The 15 Most Comfortable But Chic Flats That You Can Walk All Day In With Zero Foot Pain
by The Candidly Team
Shoes, like bedding, enrobe our bodies for an enormous number of our days, hours, years, lives. And yet we have spent an appalling amount of money on very cheap ones that wind up being painful, then withering away before our very eyes. We are done pouring our dollars into poorly made shoes that are never really what we wanted in the first place. We’re no longer skimping out on comfort or quality or chicness. We want all 3.
And what better shoe to encompass these 3 glorious features than a flat? The Audrey Hepburn of footwear.
We have swooned over heels that are heaven to wear and sung the praises of a thousand (well, 14) pairs of boots. But the shoe we keep turning to over and over, that we wear probably more than any other is the flat. We may as well be scientists who’ve spent the past 20 years studying them, and we can now report cold, hard data on the comfiest and chicest of them all. And here they are:
1. The Comfiest Flats In Existence That Happen To Come In 157 Colors & Prints
What: Vivaia Pointed-Toe Ballet Flats
Why: The absolute perfect shape. The soft, stretchy, breathable material that’s deeply comfortable. But then, there are the colors and patterns. We were floored. So much so we wrote an entire tribute to these shoes. And we are currently scrambling to cut our shopping cart down to fewer than 5 pairs. We almost don’t even care that they’re sustainable, machine washable, and under $100. Almost.
Price: $97
2. The Flawless Mary Jane
What: Madewell The Greta Ballet Flat
Why: Looks-wise, we can’t imagine a better rendition of a Mary Jane. Black is a necessity. Silver is our year-round party shoe. But leopard might just be our favorite.
Price: $98 - $118
3. The one that you show aliens when they come down and ask “what is the perfect flat?”
What: Margaux The Demi
Why: Quite simply - THE gold standard when it comes to ballet flats.
Price: $225
4. The Chic, Flat Everyday Boots
What: Nisolo Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot
Looks and comfort-wise, these are our favorite sleek flat booties. They come in the prettiest shades of leather and suede. Plus, Nisolo’s careful (and sustainable) craftsmanship keeps them in perfect condition long-term.
Price: $228
5. The Comfy Slip-On Sandal That Works With Everything You Wear
What: M. Gemi The Matilde Due
Why: This is the shoe you wind up choosing most days of the week, because yes, you’re lazy, and it’s soooo easy to slip on and soooo cozy to exist in, but it’s also incredibly chic and works remarkably well with every single thing you wear. We know this from personal experience. We’ve been testing ours pretty much daily.
Price: $228
6. The Little Black Budget Flat
What: A New Day™ Corinna Ballet Flats
Why: If someone told you you could transform into Audrey Hepburn for $14, you’d do it, right?
Price: $14
7. The Cozy Pair You’ll Never Want To Take Off
What: Birkenstock Boston Shearling Clogs
Why: If your dream to is to walk on a warm cloud whilst wearing your coziest lounge set, these are the flats for you. And they last FOREVER.
Price: $170
8. The Chic Everyday Slingback
What: Marcella Jeanne Flats
Why: A sleek shape that elevates every outfit we pair it with. Especially in red. Throw on any boring old all-black outfit with this shoe and POOF! You’re thrilling. Bold. Chic. And still, somehow…classic. All at the same time. The dream.
Price: $175
9. The Comfiest Slip-On Sneaker Around
What: Cariuma IBI Slip-On
Why: We cannot resist an easy, lightweight slip-on sneaker that we can walk miles in but that also look extremely cute with our jeans, skirts, and dresses.
Price: $110
10. The Fancy Party Flat You Won't Mind Wearing All Night
What: Birdies The Swan
Why: Basically a slipper that’s equally fancy, equally elegant, and equally celebratory to your most striking heels…minus the complete and utter misery of wearing your most striking heels.
Price: $98 - $165
11. The zjuzjhed up flat that will make your legs looks gorgeous
What: Dream Pairs Low Wedge Ankle Strap Flats
Why: Possibly the loveliest design at the very lowest price. Get them in tan and black and solve the riddle of “What shoe do I wear with this?” like 47x over.
Price: $27 - $41
12. The Going-Out Slipper
What: UGG Tasman Suede Fur-Lined Slippers
Why: This one is for our fellow “cozy people” who’ve long desired a slipper they can acceptably wear outside the house. We don’t typically do trends, but this famous UGG has certainly established itself as something we can wear with jeans and coats and scarves and sweaters, and we’ll still look chic…cozy-chic.
Price: $160
13. the only loafer worth discussing
What: Madewell The Vernon Loafer
Why: Few things in life are as easy as a loafer. They’re versatile. Classic. Feel like slippers but look like we “tried.” This pair from Madewell is cushioned, creamy leathered perfection.
Price: $133 - $158
14. The Lovely Foldable Flats We Throw In Our Purse For Backup
What: Yosi Samra Samara Foldable Ballet Flat
Why: The little flats that fold up so we can toss them on for travel or for walking 7 more blocks or just to be wearing the prettiest flats you can imagine on any given day. Plus, the shape is perfection, and they come in every color you could want.
Price: $98
15. The Sleek, Stretchy Loafer
What: Vivaia Pointed-Toe Bow Loafers
Why: Another pretty design from Vivaia. If you have bunions, wide feet, or just crave maximum comfort, while keeping that delicate loafer(ish) aesthetic, these shoes are the dream.
Price: $97
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
We have to eat.
