Comfortable Shoes & Sandals For Summer
July 6, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
Written by The Fashionable Housewife
Ladies, there is no reason to sacrifice comfort for fashion ever again. Comfortable shoes used to mean ugly, orthopedic-looking shoes that your grandmother would happily wear. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. Top shoes brands that are known for their comfort like Aerosoles, Clarks and Naturalizers have recruited some fashion-forward designers to make sure they shoes are not only comfortable, but totally stylish too.
I tested about a dozen pairs of shoes for comfort this month and after hours of wearing each pair, have chosen the top 5 pairs that I can recommend wholeheartedly. I know the prices might scare some of you, but think about this: You probably spend at least $10 or $20 on a new pair of shoes and think that is a great deal. But you probably only end up wearing those shoes 1 or 2 times because you find out how uncomfortable they are and end up with blisters galore.
Why have 3 or 4 pairs of crappy shoes that you barely ever wear, when you can invest in 1 pair of really nice shoes that are actually comfortable and you can wear over and over again?
I found 5 fabulous women’s sandals that are comfortable, high quality, and actually good for you feet. Browse the selection below…
Five comfortable sandals to add to your shoe collection:
Born Penley in Black
This soft, understated sandal is designed to mix with eclectic looks. Perfect to pair with all your boho outfits. This month, I wore these with maxi dresses, boyfriend jeans, skinny jeans, denim shorts, and camo capris.
I really like these because of the super soft cushioned footbed. The comfy insole gives adequate arch support that provides hours of comfortable wear. I would say these can be worn all day with no problem at all. The buttery soft leather straps that criss-cross over the front leave these simple sandals looking very stylish. They fit true to size and true to width.
Available Colors: Mahogany Full Grain, Black Full Grain.
Price: $84.95
Purchase Born Penley Sandals at ShoeBuy.com
Clarks Erda in Peanut Leather
These cute shoes feature an adjustable t-strap with a 21/2 inch stacked heel for added style. The insole is fully cushioned for all day comfort and has soft leather straps.
I really like these because they are dressier than regular sandals, yet not so dressy that you can’t wear them to the grocery store. These are perfect to wear with all your summer dresses, skirts, and capris too. Would even look cute with a pair of boyfriend jeans rolled up.
These fit true to width, but I feel like they run about 1/2 size large. I usually wear a 7 and I got these in a 7, but they are too long. If i wear the adjustable strap on the last hole, they fit snug, but I would recommend anyone else get these 1/2 size smaller than you normally wear if you have normal-ish feet.
I wore these on a few different occasions for several hours at a time and haven’t had a problem yet. No rubbing, no pinching, no need to “break them in”. First time I wore them, I had them on for 4 hours and was delighted at how comfy they were. I recommend you add these lovely heels to your shoe wardrobe asap!
Price: $89.95
Purchase Clarks Erda at ShoeBuy.com
Naturalizer Praliso in Bronze Metallic Leather
If you’re looking for a comfortable high heel shoe to go with your dressier clothes, this is the perfect shoe for you. This sleek and stylish slingback sandal has an adjustable strap for a more secure fit. The 2″ heel is actually very easy to walk in. Just high enough to look great, but low enough to wear all day long.
I wanted to make sure I gave these heels a good test run. I pulled them right out of the box upon their arrival, put them on and wore them around the house all day long. I was chasing my toddler, doing laundry, dishes, up and down stairs, cooking 2 meals and even vacuuming. I had them on for about 9 hours that day and when i took them off, no blisters! That is truly amazing… I was so surprised how comfortable these were because they don’t look like they would be comfortable shoes. They look fancy and dressy, which usually equals super uncomfortable.
Price: $68.95
Purchase Naturalizer Praliso at ShoeBuy.com
Clarks Flutter in Red
These cute sandals feature an adjustable ankle strap with a comfy 23/4 inch wedge heel. Clarks are known for their comfort, but these are particularly nice because they are flexible and very easy to walk in.
I have them in red (shown above) and I love them. They are perfect to wear with almost all of my summer outfits. They easily go with anything from dresses and skirts to jeans and capris. They look absolutely fab with light wash or gray skinny jeans too… If red isn’t your color, they also come in dark brown, black, and a dark gray metallic.
The wedge heel is a tiny bit narrow, so they might take a few strides to get used to when you first wear them, but after that they were fine and very easy to walk in. The tiny leather strap is adjustable and very soft and comfortable. I have worn these on several occasions this month and haven’t had any problems with them at all.
Price: $89.95
Purchase Clarks Flutter at ShoeBuy.com
Aerosoles Katapult in Brown
A tailored leather sandal with real stopping power, featuring wide leather straps and a large silver buckle. You’ll really enjoy the sueded sock lining and super cushioned footbed on a flexible sole. Plus, they are super lightweight.
I bought these about 3 weeks ago in light orange and I am so happy I decided to get these. These shoes are so comfortable you can practically bounce in them. They fit pretty true to size… I could run in these sandals without a problem, making them perfect for me this summer, since I need to chase my 2 year old! I also love how versatile they are. You can wear them with dresses and skirts or dress them down with shorts or capris.
These cute wedges come in Light Orange, Brown, Black and White. You’ll want one in each color after you get one pair!
Click here to read my full review of Aerosoles Katapult
Price: Was $69.00 On Sale $49.95
Purchase Aerosoles Katapult at ShoeBuy.com
Come back this time, everyday this week for more pictures of each shoe!
About the Author: The Fashionable Housewife
The shoes that you posted are really cute and perfect for summer. I like the Clarks shoes in particular. Normally, I stay away from thicker heels, but they are an exception.
As a rule, I don’t usually wear heels either. I have foot problems and usually heels are very uncomfortable for me. These 5 pairs of shoes are the exception though. All of these shoes are very easy to walk in and caused no pain.
I love sandals and have a huge collection.
Check out the latest Born sandals, which I ordered through shoedeals4u.com. Its really comfy.
Is it possible that there are stylish sandals which are comfortable AND affordable?? I honestly think paying over $25 is a tad expensive…
I love the shoes you’ve posted here, especially the Clarks’ Flutter! Another really good brand of comfortable shoes is Walking Cradles. I used to buy them just because they specialize in sizes and widths and accommodate my wide foot, but recently they have really been stepping it up fashion-wise. These are my favorite pair of sandals:
http://www.walkingcradles.com/c2/ALICIA-BLACK-LEATHER-SILVER-p26916.html
So cute and you can get them in any size! They also have ‘tiny pillows’ on the footbed, which makes them perfect for shopping or walking around in all day. They don’t come cheap, but they have sales very frequently and last a long time. Totally worth it!
I really appreciate the very well done and complete reviews. I love that you put whether they were true to size and width and your giving them a thorough testing.
I do have to agree with the other person who posted, these are way out of my price range and as a newbie to your blog was surprised to see the prices.
I don’t think I’ve ever paid over $20 for a pair of sandals (Nordstroms) and the last ones (I finally wore the life out of) I’d had for over 10 years.