Margaux's Demi ballet flats deserve the hype, but the sizing varies. Here's how I found the right fit.

In 2015, Margaux launched its first shoe: The Demi. These classic leather ballet flats came with a functioning tie, soft almond toe, and a 5mm of foam padding that makes them feel less flat while walking.

Eleven years later, the Demis are still some of the best shoes Margaux has ever come out with. They're my all-time favorite ballet flats, and they've taken many shapes since we first tested the original Demis five years ago.

Flats may look simple, but are notoriously one of the most complex shoes to engineer. Margaux aimed to fix the most common fit issues by offering more width options.

That said, Margaux's Demi sizing scheme can be tricky. There are narrow, wide, and half sizes, so it's important to take your foot's size and shape into account before ordering a pair. Here's what our editors have to say after trying Margaux's Demi ballet flats.

The Demi

The Demi flats have a low vamp that shows some toe cleavage. There's no designated arch support, but the stacked heel helps lift your feet out of the dead-flat position. There are 12 colors to choose from, like a beige captoe or a woven version, and there are more options added and swapped out seasonally.

"The Demi by Margaux is an archetypal ballet flat that made our list of the best ballet flats. It has a rounded toe, functional bow that tightens for a custom fit, and soft leather that molds to your feet," writes our executive editor Sally Kaplan.

"It's perfect in every way, save for the slight blister it gave me on my heel the first day I broke them in (and no days after that). There's just enough cushioning for me to feel supported when commuting, but not so much that the shoe loses its unstructured, simple aesthetic.Where the shoe gets tricky is its sizing, because the regular width can feel a little narrow — but I have a trick for that."

They run narrow, especially in the toe box

Margaux sells two versions of the its original design — the Classic Demi ($280) and Demi Jane ($325).

If you have an even slightly wide foot, stick to your true size — but go up in width. "As far as sizing and fit both go, I'd recommend going true to size since Margaux offers half sizes. And, possibly the best feature is the ability to choose your width (narrow, medium, or wide)," says Sally. "With all the walking I do, my feet end up swelling a bit, and the wide pair is more comfortable for long days out. They didn't make my feet look pancake-like, either — I still got that nice elongated silhouette you get from ballet flats. This is a hack I've used for pretty much all shoes I've tested from Margaux, and it's always worked for me."

The toe box is shallow. If you have longer toes, go up a half size. "While I appreciate a more custom fit, sometimes more options can leave more room for error," adds style editor Gabrielle Chase. "I wear a size US 8. My foot shape is slim to average, with a second toe that's longer than my big toe. I ordered a size 38 in the medium width, which felt a bit too small. The Demis made my long toes feel like they're overcrowding the short, almond-shaped toe box. I've found European shoe sizing runs small compared to US sizes, and this is yet another example."

The Demi Jane

"After wearing the Demi Jane flats for a few weeks, I can confidently say they're my new favorite ballet flats. I'm traditionally a loafer fan, opting for that flat style over many others on a daily basis. However, I find myself reaching for the Demi Janes even more," writes our former beauty editor Maiya Pascouche. "The soft Nappa leather molded to my feet instantly and never gave me blisters. They're also just adorable; I love how they look with my more tailored looks and casual, everyday outfits. My only fit note is that the toe box is a little short, so if you have longer toes, they may not be for you."

More reviews on the Margaux Demis

The leather feels stiff to start, especially in the toe box. "I got the Demi flats in the beautiful, goes-with-everything Saddle, which is the perfect color to show off the softness and glossiness of the leather uppers," writes former senior reporter Connie Chen. "I was surprised by how comfortable the flats were because the trim and heel look stiff, but the flexibility of the Italian Nappa leather and the padded insole made them really supportive and easily walkable. The tiny heel and bow give the flats an elegant and timeless look — I'm sure I'm going to be able to wear these shoes years from now as a result.

I did have to wear them a few times in order to break them in fully, but that's more a function of my feet shape than Margaux's design," Even my all-time favorite flats, the Everlane Day Glove, required break-in time — so I wouldn't worry too much about any initial comfort issues you may encounter with The Demi."

Are Margaux shoes worth it?

Margaux shoes range from about $250 to $600 per pair. They're made in Spanish factories operated by the same family-owned businesses that make shoes for luxury brands. With Margaux's direct-to-consumer model, you get the same quality without paying for the designer label.

The brand has come a long way in the eleven years since the Demis debuted. Our former author has worn its City Sandals as bridal shoes on her big day. We've also enjoyed its comfortable heels on mile-long walks and found them to be constructed with artisan-level care.

The bottom line

All around, The Demis are an excellent pair of ballet flats. The shape is simple and stylish, and you can expect the leather to age gracefully over time. They run narrow and don't offer arch support, but I'll keep wearing them as my everyday dress shoe until they give out.

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