shipping needs. Is that good? I think so. I mean, no one is going to be 100% green all the time, but it does seem like they’re putting in an honest effort into the work that they do.
They also claim that these are magically machine washable! Toss them in and they’ll be sparkling clean in no time (on cold and with only mild detergent and no heat ever). This was a big selling point to me. Accidentally need to walk through the mud on a walk with the dog? Drop my coffee down myself? No problem! Off to the wash.
Choosing a Style
Rothy’s has many styles now. Let’s break it down.
I’ll be super upfront that these are not my jam. I own and wear leather (or fake leather) Chelsea boots, and these just look so chunky. I have a friend who rocks the Rothy’s Chelsea and looks fabulous, but I knknow on my big wide foot, these would not work big time.
These are fine, I guess. They’re a pretty standard flat. I don’t think that they look super flattering, personally, but I know lots of people like them. The chunky rounded toe just isn’t my preference, but these come in the widest range of cool colors.
I don’t know who is buying cheap flipflops from Rothy’s for sixty-five American dollars but GIRL DON’T. I’m sure they’rre fine, but they are literally not special in any way. Skip these. Just don’t.
I have a hard time justifying $110 on a pair of sandals that looks like this, so it’s a pass for me. They do look cute, so I can’t fault them on style points, just on price.
I think that if you’re leaning towards getting The Flat, these are a better choice. They have that same rounded toe, but the top looks a little more stylish. These are a fairly normal loafer style. I like loafers. I think these are fine.
These were my obvious choice. They just look so sleek and sexy. Definitely what I had in mind for my cool without trying teacher wardrobe. I think that these would be my first recommendation to anyone looking for Rothy’s. It’s going to be the most flattering and easy to wear shape on the list.
I can’t tell if I like these, to be honest. You know I like the point, but I think the knot is a little big? I can’t quite put my finger on it, but they just look a little off? I think that these could be cute with a nice dress, but are going to be a less versatile style.
These are a Van’s-style slip on and I think that these are also a good choice for a lot of people. They’re a slightly more grown-up version of the skate shoe, and them being machine washable is a definite bonus.
The Triple Band and The Slide
Please view my thoughts on the Flip Flop. Big old nope from me.
Ordering
I want to be totally real with you guys. I completely lucked into a 50% off code for these shoes, which is why I’m here. I went ahead and ordered The Point in Green Botanicamo. I really fought my natural urge to just buy black (it' goes with everything!) and got something a little more interesting. ORdering was pretty standard and pretty easy. The returns policy is also laid out during the ordering process, which I appreciated in case I get the wrong size. Just to be safe, I ordered a full size bigger than my usual, which I still think is crazy. The warnings of running small were the only problems that I had.
Initial Thoughts
My shoes came in the mail super quickly. I pulled them out and immediately wore them for four days straight. Yeah, let’s really break them in. Firstly, I think that the sizing is stupid as hell. These are quite snug, and as mentioned before area already a full size bigger then normal. For something that you can only really buy online (the number of showrooms they have is extremely limited, it’s fairly unacceptable. I usually wear a 9.5, and the idea that I should have bought an 11 is ridiculous to me. Otherwise, I like them. They aren’t uncomfortable, but it would have been better to size up again, I think. I like the way that they look, and get lots of compliments on them, so no complaints there either. They are also surprisingly versatile, and go with a lot of outfits. I can see myself wearing them to work regularly.
Washing
After some panicking while reading that they could shrink on washing, I did it. I washed them on cold and took them out to air dry. No heat, says the website. They came out fine. No shrinking as far as I can tell. I also washed them because they smelled icky, and they did come out very clean and tidy. So far, there’s no discoloration that wouldn’t come out either, but I expect there to be at least a little as time goes on.
Final Thoughts
Rothy’s has now branched out into bags, and I just don’t think I can justify those to anyone. They’re in the $250+ range which (like the sandals) is ridiculous. I think Rothy’s has their heart in the right place but these prices are frankly insane. However, for certain types of the shoes, I think that they are worth it, and something that I can get use out of. I can myself purchasing another pair or two. I’m still tempted by the black pair, because of the general versatility. I like that there are so many colors, and that they seem fairly color fast. I wish that these were not worth the hype, but I really think they are!
Getting a Good Deal
Rothy’s are available exclusively on their website. The prices don’t go down much, but you are able to get $20 off of your first order using my link here. If you are a teacher, first responder, or another medical professional, you are also eligible for a discount of up to 20%. That’s how I got mine for half off…it was 50% until recently and I snapped. it. up. Only some styles are eligible for this larger discount. You can also get them used on many resale apps like Poshmark, but buyer beware. I had a friend who definitely got scammed there. Anyway, I do like them. I am considering getting another pair, but I have to hype myself up on the price a little first. I also linked a similar shoe from AllBirds in the Shop box below, in case the price point is a little much. These are still a nice, durable but comfortable flat, and they’re $50 cheaper!
What do you think about Rothy’s? Fan, or no?