FAQs | Antonia Saint NY

Got a question about our products or want to get in touch about a press opportunity? We might have the answer for you in our FAQ's

First, we bring you the best in comfort and innovation within a beautiful package, and each style features the patented SoftSurround System™ that provides a 360-Degree design of unparalleled comfort and support, blending style and comfort seamlessly. This innovative system ensures long-day comfort, so you look fabulous while feeling great all day! 🌟👠

Second, you will have products of enduring value because we care about offering more sustainable solutions, such as having heels with ballistic-nylon for no more nicks, and reinforcing our outsoles for better durability that not only helps you but our planet as well.

Third, fit is important and that is why we have more inclusive sizing with more lengths and widths than you would find normally, and why we created the Fit Quiz to address your fit needs.

We are also a female-founded and owned company whose co-founder and designer, Antonia Saint Dunbar, is a woman who knows the challenges we face when wearing feminine footwear, and together with her team, we are dedicated to creating the solutions we all need.

If you want to know more about what makes us different, we share more in a longer-form answer that follows below :)

Every pair is handcrafted in Spain by skilled artisans who work with luxury brands, combining high-end quality with comfort at an accessible pricepoint. 🇪🇸✨ We also work with one of the top fit teams in Spain who work with luxury designers on their fit and production. Additionally, our production team is one of the most seasoned in the business, bringing years of expertise to every shoe style we develop.

The Slim SoftSurround System™ is our unique technology design to envelop your feet in 360-degree cushioned comfort, from top to bottom. It includes:

1. Soft and Flexible Upper: Moves with you, providing a perfect fit.

2. Softly Cushioned Upper (Including Inside the Straps!): Hugs each foot for all-day, friction-free comfort.

3. Ultrasuede Lining: Prevent blisters and wicks moisture

4. Soft and Contoured Patented Insert: Supports all pressure points for added relief.

5. Dual-Layered Foam Support: Provides support for the ball of the foot big toe and heel.

To keep your shoes looking their best, we recommend storing them in a cool, dry place and cleaning them regularly with appropriate shoe care products. If the ballistic nylon heel post gets dirty, take a bristle brush to gently rub off dirt, and make clean.

Always use shoe bags to transport shoes. Ideally one shoe bag per shoe. And never place shoes heel to heel otherwise the heel post can damage the soft upper or the leather.

We use high-quality materials like sheep and lamb leathers for luxury softness and biodegradability, and microfiber leathers and ultra-suede for soft finishes and sustainability. Our materials are chosen for their durability, sustainability, and comfort.

We use a woven base in the ballistic-nylon family of materials for all of our heel posts to prevent nicks, wear and tear typical in other leather or fabric-wrapped shoes.

We use high performance foams as part of our patented Slim SoftSurround System embedded within for comfort.

We use soft ultrasuede linings and wicking, breathable insert covers made with high-performance microfiber.

All uppers are sourced to be beautiful and supple, and slight imperfections or wrinkles may become apparent either as you wear the shoes, or straight out of the box. This is normal and part of each product’s aesthetic beauty and uniqueness. These shoes are also made by hand and slight differences may be apparent because of this handmade process. This is a sign of the product’s individuality, and help make your pair truly singular as they are not mass-produced, but made in careful, intentional batches.

Our shoes are incredibly versatile as we have selected classic, essential styles that compliment any outfit. Pair them with everything from jeans and a blouse for a chic casual look to a stunning dress for a night out. Check out our Instagram to see some styling ideas from some others who love wearing our shoes.

We do recommend that styles with straps get featured with a shorter hemline to make the straps visible, however this is not a must.

As far as pant hemlines and skirt hemlines go, we are a fan of any length as our shoes will elevate any look.

We stand for empowerment, sustainability, equality, comfort, and supporting you in living out your dreams in supreme comfort and grace.

We also stand for driving change in the world with sustainable production methods and materials, and just as it is important for us to feel empowered when someone wears Antonia Saint NY, we want to tread lightly on the planet, and create products of enduring value.

We are confident that you will love our shoes, and as they are all made with great care and attention to detail, if for whatever reason you are not satisfied within the return window where you can try the shoes on at home, just reach out to us at hello@antoniasaintny.com. In truth, not every shoe will fit every person, and that is why we encourage our customers to become a VIP member to work with us on fit, and to help further address this challenge by creating a larger array of styles that may fit better. Even still, if an ideal fit is not found, just reach out to us and we can help.

Co-Founder and Chief of Design Antonia Saint Dunbar designs every pair of Antonia Saint NY shoes and submits all designs to her seasoned production team in Spain that has generations of experience in hand-crafting luxury shoes.

Further, Antonia draws upon a rich background of many years of product design in the feminine product space, in addition to her own personal journey as the daughter of one of the Chiefs of Design at GM and one of the premier graduates of Pratt Institute’s Industrial Design program, as well as being a woman challenged by the design features (or lack thereof) of primarily male-influenced or male-designed products for women.

Proving this influence, her first company, THINX, was awarded TIME’s Best Innovations where she first led the design of all products and became a multi-patent creator before bringing that same innovative spirit to Antonia Saint NY where there are currently 12 patents and more developments for solutions underway.

We know that it is important to respect the planet and its resources to have a more sustainable future, and we want to lead the way of innovation in this space. That is why we use the most sustainable materials we can find, such as biodegradable uppers with natural dyes, more sustainable, longer-wear production choices, and packaging with recycled materials, and we are always on the lookout for developments on new fabrications and production methods.

The idea for Antonia Saint NY came while Co-Founder and Chief of Design Antonia Saint Dunbar was walking to the headquarters of her previous company THINX, on the far West side of NYC where there was no train or easy access, and her feet were killing her. She was down to one pair of shoes in her closet (even though she owned many more) that were cute and comfortable enough to get her thru a day and night of meetings.

Beautiful shoes were notoriously painful, and comfortable shoes were unacceptably unattractive. She dreamed of a better way, and just like she when she created the revolutionary products at her first company that created a world-wide movement, the spirit of good design and the necessity for this solution compelled her to create the patented Slim SoftSurround System that is experienced in every pair of Antonia Saint NY shoes today.

The other issues Antonia found in the shoe industry were poor construction (heel tips popping off after one use, rough stitches that hurt, or heel posts nicking too soon/looking worn) - as well as proper fit (never enough widths to choose from, not enough size selection for small or large feet, or one shoe fits differently than the other).

As a result, customers were facing distinct challenges when trying to understand what shoe to buy that has a good fit and quality of enduring value and Antonia wanted to fix that. She first premiered a smartphone app to address fit, and then offered split sizing to mix and match pairs. This has now been streamlined into a more inclusive size offering with a diverse sizing assortment and the ability to make shoes to order for customers who need outlier sizes/widths for their best fit.

All first exchanges are free within the contiguous U.S., and shipping is included.

If you need a return and not an exchange, you have 14 days for a full refund, or 30 days for store credit, minus a return shipping & handling fee.

For US Customers:

Exchanges: First-time order exchanges are free within the contiguous U.S. with shipping included.
Returns: You have 14 days to return any shoes for a refund or 14 days for store credit ($14.99 return shipping & handling fee will apply).

Final sale items are not eligible for refunds or exchanges.

For International Customers:

Exchanges: You have 30 days to exchange unworn shoes for a new size. Customers are responsible for all return shipping costs.
Returns: You have 14 days to return any unworn shoes for a full refund or store credit ($24.99 return shipping & handling fee will apply).

Final sale items are not eligible for refunds or exchanges.

Fab Five FAQ

Everyone needs a classic high heel that elevates every outfit, but finally feels comfortable enough to power thru a day of meetings or a special event. Whether it be a Classic curved or Sweetheart V-Shaped Topline, or an elegantly scooped Full D’Orsay or Half D’Orsay revealing the sides of the feet, or a retro classic that is the T-Strap, we call this the “Fab Five” because these are five classic feminine silhouettes/cuts that have been made to “renew your faith in comfort at great heights.”

We’ve also named this collection The Vida because Vida is the Spanish word for “Life” and these styles have been made to bring some life and joy back into your high heel repertoire. To get you dancing and walking high, but without the blisters or stinging ball of the foot pain that normally is associated with such heights.

All of these Fab Five styles are made on the same shoe last/shoe form, so you can have confidence that the fit and comfort will be quite similar as you walk upon the graceful and elegant 90MM heel and pointed-toe design.

The T-Strap design does come with a 5MM platform, so that heel will feel the lowest, however ALL heels come with the patented Slim SoftSurround System embedded inside from the tops of the toes and the straps, to the fully cushioned and supportive insole.

This launch marks our first collaborative effort with those who we make these for - our incredible Antonia Saint NY customers who know about the finer things in life, and want to be able to enjoy them in their fullest expression. You can vote with us in real-time on what you want us to make first, by placing your pre-orders for colors and styles directly on the website which will then make up the 1st order of these shoes with our factory partners.

We source only the finest and softest sustainable materials for those that go against the foot, and we source the most sustainable and durable materials for those that need to provide protection, such as the outsoles and heel post covers. From sheep and lamb leathers, to ballistic nylon and rubberized traction-grip outsoles, our shoes are thoughtfully designed for your comfort and long-lasting wear.

You are essentially part of a Beta launch of this new style, so your pre-order is making it possible to make an order in general.
By pre-ordering, you get a large discount as a thank you for your patience as the campaign runs and orders get aggregated over time.
Once you receive the shoes, you will be able to give us your feedback to help us innovate for the next launch
You will have one exchange included with your order, and no returns, only store credit.

Yes! We wanted to re-invigorate your shoe collection with a supremely comfortable high heel of 90MM (our highest heel yet!) that in previous past iterations at other brands has always been too painful to wear. Since “Vida” is Spanish for “Life”, we made these for you with the intention to wear this in your full-expression as you would now be supported in living your life in a joyful and empowered way. No more going home early from a party because your feet hurt!

As a female-founded business with a big dream of reclaiming every shoe silhouette, to renew your faith of true comfort and beauty, you are directly helping make those dreams a reality. Not only will you be able to bring these solutions into your life, but you will be making it possible for others to benefit from them too!

Also - If you are an outlier size or width, these shoes for you as we will be making these types of sizes and widths, AND if you love to innovate and come up with solutions, this shoe is for you because you’ll be able to leave your mark as you contribute to what gets made!

All Day and Night 3.0