The Most Comfortable High Heels?
Thursday March 27, 2008
When it comes to high heels, a lot of women swear by their Manolos, Choos, or other designer labels. For others, it's one of the comfort brands.
Me? I tend to be more of a style queen than a label slave. I look for shoes that have chunkier heels and platform soles, and I steer clear of pointy toes, all in an attempt to be more comfortable in heels.
However, one brand that I do find to be pretty consistently comfortable is Nine West.
But, as we all know, one size does not fit all, and one brand doesn't either.
So, what say ye?
When it comes to high heels, which brands do you find to be the most comfortable? (Use the "Comment" link below to share your thoughts.)Pictured: Nine West "Fronttime" (Buy Direct)
Image Courtesy of Zappos.com
Comments
I do love Nine West…but I have to tell you that my last 2 pairs of sexy high heels came from Anne Klein and they are SO comfortable!
Hi Diana,
do you happen to know whether they were they from the AK Anne Klein line, or Anne Klein New York?
Desiree
Via Spiga has this sling bag chumky heels with open toe that i adore.Very comfortable and sexy as well.
My all time favorite heels were Nickels. All of their shoes were sooooo comfortable. All leather. The absolute best….But a last, I cannot seem to find them as often as I used to………
I love the look of high heels, but the older I get the less I can tolerate them. I look for a thicker sole, a chunkier heel (Not too high) and a rounder/square toe. I really don’t care what brand they are.
Hi Desiree
I just checked the box and it says “AK Anne Klein”. And these are some seriously high heels and they don’t hurt my feet at all.
My favorite heels are Nine West
Claudia Ciuti is sexy , stylish and comfortable. Betty Mueller is another one of my favorites . my all time favorite is Robert Clergerie. Anytime you have 32 pairs of shoes by a particular designer, someone must be doing something right .
I knew this would be a fruitful post! We’re learning all kinds of things, aren’t we?
Okay, let’s see.
Maggie — Rock on, my Nine West-loving sister.
Mina — I love Via Spiga too, I currently have my eye on the “Jade” sling-back in ever color, although a few reviews I read said it wasn’t all that comfortable. I’ll probably ignore them and try them out myself. I think I have weird feet.
Diana — Thank you from the bottom of my soles for looking that up for me. I recently scored a slew of AK Anne Klein stunners on clearance at DSW, and was hoping they’d be as comfortable as they are cute. They felt great in the store, but I haven’t had much of a chance to wear them out yet. I’ll report back on the site when I have.
Anna — A woman after my own heart. I’m not convinced that there is a designer yet that can make a really pointy-toed stiletto as comfortable as a wider-heeled platform, but I’m having a lot of fun trying to disprove my own theory.
Tricia — Oh my, look at you, coming in and dropping a surprise bomb like that. You got me so curious, I had to go look up Nickels right away. You’re right, they are very hard to find. I did find one site that carries them, and I’m ordering a pair tonight. I can’t wait to try them out — very affordable too. I hope I’m not about to get addicted to something that’s going to get snatched away from me, but now I have to know.
And Jacquelyn — I love Bettye, and you bring up a very interesting point — I do tend to buy again and again from the brands I find most comfortable and stylish, even though I’ll sample from any line.
Okay, this is good. I think we’re all learning … keep ‘em coming.
I’m a Nine West lover also, but I’ve found some Kenneth Cole’s to be comfortable as well.
The 2 pairs of KC are wedges so I believe that helps.
Franco Sarto shoes are well made and wonderfully comfortable for heels. I try to stick with shoes that have flexible soles as that’s better for my heels – helps to prevent Plantar Facitis. The pointy toe thing – I’m so over that from many, many years ago when it was popular, but now it’s way exaggerated. I’m surprised it’s still popular, but then, it did last a long time when it came up long ago.
Desiree,
I also found my last 2 fabulous pairs of AK Anne Klein heels at DSW! Isn’t that store the greatest?
Julie — definitely on the wedges, always a good choice, as is Kenneth Cole.
Chris — good to know about Franco Sarto, who has some of this season’s cutest styles. And I’m so with you on the pointy-toed thing.
And Diana, DSW is nearly some kind of obsession with me — seriously, there should be a support group.
Okay, feel free to keep them coming. This has been great, and so informative! I can’t wait to see the answers this week’s query.
Lisa ho has the most comfortable high (summer 07) made in Brazil Wedges(n.b for short women!;the wedge is 2″ at front 4″at the back!) -worth the $460- i bought 2 pairs.Also Doc martens of all people have come out ‘08 with hot uber comfortable feminine high heel shoes!-try Roadhouse-d.f.o Melbourne or the Walking shop. Great for winter and with beautiful soft rubber heel-bliss for walking and a wide fit.(a blessing ive got wide feet).search ladies styles at http://www.drmartens.com/ (look for Diva t-bar style.or the patent leather one-Lelena i thk the name?as my favourites.$180.kate
p.s Hi yep i love my platforms too!Im short(5′1″ ,i need high heels for work unfortunately)i hate uncomfortable shoes.But i love feminine sexy shoes!=predicament!I need to find a shoe maker(melbourne) to make some front platform thick heels & wedges for me,cos generally fashion high heel stilettos are chiropractically so bad for you.(too much pressure on ball of foot resulting in back injurys and bunions(disgusting we have been subjected to this homogenous torture) we are meant to cop this? A change to bigger non asian sizing(Australians have wider feet)and platform wedges would stop pain/back damage/bunions.!(I have average whith? feet-not asian slim fit unfort!)love kate
Hey Kate,
I looked up the Diva Lalana from Dr Martens (I’m a Doc Martens girl from way back) .. very cute. I especially liked the pinkish purple patent ones. And yes, stilettos are very hard on your back, but really all heels are if you wear them all the time. Just some seem to be so much worse than others, and a lot of flats are pretty horrid on my feet too.
Oh, and I have to add a note about Tricia’s recommendation. Tonight, I went to DSW (again) and found several pairs of the Nickels Soft brand that she mentioned.
I tried about 5 or 6 pair on in the store, and I have to say, they all felt incredible. Seriously. And several of the styles were very cute. I had to limit myself to buying only one, but I can’t wait to give them a street test.
So Tricia, if there’s a DSW near you, you may be able to your beloved brand there — and thanks again for the tip.
Desiree
My most comfortable are 4 inch
Via Spiga’s, I literally walked over a mile in them and had forgotten I was even wearing heels as I marathoned all over and around the Georgia World Congress Center and connecting Georgia Dome Stadium
of the high-end brands, i can stand or walk in many dior styles for hours – and gucci makes a high boot whose round toe makes all the difference, super-comfy.
has anyone tried the cole haans with nike soles, and do they live up to the hype?
i have comfort trouble with bunions — most cute flats and even pumps love to hit right on that joint — so i’d be grateful for a column on styles that dodge that — also, i agree with you that flats are as pain-inducing as high heels, and what would really change my life is to find more cute heels that are lower than they look — kittens even — my legs and feet like those best, but they’re so hard to find — can you help? thank you!
The most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn are Robert Clegerie and Claudia Ciuti love em can’t do the walk without them.
I like shoes with some funk and the King of Funk is John Fluevog, a really original Canadian shoe designer – I have a pair of platform high (really high) shoes that I can wear for hours – they are so fun, sexy and comfortable. Just bought a pair of men’s shoes (not heels, guys!) and have a black patent leather pair for work – the heels are kind of inverted so they make you look like a sexy witch. Check out his website (also some on Zappos) — his website is just fun to look at and read, ‘cuz the guy is a real original. His fans are a cult – they even submit designs, some of which he has turned into shoes…check him out!
Ooh! More good stuff! Okay.
Lol Nini, I wouldn’t attempt a trip like that in sneakers, let alone heels.
slf — I have my eye on a pair of Cole Haan Nike Air. From everything I’ve heard, they do live up to the hype. I can’t wait to put them to the test. I adore Dior for looks, but don’t own any myself.
Bunions is on my “To Do” list, but a few quick points: avoid pointy toes, heels over about 2 inches, and fabric uppers are sometimes more comfortable than stiffer leathers.
Oh, and I totally agree with the lower heels that look higher. That is one of my ambitions if I ever actually do design my own line. I want to make killer styles with lower heels.
Sarah –I love Fluevog. Even though some of his styles are a little too out there for me (which is really saying something), I love a lot of his stuff.
Note to all — On my Who Makes the Sexiest Shoes? post, two people have mentioned how comfortable Donald J. Pliner shoes are. Just a heads up for anyone who’s interested.
I have a pair of nine west heels and they’re not terribly comfortable. I like shoes from Mudd and Rocketdog-they do not hurt at all.
Franco Sarto shoes are AWESOME. I work in retail and I’m on my feet for hours, and these are wonderful. They run about $60-$80/pair, which is expensive for me (college student!), but not bad for most people. Make sure you find heels with a rubber bottom, as it absorbes a lot of the shock of walking and your feet will thank you!
Ok. Here is the real test… Are there any working women who walk the city streets to and from work, tred the subway platforms,go up and down the stairs all day? What high heels do you recommend for Girl 6?
for girl (6) i wear steve madden shoes all day. They are great, but they are more like pumps. I have not been able to find strappy sandals that a) don’t put too much pressure on my toes and b) don’t give me blisters.
As someone who is 5′, but with pretty bad tendonitis in my feet, I find that heels are a painful necessity. I commute in NYC, walk a decent amount, and take the subway…all in heels. I’d have to recommend Aerosoles or Naturalizers–I’ve had some luck finding really nice, stylish high heels at these two stores.
I just bought the Cole Haan Nike Air Genevieve pumps. They are so gorgeous, but I haven’t really put them to the test yet. I think I need to stretch them out a little. I would say they have less support than Naturalizers or Aerosoles, but they are just so beautiful to look at!
I myself like Life Stride Shoes. They are very comfortable!
I bought some cole haan and they are awesome. They have nike air integrated. Very comfortable even if a little bit pricey but worth the money.
If you are avoiding pointy toed heels, you are missing out on a great slimming look. Just go up a size so you are not getting your piggies squished! Amazingly, one of my favorite shoes this summer is from Payless! They are peep toed wedges that are brown & about 4 inches high. I have 4 young children & walk & shop in these for 4 or 5 hours on my feet constantly & they are great!
Oh…the undying search for a comfortable BUT sexy high heel! Why is this so difficult sometimes…I usually have to engineer some sort of insert or something to make Nine West wearable for very long, but have had great luck with Kenneth Cole Reaction and Sofft (actually some VERY cute stuff and they are so comfortable you don’t want to take them off (sofftshoe.com).
Thx for the tips!
Chinese Laundry Heels are thee most comfortable that I have ever worn! We went out dancing and drinking and hailing a cab. That night and the next day my feet didn’t hurt.
I just started a job where I had to be on my feet for 10 hours a day. I started off wearing my reebok hiking sandles because they are the most comfortable shoe I own, but not very pretty nor professional. Believe it or not I found a decent looking pair of sandles at JC Penneys called Strictly Comfort “clair” and they didn’t cut into my toe and I wore them for the entire 10 hours and they were as good if not better than the reeboks! Trying to find something just as comfortable for the fall season with some pizzaz. They do have at least one or two styles online that look like they might work.
Oh, btw, I got the shoes on sale…was $60.00 for $14.99!! BONUS!!!
I think that PRADAs are by far the most comfortable… I can do 4 inches all night long. the softest leather and the most arch support. Other than that, I like Manolo Blahniks and Louboutins. Louis Vuittons are less comfortable.
I think that Jimmy Choos hurt…
I was wondering if anyone had tried Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole, they have a flaxseed insole. They are sort of like memory foam. They are about $300.- I have no idea how they would feel? Anybody out there try them?
Areosoles love the style price and comfort
I’m 23 and I would like to say I’m fashionable
I’ve worked for Clarks for three years and their line has definitely streamlined into the trendier styles. Most Clarks Artisan line have an active air feature which make them shock absorbant. The style marilla is AMAZING (everything hurts my feet) and the radiants are also comfy. Also the indigo line really cute. the hypnotics, mesmerize, and daze are some of our best sellers. I have last years version and I wore them to DEATH!
well, at the moment, i’m recovering from a bad ankle injury (broke 2 bones, and tore several ligaments), so i’m in an aircast for several more months, along with an ugly shoe on the other foot… but, previously, my favorite heels, the most comfortable ones were 9 wests, and etienne aigners. they were ~2 3/4 – 3 inches, but the proportions in the foot were such that they were comfortable. i oould walk for more than a mile in them (and do israeli dancing in them, too) alas, i’m restricted to just looking, longingly, at them now…
Most comfortable high-heels? Here are mine:
Aerosoles. Especially the What’s What department of Aerosoles. But Aerosoles heels are usually quite comfortable.
Steve Madden. Occasionally there’s a problem with a particular shoe, like not enough padding below the toes, or the heel is too high. But often these shoes seem more generous in the width to me, and have a rounded toe which is comfortable, even when it’s a high heel.
Franco Sarto boots/booties. For some reason I only find the boots comfortable. The shoes tend not to be. But boots with a high heel are also comfortable.
Ditto for Bandolino boots and booties.
Ditto for Payless (yes Payless) boots and booties.
Nine West. Once in a while you can find a comfortable pair of heels at Nine West, although I would not say that most of their heels are comfortable. However, a year ago, I found a pair of strappy heeled sandals that came in different color leather (black, bronze, orange, and yellow) which were incredibly comfortable. I got them in every color.
Hey Ruby,
thanks for adding your thoughts. I do have a few pairs of Steve Madden shoes that are quite comfortable too — especially from the ‘Steven by Steve Madden’ line, but I always have to size up at least a half size, sometimes a full size.
Desiree
Shoes Guide
Ladies, don’t know if anyone has tried Shane and Shawn brand, but I bought a from 6pm.com for $80 and they are the BEST!!! Heel height is about 3.5″, have a cushioned pillowed foot bed, pressure point pads on the leather outsoles, and are very fashionable (though none have pointed toes). If not into that, I find Soffts to also be very comfortable but more comfort-shoe looking.
Several years ago I bought heels from Chinese Laundry; “Mystic” in black. I’ve worn these strappy heels many times over and have never had a comfort issue. Great for a night on the town, or formal event. I would not wear these for work heels – to formal looking.
I SWEAR BY CONNIE SHOES. FROM BOOTS TO HIGH HEELS (SANDALS OR SHOES) NOT A SINGLE PAIR HAVE EVER FAILED ME!!
I know this is one for those w/ deeper wallets, but have you ever tried Thierry Rabotin? ABSOLUTE COMFORT!!! a bit pricey…$400 avg/pr but if you have to be on your feet…this line is worth checking out. His heels are actually “walkable”!! Hard to find, but worth every penny! I found them at Hanig’s Footwear in Wilmette, IL. I think they have them @ their Michigan Ave store too.
I know some peopel hate ‘em, but Crocs are making high heels. I’m a musician that runs around on stage for 3 hours at a time and my feet were KILLING me night after night, and I found those and I just wear them with long pants that cover all but the open toe and I will buy these as long as they keep making ‘em because I’m no longer in pain. They are as comfortable as a sneaker.
I wear heels everyday to work and I have found brand is not as important as style, if you are on feet for ten hours or more a day the best heels are slides or mules. The open toe allows for the normal swelling that a foot goes through and if they have the little elastic give on the slide part of the shoe also a plus. I find that the style is much more important than the cost. Yes 3 inch heels and under are the most comfortable with 2.5 inch being most desirable.
Do any of you wear a size 5 or smaller shoe? So hard to find anything in this size. Anne Klein rarely has anything smaller than 6 as I notice with most not so pricey shoes… any suggestions as I would love to find cute, comfy heels that wont leave a single mom in the poor house!!
Tsubo Women’s Acrea Pump are number one in comfort.
As well as…
Tsubo Women’s Dena are the MOST COMFORTABLE and best looking work shoes.
Tsubo Women’s Anush Pump are like walkong on air!
I find the most comfortable heels to wear to work are nine west, or new look are quite comfy although seem to vary in sizes depending on the style.
I would like a low heeled dressy shoe that is comfortable, that comes in wide. I have had foot surgery recently.
I would have to say that I am really leaning toward my four inch wedge heel loafers by BCBGirls. You can walk in them all day long in total comfort. I have also bought quite a few heels from HSN, you know, AJ and Bijou and one pair of Susan Lucci’s I adore. I love wedges and they are the easiest to trot around in at my age. When I know I don’t have to be up and around walking all the time then I do go for some higher Fredericks heels that are really comfortable. Believe it or not a five inch peeptoe black pump. Didn’t think I could do it till I tried. I am definately hooked on heels.
I’m on my feet for 10-12 hour workdays and like to run, so finding shoes that don’t squish the pinky toe or rub the heel have been practically a second job for me. A few thoughts:
Nine West heels are hit or miss like some of the previous readers have pointed out. If your pinky toe keeps getting bruised by the end of the day, I’d recommend getting thin anti-slip pads to put inside so your foot doesn’t slide down as much and put pressure on the toes. They’re also a god-send for high-heeled strappy shoes with super-thin straps.
Gianni Bini – I’ve had pretty good luck with their round toed stillettos – no pain!
Born – it’s a chunkier style, but my mom has bunions and swears by them. I suspect it’s because they have a wider toebox right at that big toe joint. Added plus – for some reason, Born shoes tend to make feet appear smaller than they are. And I always get compliments on my Born shoes.
Cowboy boots – true cowboy boots are exceptionally comfortable and sport the pointy-toe look that is in (and that I generally dislike). These are my go-to dress shoes for work everyday as no one can tell the difference under long pants and an added plus on rainy days/ cold days is that I can wear any socks I want underneath!
other shoes that I’ve tried and seem to be relatively comfortable: Clarks, Nurture, various pairs from Payless (!!), Franco Sarto, Sperry Top-Sider (after breaking them in)
Shoes that I expected too much from/ got the wrong fit for my feet:
Danskos, naturalizer (I’ve had the worst luck with their shoes!)
Just my 2 cents!