6 Comfortable Flats for Spring 2023

Thank you for all the great recommendations and advice you give with each post! I always struggle with which style of shoes to wear with which style of pants, especially dress pants for work. I am a visual person, and wondering if you have some visuals to help us figure this out!

Hi, Megan! I really enjoy all your great info and have bought a LOT of your recommendations, so thank you!

These flats are really cute! But would you have any recommendations for stylish shoes with more support- some of us wore too-inexpensive flats and 2-3” heels 24/7 when we were younger, and consequently have all kinds of foot problems now! Love live love the new white tennis shoes, especially since orthotics fit in them, but while they look kicky with lots of outfits, it’s hard to guess what to wear for dressier occasions without looking dowdy. Sadly, boots/booties don’t work.

Any insights for us middle aged gals who have ruined our arches, torn our tendons, contracted plantar fasciatis, or grown bunions?😮

Hi, Megan- I am really enjoying your posts! I am in my mid-sixties and work full time as a municipal manager. My days are long, especially the 3 days each month when our elected officials meet (those are generally 12-hour days - oof!) I recently had to get chiropractic care for an SI joint issue, and have sadly concluded that heels are no longer an option for me - just not worth throwing out my SI joint again, as the pain made it difficult to sit and sleep. I also have very high insteps, and sometimes finding flats that are comfortable is challenging. This post was truly appreciated! I’ve been investing in ballet flats and loafers; some of my favorites include Bass Weejuns (very comfortable after a brief break-in period), leopard print flats from J. Crew, and some surprisingly cute options from Talbots (blue suede loafers with an embroidered Eiffel Tower, snakeskin leather tassel loafers, tweed tassel loafers). For people who want pants to work with heels and flats, Ministry of Supply makes trousers with a hidden adjustable hem. I was concerned that after snapping them up, the hem crease would become permanent, but the nature of the fabric seems to keep that from happening. Not the cheapest pant, but you only have to buy one pair! Thanks again!

Enjoy your advice. Retired about five years ago and realizing my clothes need to be revamped. I particularly enjoy your advice on cleaning out closets, because I have so much that needs to go. I have a hard time parting with things, but I am getting more brutal about it.

I have five pairs of Rothy’s The Point shoes, and sized up half a size in all of them. They fit perfectly! To the complainer below, all I can say is try them. Everyone’s feet are different. You may like them, or not, but they’re “Rothy’s,” not “Megan’s,” so don’t kvetch to her!

I bought Birdie’s flats last fall in black velvet and wore them with my green plaid J. Crew Jamie pants and a short-sleeve black top for Thanksgiving. They have cushioning and are comfortable right out of the box. They are perfect for casual entertaining when I want to look put together but not dressy.

I too have shoe envy. My feet are narrow and I have a difficult time with fit. I always wear flats but do have a challenge finding anything in my size. Thank you for the pointers regarding pant fit and drape with flats. I look forward to your daily emails.

I have such shoe envy! I wear a size 12 and most pointed toe shoes look like clown shoes on me. Any thoughts on the Big Foot style? I know you can’t possibly cater to everyone but curious if you have a suggestion to keep the circus look at bay- anyone else have ideas?

I am disabled and on a walker so I must wear flats. I don't wear pants anymore so I don't have to concern myself with hemming pants. Longer skirts with flats look the best on me. Thank you so much for your advice on these cute shoes!

Thanks for this post, Megan. I knew I needed to upgrade my flats collection but apparently I was waiting for someone to tell me what to do!

Rothy's are NOT size inclusive. They sell no wide width shoe. Yes, I know they tell you to go up a half size. But when you read the comments, most of them are from women who followed that advice and ended up with shoes that did not fit. You are a style influencer, Megan. Maybe you can speak to Rothy's on behalf of wider footed women. I would surely buy a pair. They are lovely

I love the look on other women. I’ve tried several pairs (mind you not overly expensive one) my issue is that I must wear orthotics in my shoes and flats don’t allow for the addition. Any suggestions?

Any recommendations for "supportive" shoes? I'm, apparently, entering that phase of my life now at least according to my doctor. Everything seems so dowdy.

just wanted to say HI! I would love to buy Rothy's but they are NOT size inclusive. They have no wide widths. I know what they say about going up a half size, but most reviews I read from people with wider feet said this trick did not really work (and they were sorry they tried it!)

Megan: What do you wear on your feet *inside* these shoes? I usually need to wear a "sock" of some sort, so my sweaty feet don't stick to the inside of the shoe. I wore knee-highs/peds for years back when pantyhose were still a must, but I sometimes feel like they make my feet sweat more and they get stinky, which makes your shoes stinky. And I haven't found a nude, no-show sock that stays on my feet inside shoes. Any tricks or tips?

I love AGL, and yes, they are worth the price. I was wondering how to get the wardrobe checklist we we are already signed up for E-mails?

I love the Margaux ballet flats! However, a warning; they will charge you upon ordering and it can take weeks for them to arrive. I also found them to run about a half-size large but others don’t seem to have that problem. I love all MGemi shoes as well. They have comfortable heels as well as flats. I particularly love their boots! Everything is packaged so nicely also.

I'm so excited to have found you Megan! Great styling tips for flats. I have one personal fit "no go" ~ toe cleavage. LOL I have discovered Dr. Scholl's flats and loafers. So many styles, colors and prints. Even though their memory insoles are comfortable, I pull out theirs and add my plantar fasciitis insets and I can walk all day on day one.

Maybe it's because I have flat feet, but super flat shoes cause back, knee and ankle pain almost as much as super high heels! I prefer a 1 to 2 inch heel for comfort. LOVE a kitten heel, when the sky high heels are just not in the cards for me that day. I wish I could wear the cute flats you show us.

Hi Megan! I was thinking about getting the Rothy's but some of the comments are saying to size up. Do you find them to run small or do you typically order your go-to size?

What should the proportion of a skirt be to wear with pointy toe flats? I always think my skirts look better with heels, though flats would be my preference. For example, can you wear the Rothy’s with a pencil skirt and blazer?

How do they wash? Any shrinking?

Great article and cute shoes, but I wish you would have included some pictures of the flats worn with actual outfits. The tips are helpful, but it's tough for me to visualize just based on the descriptions. Ironically, even the ads that popped up when I was reading this were all of models wearing high heels!

Ooooh! I am so glad that you published this list! I love flats! - I have "problem feet" which means that heels kill me. My daughters have the same problems as me and I will share this list with them - maybe it will make them feel better to know that there are chic shoes out there which will make them look like a million dollars - without slowly killing them with painful feet and back pain.

I now have 3 Rothy’s and I love them!! Most recently I got the same leopard print you have pictured. I LOVE them and get so many compliments! I finally got up the courage to wash my mustard pointe the other day. Amazing!!