Although there are countless ways to dress up your sneakers and pairing them with formal attire is becoming more common, sometimes you just need a heel for aesthetic or practical purposes. Still, wearing a shoe to literally elevate your look shouldn’t mean subjecting yourself to blisters or worse foot problems.
This could be why the kitten heel, generally under two inches in height, is having a moment. When they were first introduced in the 1950s, kitten heels were seen as “practice pumps” younger women wore before switching to stilettos. Today, more and more women are opting to leave their training wheels on, so to speak, in the name of comfort.
Traditionally, a kitten heel is slim, but modern takes are playing with thicker widths and even embellishments like block shapes and pearls. Let a decorative pair stand out on their own with a more relaxed look like vintage-washed jeans and a going-out top. Or, invest in a pair that’ll go with everything—whether that’s basic black or a new neutral such as a pastel or an earth tone.
Even though your heels are staying close to the ground, the skies the limit when it comes to this style of shoe. Not sure where to start your search? We’ve rounded up the ones we’d slip on right now.
10 comfortable kitten heels
Asos Design Simi Kitten Heels $45
Everlane The Editor Heel $165
Tamara Mellon Liaison 55 $450
Sebastian White Leather Silver Kitten Heel Mules $139
Jeffrey Campbell Lov3r $135
Gap Slingback Kitten Heels $52
Maryam Nassir Zadeh Palo Mule Cloud Calf $496
Office Atomic Kitten Heel Sock Boot $59
Yuul Yie Slingback with Pearl Heel $340
Anthropologie Ruffled Kitten Heels $138
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