This year, we saw a lot of trends come back in style, and one of those has been ballet flats. I'm very thankful ballet flats have continued to stay on trend throughout the year because they're my go-to style for work attire. In fact, this shoe has seen such a rise in popularity on Google Trends over the last five years that it reached an all-time high last month.
However, not all flats are created equal. I get a lot of steps in living in New York City, so when I shop for shoes, I have to keep comfort in mind. Luckily for us city girls, brands have kept up with the demand for walking flats, so we don't always have to sacrifice style for comfort.
Rothy's flats have been growing in popularity over the past few years, for their functionality and look. Even if you're not familiar, you've probably spotted that coveted blue strip on women's heels. Since then, other brands have been offering similar styles, often at more affordable costs. So I tried the Rothy's pointed-toe flats and two other comparable styles from Vivaia and Frank Mully. I wore them to work over the course of a week each to see how the shoes measure up in comfort, wearability and structure.
How I tested
To compare the three shoes, I’ve worn each flat to and from work, and on errands around New York City for a week. While the Vivaia and Frank Mully are new to my closet, I made sure to wear and style them for similar amounts of time, from commuting to the office to out to dinner.
During the review process, I took note of how my feet felt after all day of wear, and how sturdy they felt after consistent wear.
Best quality
I was introduced to Rothy's when I first moved back to New York; I'd see women on the streets wearing these fashionable shoes with a blue strip and had to see what the hype was about. Yes, they come with a hefty price tag, but if a shoe is as comfortable as they are cute, I can justify the price.
The shoes have a knitted fabric on the upper and a cushioned insole, which the brand says is made from recycled plastic water bottles. You wouldn't think recycled plastic would feel comfortable as a fabric but the technology of Rothy's design proved me wrong. These shoes are extremely breathable and provide long-lasting comfort.
I've owned a pair for about two years and I've worn them to work often for well over 10 hours each time. Since I bravely opted for the Ecru color, they have gotten pretty dirty, but thankfully they're very easy to wash. The structure has held up in the washing machine, and they look and feel as good as new from the first day I got them. At their cost, I was hoping they'd be high quality and they've exceeded my expectations in how durable they are.
Best cushioning
I'm new to the Vivaia brand and was excited to try a pair out after hearing a few coworkers rave about their comfort. These pointed-toe flats have a very similar design and fabric to the Rothy's but after wearing them around, I've noticed a couple of notable differences.
These shoes offer a cushy insole and a padded heel patch for added comfort. Out of the three flats I tried, I will say that these were the most comfortable pair when it came to the fabric's softness and arch support. I wore them to and from work, and for up to 10 hours each day and felt no pain. However, I did notice the fabric wasn't as breathable and I would find my feet feeling sweaty. But, to alleviate that, you can always opt for a thin sock. Since I got black, I haven't had to wash them yet, but I imagine they will hold up just fine on a gentle cycle.
I will note that these shoes run very big, and are probably better for those with wider feet. I did have challenges with the shipping from Amazon too. I ordered a size 7 (my normal size); they accidentally sent me a 7.5 (which was huge), then I received the 7 and that was also very large. I finally just ordered a 6 straight from the Vivaia website and had no issues with the delivery or fit.
Best budget
If you want the look and comfort of the previous flats but don't want to shell out a lot of money, this pair from Amazon is the best budget find. While they don't boast the same quality fabric and structure as their counterparts, the shoes are pretty comfortable.
These shoes come with two removable insoles. One classic knit one, which I found to have similar breathability as the Rothy's, and one cushioned insole for extra arch support. I've worn them both together and separately and found the extra insole makes a huge difference in comfort.
Similar to the Vivaia, these flats also run bigger and I noticed the knit stretches out, so you'll definitely want to half-size down. Overall, I was impressed with the style and comfort of these affordable flats and even received a lot of compliments on them; people were surprised they came from an Amazon brand and weren't one of the previous options.
Best overall
After trying each flat, I was pleasantly surprised with each one for their own specific reasons. But given my lifestyle and living in a walking city, the Rothy's flats have to be my favorite. The structure of the shoes felt the most sturdy and built to last, all while providing the comfort and style that I look for in a shoe.
However, others might need extra cushion in the sole (and be better for the wallet). When it comes to comfort, you can't go wrong with either pick, you'll just need to consider your lifestyle and specific needs.
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The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Shannon Garlin is an associate editor for Shop TODAY. She has been with the team for three years and covers a range of topics, including the latest in fashion and beauty, product reviews, sales and more.
