Most Comfortable Dress Shoes For Women 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Feb 20, 2025

Finding sophisticated yet non-painful shoes for big events usually involves a lot of trial and error. The most comfortable dress shoes for women eliminate the guesswork: They’re designed with innovative, pillow-top-like materials, cushioning and arch support but don’t look orthopedic or clunky. Our top pick for the most comfortable dress shoes for women is Everlane’s The Italian Leather Day Glove, a beautiful leather flat that’s crafted with flexible uppers and a cushioned insole. For an affordable pair, Naturalizer’s Kacy Slip-On is surprisingly versatile, and for dressy days at the office, we like Clarks’ Adriel Viola Dress Pump.

The most comfortable dress shoes for women should offer plenty of support, interior cushioning and ... [+] style.

Why should you trust us: Forbes Vetted is obsessed with comfortable shoes, whether it’s walking shoes or workout sneakers. As editors and writers, we test almost everything we review firsthand, so we can offer informed recommendations. Here, all our picks (and for the most comfortable heels, we also have suggestions).

Everlane

Sizes: 5 to 12 | Colors: 14 total, including Black and Tan | Materials: Leather or suede

For a pair of dress shoes that are great for the office, formal events, dinners and even weddings, Everlane’s The Italian Leather Day Glove are a solid choice. Made in Italy with Tuscan leather, this shoe has plenty of comfortable features, from the cushioned insole to the back pull tab to the flexible side vents for extra airflow. This pick has racked up more than 6,000 reviews for its soft, flexible leather and cushy footbed, and it comes in 14 different colors, so you can find the shade that works best for your wardrobe.

Naturalizer

Sizes: 5 to 11 | Colors: 3 total, including Black and Navy | Materials: Leather

With plush padding, enhanced arch support and an affordable price tag, Naturalizer’s Kacy Slip-On deserves a spot in your rotation of dress shoes. The design, which is reminiscent of a loafer, is classic and minimalistic so you can pair this with just about anything. As an added bonus, it has an antimicrobial sock lining and rubber traction on the bottom, providing grip for any surface.

Clarks

Sizes: 5 to 11.5 | Colors: 6 total, including Black Patent and Burgundy Croc | Materials: Leather

Clarks are known for their stylishly comfortable materials and craftsmanship, and the Adriel Viola (also known as Ambyr Joy) pump is no exception. The modest, 3-inch heel is walkable and supportive (the heel itself is wider than a typical stiletto), and the Ortholite footbed offers all-day cushioning to reduce leg fatigue. It’s a shoe you can pair with a tailored blazer or dress for a night out.

Madewell

Sizes: 5 to 12 | Colors: 3 total, including True Black and Cherry Wood | Materials: Leather

Our top pick for the most comfortable loafers (read the full review here), Madewell’s Bradley Lugsole is a bestselling design, with a chunky lug sole and extra padding so you can stand all day without sore feet. Note, the leather uppers feel snug at first, but over time they will mold to your feet for a custom fit. This stylish basic is also reasonably priced, as an added bonus.

Nordstrom

Sizes: 5 to 11 | Colors: 31 total, including Optic White and Irish Coffee | Materials: Leather

Cole Haan’s GrandPro TopSpin shoes combine the comfort of a sneaker with the slick style of a dress shoe, which explains their hugely popular appeal. The modern profile includes a luxuriously padded footbed inside and enhanced traction outside so you can walk for miles to work or an event and not have to change your shoes.

Sarah Flint

Sizes: 4 to 13 | Colors: 23 total, including Taupe Suede and Leopard calf hair | Materials: Leather, suede, textile, calf hair, canvas, raffia or lamé

If you want a dress heel that transitions seamlessly from work to formal events, Sarah Flint’s stiletto pump has a sleek design. Crafted in Italy with comfort in mind, this pick has a padded footbed with arch support and a wide toe box. Note, the calf material tends to run small, so you might want to size up if you choose this option.

Theory

Sizes: 35 to 41 | Colors: Black | Materials: Leather

Block heels tend to be more comfortable than stilettos because the wider heel provides more stability. Theory’s Slingback Pump is made in Italy with smooth lambskin leather to prevent blisters and has a suede-wrapped elastic strap and fully cushioned insole.

What our editor says: “I felt a noticeable difference the first time I wore these shoes—the slingback design kept my foot in place and the 1.5-inch wood heel was easy to walk in. I’ve been wearing these pumps consistently for more than 13 months, including to weddings, where I’ve danced for hours without blisters.” —Katherine Louie, Forbes Vetted’s commerce editor

Margaux

Sizes: 33 to 45 | Colors: 7 total, including Rose Nappa and Black Napa | Materials: Leather and suede

Dress flats have a reputation for being stodgy and boring. Margaux’s The Point Flat, however, is slick and stylish, with an ultra-comfortable design. It’s made from Italian leather with a pointed toe that’s tapered to prevent pinching or scrunching your toes. The grosgrain trim around the opening of the shoe is smoothed so it doesn’t cause chafing.

Allbirds

Sizes: 5 to 11 | Colors: 12 total, including Hazy Indigo and Natural White | Materials: Eucalyptus fiber

Allbirds’s popular Tree Breezers have a contoured sole for arch support and a sleek, no-fuss style you can dress up or down. Like all of the brand’s footwear, this pick is made with sustainable materials—specifically wool and eucalyptus tree fibers—so it’s breathable and moisture-wicking. It’s a favorite of Forbes Vetted editors who praise how light, cool and comfortable this flat feels for all-day wear without aches and pains.

Vionic

Sizes: 5 to 11 | Colors: 21 total, including Brown Leather and Dark Taupe Suede | Materials: Leather, velvet, suede or synthetic

Despite being low to the ground, not all loafers are actually that comfortable. Vionic’s are designed in collaboration with podiatrists and feature a custom footbed for arch support. This pick also carries the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance and come in dozens of stylish prints and polished colors.

Birdies

Sizes: 5 to 13 | Colors: 3 total, including Black and Stone (but the brand carries a wide variety of colors)| Materials: Suede ( these also come in leather and velvet)

With a 7-layer responsive cushioned footbed, elegant design and two different widths, these slip-on dress flats are great if you have a wide foot. They’re tricked out with all kinds of comfortable details, including high-density memory foam, elevating arch support and a pressure-reducing heel pad as well as a non-slip sole. If you have a narrow foot, go for the standard width and size down.

Margaux

Sizes: 33 to 45 | Colors: 7 total, including Black Nappa and Saddle Nappa | Materials: Nappa, suede or satin

A wedding is one of the most challenging situations for your feet—you’re standing for long hours, dancing and treading on different surfaces (from slippery wood to pebbled gravel or cobblestones). Margaux’s City Sandal can handle them all, with supple-but-supportive leather, a stylish block heel, and generously foam padded insoles.

Naturalizer

Sizes: 6 to 12 | Colors: 4 total, including Black and Cider Spice | Materials: Leather or suede

Dress boots are not the kind you’re going to shovel the snow in. Still, you want to be able to walk comfortably in them all day, no matter the weather. Naturalizer’s Bay Boots are top-rated for being waterproof, comfortable and stylish. The round toe, stacked heel and padded insole make for a pain-free experience, and the smooth leather provides a sleek look you can pair with dresses, skirts and slacks.

At Forbes Vetted, we approach all of our product recommendations with transparency and a critical eye. Readers trust us to provide the most accurate information available, so we consider our own experiences, insight and testing and weigh that against testimonials from others shoppers to find the most comfortable dress shoes for women. Our passion for high-quality footwear includes recommendations for the best loafers for women, as well as other topics, such as the most comfortable flats and the most comfortable sneakers for everyday wear.

To determine the most comfortable dress shoes for women, we began by evaluating a wide variety of options from both established and newer-to-market brands over several weeks before narrowing down the best options.