Irregular Choice Cinderella: So This Is Love Review

Hello! Today I have another Irregular Choice Cinderella review for you and a pair you haven't yet seen on Shoesday Tuesday (the only pair I haven't had time to photograph)! For me, with most collections like these, there's a stand-out style that I'm really seeking from the out-set, then there's a pair that surprise me that I end up really loving when I see them in the flesh. For Cinderella, the latter occurred with this pair, aptly named So This Is Love (STIL).

Based on Tea & Cakes from the regular line, which has come in several guises over the years. I've always admired them, but never owned them, so I wasn't MEGA excited initially. When they eventually arrived and I saw them in real life though, they just made me giddy. They are so lovely.
They have gold brocade type fabric for uppers. The floral detail in shiny metallic which is picked up in the light. There's a pink metallic, scalloped trim around the top of the shoe and a large glittering, bronzed bow across the centre of the foot.
I was a bit worried about this part fitting me, as I own Fairies In A Jar in a bigger size as I suspected the small elasticated insert behind the t-bar on those might not be ample enough for my foot to squeeze past. I ordered STIL in my regular size and actually they are the only style from this collection I've kept in that size (having sized up AND down on others). There's a minor struggle to get them on and that strap is a little tight once on, but the shoe itself fits very well in my usual 5/38. I suspect once I've tried them on a few times, they strap will loosen a little. The centre of the bow is bigger chunks of glitter to match the heel, which also coordinates with the flashing Gracious Dreamer. You think from afar it's just gold, but close up you can see it's made up of several different shades. The bow though isn't big glitter chunks, but more this amazing micro, twinkling shimmer. It's really impressive in person and catches the light all the time. It looks like someone has sprinkled fairy dust on them.
To make them that little bit more special and essentially part of the Cinderella collection, there's the most wonderful embroidery throughout the shoe. At the side of the heel it reads "she will go to the ball" on one shoe and "believe in the magic" on the other. The front of the shoe has the adorable clothed birds carrying a ribbon and "so this" on one and "is love" on the other. No chance of forgetting the name of these shoes then! The toe is a nice rounded shape.
As with all of the styles in this collection the inners are blue castle fabric with the pink heart insert and branding. The soles differ from right to left with Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother on one and the castle and horse and carriage on the other.
There's just something so special about these shoes. They are very elegant, not one of the crazier IC designs, but like I say, I found myself being surprised that they are probably my favourite from this collection. I've always been a fan of these birds in Disney movies, so I was really happy to see them included and it's definitely the reason I ordered them. My only hesitation was were they that much more special than any of the Tea & Cakes which retailed for probably half the price? I certainly think they are and as a plus they aren't a style I'll be 'scared' of wearing. No worries about breaking anything or the lights running out and the heel is very manageable. What do you think, do you like these? You can find them in stock here, here or here.
Post contains affiliate links.  No items were gifted, all opinions my own.