11 party shoes that look hot and deliver on comfort

Those 6-inch high stilettos might be pretty but, sadly, there’s nothing hot about a blistered heel and wincing with pain every step to the bar. “I’ll be fine” you say, “I won’t even feel it after a few wines” you insist.

But however much you convince yourself you can cope with six hours of dancing on a couple of toothpicks, your ankles aren’t going to be so forgiving.  If you’ve already suffered, here’s four tips on how to heal your blisters, the natural way. 

Fortunately, there are ways to look great and enjoy partying to your heart’s (and feet’s) content, as long as you know what to look for. From block heels to platforms, we’ll be revealing some tricks of the trade to ensure you look hot and can dance your feet off all night. So put those worn-out insoles in the bin, leave those blister plasters at home and get ready to party.

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9 times out of 10, boots are always going to be comfier than sandals as they provide support for your entire foot. A pair that cover your ankles, like these, mean you can spin around on the dancefloor without the danger of toppling over into someone’s drink (always a bonus), plus the chunky heel will take away a lot of the pressure from standing so you can avoid achey soles.

But most importantly of all, check out that glitter heel….*swoon*. Wear with skinny jeans and a cami top, or with a floral dress to toughen up a feminine look.

Boots With Glittery Heels, $74.95 H&M.

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You’d be hard pressed to find a pair of sandals cuter than these. With feather detailing and silver block heel, they’re basically begging you to take them out to party. With ankle ties and a chunky heel, they’ve got all the features to ensure a night free of aches and pains whilst also looking great. Best of all, there’s even a bag to match!

Wear with a metallic dress to pick out the heel for a showstopping look, or a mini skirt and top for Legally Blonde-esque vibes.

Sandals With Feather Detail, $79.90 Pull & Bear.

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Staying comfy doesn’t always have to mean a smaller heel, which is great news for all you petite ladies wanting a little extra height.

One of the best ways to get that big heel without all the pains that go with it is to look for a platform shoe. They’re chunky at the front as well as on the heel, meaning your foot doesn’t sit at such a steep angle, relieving the pressure on the ball of your foot as well as your ankle. In a lot of cases they can even be comfier than a smaller heel, so you can party to your heart’s desire and be tall enough to get noticed first at the bar. A win all round.

Platform Sandals, $49.90 H&M.

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Whilst the BIMBA Y LOLA fall collection is inspired by speed, these shoes will offer you stamina too – stamina to last until sunrise if you so desire. These gold-coloured velvet strappy sandals are soft on the skin and have a block glitter heel that helps distribute your weight aka no sore heels when you eventually roll into bed.  We love the killer combo of the gold fabric and blue-toned glitter in the heels – it just screams festive partying. 

Gold Velvet Sandal, $273 from BIMBA Y LOLA

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If you don’t want to trade in your delicate stiletto heels for comfort, look no further. The low-heeled boot style will give you that much needed support around the ankles, whilst also avoiding any aches and pains from being too high. Best of all, they’re covered head-to-toe in sequins, completing that effortlessly glitzy party look.

Boots like these are versatile enough to go from day to night, which means you won’t feel so guilty when clicking that ‘add to basket’ button; after all, they’re great value for money. Wear with trousers that sit above the ankles for the day, then simply slip on your favourite dress to take you into the night.

Sequinned High Heel Ankle Boots, $99.90 Zara.

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A slingback will give you less support around the ankle than a standard sandal, but they also give your feet a little more breathing space, which is ideal for staying cooler. Even better, they’re super easy to kick off underneath the table and slip back on when you’re ready to leave, so your date will never even know you spent the last two hours enjoying the comfort of being barefoot.

Slingbacks look best when you can show them off so, if you wear trousers, make sure that they’re cropped above the ankle. Otherwise, pair with any party dress and off you go!

Slingbacks, $54.95 H&M.

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If you’re looking for a multi-purpose shoe that you’ll be able to wear for any occasion, this pair from Zara fit the bill pretty perfectly. Subtle with a flash of metallic, the block heel will keep your feet nice and comfy, whilst giving that glamourous edge. They’re professional enough to rock in the office, yet interesting enough to double up as a party shoe thanks to that glimmer of silver.

Wear with all black for a rocky high-fashion feel, or a dainty dress to add contrast, then finish off with accents of gold jewellery to tie it all together.

Ankle Boots With Metallic Heels, $79.90 Zara.

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The secret to a good-looking party shoe lies in the detailing, which is why we’ve fallen in love with these Sixth Sense studded numbers from ASOS. The studs add a harder edge to the look, which are going to look great alongside a matching clutch bag. As they’re contrasting cream and black, they’ll also go with light or dark dresses and are smart enough to wear to the office, so you won’t be needing another pair of shoes to change into for the night.

Try wearing with a monochrome dress in cream or black and studded accessories to top it all off.

ASOS Sixth Sense Studded Midi Shoes, $86.20 ASOS.

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Gone are the days of frumpy court shoes (hooray!). With brands like Zara producing these fierce low-heeled beauties, there’s no need to worry about unflattering courts that add thirty-odd years to your age. The asymmetric heel brings them into the 21st century, with the space grey glitter adding a futuristic look that lets everyone know you mean business. If you’re a grey fan in general, here’s how all the local celebs are rocking the grey trend. 

The point is at just enough of an angle to prevent squished toes and the ankle fastening means you’ll be able to dance all night without the shoe slipping around. Accessorise with metallic jewellery and dance the night away.

Shiny High Heel Court Shoes, $99.90 Zara.

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Your mind may jump to strappy heels when it comes to party shoes, but don’t rule out long boots. When styled right, they can make an outfit, plus when they’re as shiny and beautiful as these, do you even need any justification? Not only will a metallic add extra oomph to your outfit, but they’ll go with pretty much anything so you’ll always get your money’s worth.

The long style will provide loads of support for your feet, and because the eye will be drawn to the length of the boot, the heel doesn’t need to be high to look flattering. Stay cool by pairing them with a simple slip dress for a sultry, head-turning ensemble. For every other style of boot, head over to our busy girl’s guide. 

Over The Knee Heel Boots, $179 Mango.

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Anything in a bold red is a guaranteed 10/10 on the hotness scale and when they come with adorable bow detailing like this, you can be sure to strike the balance between naughty and nice. If you’re into your bows, here’s how to wear a pussy bow blouse without looking old. 

The 7cm heel gives just enough height to get that flattering elongated leg without those midnight ankle-aches. The faux suede ankle strap will also be slightly softer on your skin, so you won’t have to deal with them digging in as you contemplate bursting into your best Dirty Dancing rendition. Team it with all black and a bold red lip to make it pop.

Public Desire Lavish Bow Detail Block Heel Sandals, $59.90 Zalora.

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