Would you be prepared to give up on comfortable footwear, just to be stylish? If the answer is no, then the good news is that you don’t need to give up on either. Nowadays, trainers are more trendy than ever – and shoe companies are becoming more aware of the need to balance comfort with style.
That said, many of us still want to occasionally step out of our everyday trainers for something a little more dressy. Below are a couple of shoe companies that’ve filled this hole in the shoe market: Sole Bliss and Calla.
Sole Bliss
Each pair of Sole Bliss shoes contains the patent pending Juanet Technology® and the innovative Bunion Bed®, which contours around your bunion, cushioning and comforting it with every step.
Whether you suffer from painful feet or not, it’s inevitable that our feet get wider with age, so it’s good to find shoes that accommodate this. Most fashion shoes come in one width only. But this is one brand that appreciates that shoes come in different widths, not just lengths.
We asked Backpacker Granny, who has both wide feet and bunions, to review a pair of Sole Bliss shoes. She said…
“Imagine my surprise when a beautiful pink shoe box arrived at my door. I opened it and gently pulled back the snowy white tissue paper. I felt like Cinderella! “They fit, they fit”, I cried.
“I have the ugliest feet in Christendom. I hate my feet. I have a large scale bunion on one foot and a baby bunion on the other. My feet are also incredibly wide, and I have found, over the years, great difficulty getting fashionable shoes for my elephantine feet!
“However the search is over, I am a complete convert. Sole Bliss are absolutely the most comfortable and chic shoes I have EVER had. My first of many pairs, I hope, (seen here) will be my go-to-travelling-shoes, from now onwards. Just let me get travelling again!”
Calla
Calla Shoes is the brainchild of owner Jennifer Bailey, a bunion sufferer of the last 20 years and a serial hunter of stylish shoes to wear for special occasions. Jennifer understands the pain of not being able to find shoes to fit your feet better than anyone, having gone through it for the most of her life.
Unlike regular wide fitting shoes, Calla footwear is wide in the toe box, but standard in the heel. This allows them to provide us with additional width and volume where we need it most across our bunions, without having our heel pop out of the shoe.
Times are changing in so many ways and so too with our feet we no longer have to suffer in silence.
Fit Flop
FitFlop is a footwear brand founded in 2007 by Marcia Kilgore, designed to combine style with superior comfort.
The brand gained popularity with its innovative Microwobbleboard technology, which features a specially engineered midsole that provides exceptional shock absorption and pressure diffusion. This unique construction helps distribute weight evenly across the foot, reducing strain on joints and enhancing overall comfort.
FitFlop shoes are ergonomically designed to promote a natural walking gait, which can alleviate discomfort for those with foot issues, such as arthritis or plantar fasciitis. The shoes also engage key muscle groups with each step, potentially improving muscle tone and posture.
The brand offers a wide variety of styles, from sandals to sneakers, ensuring that wearers don’t have to sacrifice fashion for comfort. Many users report that FitFlops feel like walking on clouds, making them ideal for all-day wear. This combination of health benefits and stylish designs has established FitFlop as a go-to choice for those seeking comfortable and supportive footwear.
Final thoughts…
Luckily, the modern footwear market has evolved to ensure that you no longer have to choose between comfort and style. With brands like Sole Bliss, Calla, and Fit Flop stepping up to fill the gap, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
These companies have recognised the importance of combining ergonomic design with fashionable aesthetics, allowing you to step out in confidence and comfort, whether you’re wearing everyday trainers or something more dressy. So, embrace the trend and treat your feet to shoes that look good and feel even better.
Have you tried shoes from these brands? Or would you recommend another brand? We’ love to hear from you in the comments below.