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The questions keep pouring in about the Tegu Platforms ($168) so I’ve bumped them ahead of my other reviews for the week. Clothing reviews will return late tonight! I can understand the curiosity about these whimsical heels. I fall for just about anything with a bow on it and when I saw the faux snake base I was sold — these pumps had to be mine!
The main material of the pump is a taupe suede. It reads as dark brown most of the time but I noticed that in bright sunlight they give off a greyer vibe. So while I think brown is an OK color description be aware that certain lighting will bring out the grey undertones.
The suede does rub with or against the grain so the shoe is never one uniform color. I don’t mind this but perfectionists may not be happy with the mix of slightly lighter and slightly darker tones that will appear in the shoe as you walk. I noticed the toe in particular was prone to rubbing lighter easily. The photo above is a brand new pair of 8.5s yet you can already see some lightness on the toes.
The base of the shoe is faux-snake-wrapped leather. About a 1/4-inch of the shoe is wrapped in that same snake and the bow has two layers: suede on top and snake underneath, wrapped in a snake loop. I know the heel looks intimidating but the one-inch platform helps these heels feel like 3.5″ instead of 4.5″.
The soles have the unmistakable Schuler & Sons keyhole detail (I have no idea why the site says these are Miss Albright). This brand does a striated, subtly grooved sole that provides grip and stability as you walk. These are some of my favorite shoe soles. As a bonus, the sole is built to last. The three other pairs of Schuler & Sons shoes I own show little wear on the soles. And I rip most shoes apart in 6 months with my clompy city walking style.
The bow is downright adorable. I love that little plastic pieces have been stuck between each part of the bow to ensure it holds its shape during shipping. It shows some extra thought was put into these shoes.
I know that one of the big community complaints about the Bowed Lacerta Mary-Janes ($168, reviewed here) has been that the bottom platform and the shoe body seem to split apart. So above is a closer look at where the platform and sole of the Tegu Platforms meet. I didn’t notice any visible glue or hints that this shoe may split. I’ve worn mine once so far and will certainly update this review if that becomes a problem with these shoes.
How do the shoes look on? Awesome. They look luxurious and feel almost as good. The shoe doesn’t provide a very comfortable footbed but there is arch support and I was able to wear these all day comfortably. It feels like you’re standing on soft wood. So not painful but not like the warm pillowy feel of some shoes. If you want a softer feeling inside an insole should do the trick. The shoe seemed neither narrow nor wide to me. There were no areas of pinching or smushing. Overall the fit is quite good.
Sizingwise, I initially purchased these shoes in my usual size 9. But as I started walking to work my heels slipped out of the shoe constantly. So I went back to Anthropologie and exchanged the 9s for 8.5s and the latter fits much better.
Here’s a quick OOTD shot of one styling idea with the Tegus. This is a Nanette Lepore dress from last year and a pair of Hue opaque tights in espresso paired with the heels. I’ll get a proper shot of this look up on my tumblr…eventually. Looking for more style inspiration? The November Anthropologie catalogue used these heels in about 7 looks.
Do you own the Tegu platforms? Are you planning to buy them? What do you think of the shoe?
