2017 Update: We still think these purple pumps for work are cute, but you may want to check out our most recent roundup of what to wear with wine-colored pumps!
Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
Oxblood, burgundy, port, wine, sangria, claret — I’ve always thought this purpley/red wine-blood color is perfect for work shoes. Wear purple pumps to work as a neutral with navy and black — add a tiny touch of color to light gray outfits — and have fun contrasting them with pops of yellow, bright blue, and bright red. Ladies, do you wear purple heels for work? What exact shade is your favorite? Of the trendier styles (pointy toes, block heels), do you have a favorite? Do you have any favorite purple pumps from years past?
- Hall of Famers: Manolo Blahnik, Corso Como, Rockport, Comfort Plus by Predictions, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Nine West
- Under $100: Corso Como, Comfort Plus by Predictions, Michael Michael Kors, Athena Alexander, Tahari, Charles by Charles David, Sole Society (block heel), Calvin Klein (1.75″ heel), Me Too,
- Splurges: Prada, Manolo Blahnik, Nicholas Kirkwood, Chloé,
- Waterproof: Aquatalia (block heel), Aquatalia (skinny heel)
- Extended widths: (come in sizes like AA, C, W, etc): Naturalizer (N M W), Trotters (N M W, under 2″), Trotters (blockier heel), Rockport (M W), Sam Edelman (M, W), Naturalizer (platform, N M W WW)
- Extended sizes: (come in sizes 4-13): Naturalizer (4-12), Sam Edelman (4-12), Franco Sarto (4-13), Nine West (5-13)
- Wedges: Clarks, Eileen Fisher, Tod’s, Easy Spirit
- Heels under 2″: Eileen Fisher, Athena Alexander, Calvin Klein, Trotters,
- Comfort: Naturalizer (strappy), Rockport, Eileen Fisher, Earthies, Trotters, Trotters (blockier heel), Naturalizer (.5″ platform), Easy Spirit (strappy) — don’t forget to check out our entire guide to comfortable heels
Some Hall of Famers are pictured here — these are best selling styles that come back year after year, priced $15-$595…
Curious for some of our older roundups? Here they are from 2015, 2014, 2012, and 2010. Our featured favorites for today include:
 These Athena Alexander pumps are only $59, and a solid four star rating over at Nordstrom — sounds like a winner. They’re even selling out in this color — only sizes 5-8.5 are left. (Lots of sizes left in the other four colors the pumps come in, though.) Athena Alexander ‘Teague’ Pointy Toe Pump |
 Block heels are huge for fall, of course, and I like these 3″ heels from Franco Sarto, a brand that has always reliably made comfortable heels in the past. (And 3″ is a heckuva lot more walkable than these 4.25″ heels or these 3.75″ heels!) The pictured heels are $109, available in sizes 4-13, in seven colors. SARTO By Franco Sarto ‘Aziza’ Block Heel Pump |
 I featured these during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and the good reviews keep coming in — they’re now up to 130 reviews, almost a solid 5 stars. I love the tiny spikes at the heel for a bit of an edgier look, and the 3″ heel otherwise looks classic and great. (Also kind of hot: these “sangria velvet” heels, also $120, also from Sam Edelman.) The pictured shoes are $120, and available in six other colors, sizes 4-12, widths M and W. Sam Edelman Tonia Spike Rand Pointy Toe Pump |
 Wow: I keep hearing readers raving about Coach heels, and this may be the pair that I try — I love the mix of leather and suede, and the dark oxblood color is perfect. They’re available in sizes 5-11, in four colors for $185. (This is a very similar style from Coach but it’s on sale for $115.) COACH ‘Sophie’ Pointy Toe Pump |
 I haven’t seen a Weitzman pump I’ve liked in a while, but these Marymid pump looks great — the angled heel and slightly square toe have a fresher look — and they’re getting good reviews and selling out. (Also in this price range: these d’Orsay pumps from Vince, and this skinnier heel from Weitzman.) The pictured shoes are $375, available in five colors, sizes 4-12. Stuart Weitzman ‘Marymid’ Pump |
Pictured above, $15-$595, Row 1: 1 , 2 ; Row 2: 3, 4 ; Row 3: 5, 6
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I love those Sam Edelman shoes with the spikes!
I ordered them during the NAS but returned them. Kinda boring. The spike part is plastic and the same color as the shoe.
These shoes all look burgundy on my computer?
Yeah, our comments crossed. I even doublechecked the descriptions in case it was an issue with my monitor, but definitely not purple.
Same here. I have patent JCrew Valentinas (wish they would bring that style back!!) in this color and love them with navy, black, gray, etc. But I would never call them purple.
This is interesting to me – I adore purple shoes and think they’re very versatile, but I don’t actually consider any of these shoes to be purple. For me, burgundy is very different in terms of wardrobe mileage.
I agree, none of these count as purple in my book either, although they’re lovely. Now I finally understand all of Kat’s comments over the years about wearing purple pumps. Turns out, I do it too! Although under a host of other color names.