The 15 Most Comfortable But Chic Flats That You Can Walk All Day In With Zero Foot Pain

 
 

by The Candidly Team

Shoes, like bedding, enrobe our bodies for an enormous number of our days, hours, years, lives. And yet we have spent an appalling amount of money on very cheap ones that wind up being painful, then withering away before our very eyes. We are done pouring our dollars into poorly made shoes that are never really what we wanted in the first place. We’re no longer skimping out on comfort or quality or chicness. We want all 3. 

And what better shoe to encompass these 3 glorious features than a flat? The Audrey Hepburn of footwear.

We have swooned over heels that are heaven to wear and sung the praises of a thousand (well, 14) pairs of boots. But the shoe we keep turning to over and over, that we wear probably more than any other is the flat. We may as well be scientists who’ve spent the past 20 years studying them, and we can now report cold, hard data on the comfiest and chicest of them all. And here they are:

 

1. The Comfiest Flats In Existence That Happen To Come In 157 Colors & Prints

What: Vivaia Pointed-Toe Ballet Flats

Why: The absolute perfect shape. The soft, stretchy, breathable material that’s deeply comfortable. But then, there are the colors and patterns. We were floored. So much so we wrote an entire tribute to these shoes. And we are currently scrambling to cut our shopping cart down to fewer than 5 pairs. We almost don’t even care that they’re sustainable, machine washable, and under $100. Almost.

Price: $97


 

2. The Flawless Mary Jane

What: Madewell The Greta Ballet Flat

Why: Looks-wise, we can’t imagine a better rendition of a Mary Jane. Black is a necessity. Silver is our year-round party shoe. But leopard might just be our favorite.

Price: $98 - $118


 

3. The one that you show aliens when they come down and ask “what is the perfect flat?”

What: Margaux The Demi

Why: Quite simply - THE gold standard when it comes to ballet flats.

Price: $245


 

4. The Chic, Flat Everyday Boots

What: Nisolo Eva Everyday Chelsea Boot

Looks and comfort-wise, these are our favorite sleek flat booties. They come in the prettiest shades of leather and suede. Plus, Nisolo’s careful (and sustainable) craftsmanship keeps them in perfect condition long-term.

Use the code CANDIDLY20 to get 20% off.

Price: $228


 

5. The Comfy Slip-On Sandal That Works With Everything You Wear

What: M. Gemi The Matilde Due

Why: This is the shoe you wind up choosing most days of the week, because yes, you’re lazy, and it’s soooo easy to slip on and soooo cozy to exist in, but it’s also incredibly chic and works remarkably well with every single thing you wear. We know this from personal experience. We’ve been testing ours pretty much daily.

Price: $228


 

6. The Little Black Budget Flat

What: A New Day™ Corinna Ballet Flats

Why: If someone told you you could transform into Audrey Hepburn for $14, you’d do it, right?

Price: $14


 

7. The Cozy Pair You’ll Never Want To Take Off

What: Birkenstock Boston Shearling Clogs

Why: If your dream to is to walk on a warm cloud whilst wearing your coziest lounge set, these are the flats for you. And they last FOREVER.

Price: $170


 
 

8. The Chic Everyday Slingback 

What: Marcella Jeanne Flats

Why: A sleek shape that elevates every outfit we pair it with. Especially in red. Throw on any boring old all-black outfit with this shoe and POOF! You’re thrilling. Bold. Chic. And still, somehow…classic. All at the same time. The dream.

Price: $178


 

9. The Little White Sneak

What: Cariuma OCA Low

Why: We cannot resist an easy, lightweight sneaker that we can walk miles in but that also look extremely cute with our jeans, skirts, and dresses.

Price: $110


 

10.  The Flat Sandal That Turns Clothes Into An Outfit

What: Birdies The Kiwi

Why: Pair it with any black (or white) item of clothing you own, and poof, you’re chic. And summery!

Price: $85 - $130


 

11. The zjuzjhed up flat that will make your legs looks gorgeous  

What: Dream Pairs Low Wedge Ankle Strap Flats

Why: Possibly the loveliest design at the very lowest price. Get them in tan and black and solve the riddle of “What shoe do I wear with this?” like 47x over.

Price: $27 - $41


 

12. The Going-Out Slipper

What: UGG Tasman Suede Fur-Lined Slippers

Why: This one is for our fellow “cozy people” who’ve long desired a slipper they can acceptably wear outside the house. We don’t typically do trends, but this famous UGG has certainly established itself as something we can wear with jeans and coats and scarves and sweaters, and we’ll still look chic…cozy-chic.

Price: $110


 

13. the only loafer worth discussing 

What: Madewell The Vernon Loafer

Why: Few things in life are as easy as a loafer. They’re versatile. Classic. Feel like slippers but look like we “tried.” This pair from Madewell is cushioned, creamy leathered perfection.

Price: $158


 

14. The Lovely Foldable Flats We Throw In Our Purse For Backup

What: Yosi Samra Samara Foldable Ballet Flat

Why: The little flats that fold up so we can toss them on for travel or for walking 7 more blocks or just to be wearing the prettiest flats you can imagine on any given day. Plus, the shape is perfection, and they come in every color you could want.

Price: $98


 

15. The Sleek, Stretchy Loafer

What: Vivaia Pointed-Toe Bow Loafers

Why: Another pretty design from Vivaia. If you have bunions, wide feet, or just crave maximum comfort, while keeping that delicate loafer(ish) aesthetic, these shoes are the dream.

Price: $97


 

Bonus: Our Favorite Things That Fall Juuuust Outside The Classic Flat Category

1. THIS Bow You Can Clip On To Any Flat To Make Them 200% Chicer

2. THIS Perfect Minimalist Flip Flop

3. THIS Timeless Espadrille Flat

 
 

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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