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If you know me, you know one of my missions in life is to find heels that are both comfortable and stylish. I'm fanatical about this quest, testing nearly every brand that pitches itself to marry the two concepts. I've even shed blood for this undertaking. When I wrote our guide to the most comfortable heels, I committed to walking a mile in dozens and dozens of shoes to find the very best — getting blisters, ankle cuts, and aching arches in the process.
So you should trust me when I say that Inez is one of the best heel brands out there. Not only do the shoes look like they belong on the runway, they're also constructed to be shockingly comfortable. With plush insoles, heel cushions designed to absorb impact, and luxurious materials, their shoes really stand out.
Most of the shoes run about $200-$300 — and while that may seem steep at first, this luxury brand is worth the money. Before Inez, I would spend way more than that on buying lots of cheaper pairs that were never comfortable. But these are shoes that I know I will have for a long, long time.
Here are our top three styles, but read on to find in-depth reviews these pairs and more.
These are the most comfortable slingbacks I've tried — and I've tried dozens. You can get it in more neutral colors, but I fell in love with the orchid color. Just go down a half-size for a perfect fit.
These four-inch heeled boots are more comfortable than some sneakers. In fact, I can literally run in these beautifully crafted shoes. Plus, the Pilar is the ultimate fall boot with its chunky silhouette and suede colorways.
If you're in the market for a pair of pumps to get you to formal work meetings, weddings, and everything in between, we highly recommend these supremely made shoes. Inez makes some of the most comfortable heels we've tried and these are no exception.
The Mia
This pick from Inez is one of our favorite heels we've ever tested. The suede exterior is luxurious and the footbed – like all of Inez's creations — is perfectly contoured. The heel is also 2.8 inches, which might seem like a lot, but it doesn't feel that way when you're wearing it.
It comes in a bunch of colors, from work-ready neutrals to party-ready purples (I'm obsessed with the orchid color pictured above). And there are three widths, which we love: slim, standard, and roomy. As far as fit, Inez says that it's best to go a half-size down in this style, which I agree with. Like most pumps or slingbacks, the slope of the shoe pushes your feet a little deeper into the toe, which means you might need a little less length in the footbed.
The only thing that slightly concerns me is that the backstrap has a bit of elastic that allows you to slip it on. I'm getting so much use out of these that I'm scared of the elastic stretching out and messing with the fit.
The Alta
Pumps are difficult to get right. Unlike platforms or other kinds of creatively-designed shoes, there's no way of getting around the steep pitch. In fact, these are particularly steep. Aptly called the Alta, they have a towering heel height of 3.5 inches. You can get the style in a lower-height heel, called the Lola, if this sounds a little too tall for you. But don't be afraid to go with the higher heel. The shoes are far more comfortable than they look.
And while I probably wouldn't recommend these for running around (you can literally run in some of Inez's highest heels, like the Pilar below), they are the ultimate secret weapon for feeling authoritative and stylish at work. Paired with one of the best suits for women, the Alta pumps make the ultimate power outfit.
The Pilar
When I unboxed these, I immediately doubted that I would be able to walk in them. These boots are a full four inches high. And while I'm definitely a heel girl, my maximum is usually two inches for an everyday shoe. But I had to try these because I immediately had fantasies of pairing them with tights and a mini skirt, wearing them peeking out from under flared pants, and adding them as a retro touch to 70s-inspired outfits. And after testing these properly, they exceeded my expectations. Turns out they're not just beautiful, but also beautifully made.
I walked about a mile and a half in these over the course of an evening and had absolutely no foot pain. The padded footbed and shallow pitch made all the difference. And despite how fashionably unstable they may look, I could easily stand on the crowded, bumpy NYC subway without being terrified of toppling over — which is a true test of balance.
Plus, there are elastic panels at the side that hold your ankle in securely while also adding comfort. But unlike most boots outfitted with these stretch panels, these are cleverly designed to look more like a ribbed design feature than a piece of plain elastic. I loved this attention to aesthetic detail, but what really blew me away was just how walkable this wild four-inch platform was. And after about a month of constant use, I can confirm that they work amazingly well with tights, flared jeans, and any fashionable fall look.
The Paloma in standard calf
This chic knee-high boot comes in three materials: black calf leather, brown suede, and shiny brown leather that's textured like crocodile skin. I opted for the crocodile option, which definitely looks very high-fashion in person. I like the idea that as the leather bends and gets softer, the creases will fit in nicely with the outside texture.
Like with the Pilar, the padded footbed on this shoe makes all the difference when it comes to comfort. They're super easy to walk in, even though the heel is 3-inches high. And like most of Inez's boots, these fit true to size so you won't have to worry about pinching or twisting due to sizing issues.
The one major issue that I had with this shoe is the height of the shaft. I'm five-foot-two, so my legs are a little shorter than average. This boot hit at the middle of my knee, which is a little unflattering. A knee-high boot should ideally hit right below the knee or a little lower. For context, I measured the shaft of these to be about 15-inches, which is about average for knee-high boots. But for my height, I prefer it to be around 13-inches.
I've worked around this issue by pairing these with midi skirts that show off the boots while covering my knees. This is such a trendy way to wear boots that I don't mind. They also look pretty good with loose pants, but I avoid wearing them with mini skirts. And though there may not be different shaft heights available, there are two calf widths available. I opted for the standard calf version, which was a great fit.
The Paloma in extended calf
When I first saw this pair of boots, my wife had to basically pick my jaw up off the ground. I mean, they're utterly gorgeous, to say the least. They also come in wide calf and footbed sizing, which just made me even more sure that someone designed these special for me. I get so many compliments every time I wear them — to the point that I've been buying outfits specifically to pair with these boots!
The croc-embossed finish has a luxurious sheen to it that makes the boots look particularly elegant, and the texture and shine gives even the simplest sweater dress outfit a sophisticated flare. I love the brownish-burgundy pair I tested, but if you prefer a simpler look you can also opt for black leather or chestnut suede. Perhaps the biggest selling point was that I, a notorious heel hater, was able to wear these four hours on end while walking in the city thanks to the boots' well-constructed arch support.
The only drawback I can think of is one that every vertically challenged person who likes tall boots will understand, and that's the fact that they dig into the back of your knee on stairs. It's not uncommon for short people to struggle with knee-high boots on stairs, and it probably won't be an issue for you if you're over 5-foot-4 or so. But at 5-foot-2, I always fall victim to the back-of-the-knee issue. Otherwise, the heel height, pitch, and wide-calf fit, and option for a wide footbed make everything about the boot super comfortable when you're standing still or walking.
The Mila
The Mila is the silhouette of the moment. I can't even tell you how many boots that look exactly like this I spotted on NYC's glitterati during fall fashion week. A pointed toe, a kitten heel, and a slouchy shaft have never been trendier — and the Mila combines them all. I got it in a luxurious black suede, but it's also available in olive, black, and silver leather.
These are a perfect middle ground between knee-high boots and ankle boots. They hit right at the calf muscle on me, which I was worried would be unflattering since I don't have mile-long legs like the model. But they look amazing with tights. And I can't wait to wear them peeking out from maxi skirts and paired with slim-fitting pants. The only thing I would avoid wearing them with is mini skirts with bare legs, since they tend to emphasize the widest part of my leg.
Again, I can't say enough good things about how comfortable these are. More than platforms or block heels, it takes a lot to make sure that kitten heels are comfortable and provide balance. And these pass the comfort test with flying colors. I would just caution anyone with particularly developed calf muscles that this may not work for them, since the shaft is a touch narrow.
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