Fun fact: I wore Aerosoles at my wedding (yes, the comfort brand). They were nude leather and very cute, with a heel, but still very danceable, with enough chunk to walk in grass. So my commitment to my feet, promising them comfort above style (but only barely) runs deep. Today’s comfortable flats/ spring shoe (in the closed-toe fashion) was requested by a lot of readers (specifically for work and not showing our winter pedis), and I was happy to oblige. I tried on many, many more, so all of these below rank high on “comfortable,” with some allowing for all-day walking.

In this post, I’m also wearing a new pair of Stretchy but so well-cut Quince Slacks. They are true to size, so comfortable, and flattering. Washed Linen shirt from J. Crew that is also excellent – airy, good cut, menswear vibes, drapes really well (but now I’m so curious about Quince’s linen shirts!).

Comfortable Flats: Quince – Italian Leather Mary-Jane Ballet Flat

I ordered a ton to try from Quince, and overall, I was extremely impressed. Let’s start with these ballet flats. I love these. They are so lightweight with a sweet little strap that is so easy to pop on and off, in the perfect oxblood color (comes in many colors). Definitely great spring – fall shoes. They are perfect to pop in your purse should you need backup shoes on a night out or want to wear sneakers for your walking commute, but then wear dressier shoes to the office.

Interior Softness: 10/10. There is a built-in small insole that has some give and is very soft to the touch.
Arch Support: Eh, none really, but the minimal style doesn’t really lend to a lot of support. I walked 1/2 a mile in these last night (so barely) and thought, “ok, these are comfortable but def not long walks”.
All Day Wearability: Errands in the car? 7/10. All day on foot? 3/10.
Quality: 9/10 I won’t really know til 3 months of wear, but the stitching is well done and nice leather.
Style: 10/10 They’ve nailed the ballet flat at that color.
Price: $72

Overall: I highly recommend these for style, and they are extremely easy and comfortable to wear (like slippers), but your dogs will bark if you go after your 10k steps in these (but again, I think that’s common sense – the nature of ballet flats isn’t for long walks).

Comfortable Flats: Quince – Italian Suede Penny Loafer

Another great one that looks designer (because it’s so high quality and simple, a la The Row) but is, you know, $1,100 LESS DOLLARS (listen, I get The Row and admire what they’ve done as a brand and business, but I LOL a lot at it most of the time). I absolutely love these, notably the almond color and slight heel, and they scored high on most categories.

Interior Softness: 9/10, great. Don’t need to wear socks, IMHO. Easy to slip on and off.
Arch Support: 7/10. Again, has a soft insole, but no added arch support. But not flat like the ballet flat.
All Day Wearability: 9/10. I would not hesitate to throw these on for all-day errands or work. Love.
Quality: 9/10. Fantastic, simple detailing, stitching, and soft leather. Curious about how it will take the dirt (and likely won’t wear in our mud season).
Style: 9/10. Again, super simple and classic, but also slimming and flattering.
Price: $84

The leather is soft, and the stitching is clean and well done. I love these shoes and can easily work them into my wardrobe.

Comfortable Flats: Quince – Italian Leather Soft Loafer

Now, these shoes I really liked compared to so many I tried on that we didn’t bother buying/shooting, but of all the Quince, they are my least favorite. Let me be clear, they are still pretty darn great, but the elastic in the back felt a little tight for me, and I didn’t love the color of the brown (better in black IMHO).

Interior Comfort: 6/10. It’s not bad, but that elastic felt too tight to me.
Arch Support: 6/10. Totally fine, but fairly slim, so not sure there is room enough to add insoles.
All Day Wearability: 6/10. I worry that the cutting in would bug me.
Quality: 7/10. They seem well-made, but the shade of the leather felt fake.
Style: 6/10. The silhouette is super simple and classic, but this color felt flat and too orange to me (go for black).
Price: $84

Comfortable Flats: OluKai – Mii Mule

The mule to end all mules (and that’s coming from a mule lover). I might buy a second pair just to settle my panic if something were to happen to this one. 50/10.

Interior Comfort: 10/10 The interior fabric is so soft and supple, and has such a supportive footbed.
Arch Support: 8/10. It’s really 10/10 for a flat. So YES, these have arch support! Not like a full insole, but more than any other flat on this list (except the last Pokolinos).
All Day Wearability: 10/10. I’ve proven it so many days. Barely noticed I had anything on. Easy to pack too, and I wore them every night on vacation after being active all day.
Quality: 10/10
Style: 10/10 I can wear these with anything, and they are flattering, easy, and elevating.
Price: $150

Comfortable Flats: Quince – Italian Leather Handwoven Square Toe Ballet Flat

Interior Comfort: 7/10. These are slightly roomier than all others, and I have wide feet. They are soft on the inside, but I’m slightly concerned that they’ll stretch and the heel will start popping out. But they are comfortable for sure.
Arch Support: 6/10. Comfortable and soft foot bed, but I wouldn’t say much about the arch support.
All Day Wearability: Great for office, errands, meals, but might not be your walking commute shoe if you are crossing mid-town.
Quality: 8/10. No red flags and seem well made (but a bit loose)
Style: 7/10. These are cute and classic, a bit work-wear for me (since I don’t have an office job), but very elevated and high quality for the price.
Price: $84

Comfortable Flats: Steve Madden Melody Natural Raffia Mary Jane

These are super cute and great for a special occasion, but you won’t be living in these shoes like you can a lot of the others. And they are on the slimmer size, so while my wider feet fit in them, they are less flattering than others.

Interior Comfort: 6/10. These are a bit slim for my feet and the raffia/webbing material is not super soft. It’s nothing abnormal, but not as soft inside as the others.
Arch Support: Little to none.
All Day Wearability: Better for a couple hour occasions for sure.
Quality: 7/10. So hard to say but I would think that you have a season or two a more fragile material like this.
Style: 8/10 I think these would look so cute with so many summer dresses.
Price: $109

Comfortable Flats: Adidas – Japan Low Top Sneaker

Listen, I’m a Nike gal, but I couldn’t find any new ones in store for this shoot, so I’m ordering these in green as my summer sneakers.

The Sambas are a bit flat for me, and I like a tiny lift with my sneakers, but they are easy and cool, and you can dress them alllll sorts of ways.

Interior Comfort: Soft for sure, but you need socks with these to not sweat it up.
Arch Support: 5/10. Pretty flat, but similar to ballet flats (or Converse), that’s kinda the style.
All Day Wearability: 9/10. So easy to wear, nothing bugs, but don’t expect the support of cross trainers.
Quality: 10/10.
Style: 10/10. Sambas are cool. In leather, they are even cooler.
Price: $130

Comfortable Flats: Adidas – Samba Jane Sneaker

Here’s my pitch on these: Fantastic travel shoe, that can check a lot of boxes (sneaker comfort, but elevated to be cute with dresses or shorts, no socks required, etc). I would totally wear these for bike rides to lunch, where I want to be active but not necessarily in athleisure.

Interior Comfort: 8/10. Soft and comfy for sure, the back slipped off my heel a tiny bit.
Arch Support: Better than Japanese Sambas, strangely. 7/10. Pretty supportive!
All Day Wearability: Totally. 10/10
Quality: 7/10. It’s not that they aren’t high quality, but white sneakers simply don’t last as long.
Style: Jury is still out on the cool factor for these, so giving it a 7/10. (They are trendy for sure).
Price: $100

Note: You need to size down 1/2 size in these. I usually wear a 7, and these are 6 1/2.

Comfortable Flats: Quince – 100% Leather Huarache Flat

These are incredible. Probably in the top 3 of this list for alllllll the below reasons.

Interior Comfort: 10/10. I was expecting to feel the leather bits or have it rip off my heel. But y’all, these are CRAZY comfortable, and there is padding inside the heel that keeps them on and blister-free.
Arch Support: No real arch support, but there is a soft, padded footbed.
All Day Wearability: 8/10. Super versatile, too, since they are closed-toe. Office, errands, beach, brunch – these work with everything.
Quality: 10/10. Super impressed.
Style: 10/10. Classic but so much more comfortable than I remember Huaraches being.
Price: $72

Comfortable Flats: Sam Edelman – Michaela Mary Jane Flat

I tried this on in one mall (in black) and loved the comfort and flattering style so much that I drove to another mall that night to get the nude in my size.

Interior Comfort: 10/10. They have a really nice footbed and soft interior materials. LOVE.
Arch Support: 5/10, but the footbed is so padded it’s oddly comfortable.
All Day Wearability: 8/10. Nothing cut in or bugged, just felt so easy and comfortable to wear.
Quality: 9/10. Nice stitching, cute tiny block heel, leather was soft but thick.
Style: 10/10. I find these very flattering (I have wide feet, so they are slimming).
Price: $140

Comfortable Flats: Steve Madden – Shay Woven

I LOVE the style of these and found them very chic in a dressier way.

Interior Comfort: 8/10. They went out of their way to make the footbed really soft and padded. TY!
Arch Support: A little! For how flat they are meant to be, I found them very comfortable.
All Day Wearability: 6/10. I get nervous with slingbacks that they’ll blister, but the strap is wide and soft, so hopefully not.
Quality: 7/10. No red flags here! But hard to say long-term.
Style: 10/10. I think the pointed toe, texture, and slingback say you get it. And that pointed toe lengthens the body, is flattering, etc. Big fan.
Price: $110

Comfortable Flats: Sperry x Aritzia – Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoe

Interior Comfort: 8/10. I tried on many others that were itchy, or rubby on the inside, so these are the softest for sure (which is why I got them). They are lightweight and not too chunky or heavy, which I don’t like.
Arch Support: 5/10. Totally fine, and room to add insoles should you want them.
All Day Wearability: 9/10. I think these are perfect for the days you don’t know what you’ll be doing out and about, but want to look cool and be comfortable.
Quality: 10/10. Sperrys are great.
Style: 9/10. The only reason I’m not giving a 10 is that there are “cooler” ones on the market, but I like these for how classic they are, and mostly for how comfortable they are within this genre.
Price: $120

I LOVE THESE SPERRIES.

Comfortable Flats: Rothy’s – Double Bit Bouclé Loafer Mule

Now that I’m a Rothy’s convert (remember the sandal roundup?) I was excited to try these, and boy, did they not disappoint.

Interior Comfort: 10/10. So soft, smooth, and nothing rubbed or tugged.
Arch Support: Minimal but still comfortable.
All Day Wearability: 8/10. Less wearable than sneakers, but so versatile and comfortable.
Quality: 10/10. Rothy’s feels like they’ll last forever.
Style: 8/10 I love the pattern, the horsebit details. For the level of comfort, I think these are very stylish and look like Chanel.
Price: $155

Comfortable Flats: PIKOLINOS – Aldaya Penny Loafer

Interior Comfort: 9/10. They are heavier than all the others (but not clunky, they still move with your feet).
Arch Support: 10/10. For those wanting serious all-day wear and support, these are your gals.
All Day Wearability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10 The leather, stitching, and wood heel are all top-notch.
Style: 8/10. Both slim and chunky penny loafers are in style right now, and these are right in the middle. I think very versatile.
Price: Spendier, but see above for quality and comfort…$180

There were a few extremely comfortable contenders that didn’t have my size or color (or were pretty expensive). Paul Green shoes are splurgy, so comfortable, and always stylish. Sofft had some awesome sneakers, and Vionic was incredibly comfortable and simple (but not my color/size combo). And had Aerosol had a store in Portland, I’m sure I would have included them (I just ordered these heels because I trust them for comfort heels). These loafers from them look awesome. Anyway, like compression swimsuits and comfortable sandals, I have a real passion for comfortable walking flats (and heels). Life is just too short 🙂

Happy walking, folks. xx E