Workhorses Only, Edition #17

Shoes for 10K days, professional events and casual Saturdays

In a few weeks I’ll be heading back to Denmark, one of the happiest countries in the world. As a professor, I teach a course called Happiness Blueprint to our Emory MBA cohort and together we dig into work-life balance. Denmark has one of the shortest work weeks, yet ranks as one of the most productive workforces.

How do they do it?

We attempt to answer that question by visiting Denmark’s largest corporations, attending lectures at Copenhagen Business School and meeting with expats who have worked across American and Danish companies. I’ll share some of what we uncover with you soon.

I’ll also be conducting interviews and trying some new Danish hobbies! I’m so looking forward to this trip—except for one tiny conundrum that has been swirling in my brain:

I need comfortable (and cute) 10K+ step shoes.

Sneakers have never made me feel confident and at 5’3 I’m always looking for a little height (especially when surrounded by Danes!).

Typically, when I write a Workhorses Only post, I come to you with my tried and true items:

Workhorses Only, Edition #14

Workhorses Only, Edition #13

Workhorses Only, Edition #11

But I find shoes to be a particularly challenging category. There’s a version of this story where I simply overconsume and keep buying shoe after shoe that seems to do the job I’m hiring it for…except it doesn’t.

So, I asked some very smart women for help. Each of the following community contributors will share a bit about their lifestyle and the shoes they reach for—whether it’s a 10K walking day, a keynote address or a casual Saturday. I hope this helps your own shoe conundrums and please do join us in the comments to share your Workhorse shoes.

Meet: Afoma

Wearing the Tevas

I'm a writer and the founder of Reading Middle Grade, a website dedicated to helping parents and educators find the best books for young readers ages 8-14. Follow me on Instagram @readingmiddlegrade. My husband and I live in Abuja, Nigeria, where the temperature is easily over 100 F at least six months a year. I work from home but like to get outside for fun and errands and value items that blend comfort and practicality with style.

10K walking day: My Tevas, hands down! I've had them since 2021 and they never make my feet hurt which is key because even though I'm only 30, I have old lady sensory issues and hate uncomfortable shoes. I feel like they have good ankle support and are molded to my foot arch so I can walk for ages and stand for even longer. Bonus points for shoes I can throw in the washer.

Keynote: I love the support and stability of well made shoes and I do not believe in suffering for beauty or fashion. These pumps are elegant, make my legs look longer and they feel professional enough for events without the fear of throbbing feet or toppling over. I have them in black and have worn them every other week since I got them last September.

Fave shoes: Honestly? My Birkenstocks! I have the Arizona White Leather Soft Footbed and while they took a few weeks to really break in, they feel like home at this point. I've worn them with casual dresses, jeans and everything in between.

Meet: Bailey

I'm a law firm partner living in Memphis, Tennessee with my husband and two daughters (ages 4.5 and 2). I work in the office five days a week, but thankfully it's a quick commute with flexibility to be remote. We have a "dress for your day" environment at my firm, so in any given week, my work attire can range from a casual dress and flats to a black pantsuit with heels. I'm also the voice behind Busy Mom Finds Time, an online community for busy women doing their best to stay happy, healthy, and sane at home and at work. You can find me on Instagram or on Substack (I'm brand new!).

Keynote: For me, life is less "keynote on a stage" and more "oral argument in court," and these have been my go-to “court shoes” (as my daughter calls them) for over five years. I’m tough on shoes, so I usually replace them every 18 months or so, but I keep buying this pair over and over. They’re comfortable enough to wear all day and have a heel width and height that strikes the perfect balance: polished enough for court, but stable enough that I’m not risking a sprained ankle.

Summer date night: We're in day date season of life, so I'm usually throwing on a cute sundress and sandals. I own these Target sandals in several colors. They're comfortable, cute, and the price is right.

Fave shoe: I’ll be honest—I had to laugh when Marina asked me to be part of this article because I am not a shoes person. If it were up to me, I’d go barefoot everywhere. Most of the arguments I had with my mom growing up were about my (lack of) footwear. But after dealing with some persistent foot and low back pain, my doctor made it clear: walking barefoot around my house was not doing me any favors. So now? I’m the proud owner of the ugliest shoes I’ve ever worn—but they’ve made a huge difference in my pain levels. Ah, to be in my mid-30s.

Meet: Ellie

Wearing the Adidas Gazelles

I'm a mom of two (ages 3 and 6) in the Boston area and I work remotely in healthcare tech and travel ~monthly for work. I have always had an obsession with shoes but most days I am wandering around the house barefoot or slipping into a pair of Birks for kid pickup and drop off. I love how shoes can make a simple outfit really fun. Comfort is key for me though. When I'm not working in tech, I'm talking to fascinating women on my podcast A Day In Her Life (Substack, Instagram), sharing and curating books with Pepper Books (Website, Instagram) or needlepointing (because, like Marina, I love a hobby)!

10K day: If I'm exploring a city, I want to get in as many sights as possible, so I usually go with a fun colored pair of sneakers. This spring in London and Paris, these Adidas Gazelles did ~18k steps per day and no blisters or discomfort. I wore them with dresses and with jeans.

Keynote: Heels will be the death of me, but I have had this pair of Ferragamo Vara Pumps for ~10 years. They always make me feel confident and add a touch of height which increases confidence when I'm presenting. I have no problem wearing them for hours and I love infusing a bit of fun to a business outfit with my shoes. The Varina flats are my preferred pair of shoes when I'm traveling to a customer. They're not cheap, but I’ve had pairs for over 7 years and they're easy to have resoled.

Fave shoes: These Ancient Greek Sandals are so simple and comfortable but feel more elevated to me a flip flop. I think they look awesome with a maxi dress or jeans. My husband and I rarely do fancy date nights, so these are often in the rotation.

Meet: Emilie

Wearing the Suzanne Rae loafers

I am a partner and high net worth money manager at a boutique investment management firm in Atlanta, Georgia. My role is largely client facing, so I have to look nice, and I also have two small children, so I have to be able to move and not worry about falling/getting dirty. I write Finance That Feels to help high-achieving women build a new kind of relationship with money–one of clarity, confidence, and values-alignment. I use my instagram account to teach financial literacy, money mindset, and to help women make sense of what's happening in the economy and markets.

10K day: I have worn these Suzanne Rae loafers on several work trips to NYC (which involve long days and lots of walking) and they have been GREAT. They are polished and professional and, even better, my feet don’t hurt after literal miles.

Key note: In fall, winter, and spring more days than not I am wearing my Repetto ballerinas. It’s a tradition to buy a pair when we go to Paris (I’m French-American) and they are timeless and versatile.

Fave shoes: These Dr. Scholl’s platform sandals have lasted me years and are so comfortable, even when I’m on my feet all day. They easily dress up or down depending on the day’s activities (in addition to chasing down a toddler, I wear these to work, on date nights, and vacations.)

Thank you Afoma, Bailey, Ellie and Emilie! I love seeing how other women select, style and budget their shoes. And, I discovered some new-to-me brands.

Your turn: do you have a Workhorse shoe to recommend? Please let us in on your secrets (links appreciated!).

Confidently yours,

Marina

P.S. You can do something to help me that will take you less than 1 second. Please give this post a ❤️ if you found it valuable. It really, truly helps with discovery. 🙏

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