Cinzia Araia slip-on mid-sneaker in berry suede, sz40, EUC

I first encountered the work of Italian shoe designer Cinzia Araia around 2010, and it was like discovering Michaelangelo for the first time. Her designs are all amazing, but her hand-made sneakers in particular... this was where I first fell in love with Italian sneakers. If you're familiar with Rick Owens & like that aesthetic, then definitely check out this designer. Over the years, I've owned and loved many pairs from Cinzia Araia, but these deceptively minimalist, slip on sneakers were my go-to for a few years. These are comfortable like wearing slippers - the suede and leather is so glove soft, it's easy to forget you're even wearing shoes. There's something so classic about this design, and yet you can rock them with all kinds of avant-garde looks as well. Despite the fact that I am definitely a size 41 in most Euro sizing, I bought several pairs of these in size 40 - which did actually fit me, albeit snugly. When I finally tracked down a couple of pairs in size 41, I mostly stopped wearing the smaller pairs. I'd say if you're wearing thin socks, you could probably fit a size 9.5 foot. Otherwise, these will work best for a size 9. Beautifully crafted, some minor signs of wear but still in excellent, gently used condition. 9/10