soft feet, Hard truths: My midlife shoe crisis
(And the Surprising Saviour)
27 May 2025
Despite the fact I spend a lot of time on them – hiking hills, stomping the pavements, being dragged through woodland by my dog – I have very soft feet. Delicate. Princess-and-the-pea levels of sensitivity. Pre-Covid, I was an office regular and a high heel devotee. I practically lived in them. Striding through meetings, late trains, and Tesco Expresses with the kind of heel-wearing stamina Carrie Bradshaw would admire.
Then came the Covid years. The joggers and slippers era. A time when “feral” became a legitimate dress code. I worked from home, mostly looked like I’d just emerged from a hedge, and completely forgot how to walk in anything that wasn’t fleece-lined. Now we’re all back in some form of hybrid working- with smarter tops, stretchy bottoms, and an unspoken agreement that no one is ever wearing stilettos again – and I’ve realised something horrifying.
I can’t walk in heels anymore. Like… at all.
It doesn’t help that I spectacularly tore two ligaments last year while attempting to “lightly jog” on a trail. (It ended in hobble.) So when I recently went to a very smart work event in central London, I couldn’t quite bring myself to pull on the heels of yesteryear. I dug out a pair of pre-pandemic flats instead – classic, chic, totally respectable, and by the end of the day, I could feel every cobble, crack and tube grate in my soul. And my soles.
Which got me thinking: surely there must be a shoe out there that’s smart and soft. Respectable and ridiculously comfy. A shoe that doesn’t leave me limping into the Pret queue wondering how much of a scene it would be if I took them off.
Enter: HEYDUDE.
And specifically: the Wendy COMF Suede. Part slipper, part loafer, all-day-everyday kind of comfy. Think: the shoe equivalent of someone handing you a bar of Dairy Milk and a blanket, then telling you your meeting’s been cancelled.
They look like real shoes (you know, the kind you’d wear to lunch with your boss or your stylish friend called Cheselle). But they feel like clouds. Or marshmallows. Or, if marshmallows had arch support, that.
So… what are they actually like?
Honestly? Brilliant.
The Wendy COMF Suede shoes from HEYDUDE are the kind of footwear that make you question why you ever tolerated sore feet in the name of professionalism. They’re ridiculously lightweight – like, so light you’ll double-check the box to make sure there’s actually anything in it. The suede upper gives them a smart-casual vibe, making them ideal for those of us navigating the blurry line between office-ready and school-run chic.
They slip on like a dream, thanks to the elastic laces, and don’t rub or pinch even straight out of the box (zero break-in period- my favourite kind of shoe). The cushioned insole is chef’s kiss. Think memory foam mattress meets shock-absorbing trainer. I’ve worn them for long days in town, full-day meetings, and even the dreaded station dash, and my feet have remained blissfully unaware of how hard they’re working.
As for looks – they’re subtle, stylish and surprisingly versatile. I’ve worn them with jeans, wide-leg trousers and even a blazer, and they pass the ‘polished but comfy’ test every time. They’re also ridiculously easy to pack, so I’ll be bringing them on all future work trips where smart shoes are needed but hard floors are guaranteed.
In short: they’re a total win. Whether you’re heading to the office, travelling for work, or just want shoes that don’t make you want to cry after a long day, these are the perfect blend of style and comfort. Check them out here