Stylists Say These Heels Are So Comfortable You Can Stand All Day In Them

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In the world of footwear, there's been never ending search that transcends trends: finding heels that effortlessly blend comfort and style. Translation: shopping for the comfortable heels. Contrary to what the fashion rulebooks say, beauty doesn’t have to be pain. Sure, every now and then we’ll make the sacrifice for that special occasion with a pair of perfect three or four inch stilettos that deserve some wear time and an Instagram post, but they definitely are not practical for a day’s work or a night out.

When you experience foot pain through an uncomfortable pair of shoes, it’s a total vibe shift that has you internally chanting “mind over matter.” During an evening out, it might even leave you sipping one too many glasses of champagne to mask away the blisters, pressure, and knee pain high heels bring. The decision between discomfort and delight can genuinely make or break your day or evening.

Lucky for you I am a hefty shoe hoarder, whether that's summer shoes, wedding shoes, or walking shoes. As a fashion editor and celebrity stylist with a footwear obsession, I consider it a part of the job. While it’s a personal problem for my closet real estate (and bank account), it’s great news for you because I’ve tested hundreds of heels over the years. As an exclusive heels-girl-turned-sneaker addict, comfort for dressed up occasions has become a non-negotiable priority. Ahead, I share all the secrets that make a pair of heels comfortable. I’ve navigated the streets of New York, ran around to meetings and have danced the night away in the most comfortable heels ahead that beautifully blend stylish design and ingenious comfort to redefine what heels can be. From casual to fancier styles, to sandals, boots, kitten heels and more—you’ll find a pair that sets you up for success and comfort.

Ansie Mary Jane Heels

If you haven’t heard, the classic Mary Jane is trending right now and will be for the next few seasons. And Vagabond shoemakers designed the perfect version. The Swiss footwear company pays close attention to details only using high quality soft leathers with function at the forefront of their cool, minimal, sleek aesthetic. These seriously feel like luxury footwear at an under-$200 price point.

The round specious toe box and flared rubber heel give you plenty of support and room to move. Pair them with fancy socks (as shown here) for a stylish detail, or keep it simple and sockless. Wear them with jeans, skirts or a casual dress. It's a dressed up dress shoe that actually adds comfort in its heel.

Soft Silver

The stylist Spanish-bred tube boots from Inez are made with a comfort-first approach. But that doesn't mean they sacrifice style either. The higher price point gets you luxuriously soft Calf-skin leather that feels like butter while the footbed is crafted with a comfortable plush insole giving you cushion with each step.

All Inez shoes are designed to regulate pressure as you walk, each with an embedded heel cushion that absorbs impact while the arch support cradles and stabilizes the foot.

They are a versatile boot to be worn conservatively to an office or dressed up for a night out. The classic tube style fits wider calves and will never go out of style making these boots a worthy investment. Go for a shiny silver for a statement or keep it silent luxury in one of the four other neutral colors.

Read more: Most Comfortable Ankle Boots

Square Toe Sandals

Dream Paris is a dream brand if you're looking for an under-$50 pair of shoes you'll wear into the ground—most likely from dancing the night away. These heels are that comfortable.

They are made with cloud like comfort through a puffy vegan leather that adds cushion along the footbed and among the scrunchy straps. This elastic design makes them easy to slip on and off and helps the shoe move as you move. The rubber sole adds stability (and confidence) for walking around and dancing. The under-$50 price point won't last forever but it's a worth it Amazon snag once you experience the comfort for yourself.

Nikola Hybrid Slingback

There are so many features that make the Nikola Hybrid slingbacks from Coach so great. For starters, it's a fashion-forward sporty tech twist on the classic elevated dress shoe. You get function and fashion at its finest. They are crafted with a padded footbed to cushion each step and a sporty rubber sole for foot-on-the ground support. Plus, the sculpted flared heel adds a walkable touch while the pointed toe adds attitude.

It's a sleek design appropriate for an office to cocktails look and versatile enough to dress down. From dresses to skirts, with or without tights or socks to being cool with a simple jeans and tee— these shoes bring endless possibilities through a fashion shoe. If the statement silver isn't your thing, they come in white and black as well.

Square-Toe Chunky Heels

Welcome to the world of Vivaia where heels are so comfortable they feel like sneakers. No, really. It's a sustainable shoe brand committed to relieve women's feet. So how do they do it? They went straight to the source to achieve this goal.

The insoles are made with something called VFoam, which is developed from the same PU foam found in sneakers while the midsoles are made from a recycled material found in yoga mats. They have high elasticity and a soft finish for a cloud like effect. A back counter patch is also added to avoid blisters and the entire shoe is made from a stretchy knit that moves with you. These heels are so comfortable you can run in them (trust: I've done just that).

Plus, they are extremely versatile for the office to a casual setting—with a dress, jeans, pants and more. The best news is that these heels don’t require a commuter shoe. One wear and you'll be convinced.

Heeled Loafer in Off White

Aerosoles is a household name in the world of comfort footwear. And their designs keep getting better and better. A heeled loafer is on every fashion girl's fall/winter shopping list and this off-white version gives you a reason to wear white after labor day. The creamy sophisticated style is studded to give a little edge to your quiet luxury fit. Wear it with a pant suit, jeans, mini skirt and more. And if you prefer black over white, they have that too.

The leather is soft and the sole is flexible allowing you to move with ease with a minimal break in period. Plus, the insole is made from an Ortholite foam, adding cushion to your steps.

Puffy Ankle-Strap Heels

As an Anthropologie best seller, these Puffy Ankle Strap heels deserve a spot on this list. Giving three inches of height, they are high enough to make you feel like you're wearing a high heel without the intimidating discomfort that typically comes with it, making them the most comfortable heels for weddings.

Other design features include a cushioned footbed for a touch of cloudlike comfort, a flared heel that looks like a stiletto with more stability and a square toe for a touch of coolness and a roomy toe box.

It feels both on trend and classic, making just enough of a statement. For holiday parties, fall weddings, office dress ups and more, this under-$200 will be worn on repeat. Plus, it comes in a variety of styles from purple velvet to sparkly charcoal, black patent, nude, metallics and more.

Keefa Platform Sandals

When shopping for a pair of comfortable high heels, it's important to examine the angle at which your foot will be at. If it's a crazy tilt, chances are you'll be experiencing pain pretty quickly. When it's a subtle tilt, you'll find far less pressure on your knees and ball of the foot and more longevity in their wear.

One way to add height without a crazy angle is to look for a heel with a thick platform. This lessens the tilt and tricks your body into thinking the heels are not as high. The Keefa platforms from Schutz follow that rule while adding a thick block heel for added stability. The chunky platform-heel combo evenly distributes your weight so you can last all night without pain.

This chunky pair is a 70s-inspired statement, perfect for fancier occasions like weddings and parties. You get over four inches of height without sacrificing your foot health. A styling tip to winterize these sandals is to wear them with sparkly socks or tights.

The Eliana

M. Gemi is known for exquisite leathers and quality craftsmanship. Small details go a long way for both style, comfort and number of wears. With a small break in period, the Eliana pumps will be your go to heels. The Italian-made leather is soft luxury to your skin.

The angular block heel and slight square toe designed is streamlined and sophisticated, giving height without sacrificing comfort.

Knee High Boots

These boots are so comfortable I actually plan outfits around them. I bought them as a cheap pair of extra boots to have on hand last fall while I was staying New York for a month (which meant a lot of running around), and what I thought were going to last me only a few weeks turned into the most comfortable pair of boots I own to this day.

In vegan leather, they aren't anything fancy but they have over 1,000 five star reviews on Amazon with customers of similar feelings. They give just enough height (1.6 inches to be exact) while still feeling hot because of their knee length rise. I wear them running around a city, out at night dancing, to dinner, in all types of rainy and more. This under-$50 pair of boots styles perfectly with skirts dresses and tights. Trust me, buy these.

Vandam Heeled Buckle Mule

Heeled buckle mules are a stylish trend here to stay. But the key to any mule is to make sure they are light in weight so the tops of your feet don't fatigue. These from Cole Haan check off every box from stye to comfort. They have a multi-level cushion and are super lightweight, taking the pressure off the ball of your foot and your ankle. They are designed with the brand's 3D lux comfort, which has three layers of foam along the footbed. With an easy on-and-off slip-on style, these heels are so comfortable they feel like slippers.

The denim is fashion-y and fun while the alternate colorways are more subtle and sophisticated. Wear with denim, dress pants, dresses or skirts—the possibilities here are endless. These fashion heels are a disguise for comfort shoes.

The Heel

Margaux keeps it simple with just a few styles in the entire line and a variety of colors for each. An almond toe meets a signature block heel for an all time classic look that will never cycle out of trend. They are completely size inclusive, ranging from a 3 up to a 14 in medium, narrow and wide widths.

With 421 glowing reviews you can believe these are the worth the hype acting as the "perfect work shoe" with a cult following. Review after review talks about how comfortable and walkable they are. The structured, supportive fit molds with wear each wear, making them feel custom made. Plus, the leather lining comes 5mm of plush foam padding. These are among the most comfortable heels for wide feet.

Erica Boots

These boots from Naturalizer are made with something called Rezorb, which is a powerful responsive cushioning for sock absorption and impact. Translation? They have sneaker-like technology that add cushion and energy to each step. They are especially great for people like me, that are tough on their footwear. They also have built in-arch support, anti-microbial footbeds and anti-odor technology making them the perfect pair of boots for walking around in.

Aside from their comfort features, the design is chic and sleek and a closet must have for fall. They look and feel super luxe but weigh in at under-$200. Score them in black or brown or both, you won't regret it. These are the most comfortable heeled ankle boots.

Jacynda Heels

It's pretty rare for a podiatrist to ever approve a heel, but Vionic shoes are an exception. The designs are developed straight from a foot doctor, so not only are they comfortable feeling they are also good for longevity and foot health.

If you look closely, you'll see the kitten heel is angled. This subtle design takes the pressure off the ball of the foot while the lining in padded with orthopedic comfort. Other features include a deep heel cup and enhanced forefoot contour which act as built-in comfort insoles along your heels. These are the most comfortable heels for women that hate heels.

Valencia Platform Pump

While celebrities are wearing the sky high Valentino platform pumps in pain, you can wear the Bernardo Valencia Platform pumps with ease. The soft leather lining avoids friction and blisters while the MaryJane ankle strap is adjustable and on trend. The block heel distributes the weight evenly and the roomy toe box is a retro style that adds comfort.

Overall the heel gives you four inches of height, but in reality it feels like a slight lift thanks to the chunky front platform. This style goes well with cropped denim, dresses and skirts. Throw on a bobby sock for a playful look or keep it simple bare legged or with tights.

How we selected the most comfortable heels

Vanessa Powell is a seasoned stylist and fashion writer with more than a decade of experience. Previously, she was a fashion editor for People Magazine and Health Magazine, and has styled celebrities including Sydney Sweeney, Bailee Madison, Hilary Duff, and more. For this story, she evaluated 95 heels that she's personally tested in the past year, judging their fit, comfort level, and just how great they looked. She regularly uses most of the heels on this list.

Shop more comfortable shoes for women

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