Italian designed and made cycling shoes for women seem to be, in general, very good and these Gaernes don’t buck that trend.
With a well shaped, reinforced heel cup (with external reflective sections for night visibility), and a sole which is stiff enough for great performance but not unbearable on long rides, these are shoes that suit any kind of riding.
The attention to detail and quality is clear to see, and may be helped by the fact that Gaerne claim to source all their materials locally.
A padded tongue works very well, and the overall women-specific fit and comfort they offer is outstanding.
The Starlet uses the same patented strap safety system as Gaerne's G.Nova, with its interlocking toothed strips under the Velcro straps.
A large rubber pad on the heel will give you some grip off the bike or when you put a foot down at the lights.