FRANCES | Heeled shoes on a wide stable heel

Eight hours on a tile floor and I walked out to the car without limping. That has not been true for a long time.

Plenty of women our age are still on their feet for a working day, and the shoes that are smart enough for it are rarely built for it. You end up with a pair kept at the desk for meetings and a pair for the rest of the day, and the swap tells you everything about what the smart pair actually costs you.

The heel on these is wide rather than slim, which is the difference between balancing and standing. Underneath, the sole absorbs shock instead of transmitting it, and the shape holds the foot in a position that keeps you upright rather than tipping you forward. Black, brown or white.

Why women our age keep coming back to them

• A wide heel is a stable heel. Your weight sits on a broad base, so a smooth office floor or a step down from a curb stops being something to think about.
• The sole absorbs the step. Shock absorption is what matters on tile and concrete, where the damage is done over hours rather than in one moment.
• It holds you upright. The shape supports the foot in its natural position, which is felt in the lower back at the end of a long day.
• Three colors that suit a working wardrobe. Black, brown and white, and nothing that needs explaining.

Buy more, save more

• Buy 2, save 10%
• Buy 3, save 15%
• Buy 4, save 20%

The discount is applied automatically at checkout.

How they fit

This pair is sold in European sizes, 35 through 41, so check the chart before ordering rather than assuming your US number. They run true to size. If you are between two, take the larger one; in a heeled shoe the foot travels forward a little as you walk and a snug fit becomes a tight one.

30 days to change your mind

If they are not right, send them back within 30 days for a full refund. No restocking fee.

A few recent reviews

I still work three days a week at a reception desk. These are the first smart shoes I have not had to change out of.
Greta V., Tempe

My lower back is what improved, oddly enough, not just my feet.
Harriette N., Albuquerque

Check the European sizing. I took the chart at its word and it was right.
Jeanette S., 59