“Has everyone been wearing TOMS and I missed the memo on how wonderful they are?” I thought to myself, looking down at my tattered flip flops.

I have to admit, when I first saw that girl wearing these (let me defend my vintage perception by explaining they were dirty and a mustard color) I was not a fan. Given the condition they were in and the way the fabric wrapped around her feet in that unique shape, I kind of thought they made her feet look like mummies. “Ew,” I thought to myself. “Is that some new hipster shoe?”

But, as with most trends, it didn’t take long for me to change my tune and realize they’re utterly perfect. And not just because of the motto and mission of the company: “With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.™”

Let’s just talk about how cute this glitter style is! My main obsession with these is that they’re more than just super practical flats (because if I only wore shoes because they were practical I wouldn’t have scars on my knees from too-high heels and my sneakers wouldn’t be sitting in the back of my closet under a pile of dirty laundry). I’m digging these TOMS because they’re the fashion trifecta: unique, adorable and sensible.

The Black Glitters are my I-can’t-stop-thinking-about-them-and-planning-outfits-around-them favorites. They’re not as in your face as the gold and silver, or as Barbie-girl as the pink (though, quite honestly, if I could afford multiples I’d probably just buy them all). These would be so awesome for wearing to class when you don’t want to be too dressed up but you don’t want to be the schlub in a sweat suit. They’re an extra umph to an outfit, guaranteed to take any comfortable ensemble to the next level of fashionable. And they’re better than regular flats because of the way they hug your foot. Perfect with skinny jeans, I could wear these on one of those long days running around the city, never having to worry about getting hit by a cab because I lost a flat halfway across the street.

But, thanks to that sparkle, they’re also great for a night out. Slip them on with some ankle jeans and a basic top and you’ve got just enough pizazz for the occasion and your feet won’t hurt like a mofo 3 minutes into the night. [Editor's Note: Just don't wear them in the rain. Trust me on that one.]

I may have been a little late to jump on the TOMS bandwagon, but I’m here now. And every time I wear my new black shoes (which, let’s be honest, is daily), I not only look damn good, but I feel even better knowing there’s a child out there rockin’ a pair, too.

Unfortunately, when you’re getting ready to leave the second bar you realize that you no longer have the ability to walk. Your balance is already a little thrown off by the amount of heavy drinking you’ve been doing, and now you have to walk in 6-inch stilettos? No thanks. That stool you’re perched on will be just fine for the rest of the night, thankyouverymuch.

You continue ordering drinks until the wee hours when you’re friends are finally ready to head home. You carefully step onto the sidewalk and within 5 minutes decide there is NO way you are walking home in those shoes. Fueled by all the alcohol you have consumed, you decide that you’re going to take off your shoes and walk home barefoot through the city. Classy.

Does this sound like a typical night to you? Are you sick of waking up in the morning with black feet/someone else’s chewed up gum between your toes? (True story…) Perhaps you should invest in a pair of Fit In Clouds fold-up flats.

The “Clouds” are portable flats that fold up and fit inside your purse. Since they are only slightly larger than an iPhone, these ballet flats will even fit in a clutch. Unlike flip flops, these shoes are actually cute. Seriously, they look like real flats. And the best part is, they only cost $18.95! So bring them out next time you plan on wearing those sky high heels, and the next morning you’ll wake up blister-free (or, you know, you won’t have to walk-of-shame it home in a pair of super obvious heels).

Fit In Clouds flats come in black, gold, and metallic pink. You can buy them online at fitinclouds.com.
To the women who created these: we salute you! There’s got to be a Nobel Prize for this, right?