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Historically, I have had a toxic trait when it comes to weddings: I like pretty shoes. Comfort hasn’t always been my first priority when putting together my outfit, and I’ve ended up in a lot of pain near the end of the night. Over the years, my experience working in fashion has led to smarter shoe choices. Now that I’ve tried every brand, interviewed experts, and done my research, this mistake is far less common for me, but every now and then, I purchase a pair of shoes that just won’t work for more than a door-to-door car ride to dinner.
When I had the chance to ask a podiatrist what actually makes wedding guest shoes comfortable, I listened. The takeaway? It’s less about sacrificing style and more about knowing what to look for. The right pair should carry you from the ceremony to the dance floor without a second thought. I had a few words with Anna Baird, a podiatrist and the founder of Bared Footwear, about exactly what to know before picking out a pair of shoes for your next wedding.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Bared Footwear)
What are the biggest mistakes you see people make when choosing wedding guest shoes?
The number one mistake is choosing shoes based purely on how they look in the box. You pick them up. They’re beautiful. You convince yourself they’ll be fine on the day, but a wedding is genuinely one of the longest days you will ever spend on your feet. You’re standing for ceremony, cocktail hour, photos, dinner, dancing. People so often wear shoes with no consideration at all for comfort, so by the time the dance floor starts, they are either in pain or barefoot.
The other thing I see constantly is people underestimating the venue. A stiletto on a lawn is not a great idea, and a barely-there strap on a cobblestone terrace is likely to end in disaster. Think about where you’re actually walking, not just what the shoe looks like standing.
Is there a safe heel height for standing and dancing for hours?
As a podiatrist, I would say that you are always going to be more comfortable in a lower-heeled shoe. Every body is different, so there is no known safe height, but under seven centimeters will definitely give you a good chance of staying comfortable all day and night. Around six centimeters gives you enough height and elegance without putting excessive load through the forefoot. A biomechanically designed footbed with arch support and cushioning is going to make a six-centimeter heel feel very different from a six-centimeter heel with nothing inside it. That’s really what we engineer at Bared.
How should your feet feel when you first try on shoes? What’s a red flag immediately?
It should feel comfortable straight away if you are just standing or walking around a store. It is much better to have a bit too much room in the shoe, but choose a style that fastens onto your foot. That little bit of extra room will be your lifesaver by the end of the night.
Avoid really narrow straps that feel snug in the store. These will end up feeling like wire if your feet swell after standing all day.
How much breaking in should you realistically do before the event?
I think the whole concept of breaking in has been normalized in a way that is really doing people a disservice. You should not suffer through weeks of wear before a shoe becomes comfortable, but leather shoes do need to soften and shape to an individual’s foot. It is important to wear any new shoe two or three times around the house for a few hours before a big event. It may not be a great look, but wearing socks on the first few wears can help to keep your feet comfortable whilst the shoe molds to your feet.
What’s your opinion on bringing a second pair? Smart or unnecessary?
I would say smart. Most brides and guests do want to wear a heel on their wedding day, but even a mid-height heel is putting extra pressure on your feet and affecting your posture. Even if your heel seems perfectly comfortable for the first few hours, you might want to change into something flatter as the night rolls on. And I say that as someone who has worked incredibly hard to make sure the first pair goes the whole day, but even we put out a flat option for exactly this reason.
It is nice to choose your second pair with intention rather than just grabbing flip-flops. A pointed flat with an ankle strap, something like the Riparia, gives you elegance with zero sacrifice. You never have to feel like you’ve given up on the look. You’ve just made a smart decision.
How do you plan for shoes that have to last through ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing?
You plan backwards from dancing. The dance floor is the most demanding part of the day, and it is also the part people want to be fully present for. If you choose a shoe that can handle that, it can handle everything before it.
Look for a block or sculpted heel over a stiletto for stability, an adjustable strap to accommodate any swelling, and cushioning. At Bared, every one of those things is engineered into the shoe from the start, not added as an afterthought.
Shop comfortable shoes:
Bared Footwear
Snipe Black Leather & Hardware Low Heels
I guarantee you could walk for miles in these.
DOLCE VITA
Odete Heels Gold Leather
A little platform moment goes a long way.
This pretty baby blue would be the perfect finishing touch.
Amina Muaddi
Alexa Polka-Dot Satin Mules
I’m here for some polka dot–coded height.
Chloé
Suzie Leather Mules
sam edelman
Bianka Slingback Pumps
Wear these from your desk to a wedding.
naturalizer
Elaine Slingback
Wear these anywhere and everywhere and thank me later.
Soludos
Capri Wedge Espadrille
Any summer occasion is a good fit for a pair of shoes like this.
Wedges are going to be your secret weapon.
sam edelman
Presley Strappy Kitten Heel Sandal
You have no idea how comfortable strappy kitten heels could be.
Do you see the puffiness at the sole? For me, that means comfort.
Marc Fisher
Antonia Sandal
I can tell these are heels I could walk around NYC in for days, so imagine them on a wedding dance floor.
Schutz X Revolve
Amber Sandal
Check out what I said above about wedges.
The cutout detail is exquisite.
Jeffrey Campbell
Twista-L Mules
If you’re also loving peep-toe heels right now, give these a try.
Manolo Blahnik
Callasli Leather Slingback Sandals
These Manolos have been in fashion-person closets for decades for good reason.
Classic heels you’ll have in your closet forever.
Herbert Levine
Kiss and Tell Satin Thong Sandals
Amina Muaddi
Juliette Snake-Print Leather Thong Sandals
Snakeskin is a nice touch.
I saw my friend wearing these and was obsessed.
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