Wall + Water Suede Single Monk Strap: $119.00
Note: The Wall + Water brand does offer more than just shoes. Also, these were priced at $109 over the weekend, and have oddly enough jumped now to $119.
Gilt’s return policy stinks. At first glance, it looks like you can return any kind of “sized” item (clothes, shoes, etc…) for original form of payment, less a $7.95 return shipping charge. But if you read further, you come across this (emphasis, ours):
Returnable items that are priced at $199.99 and under are eligible for a refund in the form of Gilt Credits. For returnable items that are priced at $200 and above… Receive Gilt Credit with no additional return charges. Receive a refund back to the original form of payment minus $7.95 return shipping.
If it’s under $199.99, you can’t get your money back. Returns at that price are for store credit ONLY.
So even though GILT recently introduced their very own house brand, Wall + Water, full of pretty darn good looking shoes (& other stuff) at oddly reasonable prices (conveniently under the $199 threshold), what kind of moron is going to dive in and risk that kind of money?
I mean, really, what sort of mouth-breathing dipsh*t is gonna put up triple digits of currency that might be only returnable for store credit on a flash sale website?
The fit on this pair of Wall + Water 10.5 D suede single monks seems true. Maybe a touch on the large side, but cinching down the one buckle to it’s tightest setting should do the trick for most. Width seems to be pretty true as well. Neither too trim or too bulky through the widest part of the foot.
And man are they something to look at.
Much better materials & construction than the price would indicate.
Pics on GILT’s site don’t do these things justice. The suede is thick & rich. The shape of the toe is a perfect almond shape with no hint of chisel. While still round at the tip, they boomerang a bit sharper than, say, an Allen Edmonds Park Ave. But they aren’t crazy elongated like a lot of Magnannis. Then there’s the subtle medallion on the toe. That’s not real common, and a nice detail. The buckle is silver, and while the shine could have been knocked down with a matte finish, it’s not a drawback. Construction appears to be that of the Blake Stitch variety.
Blake stitched, which aren’t as water resistant as a Goodyear welt.
To say these are a pleasant surprise would be a massive understatement. GILT doesn’t say much about the quality of their Wall + Water shoes, other than that they’re made in Italy. They coulda shown up and been something along the lines of DSW’s (well liked) cemented-sole Mercanti Fiorentini line. But these are a noticeable step up, both in construction, and the quality of materials used.
Now, is it safe to assume that this pair is a bellwether for the rest of the Wall + Water line?
No. Nothing is “safe” when you can return a purchase for store credit only.
Bottom line is this: High risk, potential high reward.
I have the chocolate double monks from Gilt’s Wall + Walter. I’m happy with them.
Joe, how do these stack up against Jack Erwin’s single Monk?
I never got my hands on the Jack Eriwn single monk in suede, so I can’t speak to that, but these feel a little more substantial through the sole. That’s not to say that I feel like Jack Erwin’s feel flimsy… far from it.
I’ll agree that I stopped even looking at GILT once they went back to their store credit only return policy. Also, is the heel on those less pronounced in person? It looks like that might be starting to get a bit high.
Beautiful looking pair of shoes… might have to be my first pair of monk straps!
Also, well played incorporating pictures of the shoes on a wall and, um, water. Best site on the internet!
thanks!
How many business days was shipping from the date of purchase? I seen some wonderful looking tassel loafers on their site that I think will make potentially good travel/beater shoes.
Ordered them the evening of Wed. 7/23, and they showed up morning of Tues. 7/29. So, Thursday, Friday, Monday.
GILT’s warehouse is in KY. So if you’re in the midwest or southeast, orders can show up even sooner than that.
I have the double monks from JE, though they are not in suede. I’m quite happy with those. The JEs are much lighter than the equivalent Mora 2.0s from AE but I consider that a plus. The Moras seemed tremendously clunky and I much prefered the sleeker lines of JE in a Double Monk.
Any recs for suede monks (basically just like these) that come in wide sizes and are relatively affordable?
Agree with everything about their return policy. I just can’t shop there anymore.
Thanks for the input!
The picture on the web site looks like a significantly darker brown. Any one know the actual color of the one’s being shipped?
Here’s a shot of them indoors:
http://dappered.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Monk_interior_lighting.jpg
That’s just outdoor vs. indoor lighting. It’s accurate in the article, and they look that way in sunlight. We always try and do our best to represent anything reviewed with as accurate as possible pics.
Thanks, Joe. Your shots still look lighter than the web page to me, but I’d suspect that yours are more accurate as to what they look like in person. I just wanted to make sure there weren’t multiple colors and the lighter color had sold out or something.
That Picard gif just made my day.