Stylish Comfortable Shoes: What to Wear When You Work on Your Feet

I love teachers.  I was raised by an educator and know how hard they work.  My mom is a reading specialist at a charter school in Newark, NJ.  Therefore, when I got an email from a teacher asking me to give advice on stylish comfortable shoes, because teachers spend a lot of time on their feet, I was happy to oblige.   For today’s post in this series, here are my fashion  tips and shoe styling suggestions for those of you who spend a lot of time working on your feet.

Flats can be just as bad for your feet as high heels

Before you stock up on shoes that are completely flat, understand that flat shoes can be just as bad on your feet as very high heels.  Yes, flats can be comfortable to change into after your feet have given out in a pair of heels, and for short periods of time flat shoes can be comfortable.  However, for long term standing shoes without any heel can be very painful.  Flats offer little to no arch support and few have much in the way of cushioning.  Additionally, you are doing your feet no favors when you constantly switch back from heels to flats.  If you have ever gotten a sharp pain in your heel it’s quite probable that it is a plantar fasciitis which is caused when the tendon at the back of your foot is stretched too tight from switching from heeled shoes to flat shoes.  A plantar fasciitis is incredibly painful and it often take an even more painful approach, a cortisone needle in the bottom of the foot, to relieve it.

If you need to be on your feet all day go for a small heel, between 1-2″ instead.  If you notice, chefs and doctors often wear clogs.  These occupations require a lot of standing and, smartly, many of these professionals wear a small bit of heel.

Look for brands that focus on comfort

These days you don’t have to wear shoes that look like something Herman Munster would wear to be comfortable on your feet.  There are so many brands combining style with comfort that you can easily look good and feel good at the same time.  One of my favorite brands is Naya.  I own three pairs of their shoes and have one pair of wedges that I walked over a mile in and never felt a bit of pain.  Other comfort work brands worth noting are Aersoles, Cole Hann with Nike Technology, Naturalizer, Born, Clarks, Sofft, Taryn Rose and Rockport.  In fact I’ve been shocked by how much Rockport has upped its style game recently.

Each one of these brands have their hits and misses.  My suggestion is to find a brand that fits your feet well and then buy deep into the brand.  Also, don’t be shy about digging for a style that you like.  While many comfort brands sway more towards the sensible side each one also offers a several covetable styles a season.

Comfortable shoes don’t just come from comfort brands

Comfortable shoes don’t just come from comfort brands, you can find a pair of comfortable shoes from any company.  The goal is to find a brand whose last (or foot mold) comes the closest to working with the shape of your own foot.  Don’t discredit a particular shoe brand simply because they don’t focus on comfort.  There are many comfort brands out there that won’t be comfortable for you because their shoe lasts aren’t a fit for your feet.

Invest in your feet…and your shoes

Teachers are notoriously frugal, which makes a lot of sense.  Not only do they get paid a fraction of what they are worth but educators are usually very practical.  However, even my own mother, who probably never bought a piece of clothing at full price a day in her life, even knows the importance of investing in a good pair of shoes.  Her advice to me has always been, “There are two areas you never scrimp on, hair and shoes.”  I don’t color my own hair, I pay good money for haircuts and my shoes are usually the most expensive parts of my outfits.  Regardless of your budget, spend well on shoes.  I’m not saying spend more than you can afford but don’t wear cheap shoes and expect that you won’t be in pain by the end of the day.  If you’re on a budget, watch for sales on expensive brands, get yourself on sample sale lists and do less with more.  I’d rather see you have less shoes that are more expensive and supportive than a closet full of junk.

Don’t wear the same shoes everyday

When I was a fashion designer I used to travel to Europe twice a year.  I know it sounds glamorous but it was very physically demanding work.  I’d spend most days walking and standing and by the end of the day my feet would be throbbing.  Problem was, because I was trying to pack light, I’d only have a few pairs of shoes in my luggage and probably only one pair that I’d wear during the day.  After days and days of wearing the same shoes  I learned the valuable lesson of not doing this.  Wearing the same shoes everyday while needing to be on your feet can get really uncomfortable.  You will save yourself a lot of pain by having a few pairs of comfortable shoes that you rotate regularly.

Trick out your shoes before you wear

Often when you buy new clothes you need to tailor them before wearing.  This can be the same for your shoes as well.  Products like Foot Petals can be great for adding cushion, protection and personalization in fit that will help you get lasting comfort from your shoes.  When you buy a new pair wear them around the house to get a sense of the tender points and where you might be extra cushion.  Just like tailoring, tweaking your shoes is normal.

Outfits featuring stylish comfortable shoes

If you feel you will have to sacrifice style for comfort when choosing a pair of shoes that won’t cause pain guess again.  Here are three business-casual outfits featuring styles that are not only comfortable but have a heel of that perfect 1-2″ comfort height.

Look #1

This pair of red shoes from Naturalizer not only provide comfort but also give a pop of color in a black, white and gray outfit.  The shoes are styled with a pair of T. Tahari pants, a DKNYC faux layered crew neck sweater,  polka-dot tote and simple silver earrings and necklace by Stella & Dot.

Look #2

For versatility, I chose this bronze pair of comfortable shoes by Clarks.  Metallic shoes are a versatile choice because they work with most colors.  Here, I styled this pair of shoes with a navy Boden dress, an emerald green Modcloth cardigan, Franklin Covey tote bag in mint, a gold bracelet by Kate Spade and a multi-colored necklace by Stella & Dot that brings all the colors of the outfit together.

Look #3

Even though they’re not marked as a comfort brand, Anne Klein is known for comfortable shoes.  I liked this blue Anne Klein pair for their heel height and wider toe box.  For a business, casual look, I styled these shoes with a pair of Jones New York pants in grey, an ivory Boden blazer, a navy Coldwater Creek top and peach Modcloth tote bag.  The colors of the outfit come together through the printed scarf from Boden and earrings by Yochi.

Remember, when your feet are comfortable you’re whole body is comfortable.  And with these tips you’ll be stylish at the same time!

Repost This Article