Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online.
- Nothing completes your boardroom-ready look quite like the right pair of power heels or flats.
- Perhaps the most important element of your work wardrobe is your shoes, which is why we've rounded up some of the best places to find office-appropriate footwear.
- We like Everlane's dress shoe selection the best, but Madewell, M. Gemi, J. Crew, and Rothy's all have great options.
It is simply the case that one can never own too many pairs of shoes, and when it comes to work-appropriate shoes, the "correct" number of pairs is practically infinite. Of course, finding a pair of flats or so-called modest heels that are both attractive and acceptable to the corporate powers that be can be a bit of a challenge. But with some help from our favorite office-ready shoe purveyors, you may want to keep your shoes close and your credit card closer.
When picking a great pair of work shoes, you'll want to keep a few things in mind. First and foremost, are they comfortable? If you're already feeling pinched at work, the last thing you need is to have shoes that are literally pinching your feet as well. After all, it's difficult to feel empowered when you're constantly bending over to adjust your strap or massage your heel.
You'll also want to keep heel heights in mind. While I prefer to live about four inches above my natural height, I would also prefer to sleep and pet cats for a living. Alas, in order to be part of the professional world, it seems that society has dictated that I live in heels of a more moderate one-to-two-inch height. Also important to consider is the width of your heel. As impressive as your ability to teeter totter around on a one-inch circumference may be, that's probably not something that you can (or should) put on a resume or to the test in your office. Luckily, you don't need to be in stilettos to pull off a killer look.
Furthermore, you may want to consider your preferred work shoe color. While black, nude, and the occasional navy shoe are common suspects, it's also well worth adding a pop of color to your wardrobe with some more creative hues. Don't shy away from white, either - sure, they'll show dirt a bit more easily, but let's be honest, in your sterile office environment, you're not really at risk of getting things particularly dirty.
Regardless of which of our favorite office-appropriate shoe purveyors you decide to shop in, we're sure that you'll have a decidedly professional (and fashion-forward) experience.
Here are the best places to buy women's dress shoes online:
- Best dress shoes for women overall: Everlane
- Best work-to-weekend shoes for women: Madewell
- Best work-appropriate boots for women: M. Gemi
- Best dress shoes for women who like variety: J. Crew
- Best sustainable dress shoes for women: Rothy's
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Find all the best offers at our Coupons page.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.