Four Footwear Brands That Offer Chic Styles You Can Wear All Day

I know in some circles, using the word “comfort” to describe a shoe is considered a dirty word. But let’s be real. Our lives are busy, and our feet take a beating. I know my feet can no longer tolerate the abuse I once was able to endure. So, I am always on the lookout for footwear that doesn’t sacrifice style or comfort and that can flow with me through my busy day of running around. Luckily, over the last few years there has been an uptick of brands offering designs where you don’t have to suffer to be fashionable—here are four that in my opinion do so impeccably.

Castañer

I love a good espadrille. They are classic, sexy, and comfortable. I haven’t owned a pair in a while. But after seeing a pair on a girlfriend, I was reminded that I need a pair—particularly living in Miami where I will get a lot of use out of them. My friend was wearing a beautiful pair by Castañer, the Spanish heritage brand that has been around since 1927 and is best known for creating the espadrille wedge alongside Yves Saint Laurent in the 70s.

“Castañer shoes are crafted with high quality materials. The handcrafted woven jute sole provides exceptional support, while the upper part of the shoe – either leather or canvas – adapts to the shape of the foot, in a design that has been perfected over the years,” Rafael Castañer, Soul Manager of Castañer explains when I ask what makes the brand’s offerings the ideal shoe for both comfort and style.

I haven’t gotten a pair yet. But it is just a matter of time. The biggest question for me is which one will I choose first. One that particularly caught my eye was the COEUR TP/8ED/196. The minty green and warm gold palette is stunning, and I know I will get a lot of wear out of them. When I ask Castañer what other styles he thinks are must-haves this season he responds, “CARISSA/8/118, VEGA/201 in Pistachio, VERNIA/187 are my favorite picks.” I am looking forward to rocking a pair in the very near future.

FRANKIE4

I don’t really wear flats. I am either in sneakers or some type of heel. But sneakers aren’t always appropriate for meetings. So, I went on a search for a slide that I could throw on to run around and not be so casual. I landed on an Australian brand, FRANKIE4 that was founded over a decade ago by a podiatrist who wanted to create a footwear range that helped combat foot pain, particularly heel pain.

“Our design ethos at FRANKIE4 is all about soft support. This comes from a combination of our Sole Hero footbed, and cleverly crafted soles that are unique to our brand. Our Sole Hero footbed: aids in shock absorption, helps prevent the heel from being in a dead flat position by always providing a slight pitch, and supports the arch and offloads the heel with materials and contours we prefer,” founder Caroline McCulloch tells me of what makes her designs especially foot-health conscious.

I ended up getting the Quinn II Linen for its neutral color and knotted detailing. They are super comfortable and chic. As for McColloch’s favorites for the season she tells me, “Our Maria slides are great for warmer days. If you’re after a heel, Kennedy. If you want a sneaker, of course our most iconic and best-selling, Nat.”

NOMASEI

I wrote about the French brand, NOMASEI, which was founded by two former Chloé designers when they launched in 2020. I was immediately drawn to the brand’s aesthetic. I own the Baghera in black suede and I wear them all of the time. They are incredibly comfortable and versatile and can go from day-to-night easily. I have been eyeing the brand’s TAXI platform style for a while now, and when I saw that style was being released in a blush pink for the SS/24 season, I knew this would be my next pair of NOMASEI shoes.

It’s been four years since I last caught up with the founders, Paule Tenaillon and Marine Braquet. But I was excited to reconnect and hear their take on what makes their shoes so wearable.

“Comfort is key. It’s our first prerogative when designing a model and that’s something we keep in mind during the entire process, listening a lot to our customers feedback,” Tenaillon explains to me about the brand’s ethos. “I believe also comfort results in Paule’s product expertise, designing and developing the heels, the lasts herself and being obsessed with the balance and the way the arch is supported,” adds Braquet. “Our goal now is to make the most comfortable stiletto there is, and that’s because our shoes are made to dance. If we can’t dance all night with a shoe, we simply don’t do them.”

Braquet goes on to tell me that the idea of creating shoes women can dance in all night long comes from Tenaillon’s experience designing tango shoes in Buenos Aires, where she would test them out by dancing in them. “Because we are women designing for women, we run from one place to another every day and we need to feel comfortable, secure and feminine while doing it. ”As for the pair’s favorite designs for the season—Tenaillon’s favorite is Martha while Braquet’s seasonal choices are the Driver for a heeled shoe and Frenchkiss for “a more assertive, elevated look.”

Scarlett Chase

I love when great minds from varying disciplines come together to offer a solution—which was the case for the new comfort-forward brand Scarlett Chase that launched in 2023. “After years of working with sneaker designers, orthotic & orthopedic professionals, biomechanics specialists & industrial design experts, we have created an unprecedented line of shoes designed for women on the move,” Sandra Powers Murphy, CEO of Scarlett Chase tells me. “Not only are these shoes beautiful, and crafted in the same factory as Jimmy Choo,

but they are also designed with a patented SC360 System that supports womxn (anyone wearing heels!) and makes them feel confident and secure with every step.”

Powers Murphy’s continues to tell me that the term comfort is being thrown around the industry similarly to sustainability. “There are a broad array of definitions and when it comes to women’s luxury footwear, it tends to mean some added foam or gel padding that will break down after a few wears. When it comes to true comfort there are three elements that matter most in women’s footwear—the upper, the insole, and the outsole,” she explains. “All Scarlett Chase shoes, whether we are thinking about elegant high heels or chic slip-ons, have our sneaker inside construction, which incorporates an orthotic grade, arch supporting, and rebounding foam insole that is an industry first.”

I have a pair of Scarlett Chase boots and I can tell you that like NOMASEI, these are meant to be danced in all night long. I have tried many luxury brands that are designed by medical professionals, but there is something uniquely different in how these fit and support my feet, even after dancing up a storm for hours in them. Once I find things that work for me, I stick with them. I will definitely be buying another pair in the future. When I ask Powers Murphy what her must-have for the season are, she responds, “We absolutely love the Portia and Maya Taupe and Navy Italian Stretch Booties for spring and summer, as well as our Soiree and Gala spring pumps collections.”