Thanks to Rachel J. from Purchase, NY for recommending these Soft Style pumps for women with bunions!
Soft Style Mabry
The Mabry pumps from Soft Style are roomy in the toe box and perfect for those with wider feet or issues with bunions. They come with a medium, block-style heel, so you get the elegant, professional look of a lower heel with a relatively stable base.
If you have trouble finding heels that are comfortable for bunions, try on a pair. They look very professional and pair well with business attire, but you could also wear them to an evening event. The profile is relatively slim-looking for a comfort shoe – they aren’t too chunky or blocky, and you’ll notice the signature Soft Style padded footbed.
Since we hear from so many high heel wearers searching for pain relief, I wanted to highlight toe separators as a great tool for alignment and comfort.
Wearing heels every day for years will negatively alter the alignment of your feet, even if they are the most comfortable dress shoes you can find. The damage can appear in the form of bunions, hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, and general foot pain.
Yoga Toes Toe Separators
If you’ve noticed your big toe veering towards your second toe because your favorite heels are too pointy and narrow, it’s best to fix the problem now before it’s too late!
One way to restore the natural alignment of your toes and relieve tension is to stretch those muscles, just as you would stretch your muscles after other kinds of work outs like running or lifting weights.
There are many different brands of toe separators on the market but they mostly function in the same way. You slide the separators between your toes and hold them there for a few minutes at a time to give your toes a good stretch.
You may notice pain relief immediately, or it may take a few weeks of gently nudging your toes back into alignment. Hopefully you’ll notice your toes straightening out and some of that foot pain subsiding.
Your feet go through a lot of intensive physical stress every day and need to be taken care of in order to avoid permanent pain.
Looking for more ideas for pain relief from wearing high heels?
We receive a lot of questions from readers looking for recommendations for shoe brands that are similar to well-known comfort brands like Naturalizer, Clarks, ECCO, and Aerosoles.
These brands are easily found at your local mall, but what about all the amazing comfortable brands you haven’t even discovered yet?
Thanks to the internet and sites like Zappos, you can easily try on new brands and styles for free and return them for free if you don’t like them.
So if you’ve had success with brands like Naturalizer, Clarks, and Aerosoles, here are 10 recommendations for the most comfortable brands to try next:
Thank you to Erin C. for recommending these lovely evening pumps from Aerosoles!
The Aerosoles Onward Pumps are a comfortable option for women looking for closed-toe pumps with a dressy strap and moderate heels. (2.25 inch). They come in several formal colors and that signature Aerosoles foam footbed.
Aerosoles Onward Pumps
If you need to stay comfortable while dancing the evening away at a wedding or a holiday party, these are a cute heel to pair with any dress.
If you need to pivot and wear these to the office, you can do that too. The closed-toe is perfect for more professional settings.
Aerosoles is an affordable comfort brand that can be hit or miss, but these are comfortable and stylish enough to give them a try.
Thank you, wonderful readers, for sharing your favorite pairs of comfortable dress shoes! Here are 10 of your favorites, including pumps, wedges, flats, and loafers. Keep the ideas coming our way here!
1) AK Anne Klein Women’s Fabulist Leather Dress Pump
These low ankle-strap heels are super comfortable and versatile for work or for dancing. The black and neutral colors are made of soft leather and perfect for all-day wear at the office. Prices range from $50-80.
Anne Klein Fabulist Pump
2) Rose Petals Women’s Lissa Dress Pump
If you don’t usually wear high heels but need a pair for a special occasion that are actually bearable for hours at a time, these Rose Petals pumps by Walking Cradles are worth a try. They are as comfortable as you can get for this style of shoe. Prices range from $50-130.
Rose Petals Lissa Pump
3) Walking Cradles Women’s Caliente
For those looking for a lower heel, these are cute and comfortable without rubbing the back of your heel. The straps are comfortable and keep the shoe firmly in place so you don’t have to worry about the shoes slipping off. The closed-toe shoe box also makes it a little more formal than a sandal. Prices range from $50-120.
Walking Cradles Caliente
4) Soft Style Women’s Angel II Pump
If you’re looking for a simple and professional shoe with a very low heel, these are very affordable and come in a ton of colors. Prices range from $25-60.
Soft Style Angel Pump
5) Franco Sarto Women’s Bocca Loafer
These are a classic, high quality leather loafer with a low heel height and a traditional style. They’re a reliable professional shoe for the office in either the black matte or black patent colors. Prices range from $35-80.
Franco Sarto Bocca Loafer
6) White Mountain Women’s Moondance Ballet Flat
These flats offer a comfortable and classy design that’s perfect for the office or the weekend. They are very affordable so you can buy multiple colors and enjoy the memory foam insoles all day long. Prices range from $20-30.
If you need a low heel for a special occasion like a wedding, these sparkly evening shoes are both comfortable and affordable. If you need a last minute purchase, check out Dream Pairs. Prices range from $25-35.
Dream Pairs Formal Evening Shoes
8) LifeStride Women’s Kalea Dress Pump
These LifeStride pumps are classy, comfortable, and perfect for office or evening wear. These shoes don’t require any breaking in and include signature LifeStride cushioning, but the straps are not adjustable so these aren’t for skinny feet. Prices range from $30-45.
LifeStride Kalea Pumps
9) Kenneth Cole REACTION Women’s Great Gal Wedge Sandal
This low-heel cork wedge is a great alternative to heels in the warmer months. They’re affordable and can be dressed up or down depending on your outfit. Prices range from $20-85.
Kenneth Cole Great Gal Wedge
10) Aerosoles Women’s Day Strole Boot
These fashionable ankle boots are actually comfortable and well-fitting for this heel height. Like most Aerosoles, they are durable and long-lasting while pairing just as well with professional outfits as with jeans. Prices range from $45-90.
Aerosoles Day Strole Boot
Want more ideas for the most comfortable dress shoes on the planet? Check out our list of Top 50 Most Comfortable & Stylish Dress Shoe Brands here!
Thank you to our readers for sharing your favorite comfortable dress pumps for work! We are always looking for stylish heels that will be comfortable at the office. If you have more ideas, send them over to us here! We’ll keep collecting and sharing the most comfortable dress shoes we can find.
1) Clarks Women’s Brier Dolly Dress Pump
Clarks are a beloved comfort brand, and these Brier Dolly pumps are one of their best and most affordable heels for professional or evening wear. The platform under the toe box elevates the ball of your foot so the heel is not as high as it looks, which helps to keep you comfortable for longer. There’s a small cushion on the back of the heel to prevent rubbing, which is perfect because that’s where I usually have to place adhesive padding on my heels. Prices range from $40-70.
Clarks Brier Dolly Pumps
2) Aerosoles Women’s Shore Thing Dress Pump
These Aerosole Shore Thing pumps are classic and elegant, whether you are wearing them to business meetings and interviews or to church. There’s enough of a heel for it to look stylish and feminine, but it’s not high enough to cause too much pain over a day of wear. It’s also an affordable shoe to add to your heel collection. Prices range from $40-70.
Aerosoles Shore Thing Pump
3) Naturalizer Women’s Okira Dress Pump
The Okira Dress Pumps are a unique look from Naturalizer and a stylish departure from typical office pumps. They are closed-toe for more formal or office settings but also have a feminine strap feature that looks beautiful for an evening event and helps the shoes stay on your feet with no effort. The adjustable buckle makes it easy to adjust the straps to fit your feet. Prices range from $40-80.
Naturalizer Okira Pump
4) Walking Cradles Women’s Race Dress Pump
The Race Dress Pumps from Walking Cradles are a rare pair of heels that are both stylish and comfortable for those with wider feet. The elegant profile of the shoe disguises the roominess of the toe box, which might be a good fit for those with bunions. The low heel is also a manageable height, and the price makes them an affordable addition to your dress shoe collection. Prices range from $45-60.
Walking Cradles Race Pump
5) Mephisto Women’s Mila GT Dress Pump
These Mephisto Mila GT Dress Pumps are certainly an investment, but readers love the stretchy cloth material that conforms perfectly to your feet. What a unique pair of pumps! They are perhaps the most secure fitting heels you can find that also prioritize comfort and feature a nice low heel. The waterproof material also comes in handy in the winter. Prices range from $280-300.
Mephisto Mila GT Pump
6) Anne Klein AK Sport Women’s Yavari Dress Pump
Anne Klein Sport makes these beautiful Yavari slingback heels that look fantastic at work or at the theater. The medium height heel is low enough to be comfortable all day and high enough to add flair to your outfit. I love the look of the pointy toe, and it’s a great closed-toe shoe to wear to more professional or formal occasions. Prices range from $35-60.
Anne Klein Sport Yavari Pump
7) Walking Cradles Women’s Matisse Pump
Walking Cradles has again made the list due to their wonderful balance of comfort and style. For a medium height heel (2.75 inches), these are surprisingly comfortable to wear to the office all day. Readers can’t stop telling us about the beautiful look of this shoe and how many compliments they get while wearing it. Prices range from $40-80.
Walking Cradles Matisse Pump
8) Sofft Women’s Tansy
Sofft is well known for the thick cushioning they put into the sole of every shoe, but they aren’t always known for style. The Tansy pumps are a welcome departure from their typical shoe, with a lovely pointy cap toe and heel combination. I wish they made more styles like this because the cushioned footbed really does feel like you are walking on a yoga mat. Prices range from $50-80.
Sofft Women’s Tansy
9) Vionic Women’s, Josie Low Heel Pumps
These lovely kitten heels from Vionic are comfortable and classy. For those looking for just a touch of a heel and high quality materials, these Josie Low Heel Pumps are a great option. The heel is well cushioned, and they are one of the most attractive dress shoes from the Vionic comfort brand. Prices range from $120-140.
Vionic Josie Low Heel Pumps
10) Cole Haan Women’s Juliana 75 Dress Pump
Cole Haan is known more for style than for comfort, but these are still surprisingly comfortable for 3 inch heels. They are a beautiful and very professional looking pump for the office, but they’re also a perfect complement to any dress style. Whether you are going to a wedding or to a cocktail party, you can be confident that these will make your outfit shine. Prices range from $70-150.
It’s that time of year when you need versatile, comfortable heels that look fabulous in the office or at the evening holiday party.
For times like this, I always lean on the Anne Klein Sport line for stylish, flexible pumps that I can wear all day long. They are reasonably priced but look expensive and come in high quality fabric or leather material. These are perfect for so many outfits without exceeding your budget.
The Anne Klein iFlex line is known for flexible, lightweight soles that are much more comfortable to wear than stiff heels. I notice there is a little more room in the toe box too.
As always, comfort is relative. If you’re going to wear high heels, these are a relatively comfortable, affordable, and attractive option.
Have a recommendation for comfortable holiday party dress shoes? Share your favorites with us here!
For those who can’t bear to sacrifice designer style for comfort, there’s always Michael Kors, a well-known designer brand that makes relatively comfortable heels and flats while preserving that high fashion you love.
Feedback from readers tells us that most comfortable dress shoes just aren’t stylish enough for them. Brands like Michael Kors and Stuart Weitzman, although a little pricier, may be your answer. They clearly try to make their shoes more flexible and wearable without explicitly advertising it. Of course, no designer brand will ever admit to prioritizing comfort in any way! But now you know the secret.
Michael Kors is targeting busy, fashionable women who want to look good but need practical shoes to get through the day. They make low, mid, and high heel options so you can choose a lower heel if that’s easier on your feet, but you still get that classy, feminine style. They also make fairly comfortable flats, sandals, and wedges that will deliver that luxurious look without leaving you in pain at the end of the day. You can always supplement them with Moleskin tape and padding on any spots that are rubbing or irritating your feet.
Anyone with bunions or looking for a wider toe box on their heels should give Walking Cradles a try before giving up on finding stylish dress shoes. Walking Cradles is a comfort shoe brand that makes heels, flats, and sandals in a variety of widths, which is great for those who find dress shoes to […]
Happy holidays from Must Be Comfortable! Warm greetings and best wishes to all of our readers and fellow shoppers around the world.
In the spirit of the holidays, how about sharing your favorite shoe brand with other readers for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card? Winners will be contacted via email in January!
A big thank you to Charlotte H. from Melbourne, Australia for sharing her favorite shoes – these lovely LifeStride Sonya pumps that are different from your typical slingback.
These classy heels are stylish and feminine – pointed toe, 2.5 inch heel, black or taupe – while also prioritizing comfort. The elastic slingback strap and thick, cushioned insole help to keep these heels securely on your feet all day without painful rubbing or clenched toes. If you can’t find this exact pair, we are big fans of LifeStride’s selection of slingbacks and low to medium heels.
10) 
Top 50 Most Comfortable Brands for Women's Dress Shoes 