There are tried & true “essentials” when it comes to building a closet you love. While those pieces differ from person to person, one that has always remained on my list is a pair of minimal flats.
I realize most people are likely to be boot shopping at the moment but I felt it was best to share my thoughts on these while they’re still fresh instead of waiting until next spring. Plus, I know some readers live in more temperate climates and can get away with wearing flats any time. How lucky!
This post will cover:
- A Full Review of the Dream Flat
- How they compare to the Day Glove
- The no-show socks I wear with flats
DREAM FLAT // BROWN SWEATER old // LONG SLEEVE TEE (wearing a Small) // ANKLET (made in Canada)
OLIVER CABELL
DREAM FLAT REVIEW
QUICK FACTS
- Sizes 5 – 10 (whole sizes only)
- Free Shipping Worldwide
- 4 Colours – Saddle / White / Rosa / Black
- Made in Italy
- Oliver Cabell is an independent brand, and founder, Scott Gabrielson, personally reached out to me initially. The O.C. team is currently focused on thoughtfully producing quality footwear for women and men at accessible prices in elegant and functional designs.
- SHOP THE DREAM FLAT
BREAK-IN PERIOD
When a brand claims “no break-in period” I’m usually inclined to roll my eyes. However, this time I have to admit, they weren’t far off! Apart from a bit of slight rubbing on the very back of my heel (after lots of walking with no socks on a hot day) the break-in was completely painless and blister-free. This is rarely ever been the case for me with new shoes of any kind and was a pleasant surprise indeed.
FIT
- I went with a size 7. Typically I’m either a 7 or 7.5 (38 EU) in shoes depending on the fit and whether or not I intend to wear socks. In these I will either go barefoot or wear a thin, no-show sock.
- I have a narrow foot (AA) and heel with a high arch.
- The Dream Flats fit my foot right away. There was a touch of room in the length and a bit of room in the width but it didn’t feel too sloppy anywhere.
- I share more on this below, but I’ve found that as the leather has loosened with wear, the fit can feel a bit looser than I’d like at times. That said, they are still entirely wearable (and a no-show sock helps) but for those with very narrow feet, these may not be ideal.
- For folks with a regular – wide foot width, these will be great!
MATERIALS & CARE
- 100% leather with a rubber outsole.
- The leather has a pebbled texture, which gives it a natural feel, resistance to stains and makes it easy to wipe off.
- The leather is quite soft but feels durable and I’ve found that it stands up to scrapes and scuffs well.
- The rubber sole is extremely flexible and easily bends and moves with your foot. It’s also nice and grippy on smooth surfaces.
- The Saddle brown is a beautiful, rich warm neutral. A classic cognac colour.
- I care for them by wiping off any dirt or stains with a damp cloth. Mud, red wine & coffee have all come off easily. As needed I’ll condition and treat them with leather conditioner & protector.
- I’m not sure if the sole can be replaced but I would be inclined to guess not.
DETAILS TO NOTE
- Two small inner side vents allow for some air flow.
- Breathability is not bad, but when I don’t wear a sock I find my feet sometimes get clammy.
- There is a reinforcement strip at back and top of the heel. Common on flats as this helps prevent the shoe from slipping off.
- Cushioned insole and back panel.
- The inside is partially unlined so the soft (suede-like) backside of the pebbled leather is exposed around the foot. This helps to give these flats a very ultra low-profile, minimal fit.
SUPPORT
- No arch or significant support to speak of so probably not great for pounding the pavement all day.
- That said, I’ve worn them for walks that are well over an hour and my feet/lower back felt fine.
FAVOURITE PART
They are a true classic and excellent quality for the price point. They work with pretty much any outfit I might want to wear and I’ve been loving these as an indoor flat that’s almost like a slipper. I can zip out for a walk with the pup or into the yard and not worry about getting them wet or dirty (like I would slippers). The tread doesn’t pick up much dirt and they’re easy to wipe clean. I expect to have them a long time.
LEAST FAVOURITE PART
They’ve stretched out more than I’d like. Out of the box they fit pretty well perfectly and in my experience most leather shoes that I plan to wear barefoot (or with a no-show sock), should start out a little snug. If anything these were a bit on the wide side for me and as the leather has softened, it’s relaxed a little more than I needed. This means that when my feet are cold or it’s not warm out, they fit a bit loose. They still stay on well and with a thin, no-show sock it’s all good. I don’t expect them to stretch out any more at this point.
Additionally, I don’t think a size down would have worked in the length so I’m happy to make these work. If there were half sizes I might try a 6.5 but they’re currently only available in whole sizes.
OVERALL SCORE: 8/10
I think these would be an easy 9 for someone with a more average width foot. With a little more insole cushioning they might even be a 10.
COMPARING THE
DREAM FLAT & DAY GLOVE
PRICE
DREAM FLAT: $114.80 USD
DAY GLOVE: $118 USD (Free US shipping on orders over $75 USD and INTL on $100 USD)
FIT/SIZING
DREAM FLAT: Sizes 5 – 10 | No half sizing | Best suited for regular to wide feet.
DAY GLOVE: Sizes 5 – 11 | Half Sizes available | Best suited for narrow to regular width feet.
LEATHER/COLOUR OPTIONS/PRODUCTION
- DREAM FLAT: 100% Leather upper with rubber outsole. The leather on the Dream Flat is a bit thicker than the Day Glove with more of a pebbled texture.
- COLOURS: 4 Total | SADDLE | WHITE | ROSA | BLACK
- DAY GLOVE: 100% Leather upper with rubber outsole.
- COLOURS: 9 Total (currently)
- BOTH: Are made in Italy and the leather will stretch and give to fit the foot within a few wears.
In the photo below you can see a side by side comparison for the Dream Flat (left) and Day Glove (right). This shows the slight design differences, width and overall feel of the two flats.
DESIGN DETAILS
DREAM FLAT: No pull tabs / Toe box portion covers toes but leave most of the top of the foot open. / Inner sides come up 1/4″ higher and outer sides come up about 1/4″ lower. / Back of heel height is about the same (excluding pull tab).
DAY GLOVE: Leather Pull Tab / Toe box portion of the shoe comes up higher on the top of the foot.
QUALITY
DREAM FLAT: My initial impression was that the Dream Flat seems to be made of higher quality materials and better construction and I still think so. Mainly, the leather feels more durable and scuffs less easily.
DAY GLOVE: I’ve had these for several years now and they’ve held up pretty well. There are some scuffs/scrapes on the tip of the toes that need repairing but overall these flats should remain wearable for more seasons to come.
OVERALL
Bottomline, these shoes are quite similar. For me personally, the Day Glove ultimately fits my narrow foot best (despite a horrendous break-in period), however, I like the simplicity, design and the quality of the Dream Flat more.
They are both a great option for a minimal and timeless “glove” style flat and can fit within any wardrobe. It will likely come down to fit (whether you need wide or narrow width) and preference of design details.
THE NO-SHOW SOCKS I WEAR
I recently discovered SHEEC socks and they’re a total game changer. Shown above are the Secret 2.0 Ultra Low Cut, designed specifically for minimal coverage shoes (like these or Rothy’s). I got the size Small but could probably fit into the Medium too.
They ACTUALLY stay on and I can wear them all day without adjusting them or having to fish them out of the toe of my shoe! The toe and heel are a special no-slip material (poly/spandex), while the sole is cotton for sweat absorption and breathability. They also have a no skid patch, which I never even knew I needed, but definitely appreciate on tile and hardwood floors.
SHEEC offers a range of profiles and options depending on the type of shoe you’re wearing (even for sling backs!) so they’re well worth a look! I also tried out the Active-X High Cut Socks for sneakers and ankle boots and I really like them.
I bought these socks myself and I’m thrilled to have finally found something that works!
