Best Shoes for Work: High Heels Category

In this second installment of The Glass Hammer “Best Of … Series,” we build on our popular piece about the Best Work Flats to bring you an advanced segment: the Best Work High Heels. This category is substantially trickier than flats, because flats are (almost) always comfy, while heels rarely are. Thus, these three styles are winners because they rate high in both the style and comfort categories.

Here, we feature basic black, as that’s the most useful color for a pump, but the styles here come in a range of colors and textures.

1. The Carma Pump – Cole Haan – $275

This Cole Haan shoe is designed with Nike Air technology, including hidden air pockets in the soles and special cushioning in the heels. While you probably couldn’t play a decent game of basketball in them, they certainly hold up to a full day running around the office. These shoes have the added benefit of coming in low, medium and high heels, so you can adjust to your comfort level. This shoe also comes in black, brown, navy, taupe and patent. We also like the sexier, sleeker cousin to the Carma, this season’s Fiona, which gets a slightly higher style and slightly lower comfort rating.

2. High Heeled Mary Janes – Tod’s – $395

While this shoe is the most expensive on our list, the superior construction and luxurious materials make it worth it. The rugged rubber sole on this shoe gives it great traction for storming around city streets and up and down stairs, and the stylish Mary Jane design looks great with a skirt or pants. Cute details like grommets on the heel make this a shoe that stands out. As far as comfort goes, your editor recently purchased these after coveting them for some time, and so far, they feel pretty comfortable after a full day on the job. This shoe comes in some trendy fall/winter colors, including black patent, grey suede, and bronze and silver metallic.

3. All Day Long – Kenneth Cole -$175

At $175, this winning shoe is our most economical option. These shoes have been my old standby all year. Though I pounded them into the ground last season and had to have them re-heeled, they are as comfortable as ever. The toe is rounded in a slightly retro way and the cone-shaped heel is high but comfortable. This versatile pump looks equally great with a suit or jeans, and is ergonomically designed to fit your foot and not place additional stress on the ball or heel. The pump incorporates Kenneth Cole’s patented Silver Technology to add additional comfort. This shoe comes in black or red leather.

One secret that makes all of these shoes more comfortable … put Doctor Scholl’s gel insoles inside of them. It really takes the pressure off the feet and reduces blisters.

We welcome the comments of our readers on this subject. Have a pair of these shoes and love them or hate them? Have another style that you want to nominate? Let us know!