Revenge of the Comfort Brands
This is going to date me, but do you remember when sneakers weren’t cool to wear on a daily basis? You do? Please continue reading. You don’t? I’m sorry you missed the 90’s, they were amazing!
I studied abroad in Europe, more specifically England, in 1997. Prior to leaving, I spoke with friends who had recently returned and read up on the cultural differences of what to expect. I distinctly remember one friend telling me, “Do NOT wear sneakers, they’ll instantly know you’re an American.” The horror! I would never!
Sweet lord. Can you imagine not wearing a cute pair of sneaks these days? Especially to traipse all over Europe? Ah, youth!
Photo of myself and three friends standing on the center of Paris circa 1997. Yep, that’s me in the brown Timberlands. By comparison of my classically booted friends, they may seem uncool, but I assure you Timbs were THE look! Please note the 90’s denim styles that are now back now like a wildfire.
So what did we wear prior to the sneaker revolution of the mid-aughts? Strappy sandals, chunky platforms, kitten heels, boots…civilized shoes of course. If you wanted support and comfort, you had to go to the dark, underbelly of fashion…the comfort brands. Block-like, thick-soled, drab in color, and well, ugly. There I said it.
There comes a time in every woman’s life when she says ENOUGH! No longer willing to be a slave to blisters, aching heels and throbbing insteps we decide the torture simply isn’t worth it. Is this considered getting wiser? Or giving up? While there will always be a time and place for that gorgeous, coveted heel that can change your life, being comfortable often equates with confidence. When you aren’t fidgeting with your shoes or clothes you can focus on what matters, your life.
Now that we’re on the other side of the pandemic, many consumers continue to demand function (aka comfort) in their fashion. This includes footwear. Several new comfort brands have come to market and a few established brands have stepped up to the challenge.
If you’re looking for some cute, comfortable shoes now or in the future these brands and styles are worth a look. And yes, Timbs are back on the list. Maybe I was ahead of my time ;)
*Please click on shoe name for links to retailer.
AEROSOLES, Mirco Scorrcia took over as creative director of Aerosoles in 2019 and his resume includes fashion staples Bottega Veneta, Tory Burch and Cole Haan. Their Cosmos sandal is my current fav. I can wear it all day!
From left to right: Harper Flat Gladiator $84, Cosmos Platform Sandal $135, Pastel Striped Wedge $62.30
MARGAUX, relative newcomer to the shoe category, they are committed to creating stylish, comfortable shoes with size inclusive options. Crafted in Spain and a special foam insole in every pair.
From left to right: The City Sandal, $325; The Downtown Boot, $425.; The Pointe in Mesh, $245
SOREL, the weather boot company has expanded into sandal and sneaker categories with explosive success.
From left to right: Cameron Puff Wedge Sandal, $130; Kinetic Impact II Sneaker, $145
27 EDIT by NATURALIZER, one of the heritage comfort brands, Naturalizer has modernized their styles without losing their signature comfort. Their line, “True Colors,” also offers 10 different inclusive shades of nude.
From left to right: Violette dress sandal, $140; Miller flat, $99.99, Felicia pump, $130
BIRKENSTOCK, yes the original “Jesus” sandal, and as they like to say “ugly for a reason”. Birkenstock is back stronger than ever with several designer collaborations within their progessive 1774 line. I was always resistant to the dull, brown, cork footbed. It made me think more of Fred Flintstone than fashion, but I’m happy to say they’ve changed some of that and the comfort lives up to the hype!
From left to right: 1774 Arizona, $440; 1774 Florida, $420; Madrid, $150
MARION PARKE is a real podiatric surgeon turned luxury footwear designer. Could there be a better expert to design a beautiful and comfortable shoe?! The brand prides itself on optimizing foot anatomy to increase stability, decrease fatigue, and adapt to your foot over time.
From left to right: Eleanor 85 Slingback, $275, Reg. $550; Paola Flat, $263, Reg. $525; Audrey 85 Bootie, $224, Reg. $895
90’s FAVS, TEVA & TIMBERLAND Two oldie but goodies! Sport sandal brand Teva is back with a variety of colorways and sole widths. I prefer the midform (shown here) because it offers a bit more support. This TImberland sandal is the combat boot of summer! A thick lug sole offers fantastic cushion for knees and back support.
From left to right: Teva Midform, $65; TImberland Everleigh Gladiator, $130
A quick note…They say time travel hasn’t been proven, but I wonder if anyone has ever considered busy-ness to be the ultimate time travel device? The last time I wrote something here was last September. Where does the time go? While I know so many of you feel the same. I’m remiss that I don’t post style tips and trends more often and I promise you I’ll do better. I’m passionate about sharing what I learn as I’m out shopping and fitting an array of bodies and budgets. Is there something you’ve been struggling with or want to know more about? Message me your suggestions!
Also, it’s a great time to shop summer sales. If you still need a few things to get through the season, appointments are still available!