**UPDATE 02/2022- Zuzii has brought back theses oxfords now with all leather sole! Wide widths and zero drop are no longer listed, but can be made upon request by emailing customer service**
Zuzii Footwear is going places. They have an amazing aesthetic, they’re responsibly made with completely natural materials (in the USA no less) and it’s a small, woman-owned, family-run business. I’ve been watching them grow substantially this past year (to their credit!) and I’m excited to see them continue. Not all of their shoes are minimalist friendly (sadly), but their sandals, oxfords, and demi slides all are. The oxfords they sell can be made in a wide width, the others are only made in standard width. I own a pair of oxfords in both wide and standard width.
These are my go to “flats.” I can wear them all day in comfort and still feel feminine and classy. The muted colors match everything and they are understated and sleek. Style-wise, these are my jam. The two shades I own (Asche and Carbon) fit seamlessly into my wardrobe and match everything I own. Back when I ordered I didn’t realize that they sell laces in more colors. The next time I order I plan on adding gray and taupe laces to switch out for an even more streamlined look. Amazon also sells oxford laces such as these if you want your laces to match your shoe color.
I love that in these my feet are touching nothing but high quality genuine leather (suede upper, vegetable tanned insole). I wear these barefoot and they are so comfy on my feet. The suede is soft and molds over time, though in the wide width my toes don’t touch anything inside the shoes so molding wasn’t even necessary. The rubber outsole is flexible and thin.
I find the sizing runs a little big (contrary to the description they give of their oxfords), but they have a size chart that tells EXACTLY the length of each size for all the shoes they sell. How nice is that? Every size 7 Zuzii sells is exactly the same length! I can think of a few manufacturers that could learn a thing or two from this… (I’m looking at you Vivo!). So determining your size should be a cinch. The main thing to consider is whether to go with wide or standard width. I have narrow feet and still found that the standard width pressed on my big toe uncomfortably for a while and required more breaking in. I do like the way they look in the standard width and they are not nearly as tapered as most shoes you see, but for true toe freedom you’ll want to go wide. I e-mailed them to find out exactly the difference between the wide and standard for my size, which I recommend doing if you have any questions. In my size 6 the standard width is 3 1/8″ wide at the ball, and wide is 3 3/8″. Because of the way the shoe is constructed, the leather spreads out wider over the outsole. My foot is 3 4/8″ wide and yet in the wide width there is no pressure or rubbing at all.
The shoes are treated before sent to you, so they are already stain resistant, but I think it’s a good idea to use a spray protector with suede, especially the lighter colors. This one is a good choice.
These shoes are made on demand, so there is a wait time of about 2 weeks before they ship (longer during busy times). And, I have found that they take a while to respond to e-mails. Shipping is free on orders over $125, and $10 if less than that. They do accept returns, but you have to pay return shipping. They also regularly run out of their leathers and you might have to wait for a particular color to be restocked (which they usually do, but email them to be sure). Good things are worth waiting for!
Since I started following them they have had 15-20% off discounts pretty regularly via e-mail or instagram. Another reason to be patient!
There are quite a few options for oxford style shoes that are minimalist, but for me these lead out in terms of quality and style. And this summer I plan on branching out to a pair of their sandals! What style of theirs is your favorite?
Other minimalist oxfords:
SoftStar Dash run amoc – A little sneaker-y, but if you choose the right leather colors will look like an oxford
Luk low shoes
BeLenka All Year shoes
Tikki Roots
Hoss Handmade – I own a pair of these and will review!
10 thoughts on “Zuzii Oxfords Review”
Your reviews are fantastic, thanks!
I ordered the new Zuzii oxfords with the leather sole. The sole is not flexible, but they are comfortable. I will put sure step non-skid pads on the bottom because they are slick.
I ordered a 7W, but think I could have gotten by with a 6W. Sole measures 9 5/8 long, but since the leather extends past the sole, it’s really 9 3/4. My foot measures 1/8” shy of 9.5” or 23.9 cm at the second toe, it’s the longest. So the shape of the toe box works well for my foot shape.
Have you tried Hobes? They look very similar to Zuzii, but they have a flexible rubber sole. Like Zuzii, they are unlined leather, but don’t sell wide width because they say their shoes mould to your foot size.
I think I read the 6W are now too big for you – if you ever want to sell them, let me know! Would love to try that size with a rubber sole.
Finally a review that compares wide and standard width! I would love to know if you find the heel any different between them? I have a wide foot but my heel is narrow and slides in and out of wide width shoes, but not in stand width. Also, it’s been a couple of months since this was posted, have they worn well since?
Hi! Yes, I have the same issue frequently with heel slippage. I actually have put a little heel grippy in the wide width oxfords. I get asked often about which I prefer, and it really depends on the day! The wide width oxfords with the heel grip are sooo comfortable, but are loose. So sometimes I like having the more secure feeling of the narrow width. Both are wearing excellently, though I have wetted the insides and let them dry once to shrink the suede a bit. It does stretch quite a bit. Check out my Zuzii loafers review for more comparison pics of the heels and widths of the two sizes.
These are so so cute! I realize you don’t work for them, but do you have any idea when they will be relaunching? Also I can’t wait for your review of the Hoss Handmade!
All I know is that they are finding a more sustainable material for their soles. Whether the new shoes will still be minimal I have no idea!
Hi Anya,
I appreciate your reviews so much. These look like they taper quite a bit, and since you found Softstars a bit restrictive on your toes (like I have, unlike many minimal shoe lovers) I’m wondering if you’d caution someone who’s concerned about squished toes. It’s so rare to find mainstream looking women’s dress shoes I can wear to work, so I’d love to be able to buy a pair. Thanks for your input!
I actually have only tried one style of Softstars (the Sawyer) and it was definitely not restrictive on my toes. These oxfords in a wide width work for many barefoot shoe wearers, even particular ones, and the leather stretches very nicely. Always, I recommend being cautious and paying attention to your feet and preferences, but I can pretty safely recommend these. I myself now prefer the regular width after they’ve stretched and find the wide too be pretty loose. But if you need a lot of toe space and don’t fit in brands like Vivobarefoot, these might also be too narrow for you.
Thank you Anya for your detailed review of these shoes and so many others! I have been eyeing these oxfords for quite a while. You said in your last comment that you preferred the regular width over the wide width. Do you think the shoes stretched lengthwise too? I normally wear a half size and am deciding between the two sizes. Thanks!
I have plenty of length in my size 6, so my toes were far from the end. I think these definitely would stretch lengthwise if your toes were up against the front, but then your toes would get off the sole as it stretched. Personally, I’d get the size that is long enough for your feet and only plan to have the width stretch.