2019 Update: Hunting for heels under 2 inches? We just rounded up a ton of low nude pumps for work over at CorporetteMoms; you may also want to see our 2018 discussion of comfortable work heels on Corporette.
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.
So here’s the thing about heels under 2 inches: 80% of the shoes offered with low heels can look really gross* — kind of the shoe equivalent of Mom Jeans. (2015 Update: check out our most recent roundup of office-appropriate low heels!) But there are cute ones out there (although it can be a challenge to find them), and there are actually a lot of times you might want to wear low heels, even if you’re not 90 years old:
– All you peeps preparing for interview week where you’ll be on your feet for 8 hours, running from interview to interview? Yeah, you.
– When you’re attending a conference or another networking event that will involve a lot of standing.
– If you have pants that are hemmed for flats.
– If you’re easing back into heels after a long delay because of injury (or if you never really wore heels to begin with).
– If you’re suffering from feet problems like bunions or worse — higher heels just aren’t doable all of the time!
So with that said, I tried to poke around to find the most sophisticated shoes I could for under 2 inches — and on the lower end of the price spectrum, because it’s surprisingly easy to find $600 shoes with 1.5 inch heels. Readers, what heel height do you wear 80% of the time? For those of you who prefer lower heels, which are your favorite brands?
 So: these are your basic pumps from Aerosoles, clocking in at exactly 2″. This shoe comes in 7 other colors, and looks like a great starter heel. Check out other shoes in this line such as “Black Cheery” (a slingback with a cute decorative strap) and “Cheer For Me” (a Mary Jane), both of which are also 2″ heels. The Cheerful pump is $65 at Aerosoles. Cheerful Pump |
 Here we have the Rockport Lilah, which comes in 4 colors (some of which are up to 50% off at Rockport.com |
 No roundup like this is complete without a Cole Haan pump, and I like the Air Juliana in the “2” or under” category. In addition to coming in 6 colors, I like that this leather shoe has NIKE AIR® technology. If you prefer a rounder toe, the Air Talia Mid Pump |
 Time after time, readers swear by Stuart Weitzman pumps, and these highly rated Poco pumps look great. I like the pointed toe, the kitten heel, and the ultrasuede lining. They’re $$165-$275 at Zappos (depending on which of the 11 colors strikes your fancy — I’ve pictured the ““Jeans Snake Charmer” |
 Butter actually has a bunch of cute heels under 2″. I like these Stone Pumps (available in 4 colors — including “glitter”!), but do check out the whole Butter collection on Amazon . The Stone Pumps are $290. Butter Women’s Stone Pump |
 Like I said, it’s really easy to find pricier shoes in the 2″ and under category. Today I’m liking these gorgeous blue and black slingback kitten heel pumps from Jason Wu, which clock in at exactly 2″. They’re $658 at Neiman Marcus. Jason Wu Slingback Kitten-Heel Pump |
Like this feature? Check out other recent installments! Curious for other installments of this roundup for low heels? We did them in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.
* UPDATE: A number of readers are taking issue with my calling heels under two inches “gross,” so I’ve updated the text above to more accurately reflect my views. To be even more clear: I think low heels are great, and practical, and I whole heartedly, enthusiastically recommend all of the ones I’ve cited above, which is kind of the entire point of this post. BUT: If you had just spent the past 2 hours looking for cute heels under 2″ to whole heartedly, enthusiastically recommend, you’d agree with me that 80% of the ones out there are really gross.
kerrycontrary
Does anyone else have balance issues in kitten heels? Even though they are lower, the point of the heel still takes up a small amount of floor space. I would rather wear a 3-3.5 inch heel that has a slightly larger heel (I do not wear “chunky heels” even if they are in style).
CM
Calm down, people. The woman is allowed to have opinions!
I am really short but I stick to 2 inch heels anyway, because HIGH HEELS ARE A TOOL OF OPPRESSION.
UKExpat
Low heels are ‘gross’? Wow, is today International Being Really Bitchy and Judgmental Day or something?
Personally, I think there are few things less attractive or professional than women teetering or stumbling around in heels that are too high for them to walk confidently, especially in professions that require a lot of standing or walking. I’ve known friends who sprained their ankles wearing high heels on cobbles and uneven brick streets, and one friend who tiptoed dangerously around an entire factory with metal grate floors to avoid getting her spike heel caught there. But I guess it’s worth jeopardizing one’s safety and professionalism to avoid having shoes that look ‘gross’.
UkExpat
Okay, take this for example: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/halogen-bianca-wedge/3270786 . Work appropriate, 1 1/2 inch heel, available in black patent and leopard calf-hair. Gross?
kiley
Thats a wedge not a heel
UKExpat
Wedges are one variety of heel shape. If it’s not a flat shoe, it’s a heel.
kiley
thats not what kat and everyone else is talking about though.
anon
Just picked these joan & david kitten heels and they’re my new fave! (compared to all the 3+ inch stilettos i’ve been wearing for nearly a decade) on sale at nordy’s =) so comfy and still stylish!
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/joan-david-gardner-pump-nordstrom-exclusive/3231989?origin=shoppingbag
L2fly
Very very cute!! But are 2&1/2 inches considered ‘kitten’ heels? I always though of kitten heels as thin heels an inch or so… 2&1/2 inches are regular heels in my book! ;-)
Jen C
Oh my god, THANK YOU for this post. 2 inches used to be normal, now 3 inches or 3.5 inches seems to be the new (recession-era?) norm, and it’s killing me.
JenK
Late to the party here, but I just want to say I fully agree with those who point out that this is not just a matter of how you look, the way a color is. There are health issues for numerous body parts far away from your feet that come from wearing high heels. I can rock a 4″ just fine, loved my Candy’s in high school, but choose not to deteriorate my body in that way.
The person who said that this blog is ultimately Kate’s opinion is spot on. And everyone, Kate included, sees the world from a given perspective/experiences it through a particular (not universal) body. Kate’s tastes are strongly informed by her height. She just doesn’t “get” that some things make a totally different impression when they’re blown up to a larger size. These “non-gross” shoes are perfect cases in point. They might look fine in a 5 or 6, but they all have an elongated look. Make them in a size 10 (I’m only 5’8″, but my feet didn’t get the memo to stop growing), and they will positively look like boats! There have been efforts here to make suggestions for various body types, but the difference that size makes is generally ignored.
I agree that findig good-looking kitten heels can be a challenge, but it really isn’t impossible. Part of that must be because so many different women wear them; it’s like having the teens dept, the “women’s” and plus sizes, and sportswear all in the same bin. If clothing were sold that way, instead of separated into departments or stores, it would take a lot more lookin too!
On ankle-turning in kitten heels; in my experience, the placement of the heel on the shoe makes a lot of difference. I can’t see it visually, but when I try them on, I can feel that a shoe doesn’t support my natural weight distribution on my feet. Once you’re dealing with that, any other small issue can add up to too much. Try shoes on before you buy them, and listen to your body!
Tall Esq
I rarely wear anything less than 3.5″ and have a lot of 4″ heels. I grew up wearing super high heels (can from a super tall family) so I learned to walk properly in them and can dash around the office/city/etc. like no one’s business without so much as a wobble. If its not high heels then its flats. I have few pair of low heels but, as a lot of other posters have said, I feel unstable in those. For what its worth, my high heels rarely ever hurt and my lower heels tend to cause pain in my knees for some reason. I make sure that my high heeled shoes fit great- whether expensive or bought from Target and this makes all the difference in the world. I believe that some of the reasons you see women teetering around in high heels is because they hurt their feet, the shoes are rubbing uncomfortably against their skin, or their core and leg muscles aren’t strong enough to give them stability. I might be the anecdotal evidence but high heels work for me.
lawsuited
All my work heels are 2-3 inches (and usually more on the 2-inch side!). I have 4 pointed-toe pairs from Nine West (Oaks and Nuncio styles), a couple round-toe pairs from Expression*, and my very favourite pair was a lucky find at Guess. The Cole Haan Air Talia are fantastic, but I’m very hard on shoes so can’t bring myself to spend $200 on a pair of work heels.
*I think Expression is a home brand at The Bay, so it may not be available outside of Canada.
Catherine
I like low heels, and I’ll add to the list of reasons to consider them: daily commute includes 1-2 miles of walking. It’s not unusual where I live. I also like that you include a pair with a strap. I think it’s more my individual problem, but pumps do not stay on my feet. Up to 2.5″ is okay for me; 3″ can work for occasions when I don’t have to walk much. Above that, I simply cannot do without pain.
Sarah
Such a fascinating topic. I have to say I pretty much LIVE in heels and pencil skirts at work. It feels nice to be girly and not look like the men. Curious to know though, do any of you ladies work in offices where you’re expected to wear heels? Or even pantyhose?
Mistress Didi*
I’m a shoe fetishist and have over 200 pairs of high heels. I also love low-heeled, stylish shoes. And flats. And stylish platforms. And many more.
As for the “gross” comments, there is NOTHING more revolting to the beauty of a shoe than all these folks clunking around like Frankenstein in high heels. There are far more clunkers than people who can actually WALK in high heels.
It’s not the shoe; it’s the woman in the shoes and how she walks in them. (My Complimentary GoddessGlide™ How To Walk In High Heels Video: http://bit.ly/DDWalk2)
Stephanie Simpsn
Yes, most of the “low heels” are gross and look like grama shoes!!! I am 55 and DON”T want to wear ugly grama shoes!!! I don’t have any health issues, but I don’t want to wear a pair of 4 inch heels that cost a small fortune either! What is wrong with shoe designers? Who really wears these shoes? Where I live, I have NEVER, and I repeat NEVER seen any women wear shoes with these kinds of heels! Come on designers get it together!!! We are real people wanting to look fashionable without going broke, or getting broke!!!
obuwie
Those are really cute AIMS.