The Most Comfortable Shoe Style for a Holiday Party

When she’s not working with big names like Lupita Nyong’o, Jennifer Hudson, and Hilary Swank, celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger also divulges her fashion expertise in our Ask a Stylist column. From the best places to source vintage to the secret to finding your most flattering jeans, come back each week for a professional’s perspective.

Of course you want to wear a high heel to a holiday party. It's festive, you're getting dressed up, and you shouldn't have to sacrifice style for that. I think the secret and the key is to look for a shoe that has a pitch that isn't too steep because that's what really kills your feet. (The pitch is that instep and the incline from your toes to your heel.) You don't want your weight to all be on your toes because that’s where the problem lies. Instead, you want to balance the weight.

My safe zone for a shoe's height is anything 4.5 inches or below. Anything over that for me is back-breaking. Generally, you can find the pitch of a shoe to be rather comfortable in that zone: 4–4.5 inches is the sweet spot, and styles shorter than 4 inches are a little low but can still look super chic. Otherwise, if you really can't wear a heel, wear a glittery flat or embellished shoe.

Shop my favorite holiday-ready shoes below! 

Opening Image: Shot by Gio