Splurge-worthy heels?

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sparlingo

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Hey friends!

So I have never paid a lot for my high heels, thinking that they are all uncomfortable and so not worth spending much on, especially since I lean toward the casual end of the style spectrum. However, I have heard that expensive heels are actually significantly more comfortable.

So, I guess my question is this: in your experience, what designer or brand is worth the money in terms of comfort? I'd be willing to spend a bit more if my feet were happier after a few hours of wear :).

9 years ago

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12 replies

Latest reply was from Echo

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

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Veteran

I asked a similar question here a year ago when I was thinking of investing in some Cole Haan heels. I ended up buying them after several people said they were really nice. Although I haven't had the chance to wear them a lot they have worked well so far. I will say that I'm glad I got them on sale, just because I also have a casual lifestyle, and no matter how comfy they might be, heels I only wear a few times a year are not worth Louboutin prices to me.

I think a lot of it also has to do with your individual foot in comparison to the last each company uses for its sizing. Clarks are known for being really comfy but there's something about their shoes that just don't work for my feet.

9 years ago

Alexandra

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My favorite comfy high heels are Ecco, Sofft, Aquatalia, and Stuart Weitzman. It's a bit of a range in terms of price.

9 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

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As Alexandra says, it also depends on what amount you consider a splurge. When I first joined YLF, any shoes over 50 bucks gave me palpitations. Others may consider $200 for heels chump change. What range were you thinking of?

(You'll probably get some more responses tomorrow/next week once the big YLF get-together in Seattle winds down - the forum's pretty quiet this weekend.)

9 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I like Sofft, Aquatalia, and Cole Haan. I just bought the Cole Haans a few weeks ago; they are sandals with a 4" chunky heel. I am very surprised at how comfortable they are.

My Sofft heels were $100 and $170; the Aquatalia boots I have retail for $700 (though I got mine on sale for significantly less); and the Cole Haans retail for $228 (though I got mine for $170).

The Sam Edelman Okalas are also quite comfortable; they are around $110 (depending on what style you get).

Paul Green is said to be incredibly comfortable, although more pricey. I did try on a pair at Nordie's once because the SA was raving about them. They were extremely comfortable, but I didn't buy them because the style wasn't right for me. But I am going to keep checking out his stuff.

9 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

depends on the shoe and your foot. i have found comfortable shoes across all price points. my most comfy open toed pump was a coach shoe that i got at tjmaxx about 5 years ago and it's still going strong as a shoe i wear at least once a week in the summer. i have had good luck with ivanka trump pumps as well at the lower heel height.

then i have high heeled boots from jimmy choo that i have worn once a week in the fall / winter since i got them 18 months ago and they have gone to every professional meeting with me as long as it's not summer or miami. they are 8 hour heeled boots x 3-4 conf days. i have worn them on back to back days and survived walking 3 blocks back and forth across a convention center to get from meeting to meeting. this brand has a last that is made for my duck feet with a high instep and use soft leather that is kind to bunions. it's true for their shoes as well. i can wear their 3.5 in heels all day into a night event. same for manolos, but more comfy in regular leather not patent.

mind you, i buy my summer sandals from target and i love those equally...as a matter of fact, with one exception, i will not buy flat sandals from expensive designers --and i include jcrew, br etc here--because target and other lower end makers have extremely similar shoes that are more comfortable for my foot.

i buy my rubbah slippahs at the dollar store 2 for $3, 6 pairs at a time. still working through my 2010 cache.

9 years ago

christieanne

Veteran

I usually look to Cole Haan for heels as well. Often at Nordstrom Rack you can get a good price break as well. Sam Edelman is another brand I find comfy and Calvin Klein too. I can't wear the "comfort" brands like Ecco or Born or Sofft as they run too wide for my heels and I walk right out of them.

9 years ago

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I've had good luck with Bettye Muller. But I never wear them for more than a few hours.

9 years ago

Aubergine

Veteran

I have one pair of Geox round-toe pumps that are really comfy. I only have Cole Haan shoes in wedges (so a little easier to walk in right off the bat), but I love them and they're even comfier. I've also got two pairs of Vince Camuto patent heels that are better than I'd expect, although they're more for special occasions than for work.

I don't wear traditional high heeled pumps much (when I wear heels, it's usually in wedges or in boots/booties), so those are all the recommendations I have. But maybe I'd wear them more if I found more really comfortable ones!

9 years ago

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Not much wisdom to add other than Nine West are pretty comfortable for me, and are at a lower price point than the really high quality brands. But mostly I am just chiming in to say thank you for asking the question. I am favoriting this thread to refer back to when buying my next heels. I do wear them frequently, but I am becoming much more particular about comfort these days...

9 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I am really picky about shoes, and I find heels hard to wear. So I rarely buy heels. But here are two examples of good classic leather pumps with leather lining that are remarkably comfortable on my feet, in the $120-$130 range (though you can probably find them on sale).
http://www.zappos.com/corso-co.....-silk-calf
http://www.zappos.com/trotters-alexa

I don't own either of those (but have tried them in stores many times - I just have no need for classic pumps). I do own a pair of Paul Green ankle-strap pumps, and they're the only heels I've owned that I can just wear all day without it being a big deal.

9 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Like it was mentioned, it depends on what range you are seeking. I find Alexander McQueen shoes to fit like they were made for my feet (not McQ, though), and Gucci tends to make comfortable shoes. However, Stuart Weitzman and Cole Haan also make (relatively) comfortable heels. Sofft, Born and Earthies all are comfort brands, too, and while their shoes aren't as formal, many of them are very comfortable.

9 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I just wanted to add this as a PSA - an additional 40% off clearance shoes at Cole Haan through October 2nd:
http://www.colehaan.com/womens.....1411958642

9 years ago

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