I Just Got Back From Spain And Every Fashion Person Was Wearing These Shoes

I just got back from spending a week in Madrid and while I explored the usual sights; Retiro Park, the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor, there was another sight I was desperate to stop by - the Flabelus store. For those who have never heard of the brand, let me introduce you. Flabelus is a Spanish label who took a traditional Venetian slipper and added a Spanish twist with its plush velvet outer and delectable range of colour combinations to choose from. Its shoes are now quietly (or maybe not so quietly) taking over wardrobes (and the Grazia office too).

As it turns out the story behind the brand is as sweet as its shoes. When founder Beatriz de los Mozos first dreamt of importing the classic Furlane slipper to Spain, it wasn't a grand business plan but a passionate hunch. Beatriz spoke to Grazia's Hannah Banks-Walker to explain: 'I loved the shoes, but I wanted to adapt them to the Spanish market.' The twist? Her two best friends were meant to co-found the brand with her but had to step back, 'but during that meeting we found the name: Fla (Flaminia) -Be (Beatriz) -Lus (Lucrecia) is the combination of our three names.' A few meetings with Spanish espadrille factories later, and the first Flabelus shoe was born - a slipper-espadrille that tows the line between the two.

Since then, Flabelus' cult shoes have been spotted more times than I can count on Instagram, and the brand gives a lot of credit to its socials for creating a community with one thing in common - a collective obsession with Flabelus shoes. 'We're very lucky because our clients love posting the shoes online,' Beatriz says, 'of course we work hard to place the shoes in the wardrobes of the coolest ambassadors all over the world.' And cool women they are. Billie Eilish once uploaded an Instagram post wearing them ('I nearly had a heart attack' Beatriz admits), and fashion editors across Europe are racing to get their hands on the deep burgundy Lucrecia Mary Janes - one of the bestsellers.

My thoughts? The Flabelus Mary Janes are, honestly, one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I've slipped my feet into (and that's not an exaggeration). I wore them while walking sometimes over 15,000 steps a day on holiday, to a Sam Fender concert, and now I'm home, the Mary Janes have also become a mainstay in my office wardrobe - styling them with anything from wide-leg trousers to midi dresses. The velvet is soft on the outside, the insole is soft on the inside and the sole (that's cleverly crafted from recycled bike tyres) is a feature I really love - especially considering the fact that most ballet flats don't really have any sort of protection between your foot and the floor. The only negative thing about Flabelus' Mary Janes is the sizing - be warned, they come up super small - even the sales associate advised me of that. I'm usually a size 4.5/5 and have quite narrow feet, so I sized up to a 6 and they fit much better than the size 5 I originally tried.

If you never thought you'd see the day where the shoe you used to wear back in 2004 is suddenly everywhere once more, well I'm sorry to tell you - Mary Janes are back like they never left. The shoes have inevitably gotten a lot more chic - we can all probably be glad the stiff and patent iterations are no longer - all thanks to Flabelus' iconic and quietly luxurious velvet styles. Plus, while the shoes might look dainty, Flabelus' Mary Janes are actually made for everyday wear, whether you're heading to the office, to brunch, to the market, or even to Madrid.

Aside from comfort, Flabelus tick all the boxes for sustainability, craftsmanship and - perhaps the hardest one to achieve - a sense of identity than runs deeper than any trend (I can't tell you how many people stopped me in the street to say 'are they Flabelus?' when talking about my shoes). And, as Beatriz puts it 'every pair of shoes tells a story', so, if you're going to invest in a Mary Jane this summer, make it one with soul.

Shop: The Best Flabelus Shoes

Main image credit: Instagram/@soapywaterdo, Grazia/Gemma Lavers, @anacrispeon

Gemma Lavers is a fashion commerce writer at Grazia, where she tracks down viral pieces and is as comfortable navigating the M&S new-in page as she is dissecting the latest celebrity look. When not writing, shopping or at Reformer Pilates (a cliché but she's hooked), Gemma will likely be planning her next holiday (and what she's going to wear). For a glimpse into said travels, outfit inspo and life as a journalist, follow her on Instagram or TikTok.