Review // J. Crew Valentina Pumps vs. Zara Basic Court Heels
J. Crew Valentinas Pumps |
Zara Basic Heel Court Shoe |
|
Style |
2
|
3
|
Comfort |
2.5
|
2.5
|
Colors |
3
|
1
|
Craftsmanship |
2.5
|
2
|
Price |
1
|
2
|
Total |
11
|
10.5
|
The Stats:
- Heel height 3.15”
- Composition: Leather Upper, Manmade Lining and Sole
- Price: $79.90
- Fit: True to size, I got a 6. Might be a little snug with added padding, but they should stretch out fine.
The Good:
- Style- I really appreciate the classic shape of these and the “not-so-pointy” pointed toe. These have a lot of toe cleavage, so if thats not your thing, stay away. It doesnt bother me. The heel is high enough to be a little sexy, but low enough to still be quite comfortable and work appropriate. Overall, I feel that these are a very flattering pair!!
- Comfort- These are about as comfortable as heels can get. They might be a little better with some extra padding at the ball of the foot, but I can wear these for hours and feel fine.
The Average:
- Craftsmanship-The quality is what I expected. They have some unfinished edges, which you don’t notice when you’re wearing them. They don’t have any amazing details, but no huge flaws, either.
- Price- Good for what you get, in my opinion.
The Bad:
- Colors- While I do really like this nude pair, there aren’t a lot of options for other pretty colors. For now they come in patent and black, and the patent pair isn’t leather.
The Stats:
- Heel Height: 2.75″
- Composition: Leather Upper, Leather Lining, Man Made Sole
- Price: $228
- Fit: Slightly Small. I sized up to a 6.5 for a little extra room for some padding.
The Good:
- J. Crew is known for amazing colors, and these are no exception. This weathered rose color is stunning in real life. I’m sure the other colors are great, too. As you can see, I wear these a ton, the color seems to go with everything (and give outfits a little more life!).
- Comfort- The heel is so low on these, I can wear them all day. They are quite hard on the bottom, so I’ll still think about adding some padding to these. Eventually.
- Craftsmanship- The soles hold up well. The leather upper and lining is very comfortable and molds to your foot. The stitching, at least on my pair, is excellent. I could complain that the leather scratches, but its more my fault.
The Average:
- Style- The heel is a little lower than I prefer, so they’re not as leg-lengthening as I would like. The toe is pointier, but not really in a bad way, I suppose. The cut is very pretty and classic.
The Bad:
- Price– They aren’t too bad if you get them on sale, but they’re still double what the Zara pair costs.
Here are a few comparison pics:

The toe on the Zara pump is more blunt
The Zara pump will shoe more toe cleavage
The heel on the Zara pump is almost 0.5″ higher than the J. Crew pump
The J. Crew pump has more appealing lines/ details

Great review, thank you so much!! I’m a huge Valentina fan, but this one is a really nice alternative.
I love the Valentinas, too. I cant wait for them to go on sale, and I’m excited to see what new colors they come out with!
I actually really like the Zara one. The cut of the toe is really interesting. Thank you for sharing!
Its really flattering on, too. I should take some pictures. They’re very leg-lengthening!
Leg-lengthening! I need that. I’m 5’2″ but I have the inseam length of a 4′ tall person.=
Very interesting, thanks
http://goo.gl/LXuEk