The Best Comfortable Flats for Work
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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work 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.
If you're returning to the office soon and aren't exactly excited about slipping your feet back into heels, don't worry, we've got you — today we're rounding up some of the best comfortable flats for work (and, over at CorporetteMoms, we JUST rounded up the best washable flats!).
What are your favorite comfortable flats for work and weekend? Do you see yourself being an all flats, all the time kind of woman going forward, or are you eager to get back to your office heels?
{related: check out our Guide to Comfortable Heels!}
Our Latest Favorite Comfortable Flats for Work
Some of our favorite comfortable flats for work as of 2025 include AGL, M.M.LaFleur, Vivaia, and French Sole. On the more affordable side, check out Rothy's, Sam Edelman, and Rockport. We've also rounded up the best loafers for work, and our favorite sneakers for work outfits!
The Best Affordable Comfortable Flats for Work
Stay tuned for a roundup of your best bets for affordable flats for work!
The Best Investment Flats
If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.
Great Loafers for Women
As of 2025, some of our favorite loafers for work are from Sam Edelman, Everlane, and Madewell. If you want something more classic, readers love Sperry and Ferragamo; if you want comfort, Vionic and Dr. Scholl's both have options. Meanwhile, if you want something a bit more feminine or slouchy, the Tory Burch loafers are all really highly rated at Nordstrom (especially this “ballet loafer“)!
Stylish Sneakers for Executives
As of 2025, some of our latest favorite sneakers for work outfits include Cole Haan, J.Crew, and Vince. For comfort we like Dr. Scholl's, Vionic, and Paul Green, and for fancier sneakers we like Loewe and Golden Goose.
The Best Washable Flats
There are a ton of machine washable flats these days, and we just rounded up some great options at CorporetteMoms! Whether you need or want these because you're a parent, a pet owner, or a medical worker — or just someone who tends to hate shoes that aren't pristine — there are a ton of affordable and polished styles of washable flats to choose from.
Looking for washable flats? You'd be surprised how many there are. As of 2025, our favorites include Rothy's (also at Nordstrom!), Skechers, Vivaia, AllBirds, and Amazon seller Tingrise.
The Best Foldable Flats
These can be amazing if you're a) traveling for work and want something super lightweight that won't drag down your bag, or b) you're adjusting to heels or new shoes and just aren't sure how long you're going to last in them. (I've sometimes brought these along on date nights with my husband if I'm really out of practice with heels!)
Some of our favorite foldable flats as of 2025 include Silky Toes, Yosi Samra (at Amazon and Nordstrom), and Amazon seller HEAWISH. If you're looking to splurge, the Tory Burch travel flat also has a split sole.
Sophisticated Strappy Flats for Work Outfits
Stylish strappy flats can be hard to find! As of 2025, these are some of our favorites — also, in general, check J.Crew, Boden, Jennifer Chamandi, Manolo Blahnik, and Valentino (on the pricier side, obviously). Nordstrom also has a surprisingly large selection!
The Best Women's Oxfords
Hunting for great oxfords for women in 2025? Check out Cole Haan oxfords (also at Nordstrom), as well as The Office of Angela Scott and Carmina Shoemaker.
Readers, do tell: What do you think are the best comfortable flats for work?
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I’m just over those kinds of flats these days (not that I ever really wore them). I am wearing sneakers and loafers with my skirts and dresses and it feels kind of bada$$. Don’t think I’ll ever go back to high heels every day.
I’ve never been into them, either. Ballet flats don’t have enough support for my bony feet, and I despise pointy-toe shoes (not because of how they look but because they are torture devices).
I keep holding out hope for another Cole Haan/Nike Air-style collaboration. Cute flats with good support should not be rocket science.
+1
I’m kind of annoyed I spent money on two pairs of Chloe flats a few years ago. Ballet flats look dorky to me now.
I wear rothys flats in the office (although I’m mostly in socks unless I need to go leave my actual office) and sneakers to commute. I’m looking for the perfect pair of oxford loafers but I’m very picky and have difficult feet so I’m happy
Can you recommend some good loafers?
I’ve had great luck with Naturalizer and Munro.
And I have these and they’re on sale right now: https://www.nordstrom.com/s/naturalizer-august-loafer-women/5161882?siteid=fV7QgDWUWe0-XreC7U3lHxaS2nv4T1AJ4g&fashionColor=Silver
Oops wrong link. Meant these: https://www.nordstrom.com/s/cc-corso-como-carlynee-loafer-women/5365453?origin=coordinating-5365453-0-4-FTR-recbot-recently_viewed_snowplow_mvp&recs_placement=FTR&recs_strategy=recently_viewed_snowplow_mvp&recs_source=recbot&recs_page_type=category&recs_seed=0&color=STONEWASH%20PERFORATED%20NUBUCK
So sad, these are sold out on my size!
Paul Green loafers. Spendy and worth it.
I have worn many pairs of Franco Sarto loafers.
I used to wear these type of flats every day, and I now have fallen arches.
Over the course of the pandemic, I was forced to start wearing prescription orthotics which means that my work shoes (heels and dress flats) are all pretty much useless. I’ve looked at http://www.barkingdogshoes , which is a great resource for problem feet, but does anyone here have recommendations for lower heels or flats that can accommodate orthotics? Bendy flats are the absolute worst possible shoes for me since I’ve developed arthritis in my big toe joint on one foot. I also have high arches & bunions. Working from home, I’ve lived in my Hokas and other sneakers and Ugghs w/ my orthotics. Also, I need to wear wide shoes. This blog should highlight shoes that come in wide and narrow.
I don’t have prescription orthotics (yet) but I feel you, as I have high arches, high instep and wide feet. When people talk about arch support, I always wondered what they meant because no shoe ever touched my arch, much less supported it. But then one day I discovered Abeo shoes, the “metatarsal” styles. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
I like to wear Born and Vionics loafers, which are really comfortable and should allow for orthotics. I wish there were loafers in the shape of my Altras, though.
I hear you, I have had orthotics since I was a teenager, and finding cute shoes that accommodate orthotics can be a pain. But there are definitely some out there. I look for shoes with a removable insole and a strap (either ankle, or diagonal or ghillie laces, etc. Cobb Hill and Vionic often have removable insoles and straps. Naturalizer sometimes does. You can search “removable insole” on Zappos and the Walking Company then filter for career style shoes/flats/heels/ etc.
I’ve had the surgery to repair that big toe joint. Now, with a metal plate, I can’t wear heels anyway. I’ve also found that man-made soles are very hard on my feet, so I have to wear all-leather shoes. I can get the orthotics in the men’s Italian lace-ups I wear, and in my sneakers, of course. I have a pair of Sesto Meucci woven loafers with leather soles that are pretty comfortable.