OUTFIT DETAILS: Givenchy Dress, Miu Miu Flats, Valentino Bag, Sherman Field Chain & Arielle Ratner Pendant

Few things get my girls more excited than hearing we have dinner plans to look forward to, especially when it means getting a little dressed up. Summer evenings have a way of making even a simple reservation feel special, with warm air, pretty dresses, and a slower pace that makes this season particularly sweet. I rounded up pieces for both mothers and daughters that capture that feeling, with bright colors, cheerful prints, and silhouettes made for twirling through the evening.

Summer dinner plans never have to be overly formal to still feel like an occasion. A bold color can do all the work, a great print can set the mood, and even the simplest dress feels transformed by a favorite restaurant, a table outside, and the joy of being together with family.

Some nights you just have to stop and soak it all in.

BET Awards weekend kicked off with a beautifully curated evening honoring the legendary music executive Sylvia Rhone. Hosted by Mona Productions and Mona Scott-Young and supported by the Black Music Collective, the night was a love letter to Black music, culture, and the women who have shaped it.

For those who may not know, Sylvia Rhone is one of the most powerful and trailblazing executives in the history of the music industry. As President of Epic Records, she has championed some of the biggest names in music, from Beyoncé to Travis Scott. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business, Rhone became the first Black woman to head a major record label when she was appointed CEO of EastWest Records in 1994 — a milestone that paved the way for generations of Black women in the music business. Her decades of service to the culture have been nothing short of historic, and an evening in her honor was long overdue.

The night featured remarks by none other than Missy Elliott, who credits Sylvia Rhone for her music career. Apparently Missy wanted to have her own label, but Rhone encouraged Missy to give her just one album–which turned into 5! The world is grateful for Sylvia Rhone indeed!

Performances by Stevie Wonder, Jozzy, and Terrell Music kept the night moving — and yes, when Stevie Wonder took the stage, the room felt every single note (even though he sang that he didn’t feel like singing).

For the occasion, I wore a red leather trench coat look by Althea Mink, styled with Norma Kamali shorts, red stockings, and Steve Madden heels — a full-red moment that felt right for a night this special. Makeup was by the Latrice Johnson, and hair was coiffed by Kalief W using Kendras Boutique Hair.

Nights like this are a reminder of why we do what we do. Here’s to Sylvia Rhone, to Black music, and to even more magic this BET Awards weekend. 💣

To have me wear your brand to an upcoming event, email book@clairesulmers.com.

Photo Credit: @iamtishhabrenee

OUTFIT DETAILS: Libertine Coat, Comme Si Shirt (more sizes here), ALC Shorts, Hermes Bag (similar here), Chanel Sandals, Retrosuperfuture Sunglasses (old, similar here), Sherman Field Necklaces

It might sound like it shouldn’t work, but my go-to pattern to mix with stripes is more stripes. The one trick I find works best is finding a common thread through color, one shade that runs through both palettes, so that even completely different stripe scales still feel cohesive.

Stripes on stripes feels right at home in summer, when getting dressed is a little less serious and a little more joyful. A striped shirt with striped shorts, a colorful cover-up over a striped swimsuit, or a striped tote thrown into the mix somehow feels more interesting than relying on a single print alone.

The most memorable outfits, I find, are the ones you look at and your first thought is “that shouldn’t work,” but somehow it does. And more often than not, a stripes on stripes look is exactly how you get there.

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Something on your mind? Chat about it here.

I mentioned this Staud bag yesterday when rounding up the ShopBop portion of the Amazon Prime sale, and it’s still on my mind…

TL;DR: if you have a Prime account, you can get 25% off at Shopbop when you link your account. What was interesting to me is that it seems to work on top of existing markdowns like this Staud bag.

The bag was $350, was then marked to $245, and comes down another 25% off in the cart if you link your accounts and use the code. That might be on the pricier side for a mostly nylon bag, but I’ve never been mad about a lightweight and stylish bag.

Other good brands I’m seeing in the ShopBop/Prime sale: A.L.C., Aeyde, Alex Mill, Alice & Olivia, Anine Bing, Barefoot Dreams, Beyond Yoga, Birkenstock, Black Halo, Clare V., Cult Gaia, Farm Rio, Ferragamo, Frank & Eileen, Jenni Kayne, La Ligne, Marine Layer, Nili Lotan, Printfresh (!), rag & bone, RAILS, STAUD, Stuart Weitzman, Theory, TWP, Veronica Beard, Vince, White & Warren, Xirena, and Z-Supply.

Sales of note for 6/25:

• Amazon Prime Day has started! You can check out our roundup here… Also don’t forget that sister site Shopbop is offering 25% off a lot of great brands if you link your Prime account, including brands like A.L.C., Aeyde, Alex Mill, Alice & Olivia, Anine Bing, Barefoot Dreams, Beyond Yoga, Birkenstock, Black Halo, Clare V., Cult Gaia, Farm Rio, Ferragamo, Frank & Eileen, Jenni Kayne, La Ligne, Marine Layer, Nili Lotan, Printfresh (!), rag & bone, RAILS, STAUD, Stuart Weitzman, Theory, TWP, Veronica Beard, Vince, White & Warren, Xirena, and Z-Supply
• Nordstrom – 25% off clearance! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Boss, Theory, Beyond Yoga, and Zella
• Another Tomorrow – Seasonal sale, 50% off select styles
• Ann Taylor – 25% off new arrivals! Readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it’s a great separate)
• Athleta – 30-60%off reader favorites like Brookyn and Endless pants, and the Pranayama wrap is marked down to $55
• AYR – Ooh, good sale section — but lots on final sale. Readers love (LOVE) these comfy work pants and these jeans.
• Bare Necessities – Semi-annual sale, up to 70% off, plus get an additional 40% off clearance swim. Readers have sung the praises of these cooling pajamas and their bra-sized swimwear
• Boden – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Evereve – 20% off dresses!
• J.Crew – Extra 15% off your purchase (on top of up to 50% off select styles)
• J.Crew Factory – Extra 60% off clearance – readers love their schoolboy blazers and sweaters, and they have a great selection of summer suiting in the sale. Ooh, and these scallop-trim t-shirts have major Boden vibes.
• Jenni Kayne – Semi-annual warehouse sale
• M.M.LaFleur – Archive sale! (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
• Nordstrom Rack – Clearance, new arrivals up to 75% off! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
• Ruti – Semi-annual sale, up to 70% off!
• Splendid – Up to 60% off women’s sale!
• Talbots – 6/25: Flash sale, all markdowns 60% off two or more, 50% off one, and 40% off the rest of your purchase

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Here’s something we haven’t talked about in far too long, ladies — which are your top 10 most comfortable heel brands? It’s been a few years since we did a roundup, so we’re going to update our picks to reflect the brands that readers swear by for comfortable heels.

While there are definitely well-known comfort brands that are maybe a bit frumpy or funky, I’ve always thought the magic lies in knowing which regular, popular brands are ALSO really comfortable… I’d love to hear your list, ladies!

Here are my top 10 brands for comfortable heels — many of them have been reader favorites for years, but others may be new on your radar…

The above photo is a stock photo, but these heels may be similar to the ones pictured: Anne Klein and Lifestride (Suki and Giovanna).

How we chose: We considered years of reader discussions, our editors’ experiences, current availability, comfort technology, size inclusivity, and whether each brand currently offers professional heels we’d recommend to readers today. We also reviewed recent reader discussions to make sure our recommendations reflect what professional women are loving right now.

There are a lot of other brands we considered for this list, including Aquatalia, Cole Haan, Everlane, AGL, Clarks, Rockport, and more. In many cases, we love the brand overall but found the current heel selection is limited, or we think the brand is stronger in another category (like flats or boots). As always, we’d love to hear which brands you’d add in the comments.

Why You Should Trust Corporette®

At Corporette®, we’ve been covering professional women’s workwear since 2008, and we’ve talked about comfortable shoes a lot here on the blog! Our big roundup is our constantly updated Guide to Comfortable Heels, but we’ve rounded up the best brands for comfortable work shoes in general, the best brands for comfortable work heels, and asked the readers about their most comfortable heels and least comfortable heels. (We’ve also talked about the best flats for work, the best business-casual sneakers, non-sneaker shoes that are so comfortable you can walk for miles, and extremely comfortable business casual shoes!)

The Top 10 Most Comfortable Heel Brands for Work

Sarah Flint: Overall Investment Pump

Sarah Flint is more or less the gold standard — the brand focuses on classic styles with anatomical arch support and extra footbed padding. Their “Perfect Collection” of shoes have expanded over the years to include sandals, slingbacks, pumps (and yes, flats!). Prices are generally $395-$595 for flats, heels, and short boots (with taller boots being $850+).

Ferragamo: Classic Luxury

If you’re looking for a brand with extended sizes and widths, AND open to splurging on a heel that’s $500-$700, look to Salvatore Ferragamo — it’s hard to find a more reliable “fancy comfortable heel.” Readers were just talking about how most female law partners they know wear Varas (pictured) — and there are always seasonal colors and prints or sculptural heels if you want a bit more “fashion cred.” We haven’t updated our guide to designer shoes in a long while, but other brands on my radar for comfortable heels in this price range include Jimmy Choo, The Fold, Miu Miu, and Aquazzura.

Tod’s: Quiet Luxury

Something I noticed when looking through Corporette reader comments – a number of people were mentioning Tod’s as being really comfortable and “worth it” when it came to heels and loafers. These are some of the most expensive ones on the list, but from what the readers say: they’re worth it, and they last forever. (You can also find the brand at Nordstrom!)

Weitzman: Modern Designer Comfort

Stuart Weitzman shoes are another longrunning favorite with the readers, whether it’s their sophisticated heels or must-have minimalist sandals and boots. I’m happy to see they have a low kitten heel back in their lineup again; their Poco heels were huge favorites amongst the readers when they were sold.

Sam Edelman: Best Under $200

If your budget is under $200, Sam Edelman continues to hit the sweet spot between style and comfort. The brand offers classic pumps, block heels, and slingbacks that work well for professional wardrobes without feeling dated. Plus, many colors are available in multiple widths and extended sizes 4-13. (Readers also love their loafers!)

Note that you can find them at Nordstrom, Zappos, Amazon, and other retailers! The Hazel is their longest-running bestselling heel.

Marc Fisher LTD: Best Modern Office Pumps

For years, this brand’s block heel was THE answer to “what shoe should I wear to work?” It was the correct answer for interviews, for court, for conferences, and more. The block heel (the Zala) is STILL around and still very popular — but the brand has a number of other cute styles if you’re looking for something on the trendy side. (Their Chelsea boot was also wildly popular for years!)

Naturalizer: Best Value

Naturalizer, I think, is heads and shoulders above a lot of the “mall comfort” brands — they often come in extended sizes, they’re one of the ONLY brands left with a reliable selection of “nude for me” colors, and they’re affordable, comfortable, and offer a nice blend of classic and trendy styles. Their extremely low slingbacks have been a stalwart these past few years,

Sofft: Cushioned Comfort

If you have fussy feet then you NEED to give Sofft heels a try. They have always been wildly comfortable and extra cushioned; the most recent pair of shoes I got from them surprised me all over again in a good way for how shoes should feel. Their heels tend towards the classic more than trendy. (The brand also has great sandals and waterproof boots!)

Vionic is another great brand for fussy feet — many Vionic products carry the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, and the brand’s VioLab is full of more podiatrists than designers.

The brand also has a line of shoes designed to be great for travel (packable but comfortable), and their almost-sold-out Minna heel was a Holy Grail heel for years (and you can still get it at Amazon).

Ann Mashburn: Best Under the Radar Pick

I was torn between Ann Mashburn and Margaux for this final slot — each brand has sophisticated style that wins rave reviews from readers. I mostly hear readers extolling Margaux flats, though — so Ann Mashburn is getting the Corporette nod of approval for one of the top brands we’d recommend if you’re looking for comfortable heels. I love the little details on the shoes — the buckle on the heel (also available as a flat), the slight square to the vamp of the slingbacks, and more.

More Brands We Love for Comfortable Heels for Work

Budget-Friendly Comfy Heels

Worth the Upgrade

Fashion-Forward Picks

Cult Favorites

(These may both seem a little bit out there, but they have been recommended for years by readers here!)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most comfortable heel height for work?

The most comfortable heel height is the one that you can walk in for several blocks, not just down the hallway. Most women find something between 2″-3.5″ to be the best height (or you will see a LOT of brands with 50mm or 85mm heights).

How can I make my heels more comfortable?

When we’ve discussed this before, we’ve generally mentioned inserts like ball-of-feet cushions, no-show socks, and blister blockers. Asking your cobbler to add rubber soles to your shoes can also make them more comfortable, as well as last longer.

How else can I make my heels last longer?

Let them air out for at least 24 hours between wearing them! Shoes are not designed to be worn back to back every day. Another tried and true trick for many women professionals: commute in flats, then change to heels when you get to the office. I had a full collection of heels that basically lived under my desk.

Do I have to wear heels?

You do not! There are many other options right now — we’ve rounded up a ton of great flats, loafers, boots, and even business casual sneakers.

Are there any heels that are not office appropriate?

There are a few. Know your office really well before wearing any heel that is taller than 4″ (although my hat is off to you for even considering it!) — readers have cautioned over and over that “you want to avoid looking like a baby giraffe” with your heels. Hidden or small platforms are fine, but I’d also be wary of very thick soles or platforms. Although sandals have come a long way, I would generally advise you towards closed toe pumps, at least until you know your office well.

How about you, readers? What are your top 10 most comfortable heel brands? Which ones do you swear by for style AND comfort, and which ones are just so comfortable that you’re willing to sacrifice style (and maybe use them for commuting shoes)?

Stock photo credit: Fotolia / blacksalmon. 

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Noteworthy Threadjacks This Week…

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