Bensimon canvas shoes - any good?

[MrsBadger]

the elastic ones or the ballet flats, not laced

I have heard they are very good. They sell them at Brora and the laced ones too.

i've got elastic. they have v thin soles but are fairly solid. i got them cheap somewhere, maybe la redoute?

yes, I saw them first in Brora but have since found many (and cheaper) suppliers inc La Redoute

I did an archive search and Anna/Bonsoir has slated them as 'too Versailles' (ie French Sloane-y) but I am a million miles from a Fr Sloane and just need somethign comfy for summer

fishie have you washed yours? how do they come out?

I love mine and wash them then let them air dry. They come out fine, although they wear out after a couple of years. Although that might be because I wash them a bit too often [smelly feet emoticon].

oh 2y is fine for plimsolls

as everyday shoes go I only have 1pr each boots, birkies, ballet flats and some kind of canvas thing so they all get worn hard and replaced often, iyswim.

I tend to stock up on Bensimon in the sale - Shoon used to have them, although they don't seem to anymore or maybe they're not in yet? I'm down to one dusty red lace up pair so need more (elastic ones have been retired).

ah yes jj it was shoooon i got them from. no haven't washed yet but looks as thought it would be ok. they seem more likely to die through wearing out than noxiousness.

I am in Provence, in a v un-sloaney town, and they are perfectly acceptable here, MrsB .
I like them as they seem to make my feet look smaller than converse, etc. do.
Agree they tend to go smelly as socks are obv a no-no, but they wash well. Soles are thinnish: they are for urbanites, not for tough country living.
Elastic ones look nicer than lace-up ones, somehow.
Vertbaudet have them this year (in the French catalogue, anyway. I have just got some).

25 euros
same price as La Redoute

the la recoute ones are pants quality and come up very very small

The ones I linked to on la redoute are Bensimon, though.

the bensimon ones are good. Brora changed supplier last year and the quality wasn't nearly as good. I always buy a couple of pairs for me and for DD.

They wash well except the white ones which stain quite easily.

They may be too versaille. But living in south east england that doesn't bother me enormously.

I love those you can wear them with everything A friend got a pair of vintage school ones from ebay that had been dyed and they were gorgeous too

Shoon have them on their clearance site for £9.99 + 20% discount at the moment - bargin!

gah, clearance shoon ones not in my size

Oh thanks!got the brown ones bargain!!!!!!

Does anyone know a good place to buy these in Paris? going for a quick trip this weekend and would like to get some. Staying in the 6th, will I get laughed out of Bon Marche?

A place called "autour du monde" at 57 rue du cherche midi.
Possibly "Minute Papillon" on rue ND des Champs.
Or a nameless shop at 54 rue de Seine.

(have googled stockists of Bensimon in the 6e, I am not guaranteeing anything).

Dunno about Bon Marché, you'd need Bonsoir for that, once she's recovered from her disapproval and recomended Superga's instead...

I missed them in the clearance section! Did a site search and they didn't come up. Sigh. My size are gone, will have to wait until July sales.

That's my point, the la redoute ones might say they are bensimon, but they are not the same quality as the ones I've seen in france...

I see. Weird.
Well, the Vertbaudet ones are the real McCoy...