Belle by Sigerson Morrison Asymmetric Strap Suede Pumps, $275 via Net-a-Porter

While taking a rather lengthy walk with a friend around the Lower East Side Friday night, I noticed that she was wearing wedges. I asked her if her feet were bothering her because we had walked a significant distance at that point, and she said that after the shoes she was required to wear to work, wedges were a snap. Because I work from home and am mostly ignorant to the expectations of a conservative office, I asked her why heels were expected in a city where everyone walks. She said that if she wore flats, she got dirty looks from the other women in the office.

Never mind that I can’t understand why anyone would take an interest in a coworker’s shoes unless they were just too fabulous to ignore; I tried to put myself in her position and figure out what shoes I’d wear to the office if I had to do a lot of walking during the day but also had to have an office-mandated heel. The answer? Something like the Belle by Sigerson Morrison Asymmetric Strap Suede Pumps.

These shoes fit all the necessary requirements that my friend explained – they’re black, they’re closed-toed, they have a not-insignificant heel. But the heel is low enough and covers a wide enough area underneath the foot to provide a bit of extra support even though it ends in a point, and the shape of the toe and suede material make the design on-trend without being inappropriate. The wooden heel might be the only office offender, but for summer, I can’t see why an employer would find fault. There’s certainly no fault to be found with the price. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $275.