A Rieker Guide To Comfortable Party Shoes

April 3, 2025

Party season is upon us, and invitations are no doubt flooding your inbox as everyone prepares to glam up, catch up and enjoy hours of reconnecting, dancing and festive enjoyment. While this all sounds wonderful, party season can be a nightmare for your feet if you don’t wear appropriate footwear.

Shoes can make or break your enjoyment of any party, especially when wearing heels. The pinching, blisters and sore ball as the party goes deeper into the night can cause an incredible amount of hassle. Luckily, we have the solution.

This year at Rieker we say ditch the uncomfortable heels and embrace style in comfort. Find out how you can attend even the fanciest soirees in flat shoes that don’t take away from your look in our comprehensive guide to comfortable party shoes. Prioritise your comfort without sacrificing style so you can look and feel at your best.

Can flat shoes be dressy?

While the shoe standard for any lady attending a formal or dressed-up party has been heeled shoes over everything for as long as we’ve known, luckily, times seem to be changing. The 2020s have seen a rise in comfort-first fashion, and we warmly welcome this trend that we hope and expect to be a mainstay in party wear.

There’s no reason why flats can’t deliver the same allure and glamour as the best pair of heels. The shoe’s shape, design, and finish define its style and suitability for parties, not its height. Whether it’s a Christmas, New Year’s, birthday or engagement party, you can dazzle in your flats, provided you style them appropriately.

Wear them to complement a long, flowing gown or make them the star of the show paired with a cocktail dress, mini skirt or trousers. Whatever your style, there’s an avenue for incorporating stylish flats into your perfect party outfit.

Can I wear flats to a party?

We wholeheartedly believe that you can wear flats to a party. Not only that but you should! Putting your comfort first when dressing up for a party helps take the stress of trying to balance how you feel and how you look by providing a comfortable style option that supports your feet throughout the party.

Rack up more steps in party flats than you could ever imagine in heels by choosing shoes that fit your feet perfectly and leave other guests wondering why they didn’t wear the same. We’ve broken down what flats we think work best at parties.

Mary Janes

On an occasion where style is required but comfort comes first, a pair of Mary Janes is perfect. Utilise these flat fashion icons to your advantage by matching them to the colour of your dress, fitted trousers or skirt and benefit from the lightweight feel. A snug yet comfortable fit will help elevate your party look while supporting your feet when you need it most.

Trainers

Trainers? At a party? While trainers might sound like the go-to attire for students and casual house parties, you’d be surprised at how well you can make trainers work on a dressier occasion! Find a sparkling pair that will easily carry you through the evening thanks to a design that provides excellent freedom of movement. Wear a maxi dress with smart, white trainers for the best party look.

Sandals

While many reserve stylish sandals for summer parties, we see no reason why you can’t introduce them to your party ensemble year-round. As long as you’re in a warm and comfortable venue, sandals can bring great class to any party outfit, no matter the weather. Elegant sandals can add style and comfort wherever you go, thanks to gorgeous designs and forms that allow your feet room to breathe.

Comfort tips for dress shoes

Even if you switch from heels to flats (or slightly shorter heels as a compromise) later in the evening, there are still ways you can ensure your comfort before you get to the party. Wearing your shoes in for a short time at home is a great way to work through those initial fitting struggles so the material can soften before the party arrives. Also, always keep plasters handy for emergencies!

The extra room that comes with Rieker shoes can provide the necessary space for insoles, giving your feet ample support as you break into a new pair. The most important way to ensure your comfort is to buy nothing less than the perfect fit.

Find the ideal height for your desired look, and ensure the shoes aren’t too tight that you can feel pinching or even too loose that they may rub. Don’t burden yourself with shoes you’ll be desperate to remove halfway through the evening. Instead, find a pair that matches your style and comfort needs so you can enjoy your night from start to finish while feeling and looking fantastic.

Our favourite comfortable party shoes

While we’ve mentioned the downsides of heels, they’re not all bad. We all know how stylish and elegant they are, and the ability to add class to a look using the right heel is a staple of ladies’ fashion. The perfect balance is finding a heel that you feel comfortable in. The right height and fit are key, and we have a few pairs that look amazing while providing the necessary support.

When heels are off the table, you may be thinking, where can I find these dream shoes suitable for classy occasions while protecting my feet from the all too familiar aches and pains that sometimes come with high heels? Luckily, we stock a wide range of gorgeous shoes at Rieker that are more than fit for any Christmas, engagement or work party. We’ve singled out some of our favourites.

Rieker 47063 beige shoes

Rieker 47063

Create a vibrant and eye-catching party outfit with a stylish and comfortable base. This beautiful beige pair has a delicate 33mm heel height, bringing elegance and a pleasant fit in equal measure. Beige is a great colour to build a vibrant look on top of, so put together your most glamorous pieces for a memorable and comfy party ensemble.

Rieker D41080 black shoes

Rieker D41080

Simplicity is essential when planning a party outfit, and that’s where these shoes shine. Style comes from how you bring things together, and this elegant pair of black shoes with a slight lift gives you the platform to build an incredible party look. Add glitz and glamour with a dress or sleek trousers and cardigan combo to build on the foundations of lovely leather shoes.

Remonte D1L50 blue sandals

Remonte D1L50

The perfect pair for the seasonal partygoers who aren’t quite ready to give up on heels but are looking for comfort to go with their style. At 48mm, the Remonte sandals offer a manageable height with chunky heels to support your feet throughout the evening. The deep blue colour and shimmering buckle fit perfectly into festive parties in the winter and glam cocktail events come spring and summer.

Rieker M3862

Don’t be afraid to mix things up this year and wear party shoes that may be out of your usual wheelhouse. These slip-on shoes provide height without the strain of an over-elevated heel and offer a great style boost for your party outfits. Embrace the snug yet lightweight feel and pair with flared trousers and a blazer to get the most out of these stunning shoes.

Comfortable party shoes at Rieker

Get ready for your next party with excitement and the relief of knowing you won’t need to prepare for the inevitable difficulties, awkwardness and pain of wearing heels. Embrace loved ones, enjoy catching up with friends and family, and even spend a few moments on the dancefloor! With the freedom provided by comfortable party shoes, anything is possible.

All our shoes that will carry you to your next party are made using our signature antistress technology. That extra spring in your step is provided by four key antistress properties working together to make walking easier.

Enjoy extra room and shock-absorbing soles that tackle the ground with each step, so you don’t have to. Experience flexibility that allows the shoe to work around your foot rather than the other way around and feel like you’re walking on air throughout the evening.

Put comfort first while maintaining your style with Rieker’s best comfortable party shoes.