When it comes to dressing up for a special occasion or a professional event, women often want to combine style and comfort in their dress shoes. Nonetheless, for those women who wear orthotics, finding a good pair of dress shoes that can also accommodate orthotics can be even more challenging. Fortunately, as a professional shoe fitter, I’m acquainted with the options available for dress shoes that can accommodate orthotic inserts. Therefore, in this post, I will go over the best dress shoes for women who wear orthotics.
All of the dress shoes that I will show you in this article are capable of fitting 3/4 length or full-length orthotics. Some women ask me if they can wear these dress shoes without their orthotics, but that really depends on the degree of your foot condition and whether you are experiencing foot or leg pain.
My Role Fitting Women’s Shoes and Orthotics – Over a Decade of Expert Service
Let me briefly give you an overview of my experience fitting women’s shoes. For over a decade, I have worked for a shoe store that specializes in helping women with “complicated” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems.
Many women bring their orthotics to the shoe store and ask to be fitted for dress shoes or any other type of shoe you can think of. Over the years I became familiar with the best dress shoes for women who wear orthotics.
With the seemingly endless and daunting list of options nowadays, I can help take the guesswork out of shoe shopping and ensure that you find the perfect pair that will fit the unique shape of your feet!
3 Key Features that Make Your Dress Shoes Orthotic-Friendly
1️⃣ Removable Insoles: Opt for dress shoes that come with removable insoles or extra depth to allow you to comfortably fit your orthotic inserts every time.
2️⃣ Cushioning and Arch Support: Choose a style with adequate cushioning so that it provides additional support and shock absorption, thus improving the overall experience of your dress shoes and orthotics. The built-in arch support feature enhances comfort and reduces strain on your feet.
3️⃣ Adjustable Features: This feature will give you the flexibility of adjusting your dress shoes to fit the orthotics and your feet perfectly. Therefore, you will be able to customize the fit while also ensuring that your shoes and orthotics stay securely in place.
Dress Shoe Styles that Are Both Chic and Functional
The struggle to strike a balance between stylish designs and orthotic support often leaves many women feeling like they must compromise one for the other. The good news is that nowadays awareness and technology have played a key role and brands are now manufacturing shoes that are both stylish and functional.
➡️ Mary Jane Shoes: Without a doubt, Mary Jane shoes are a timeless classic that complements various outfits, from casual to formal wear. There are now many brands that offer Mary Jane styles with removable insoles, providing ample space for your orthotic inserts.
➡️ Flats with Arch Support: Modern flat or ballet shoes have come a long way, and many brands now offer flats that feature built-in arch support or removable insoles. You can embrace this trend by opting for flats with cushioned footbeds and supportive features, to ensure a comfortable and orthotic-friendly experience without sacrificing style.
➡️ Loafers: This style is effortlessly chic and sophisticated, loafers are always a go-to choice for professional settings. To find the ideal orthotic-friendly pair, you’ll need to look out for designs with cushioned footbeds that can accommodate orthotics.
➡️ Wedge Heel: If you are looking for a dressy option with extra support, wedge heels are a great alternative. These shoes offer better stability and balance compared to traditional high heels. Opt for wedge heels with removable insoles, so that you can insert your orthotics while maintaining a classy look.
The search is over. With the footwear options below, you can confidently step out in both comfort and elegance, leaving your feet feeling as good as they look.
Best Dress Shoes for Women Who Wear Orthotics – Stylish Footwear with Orthotic Support
Read the description below each dress shoe to find out if that specific model has a removable insole to accommodate your orthotics or not. If it doesn’t, then it means that there is no need to swap your orthotics/insoles as the shoes naturally provide excellent arch and heel support. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Lightweight ergonomic outsoles with a mild Rocker design provide superior cushioning and enhance stability
- Extra foam padding and seam-free fabric interior ease pressure on the foot
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Ultra-light, anatomically-designed sole curves and contours to your foot
- Orthopedically designed “Eggcrate” footbed for excellent shock absorption
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Leather uppers
- Flexible removable innersole featuring a muti layer cushioning system with midfoot torsional stability inside
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% Leather
- Padded collar and single-strap closure system
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Breathable construction and light padding
- Two removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Fits women with medium or wide feet
- Removable Microfiber covered EVA
- Biomechanically designed to hug your arches
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Ortholite footbed that is removable
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Supportive outsole
- Insole provides extra cushion and padding
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Features a removable, leather-lined SAS Comfort footbed with generous foam padding from heel to toe
- Features SAS Tripad® Cushions designed to comfort all three pressure points: the inside ball, outside ball and heel for all-day support
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Fits medium an wide feet
- 100% leather
- Dansko Natural Arch® technology for added support
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Built-in arch support
- Removable insoles
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- 100% leather
- Supportive outsole
- Insole provides extra cushion and padding
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, and wide widths
- 100% leather
- The footbed is designed to comfort all three pressure points: the inside ball, outside ball and heel for all-day support
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Fits women with medium or wide feet
- Removable Microfiber covered EVA
- Biomechanically designed to hug your arches
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Removable molded EVA footbed includes Dansko Natural Arch technology and cushioning
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your foot size
Remember to try on the shoes with your orthotics to ensure a proper fit and comfort before removing any tags. This also brings me to my next point.
Know that one of my key takeaways from my shoe fitting journey is that generally many women tend to associate foot problems with wearing shoes that are small, however, wearing dress shoes that are too big can also bring all sorts of foot issues! Thus, the utmost important thing is to wear any kind of shoes in the correct shoe size. You can’t imagine the number of women walking around with boots/shoes that are either too short or too loose for their feet.
Learn to Retrieve Your Exact Foot Size
Ensuring you know your foot length and width is the first step to finding the correct shoes for your narrow feet. Thereafter, with your accurate measurements, you’ll have a reliable reference point for shopping online, and this will give you a broader range of choices for any kind of shoes online. Certainly, if you identify a brand that consistently fits your measurements (length and width), it will be much easier to shop online without the hassle of having to go to a store and try on many pairs.
Did you know that there is a study by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society that showed that 88% of American women wear shoes that are too small? There is nothing more uncomfortable than wearing the wrong size shoe! Be aware that your foot shape and size can change over time, so I recommend getting a fitting every 6 months.
Additionally, when it comes to sizes you don’t only need to only look at the length of your foot but also the width. One of the most important features that your dress shoes need to have is that it must fit the shape of your feet perfectly. It’s important to know your exact foot size, especially if you are going to be buying your shoes online. Quality measurements begin with expert consultation, you can start by reading an article that describes the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your foot size from home. Just click on the post link below:
How To Measure Your Foot Size – The Most Simple And Effective Way!
Are You Unsure About Which Orthotic You Should Fit Inside Your Dress Shoes?
If you don’t know which orthotic might work best for your dress shoes, I suggest that you take a look at the article below:
The Best Orthotics for Women – Stop your Foot and Leg Pain!
Lastly, If you are looking for the best walking shoes for a little one in your family or a friend’s family, you can find helpful information on our partner website:
We hope you found helpful this post on the best dress shoes for women who wear orthotics. Feel free to share this post with your community on social media as well as your experiences in the comments section below. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can email us at: comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
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