Style or comfort? It’s a devilish conundrum, familiar to all but painfully personal to office-goers. In the concrete jungle of the central business district, industrious women nurse sore ankles, a fresh pack of plasters always at the ready for the all but inevitable biting shoe blister. Enter VIVAIA, a footwear brand dedicated to women’s comfort on the go. Their varied offerings, all sympathetic to the working woman’s hectic lifestyle, have earned them a loyal following of fans.
Take the Margot 2.0, for one, which is the brand’s versatile ballet flat. Its classic shape features a square toe, a V-shaped cut and a knit body, made from recycled water bottles. Aesthetically, it’s discreetly smart-casual but its charms lie under the surface. It comes equipped with a wide toe box and a stretchy upper. It boasts padded heels—to banish blisters—and a herbal insole, cushion-like, breathable, mould-proof and moisture-wicking—designed to keep feet fresh in hot and humid conditions. They are durable too: lightweight, foldable and amenable to machine washing. Best of all, they come in a vast and bold array of colours such as citrus, grass and ginger, all available alongside the more classic options of black and oatmeal.
For those that relish a bit of height, the Margot 2.0 also comes in wedge form, with a slightly roomier toe box. But we are most drawn to the Melody 2.0, Vivaia’s take on court heels. With its square toe and textured body, it is a timeless design. It also has all the winning features of the Margot, only with a 45mm chunky heel. With the addition of the improved insole (hence the 2.0), there is enough arch support to run around in them. In a true feat for heels, they have been dubbed the running shoes. Proven to be shoes that are a breeze to style, Vivaia’s shoes go well with just about anything, though the Margot really pops with dress pants and the Melody with a pencil skirt is a scene stealer. Not to be forgotten, the Margot wedges would look effortless on a casual Friday, with a draped midi dress.
So style or comfort? VIVAIA says both. Below, shop the most comfortable work shoes from the brand.
