Purchased: WoodChuckSato Women's/Men's Black Tabi Split-Toe Cow Leather Loafers with Chunky Cleated Sole (EU Sizes 35–47) - no buckle
Great Look, Terrible Fit: I absolutely love the design and craftsmanship of these shoes — they're stylish, well-made, and clearly high quality.
Unfortunately, everything fell apart when it came to sizing. Since trying before buying isn't an option and returns/exchanges require the buyer to pay international shipping (which can cost up to half the price of the shoes), I took extra care in choosing the right size. My foot length is 24.5 cm, which according to their size guide puts me at a 38. My usual size is 39, but after consulting with the company, they advised me to trust the size chart — so I did.
Despite also reading reviews suggesting to size down, I went with the 38 based on their recommendation. While the length is okay, the width is a disaster — it's extremely narrow. I honestly don't understand how this design could be labeled unisex. I couldn’t even get my left foot into the shoe, and wearing the right one cuts off circulation.
When I reached out, the company offered to exchange for a size 39 “without additional exchange fee” — a fee that had never been mentioned before. Even then, they admitted the width would only increase by 2–3mm, which clearly wouldn’t solve the problem.
Notably, the product disappeared from the site right after I ordered (hence why i can only review the one with buckle apparently) — making me suspect I may have received the last pair from a possibly faulty batch.
In short: I really wanted to love these shoes. The quality and style are top-notch. But since I can’t even wear them (even with a show horn) and the customer service was unhelpful in resolving the issue, I sadly can’t recommend them.