The green Serpente flats by Charlie Stone Shoes were originally launched back in the summer of 2021 as part of their Magic of Porto collection, a line of four shoes designed to represent the four houses of a certain wizarding school, with inspiration taken from the art nouveau architectural elements found in the Portuguese city of Porto. At the time I loved the Serpente design and was tempted to buy myself a pair, but I got in my head about how likely I was to wear them often considering I already owned a pair of emerald green flats that I didn’t wear much. (Readers: said flats didn’t fit me comfortably, so this was a skewed representation of my behaviour and needs.)

Fast forward to this Autumn’s Dark Academia range that Charlie Stone have just launched and the Serpente makes a grand return, this time in black too. I wear black accessories constantly, so while I was still tempted to snap up a pair of the green Serpentes (they’re just so darn pretty!), my practical side won out and I excitedly ordered a black pair instead, knowing they would work perfectly with my wardrobe.

Shoes: Black Serpente flats by Charlie Stone Shoes [Bought with an influencer discount]
Bag: Versailles Noir by Charlie Stone Shoes
Dress: Noelle dress by Collectif
Sheer overdress: Old Collectif
Belt: New Look

I am a sucker for suede shoes, even though they’re not the most sensible choice for a gal who lives in the English countryside (the rain! The mud! The lack of pavements/sidewalks for reliable walking!) This simply means I treat every suede pair of shoes I buy with a suede shoe protector spray as soon as I take them out of the box, and opt for more waterproof footwear on occasions when walking through wet areas is likely. Charlie Stone even have a helpful article on their site about how to clean and take care of your suede footwear, an important read if you’re new to suede shoes, as the Serpente has a full suede upper. 

These flats have a beautiful overlapping strap design featured at the peak of the vamp which gives them a true sense of glamour. This elegant design really makes these shoes a perfect option for folks who can’t wear heels but still want to don some fancy footwear to complete their special occasion outfit. The simplicity of this design, though, still allows this shoe to be a great daily-wear choice as well, especially for vintage lovers, so it offers versatility as well as comfort and style.

As with all Charlie Stone Shoes, these flats aren’t truly flats–they boast a hidden elevated internal heel of 2cm which, coupled with the 1cm outer heel, gives a 3cm lift through the heel that prevents the foot from sitting entirely flat. For me this makes a big difference in my comfort, as my left foot has never quite been the same since I suffered a year-long bout of Plantar Fasciitis several years back. Now, tall heels are an absolute no-go and complete flats will feel fine for a while, but then will begin to make my feet ache, even into the following day. With Charlie Stone flats, I can wear a sensible, comfortable pair of shoes that will complete my outfit with vintage perfection but won’t punish me for my choice the day after.

Like other Charlie Stone flats, these shoes also offer a softly cushioned leather insole and a have a quick release buckle. Said buckle fastens on the strap, not at the outer edge of the heel cap, so the way you actually fasten the shoe to your foot is to slide that buckle behind a hook which is positioned where a buckle is traditionally positioned on other shoes. You can still adjust the length of the strap by fastening the buckle into the different holes positioned along said strap. The benefit of this is that it is quicker to fasten the shoes once you get the hang of the new motion required, but it’s also easier for folks who are less mobile or less flexible, who struggle to stay bent into the positions required to fiddle with a small object on their outer ankle for long moments.

While I love to give sizing notes here on my blog to help y’all feel confident in making any online purchases, when it comes to footwear I do always feel less equipped to do that accurately as I’m simply not even entirely sure I know the truth of my own feet. (Do I do know what size and width my feet are? I mean, I think so. Have I ever had them measured as an adult, even though some shoe styles simply do not fit me in my size? No, of course not, that would be too sensible.) As such, I always say I think I have slightly wide feet, and due to my past foot problems I know through experience that if my toes are too crowded together in a shoe for too long I’ll experience pain and discomfort. This means that despite wearing a UK 7/EU 40 in most shoes, I have learned I get more comfort in certain brands or shoe shapes by sizing up. I typically buy size 41 in Charlie Stone Shoes, as I did for these Serpentes, but I wouldn’t advise anyone to automatically size up because that’s not necessary for most people. Their different designs have slightly different amounts of room in the shoe, particularly in the width, so it’s always best to check the size notes on the product page of the shoe you’re interested in, as Charlie Stone provide a grading chart advising buyers which shoes might best fit their feet. Failing that, contacting CS directly will allow you to access their expert opinion.

The Serpente flats come in black or green, both in EU sizes 35-43. Charlie Stone Shoes ship worldwide and offer a discount for first orders to new subscribers to their newsletter.

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Disclaimer: The shoes featured in this review were bought with a discount code provided as part of an influencer program. All opinions expressed are truthful and my own, with no input from any of the companies listed or any other individuals. 

COVID-19 NOTE: These pictures were taken alone and safely in a secluded outdoors area, practising strict social distancing measures in an effort to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.