If you want something a little more interesting, ingeniously cut, and customizable in barefoot shoes for your office, formal, or casual wear, then check out this review of the Lisbeth Joe Harare Flats to see why they may be exactly the minimalist footwear you need.
I bought these at a discount in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own. You can get your own pair at a 5% discount with the affiliate code OWBSHOES.
Sections
Technical Specifications
- Sole: Custom rubber-stamped with logo, 4 mm thick
- Insole: Leather
- Upper: Nubuck
- Sizes: 5-12
Appearance
The Lisbeth Joe Harare flats have been ingeniously scalloped in a way that gives a more narrow and elegant appearance than the actual width of the shoe provides. When I first opened the box, my face fell. I was sure they were going to be too small, but the appearance is deceptive (in a good way).
The back of this particular colorway matches the rest of the shoe, but in the other two colorways pictured below you can see that the designs can be even more fun and edgy with contrasting looks.
Outfit-wise, have some fun! They can be worn with or without the strap to change the look. My favorite color to wear with these is blue, but they’re a classic neutral tan color that will work with most anything, and the alternative color-ways give you options to fit any business, casual, or fun wardrobe requirements.
Fit
These flats have a structured upper that won’t sag and are generous in width for optimal big toe health.
They have elastic only at the edges of the heel, which keeps them secure but does not hurt your heel. It looks deep here, but does not draw any attention when you wear them.
The volume of these shoes is quite high. This means that they are perfect for me and even have a little extra room. If your feet are particularly flat, you may need an insole to take up some extra space and improve the fit if you find it too high.
Sizing
Lisbeth Joe includes a detailed sizing chart with lengths on their website. In my experience, the shoes come in about 4-5 mm short of the listed number for size 12. I’d recommend that you measure and if you are on the fence between sizes err on the side of going up, rather than down.
I typically wear 11.5 in shoes and am sporting 12s here, which fit beautifully and lines up with the above recommendations. The full sizing information can be found here.
Breaking In
I found at first that the combination of the elastic at the heel and a bit of curl to the sole pushed my foot forward when I first received the shoes, but that both settled down with a few wears.
There were no hot spots, rough spots, or pokey bits (this might as well be my ™ line by now 🤣) that bothered me and the shoes have not changed with wear otherwise. They still hold their shape, the leather itself has not stretched, and they look like they did when I bought them.
How do they feel?
Fun, elegant, sexy, business-like… it really depends on your mood and goals for the day. I have always worn them with the strap so far, but you have some great customization options and they look wonderful with either pants or dresses.
My feet love the width and volume. No restrictions.
The only caution I have is for ground feel. The sole is thin and flexible and not restrictive. But the material doesn’t particularly mold around objects, so your feet will not get a wide range of sensations. However, as almost all wears of these shoes are low-ground feel environments anyway – sidewalks, offices, stores, churches, schools, etc – it’s not going to make that much of a difference. No one is going on a hike in these.
Cleaning
Nubuck has a nice appearance that is somewhat between a suede and a smooth leather. Products such as waxes are not appropriate. It is best to protect these immediately with a spray suitable for nubuck (you can see some options here) and have a soft brush on hand for any stains. You can see Lisbeth Joe’s full instructions here.
Purchasing, Shipping, and Returns
Lisbeth Joe just had a huuuge Black Friday sale and many sizes are out of stock, but a restock is in the works, so keep an eye on their social media (or mine, because I’ll definitely be watching!) for details. COVID has greatly affected manufacturing in every segment as buying habits, needs, and materials availability have changed.
When your size is available, the OWBSHOES code is good for 5% off.
If you live in the Denver, Colorado area, you can sometimes find booths at local markets with an even deeper discount.
The company does accept returns, including internationally. The buyer is responsible for shipping costs unless there is an error, and shoes must be unworn and not marked. The full return policy can be found here.
Company Information
Leontyne Ashmore founded Lisbeth Joe to give women shoes for “style, comfort, and health” and I believe she delivers on all fronts. It is a black-owned business focused on supporting women on different fronts and honors her mother in the name. She also personally experienced an issue common to many of us, Diaistis Recti, and has seen herself how transformative barefoot shoes can be.
Read the full company story and about Lee’s background here.
Final Thoughts
My Lisbeth Joe Harare flats are some of the most stylish minimalist shoes I have. I love the strappy look and feel like I’m taking my style up a notch every time I wear them. I think these are a great way to get your non-minimalist friends into looking at barefoot shoes and they are strong addition to any wardrobe.
Want more reviews?
Check out All the Barefoot Shoe Reviews for more in-depth looks.
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