Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’m reviewing two pairs of women’s shoes from the local brand Dear Bliss.
During my recent visit to Suit Commune/Arden Teal, I noticed the presence of a women’s footwear brand named Dear Bliss, which took up the second floor of the showroom. It turns out that Sharan and Mabir – the wife-husband partners behind Arden Teal – co-founded Dear Bliss.
According to Sharan, Dear Bliss was started “to bridge the gap between supremely comfortable flats and good-looking designs.” When Mabir learnt of a reputable women’s shoemaker in Brazil (through his Arden Teal contacts), Sharan ordered a pair of samples and wore them daily for three months. She saw an opportunity to bring affordable yet comfortable flats to Singapore when she noticed that it didn’t give her any blisters (despite being on her feet constantly), and Dear Bliss was born.
Sharan also shared that the flats are imbued with technology that allows the wearer to experience maximum comfort. While I’m not the target audience for these shoes, I decided to support the new venture and got two pairs of flats – one for my mum, and another for a friend (who’s been complaining about foot aches).
For my mum, I decided to get her the Julie Crystal Ballet Flats, in classic black. The Julie Crystal Ballet Flats feature a leatherette upper with a smooth, rounded toe box. For the uninitiated, Leatherette is a synthetic material that mimics the look and feel of genuine leather. Although it won’t patina like “real leather” (like on Arden Teal dress shoes), leatherette is stain and spill-resistant, resulting in easy cleaning and maintenance. Leatherette also comes in a variety of colour options (including bright pastel colours) and is thus commonly used in women’s shoes.
The Julie Crystal Ballet Flats feature crystal-embellished bows on the vamp (therefore the name), giving the shoes a touch of bling. Nevertheless, the crystals do not detract from the overall elegance of the shoes – in Gen Z speak, they are very demure, very mindful.
However, the comfort aspect is where Dear Bliss shines. Firstly, the shoes feature breathable side lining, with micro-perforations that absorb sweat as you walk. This means you won’t get that niam niam (sticky) feeling, even in Singapore’s humid weather.
The insoles are breathable as well and are made with layers of soft antibacterial foam. The gel foam moulds to your feet over time, and provides enhanced cushioning for the wearer.
The shoes also feature latex-infused heel protectors, which Dear Bliss says provide “exceptional comfort, high rebound and heel support”. Sharan shares that significant R&D has been invested in ensuring the heel protectors provide maximum cushioning, as heel blisters are one of the top concerns for women.
For my friend, I got her the Adriana Bow Pointed Toe Flats. As opposed to the Julie Crystal Ballet Flats, the Adriana Bow Flats feature a pointed toebox, an unembellished bow, and a quilted design. It’s a younger design, one that I felt was more appropriate for my friend (who’s in her mid-twenties).
My friend has worn the Dear Bliss shoes for over a month now, and these are her thoughts:
“The foam surrounding the inner portion of the shoe allowed the shoe to mould to the shape and size of my feet, providing the perfect fit. This is very different from my usual experience with flats where the back slips out easily when walking even if there’s just a marginal gap in sizing. The foam around the heel also prevented my feet from suffering cuts that you usually get from wearing a fresh pair of shoes.
I also found that I could spend my entire day without my feet getting too smelly or sweaty. Considering the thick foam layering the interior, the breathability came as a pleasant surprise. Furthermore, the sole has a comfortable thickness that allows me to feel the ground without having to worry about any stress and injury on my feet. Lastly, it felt easy to match the shoes with my office outfits given the elegant and semi-formal look.”
Conclusion – so Dear Bliss “shiok” or not?
This is admittedly an atypical article – I believe this is the first review article (in 7 years!) where I didn’t personally use the products. That being said, my mom and my friend have worn the shoes for over a month now, and both have reported that the flats are extremely comfortable. The shoes also look good, and come in a variety of designs. I believe these shoes would be a great gift for a loved one, especially if they are struggling with foot pain, but still want to look presentable in the office.
Currently, flats from Dear Bliss are priced at $99. For those interested in purchasing from Dear Bliss, you can use the promo code ‘WAHSOSHIOK’ for 12% off a pair, or the code ‘WAHSOSHIOK15’ for 15% off two pairs and above. After the discount, the flats will cost roughly $84-88, making them fairly affordable. The brand also offers free returns and exchanges within 30 days, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally purchasing the wrong sizing online.
View the full range of Dear Bliss products here.
Dear Bliss Showroom: T-SPACE, 1 Tampines North Drive 1, #02-16 Singapore 528559 (Opposite Courts Megastore)
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
