How to recognise a Chie Mihara shoe
The shoes of Chie Mihara are recognisable by three elements that recur on almost every model: different leathers combined on the same piece, a heel covered in a contrasting colour or material, and a leather sole with a non-slip rubber insert under the tread. It is shoemaking construction applied to a contemporary design.
The heel is the variable that decides how the shoe is used. This page runs from a flat of 1.5-2 cm up to 7.5 cm, measured on size 37 at the centre of the heel: the height grows in proportion to the size. Between 3 and 4 cm you stay with a heel that can be worn all day; above 6 cm you enter the territory of the shoe kept for an occasion, and there the width of the heel counts for more than its height.
The leathers are the real repertoire of the brand: very soft smooth leather, nappa, suede, leather with a laminated finish, patent leather, python and geometric prints. The lining is leather on every model, and that is why a shoe of this kind settles after a few hours instead of marking the foot. The leather sole, in exchange, has a longer break-in than a solid rubber sole and should be kept dry. The heel is almost always covered in the same leather as the upper or in a contrasting one, and it is the first point to scuff against a step.
The range covers four different types: court shoes and slingbacks with the strap behind the heel, Mary Janes with the strap across the instep, low-heeled loafers with fringes or applied leather decoration, sandals with a T-strap or an ankle strap. Mary Jane and loafer are the two models that stand up best to daily use, because they hold the foot and stop it sliding forward.
The fit is not uniform and it is worth reading it model by model: some are listed as generous, with the advice to go down a size, others run true to size. If you are comparing several brands, the starting point is the women's court shoes and the women's sandals.
