Work shoes for women

April 7, 2018 4:53 PM

I need new shoes to wear to work in the spring and fall, and I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for. Help!

I am a 35 year old woman who works in banking. My typical work outfit is a sweater or shell with cardigan, and skinny ankle pants in black or grey. I need shoes to wear in the spring and fall that are not sandals or black ankle boots, which is what a solid 90% of my shoe collection currently is.

Requirements: comfortable for walking (I don't do a ton of it, but walk regularly from the bus stop to work, etc.) and being worn multiple times a week, appropriate for a business environment (I could probably do sneakers if they were "fashion" as opposed to athletic), suitable for rainy Seattle (don't need to be waterproof, but something in suede for example probably won't cut it), will go with my standard work outfit, no super tall or very skinny/stiletto-style heels.

I'm a size 6.5, with narrow heels and an accompanying tendency to get heel blisters if shoes rub there. I'm not crazy about Dankos clogs-type shoes (though I have several pairs of their sandals and boots), they seem too chunky. I'm not sure what I'm looking for here, honestly, except that I desperately need something that isn't a sandal or ankle boot. Thanks!

posted by skycrashesdown to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (18 answers total)

I have narrow heels, too (and wear a six size) and I LOVE Fly London shoes. They're a little pricey, but I've had good luck shopping around and waiting for sales and such. A few UK stores also carry them and I've seen them on eBay.

My favorites are the Yasi, but pretty much all of them are comfortable. They run a little large, so I wear a size 36.

Fly London shoes at Zappos, Nordstrom, or QVC.
posted by dancing_angel at 5:05 PM on April 7, 2018 [2 favorites]

Cole Haan has some very cute flats and oxfords for women - they seem expensive but they have great sales.
posted by mogget at 6:13 PM on April 7, 2018 [3 favorites]

6pm .com is a great resource for discounts on pricier brands. Their main site, Zappos has the free shipping & returns. Returns are not free on 6pm so you kind of nerd to know what you want before ordering from them, but you could test brands and styles from Zappos first.

I like ballet flats for the office in summer; it might take some trial and error to find ones that are comfy for being on your feet, but if you're at a desk most of the day then many styles and brands should work for you.
posted by vignettist at 6:27 PM on April 7, 2018

I would choose a loafer or a flat in a comfort brand. A comfort brand because you will probably want some arch support. A loafer is professional, classic. Goes with everything. The loafer I linked is not a comfort brand but it is so good looking (in black to match your wardrobe). I'm not sure about arch support and walking comfort. I am sure there are more out there that have more support.

Look for flats or loafers in comfort brands like Rockport, Ecco, Clarks, Comfortiva, Born, Naturalier, Vionic and many more.
posted by loveandhappiness at 6:29 PM on April 7, 2018 [2 favorites]

I would look for shoes made with European sizing ("European shoes tend to run more narrow in the heel with a wide toe box. This fit allows for the heel to be held snug in place without scrunching the toes."). I personally love low-heeled Ecco shoes.
posted by Emera Gratia at 7:04 PM on April 7, 2018

My Rothy's are the most comfortable shoes I own. They are a little on the pricey side, but so, so worth it. They are the only flats I have that I can walk around in all day with zero rubbing, and without them getting gross (and if they do get gross, you can toss them in the washing machine). Rain will not hurt them. They don't have a lot of arch support (if that's important), but they do have removable insoles that you could switch out if you need something with more support.

DM me if you want a referral code.
posted by tan_coul at 7:28 PM on April 7, 2018 [7 favorites]

For professional shoes, I love Cole Haan. They make the only heels I can walk in at all and their loafers are really walkable and look great. They are not cheap, but I haven't found anything nearly as good. For flats, I think Rothy flats are both comfortable and stylish and they don't seem to get as easily destroyed as other flats. I also do like Tory Burch flats, but I haven't liked them as well lately and they're too expensive to be willing to be "meh" about. Geox are pretty walkable, and I can't wear them since they're too tight in the heel for me, so they might suit you.
posted by frumiousb at 7:31 PM on April 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

Thirding Cole Haan. They usually have at least one classic oxford and one classic loafer on offer year-round. They are indeed a bit overpriced, but they really fill that niche of a professional-looking women's shoe of decent quality. You have to watch for the sales.
posted by praemunire at 9:04 PM on April 7, 2018

I like G H Bass & Co for straightforward shoes that sometimes come in fun colors. I'm a 6.5 as well and find their sizing to be very accurate. Pretty teal loafer that comes in many other colors too, black wingtips that also come in shiny pewter, femme loafer with pointed toe and tassle.
posted by Mizu at 10:24 PM on April 7, 2018

Seconding Rothys! The pointed style looks sharp and dressed up with skinny ankle pants. Almost every shoes give me heel blisters but these don't. They are fine in rain and you can even machine wash them!
posted by beyond_pink at 4:55 AM on April 8, 2018

If sneakers are really acceptable, consider the black Nike Vapormax moc. I have worn them in professional contexts many times.
posted by Morpeth at 6:06 AM on April 8, 2018

Response by poster: All of these suggestions are very helpful, thank you! A related question - what socks do you wear with loafers?
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:57 AM on April 8, 2018

Trouser socks (e.g.). Or you could also wear sheer knee-highs, if you preferred.
posted by praemunire at 9:07 AM on April 8, 2018

If you're wearing them with skinny ankle pants, no-show liner socks. (If you're wearing full-length pants with a wider leg where you don't see your ankle, then you could wear trouser socks.)
posted by tan_coul at 11:22 AM on April 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

Check out Nisolo.
posted by monologish at 6:10 PM on April 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

Chinese Laundry flats (the d'Orsay ankle strap styles in particular) go extremely well with ankle pants, have styles that are perfectly bank appropriate, and are "daily wear" comfy. I can imagine they're not great in a lot rain, but since they're not super pricey, perhaps one pair might be worth it?
posted by BlueBlueElectricBlue at 7:20 PM on April 8, 2018

I have high arches and a history of shin splints, so I went to my local indie shoe shop to ask for recommendations on a stylish city walking shoe that didn't LOOK like a walking shoe for a vacation I was gearing up to go on. They fixed me up with a pair of Arcopedico flats and they are, hands down, the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. Lightweight, breathable, soft lytech upper that is both water-resistant and soft enough not to rub my heels, European sizing to fit my super tiny feet (I'm usually a 5.5/6 and I got a 36 in these), and SUPER supportive even after walking like 5+ miles a day.

They have all kinds of different styles that would definitely work for work shoes, but these were the ones I got. Caveat: if you don't have high arches, they might actually have TOO MUCH arch support. Also, the black lytech, at least in the style I tried on, did look just a shade too orthopedic for my tastes. Their leather shoes probably avoid this problem.
posted by helloimjennsco at 7:30 AM on April 9, 2018

I came here to say Rothys, also. I specifically have a narrow heel like you, and they are the only 'ballet style' flat I have ever owned in my life that stayed on my heel with no rubbing and no flopping off. They are genuinely great shoes, and I'm suuuuper picky about shoes.
posted by DSime at 8:14 AM on April 9, 2018