The 15 Most Comfortable But Chic Summer Shoes For Every Possible Occasion
Image from Beek
by The Candidly Team
Ahhh, warm-weather shoes. The strappy heels. The woven sandal. The dainty slide.
It all sounds wildly fun up until the moment you’re wrapping your ankle in 22 inches of espadrille straps that are somehow either so tight that you stop feeling your knees after an hour or loose enough to leave you wobbling off the sidewalk into oncoming traffic.
While all the many summery shoes sound glorious, when it actually comes down to getting dressed, there’s a reason we wind up wearing the same squishy, footprint-embossed flip flops we’ve owned since 2012. And that reason is, we’re tired of shoving our step-sister feet into Cinderella styles.
At this point in life, all we ask for are exceptional-looking shoes that don’t moonlight as tiny little torture chambers.
And because summer demands a different kind of shoe for an endless range of sweltering occasions, we went out and found every single one you need. All of them exceptional-looking. And all of them, bliss to wear.
1. The Most Comfortable Heeled Sandal In Existence
Nisolo Stella Go-To Block Heel Sandal
It’s rare for a block-heeled shoe (which is by leaps and bounds the comfiest, most supportive heel in existence) to also create those clean, minimalist lines that look so chic on. This one has all that elegance with zero foot pain.
And we even have a code for you! Use code CANDIDLY20 for 20% off.
Price: $170
2. The Strappy Flat That's Fancier Than A Flip Flop
Admittedly, this whole skinny strap trend made us nervous. We picture our blistered feet splaying out of flimsy criss-crosses, but this shoe changed our minds. It’s gloriously chic and minimalist, and yet they’re made with something called “comfort soles” that makes them perfectly padded and sturdily constructed. Also, there’s no denying, they look gorgeous on feet. Just look.
Price: $205
3. The Flawless “Occasion” Sandal
These shoes may look slender and graceful, but their construction comes with some actual brilliance, a cushioned sole, a thick heel, and 3 different widths to suit your precise foot. You can choose from no fewer than 13 perfect colors, and whichever you choose, that shoe will become your go-to occasion shoe summer after summer.
Price: $345
4. The Graceful Sneaker
Dr. Scholl's Time Off Platform Sneaker
A white sneaker can be elegant and works equally well with cropped jeans, shorter skirts, maxi dresses - pretty much everything. These are our favorite. Comfy beyond belief and as versatile as a ballet flat.
Price: $70
5. The elegant Everyday Slide
Beek Gallito Leather Slide Sandal
We’ve written a lot about these slides 1) because they’re as buttery and luxe as they appear and 2) because they have the softest “memory foam molded footbed,” which we didn’t even know was a thing but now we worry we can’t live without. They make all our skirts, shorts, and cropped jeans look 17X chicer. And yes, they’re a splurge, but we figure since we’ll never need to buy another pair of plasticky Amazon slides, they’ll pay for themselves in no time.
Price: $260
6. The Chic, Wedged Espadrille
J. Crew Factory Canvas Espadrille Wedges
Has any shoe ever embodied the spirit of the Coastal Grandmother more fully?
Price: $59.50
8. The Flip That Feels Like A Cloud
We’ve formed a faint obsession with this ballet flat because they’re stretchy and breathable, which ensures they feel great on every shape of foot, but they’re also the ideal, graceful shape. And then there’s the mile-long list of colors and patterns they come in, making it impossible to pick just one.
Price: $155
11. The Most Gloriously Cushioned Tennis Shoe
An “active” tennis shoe feels like it’s doing all the work for us, but this one has the added effect of feeling that we’re walking on a literal cloud. We were so blown away, we wrote a whole tribute to them HERE.
Price: $160
12. The Fancy Shoe For Those Who Require Height And Are Willing to Splurge For Supreme Comfort
The price is not for the faint of heart. But for those serious about owning the most elegant, timeless, wildly comfortable heels that are durable enough that you never have to buy another, Sarah Flint is the absolute answer.
Price: $550
13. The Foolproof Vacation Espadrille
Vince Camuto Bendsen Wedge Sandal
As promised, an espadrille wedge that’s both comfy and chic and a perfect dupe for THIS pair we’ve been deperately trying to find ever since we saw them as part of THIS look on Jennifer Aniston.
Price: $110
14. The Dream Flat Espadrille That Feels Like Heaven
Possibly the most comfortable thing we’ve slipped onto our foot, and yet, they look like they’ve just strutted off the Amalfi Coast.
Price: $139
15. The Strappy Dance All Night At A Wedding Shoe
Naturalizer is known for its fancy, foamy features that make their shoes extra comfortable to wear for hours on end. But this shoe has those crisp, sleek lines, including the mildly genius blade heel to keep us balanced and upright. All of this is to say, these are the shoes to wear to events where we know we’ll be on our feet.
Price: $120
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.
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