What Is Sizing Like at Flabelus?

Flabelus shoes run about half a size small and are built on a narrow last, so unless you have genuinely slim feet you’ll almost always want to size up. That’s the short, honest answer — and after years of styling clients into the right ballet flats and Mary Janes, it’s the single most common question I get about this little Spanish cult brand. Let me walk you through exactly how they fit, who they suit, and where to look if you want the same look for less (or for more).

First, what Flabelus actually is

Flabelus is a Madrid-born footwear label that took the traditional Venetian Furlane slipper and gave it a plush, velvety, colour-drenched makeover. The name is a sweet one — a mash-up of the three founding friends’ names. The shoes are handmade in Spain, and the soles are cleverly crafted from recycled bike tyres, which is partly why they’re so easy to walk in. I’ve worn my burgundy velvet Mary Janes through 15,000-step days and they never once rubbed.

So how do Flabelus actually fit?

They run roughly half a size small. Flabelus themselves say the last sits about 0.5 below the average EU number, so if you’re usually a 37.5, you’ll likely want their 38.
The last is narrow. This is the big one. If you have a wider foot, or you’re even slightly between sizes, size up — don’t dither.
Heels are the exception. The heeled styles fit closer to true-to-size, so don’t size up on those.
Velvet gives a little, leather less so. The velvet styles soften and mould to your foot within a wear or two; the leather and patent versions stay firmer for longer.

My own fashion fail here, since I promised you honesty: I ordered my usual size in the velvet Mary Janes the first time, convinced my narrow feet meant I didn’t need to bother sizing up. They pinched across the toe box for a solid week before they gave. I should have listened to my own advice. Lesson learned — and now I tell every client the same thing.

A stylist’s fit checklist before you buy

Measure your foot length in centimetres in the late afternoon, when feet are at their largest.
Between two sizes? Take the larger one — always, with this brand.
Wider feet or high insteps: size up a full size, not a half.
Planning to wear them with thicker socks or tights through winter? Factor that in and go up.

This is exactly the kind of guesswork our free sizing tool was built to kill — more on that in a moment.

Where to shop if you love the look — by budget

High street

Mango — consistently the best high-street shout for Mary Janes and ballet flats right now; soft leather, bang-on-trend shapes, brilliant value.
Zara — moves fastest on trends, so this is where you’ll catch the velvet and mesh ballet-flat moment at the lowest price.
COS — minimalist, beautifully made leather flats with clean lines if you want something quieter than a velvet statement.
Marks & Spencer — my go-to for anyone with a wider foot; the Insolia and wide-fit ranges are genuinely comfortable all day.
Boden — joyful, classic ballet flats and Mary Janes that come up true and last for years.
Whistles — elevated leather flats that look far more expensive than they are.
Next — broad fit ranges and a huge choice, ideal for testing whether the Mary Jane shape suits you before you invest.

Premium

Sézane — the French label everyone whispers about; its leather Mary Janes and ballet flats are the closest premium cousin to Flabelus in spirit.
Massimo Dutti — grown-up, buttery leather flats with a quietly luxe finish that punches above its price.

Luxury / designer

Totême — pared-back Scandi minimalism; its flats are a true investment piece that goes with absolutely everything.
Max Mara — beautifully crafted, timeless leather flats if you want heirloom quality you’ll keep for a decade.

Two independents worth knowing

Because I never want you shopping only the obvious names:

Le Monde Béryl — a London label specialising in the exact Venetian-slipper and Mary Jane silhouette Flabelus made famous, in gorgeous suedes and velvets.
Carlota Cahis — a small Spanish maker doing handcrafted Furlane-style slippers with a real artisan feel and lovely colourways.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500-plus brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again. Alongside it sits a Fashion Hub library of free posts covering every fashion query going: always honest, always unbiased, always free.

Measure once, using your bust, waist, hip, or an existing brand size you already trust.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

More from the Tellar Fashion Hub

A library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. And always free — style advice, top picks and best brands. A few favourites to read next:

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