Tomás Sullivent Dress Shoes – Luxury Meets Wide Toe Box

by Adrian Colarusso

I used to wear dress shoes every day for work. They looked nice, but of course they had pointy toes and raised heels. I gave them all away after I could no longer tolerate the toe squishing and how it affected the rest of my body.

Since then I’ve missed the feeling of looking really sharp! So adding Tomás Sullivent dress shoes to my closet is no less than a wardrobe renaissance for me. They have an uncompromisingly wide toe box, but otherwise look and feel like a high end luxury dress shoe.

Meet Sullivent’s Actually Wide Dress Shoes

Sullivent is a new brand of beautifully hand-crafted dress shoes with all the details you’d expect from a luxury item. But where they differ is in their shape. Sullivent shoes have an anatomical shape that actually mirrors the foot and does not squish the toes. This is a godsend for people who need to look nice, but can’t handle the toe crunching or who have wide feet and can’t fit into most shoes!

And the best part is when you’re wearing them they don’t look as out of place as you might think. You’re the only one seeing that top down view – from the side they look like a designer label dress shoe! Unique, yes. Trendsetter, totally. But they’re still great looking shoes.

Specs

Besides a wide toe box, Sullivent Shoes also have the following specifications:

• Zero drop sole
• Blake stitch construction for flexibility and reparability
• A durable outsole made of rubber, leather, or a combo of both
• High end leather uppers
• Compressible cushioning for a touch of extra comfort

Tom, founder and namesake of Tomás Sullivent, has worked relentlessly with his Spanish shoemakers to modify the classic dress shoe into a foot friendly alternative.

To accomplish this they had to push the boundary on how thin the soles can be without compromising on durability. They also had to get creative to keep the footbed level (because heels can be a back wrecker) while still maintaining stability at the heel counter (so your nice shoes don’t get frumpy). The solution was an outsole thicker in the forefoot and thinner at the heel to offset a short rubber heel piece.

And finally, their use of a “Blake Stitch” allows for more flexibility than other methods used in high-end shoemaking, while still allowing a cobbler to resole them.

Sizing & Fit

Sullivent shoes fit as follows:

• Sizing is true
• Wide fit – should be suitable for those with extra wide feet or who want a lot of toe space
• Medium/high volume over the arches

I wear the same size in Sullivent as I do in Vivobarefoot, and they fit my high-volume, mountain shaped feet perfectly. I found myself cinching down the laces on the Mutinys quite a bit, so those with lower volume feet may require Anya’s handy fit hack to achieve a snugger fit.

Natural Feel

Tomás Sullivent shoes are for people who want a natural fit and feel in their dress shoes, without compromising on a distinguished look.

My pairs took about a day of wear to break in – they are not a full barefoot shoe so don’t have that same out-of-the-box bendy feel to them. This structure helps them keep their shape so they look upscale even after use, while still feeling comfortable because you aren’t wearing a heel and don’t have your toes squished.

There also is a tiny bit of toe spring or elevation of the toes because of the stiffer sole (at least compared to barefoot shoes). Although these aren’t “true” barefoot design features, the effect is minimal and the toe spring helps you walk over the big toe without clomping. Knowing that these are for those special occasions when casual just won’t do, this is a reasonable compromise.

But if you are someone who is looking for for that genuine barefoot feel you may like these men’s barefoot dress shoes more. They have a similar silhouette with a lot more bend and flex.

Mutiny

I have been wear testing 3 different pairs of Sullivent shoes. The Mutiny is your classic lace up oxford. The rich brown matches any color of suit or pants, and I have worn these ones the most out of the bunch. Can’t go wrong with a classic!

Adrian

The Adrians (no relation to me) include a buckle with a hidden elastic element that provided the right snugness and flexibility out of the box. There are three holes in the strap that can adjust tighter or looser. 

The Adrians sport inlaid rubber in the forefoot that softens your step considerably. 

Pilot

The Pilot has an all-rubber sole that is more comfortable for walking on hard surfaces like city sidewalks. Although my beefy paws fared just fine clapping around New York City in the all-leather-soled Mutinys, this is an option for people who want a more cushiony feel.

How to Style

I’ve been wearing my Sullivent shoes to weddings, funerals, work days in New York City, and meetings with attorneys (who are famously fashion forward in workplace dress). At every occasion I felt dapper and confident, both because I was wearing the finest shoes I’ve had in a long time and because I was truly comfortable.

The color and design make for easy pairing with any of my suits and dress pants – they were a cinch to style with just about any color palette.

Another thing I love about these shoes is they can fit with all but the most formal dress (a tuxedo shoe is in the works), and they also elevate more casual outfits. I wore the Adrians without socks for an all-day business casual conference, and they felt and looked great.

How does Sullivent compare to other dress shoes?

Sullivent shoes sport high-end materials and construction techniques, akin to traditional luxury dress shoe brands at their price point and above (and they are resolable). Those switching from high-fashion Ferragamos might find Sullivents a bargain. And those who wear mid-tier brands like Cole Haan or Allen Edmonds should understand what you get for the $400+ price.

But in the realm of foot-friendly fashion, the closest comparison is Carets Shoes. I have a pair of black plain-toe oxfords from Carets and here is how they compare.

The main difference is that Carets have an elongated tip to give the illusion of a pointy toe box while still being wide. Carets also have more out-of-the-box comfort and flexibility in the forefoot. Those who want to fit in to the current pointy-toe standard may find this more appealing. They are also less expensive at $250.

Sullivents on the other hand have higher quality materials and construction, so look and wear more like a luxury shoe. And, as the model name “Mutiny” implies, Sullivents are for those who are comfortable bucking the trends and want to shift what society considers fashionable. I personally like that they embrace the wide shape.

I’m extremely grateful for Tom and his Spanish shoemakers for their innovative work in bringing these shoes to market. I believe there is nothing out there like it. 

As a barefoot purist, it’s hard to get me excited about putting on dress shoes. I’m happiest with nothing on my feet. But when I begrudgingly have to put something nice on, I am thrilled to have these in my closet. 

I’m very excited to see the various styles Sullivent has in the works and plan to add more to my collection over the years.

I hope many others will join me as wearers of Tomás Sullivent shoes, so together we can shift the footwear fashion standard to one that celebrates the shape of feet instead of trying to hide it.