The 7 Wildly Comfy Heels That Converted Us To Heels People At 40
We didn’t think it was possible. But here we are.
Image from Inez
by The Candidly Team
When we tell you we are not “heels people,” we’re not trying to say that we aren’t the kind of people who want to look put-together and pretty and chic. We’re just no longer willing to bend ourselves out of shape the ways we did when we were 22 and couldn’t feel our feet from our shiny, 4-inch Mary Janes or our hips in our low-cut Britney Spears jeans or our arms because it’s 52 degrees and we thought a jacket would hide the lift we get from our Moulin Rouge-inspired corset top.
Point is, we decided at some point we were too old and too tired to succumb to the avoidable pains of dressing up. But man, we still loved the way a heel looks. Not the big old dowdy ones that were being marketed to us for “comfort” ever since we turned 40. The stunning ones that we struggle to understand how any human being is walking in.
But we’re not here to tell some sob story about our breakup with heels. We came here to say that we found love again in the form of 7 heels that were being made for us. They’re as effortless and comfortable as they are gorgeous and exciting.
And here they are:
1. This Pump That’s Inexplicably As Comfy As a Sneaker
Vivaia Scarlett Pointed-Toe Kitten Heels*
Vivaia makes shoes that stretch and bend and mold to your feet in ways that can scarcely be explained. They are, in short, a gift to those of us who quit heels years ago. They have pressure-relieving foam insoles with tons of arch (and forefront) support, so your whole foot feels pampered. They come in lots of colors you can wear everyday, but the black stud and silvery gray are gorgeous for parties, where you will no longer dream all night of taking your heels off, because you’ll forget you’re even wearing them. For real.
Price: $149
2. This Dress-Up Sandal That Doesn't Kill Our Feet
We were actually at our lowest point with heels when these shoes showed up in our lives. We were straight out of the pandemic lockdown, and just thought why would we ever force our feet into anything other than a sneak or a slipper or sure, if we must dress up, a fancy flat? But this shoe singlehandedly made us see a future involving heels again. They’re stunning first of all, the kind of stunning that makes people accept a little bit of discomfort. But there is zero. Zilch. Nada. It’s block-heeled. Supportive. Stable. We could see ourselves not just wearing them out all night but actually choosing them in the morning to wear ALL day and ALL night. And we have.
* Gifted
Price: $375
3. This Single Most Perfect Pump
It feels like we should have very few words to say about this shoe for one reason. It’s just a perfect, perfect pump across the board. But there is a lot that goes into making it THE one we’re actually willing to wear with weekend jeans and work skirts and fancy dresses and going-out outfits. And that is that Inez prioritizes comfort and quality in a way that doesn’t skimp an ounce on beauty. They make all their shoes in Spain and use something they call a “proprietary plush insole with arch support” to make their shoes heaven to walk in. They’re also not too high, but high enough to give our entire backside a flattering boost. Let’s not pretend that’s not the major perk of heels.
Use the code CANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $275
4. This Black Boot We Could Walk Miles In
This is one of the prettiest, most timeless boots around. We were gifted a pair by the brand, but we went on to buy them in every color they come in. The block heel relieves pressure in our poor, old feet, so we can walk with zero foot pain.
* Gifted
The ankle takes a day or two to stretch, but once in does, these will be the boots you reach for daily.
Price: $90
5. This Platform That Makes All Your Outfits 5X Better
Platforms can offer heaps of stability. Plus, they balance out our outfits when we wear looser layers up top, so we don’t look heavy. This pair gives so much bootie lift and looks wildly chic with jeans and dresses and skirts, you’d scarcely believe how thrillingly comfy they are. But they are exactly that.
* Gifted
Price: $229
6. These Strappy Sandals That Go With Everything
This classic party shoe is bliss to wear. The block heel makes us forget we’re in heels at all, and the suede is buttery and smooth. The black is great with all our holiday dresses.
* Gifted
But they also come in a gorgeous red that turns boring clothes into lovely “looks.” Also, they’re on sale as we speak.
Price: $113
7. This Chic Shoe You Can Practically Run In
We most mince words. These are the best boots we’ve ever owned. We mean this with all our hearts. In addition to their endless comfort and perfect, rippled leather look, they go with everything we wear, and everything we wear is 99% better because of the boots. We even wrote an entire (unsponsored) article about them, where you can see us wearing them with a million things HERE.
* Gifted
They’re not cheap, but they’re lifetime boots, and they’re madly on sale right now.
Price: $302
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.
