9 Business Shoes for the Girl on the Go

BUSINESS SHOES FOR THE GIRL ON THE GO9

story by Carolina Watlington photo by Jessica Curbelo illustrated by Carolina Watlington

In the 1994 Oscar-winning film "Forrest Gump," Tom Hank’s titular character said, “Mama always said you could tell an awful lot about a person by the kind of shoes they wear." His mama was right.

Shoes play a large role in identity and self-expression in fashion for multiple reasons. Your shoes can make or break an outfit. The type of shoe, color, material and texture that we choose in our footwear say more about us in a 30-second glance than an elevator pitch ever could.

No matter what industry you work in, you can still look like a boss without sacrificing comfort. Meet some fashion-conscious women on the go, and see what they’re wearing.

MICHELLE RUSSO, CONTENT STRATEGIST AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

Working in social media for a theme park means there’s no telling how much Michelle Russo will be on her feet on any given day. She might be constantly on her feet at an all-day video shoot one day, and the next, she might be sitting at her desk or in meetings. On average, Russo said she stands for about two and a half hours out of a typical eight-hour day. With the uncertainty of what her feet will be up to, when it comes to footwear, comfort is non-negotiable.

“I suffer from bunions, so it’s really hard to find shoes that won’t hurt me,” Russo said.

At the end of the day, finding the perfect balance of comfort and style is what’s important to Russo.

“Shoes are not something that I want to be overthinking, but I still strive for those clean, put-together looks that will go with any outfit,” she said.

LACEY MCGRIFF, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT WCJB TV 20

During her mornings as an account executive at a local news station, Lacey McGriff typically doesn’t get up from meetings or her desk very often. But after noon, she’s constantly on the move, in and out of her car and on the go. McGriff estimated she’s on her feet for five hours on an average workday. six inches but if there’s a platform on your toes, there’s way less strain on your feet.”

MONI BASU, PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA & FORMER CNN REPORTER

Shoes are not just something Moni Basu wears on her feet to get from point A to point B — they’re a form of self-expression. With over 120 pairs, she doesn’t take her shoe collection lightly. Basu recalled once being referred to as Imelda, after the former First Lady of the Philippines who was known for her massive shoe collection.

Just to get to her office, Basu has quite a walk ahead of her.

“I have to park in a parking deck on one end of campus and walk all the way to the building on another end,” she said. “When I’m finally teaching, I have to be on my feet for three hours straight.”

But when Basu worked at CNN, she had to wear much higher heels and always keep flats, sneakers and sometimes even hiking boots in her car just in case she got sent to report on a story.

Since that’s no longer a concern for her, she has sworn off commuter shoes.

After moving to Florida, she took the initiative to expand her sandal collection. She now wears a lot of chunky-heeled sandals.

SHEMA FREEMAN, PATENT LAWYER, REAL ESTATE AGENT & ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Working three very different jobs, Shema Freeman wants a shoe that can accommodate her career wherever she may be.

“If I’m showing houses, I’m always either standing, walking or driving, and I have to do that about twice a day,” Freeman said. “Twice a week, when I’m teaching a lab, I have to stand for between three to four hours.”

And that’s not including when she’s working as a patent lawyer. All in all, she’s typically standing or walking between four to six hours daily.

“All of my outfits look terrible with flats,” McGriff laughed.

She tries to steer away from high heels but won’t shy away from baby heels if it’s the right mix of looking professional without killing her feet.

“While I’m probably more conscious than the next girl about heel size, it’s really about the incline,” McGriff said. “Your heel could be When looking for shoes, comfort is a number one priority — tied with being cute, of course. When teaching a lab, Freeman has to wear closed-toe shoes, so she prefers a regular pair of flats.

“I try to wear a lot of different colors of similar-looking flats to match my outfit,” Freeman said. “It’s a fun way to show my personality with details.”

THEIR PICKS:

MICHELLE’S PICK CHESTNUT TIEKS, $175.00, TIEKS.COM

“The light brown shade goes with absolutely everything,” Russo said. “I love the bluegreen soles — they get a lot of compliments!”

LACEY’S PICK PINK MARBLE ANTONIO MILANI RAINAH PEEP-TOE PUMPS, $98, DILLARDS.COM

SHEMA’S PICK CORAL ALMOND PATENT TAIL BOW SKIMMER FLAT, COLE HAAN, $48.98, COLEHAAN.COM

“They’re classy and professional looking and still go with everything in my closet,” McGriff said. “I’ve had them for four and a half years and even have the same pair in navy blue!”

MONI’S PICK DONALD PLINER KLARISSA METALLIC SANDAL, $89.99, DONALDPLINER.COM

“I got a pair of Donald Pliner sandals in metallic bronze over 11 years ago, and they’re still in perfect condition,” Basu said. “They’re both comfortable and elegant.”

“They’re so versatile for me,” she said. “If I had to go from showing a house, to teach and then to court, I could still wear them.”

OUR PICKS:

BLACK LENA FLEX MID LEATHER ANKLE STRAP SANDALS, MICHAEL KORS, $69.30, SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM MARITIME NAVY, ROTHY’S, $145.00, ROTHYS.COM

These navy flats will take the worry out of your mornings for easy outfit fixes. Don’t worry about getting them dirty — they’re made out of 100% recycled materials and are machine washable.

Black goes with everything, and these sandals are no exception. Wear them day and night and work to play with seamless transition.

MEEKO BLOCK-HEEL BOOTIES, MADDEN GIRL $69.00, MACYS.COM

Take the throne as your office fashionista in these white booties. The low incline won’t beat up your feet or take away from your outfit. Add them as an attention-grabbing pop of white to a monochromatic outfit or to neutralize a heavily patterned look.

YELLOW SUEDE GAVAN SANDAL, ESSEX LANE, $45.99, DSW.COM

Sometimes a pop of color is all you need to make your look stand out. With a low, comfortable heel, you can finally say goodbye to your commuter shoes.

SPANISH VANILLA PERENNA CONVERTIBLE LOAFER, VINCE CAMUTO, $59.37, NORDSTROM.COM

You can rock them as loafers or convert them into mules with their collapsible heels. Either way, these baby pink shoes will be sure to stun — all while being comfortable.