Bella Druckman
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers, Getty
In our column “What I Can’t Live Without,” we have interviewed hundreds of famous people about their favorite products — and here, we’re going deep into their favorite comfortable shoes. If you needed some proof that famous people really are just like us, many of them opt for pairs that make them feel good, whether the shoes are subtly stylish or gloriously ugly, and once they find the right pair, they’ll stick with them. (In fact, one celebrity told us he owns 30 pairs of his favorite outdoor slippers.) You’ll find plenty of Birks, Docs, and Crocs on this list, as well as a smattering of lesser-known but no less comfortable brands. To help you scan through these celebrities’ favorite comfortable shoes, we’ve organized this list by type — sneakers, sandals and slides, slippers, clogs, loafers, and boots — and in cases where more than one celebrity has recommended the pair, we’ve included all of their quotes.
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon
“They’re supercomfortable, and I wear them for 12 hours at a time … especially when I cook for collaborations and have to travel and I don’t have many people to help me. I’ll wear them on the plane, walking around a new city, and then in the kitchen. They’re easy to put on and easy to clean. They’re super-supportive, and even after hours, I don’t have any back pain and my body doesn’t feel anything.” — July 2024
Lynda Carter
“I have a lot of sneakers. Because the Vince ones are just slip-on, I find that I wear those more than anything. They’re my go-to easy slip-on shoes, and they’re really comfortable. For Thanksgiving, I wore some oversize sequined pants with Vince sneakers, a T-shirt, and a white Stella McCartney jacket. I wear them as often as I can.” — December 2023
Carly Mark
“They’re the perfect black sneaker. They’re very cool. They’re very comfortable. They’re very discreet. Once I bought them, I started wearing them every day, which is a sign that they work. I have multiple pairs now. If I’m running around during the day, I’m wearing those sneakers.” — July 2024
Jimmy Butler
“These shoes are always with me in a multitude of colorways. My love for tennis inspired this sneaker. I get to play tennis in it, I get to walk around in it, I get to play basketball. Life is good whenever you have a JB2 on.” — April 2024
Anna Cathcart
“My dad told me that my granddad used to wear these shoes. He was like, What is fashion these days? He ironically got them for me for Christmas and I am obsessed with them. They’re very Grandpa-core for sure, but they go with way more outfits than you’d think. They’re chunky, which I think goes with a lot of the pants and shorts that I wear, but they even go with skirts or dresses if they’re more casual or made out of an athletic material. They were originally meant for running, so they’re super-comfy. I’ll wear them to school or set or on the airplane — they’re definitely my new everyday shoe.” — June 2023
Tina Barney
“In the winter I wear black; in the summer I wear gray. I have bad feet and have to use orthotics, so I need a good support shoe. I used to go to a store, Enslow, on the Upper East Side, and that’s where I first got them. Other shoes, even with high soles, don’t give me the support I need like these.” — May 2023
Macklemore
“I don’t know what it is about the 550s, but they’re just easy. I can wear them with anything. The white ones are very similar to wearing a white Air Force 1 to me. They’re super-comfortable — great arch support. It’s a design that reminds me of the ’80s, and I love that era. It’s a classic dad shoe, but I don’t really think of the 550 as a dad shoe. Like maybe dads in the ’80s were wearing this, but no dads are busting out the 550s these days. They’re busting out them Velcros and getting on that lawn and starting up that mower.” — March 2023
John Varvatos
“These are kind of a hot fashion thing now, but I’ve been wearing these for maybe ten years, maybe longer. They were recommended to me by someone at a sneaker store, and they’ve been like my good friend in the closet ever since. I have flat feet and some back issues, and these are supportive enough for me to feel comfortable wearing them all day. I own them in multiple colorways and keep them in the city and in my home upstate. They’re great for working out and hiking. I’m not someone who wears sneakers with jeans to work, but the all-black ones make me feel like I can.” — February 2023
Jeremy Denk
“It probably goes back to high school; there’s this guy I had a crush on who probably wore Sambas. But they’re literally the most comfortable shoes for me, and I don’t need any others. I have my black patent-leather concert shoes, and I bring these shoes, too, and they do well for rehearsals or for working out. You never have to tie them; you can slip in and out of them. (I have a whole, like, childhood problem with shoelaces.) Infinitely comfortable and easily walkable. They also seem to go with every pair of pants. I’m usually very uncomfortable in my concert clothes. If I could wear my Sambas onstage, I would. I have them in black and white — I’m boring. You know, traditionalist.” — November 2023
Smokey Robinson
“They just fit great, and they’re comfortable. My wife bought me my first pair of Prada sneakers, and I absolutely love them. Before, I was using whatever sneakers I had, Nike, Adidas. I have all that, too, but Prada is my favorite. I have a couple I can wear when I dress up, too.” — April 2024
T-Pain
“I think they’re called Triple S because they’re made up of three shoes. They’re big as hell, but man, they are comfortable as shit. I can’t really walk downstairs with them because they’re too big to fit on one step, but if I’m on level ground and I can just walk around, they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. I don’t know how many I have, but I got a whole Triple S section in the closet. I’m trying to get every color that they drop.” — October 2022
Jenna Ortega
“If you saw my pair of Chucks, they’re almost embarrassing. They could walk themselves, as my mom would say. My classic black Chuck Taylors are just so comfortable. And I like when things are a bit lived-in — these have been through a lot.” — March 2022
Laurie Hernandez
“Of all the Nike hiking shoes, these are my favorite because of the supportive soles. I have a lot of problems with the arch of my foot because of gymnastics. I basically have a ballerina’s foot, so my toe point is just completely curled and arched. I need to have really strong arch and ankle support. I typically lean toward neutral workout clothes, so it’s fun to have a pop of color, especially in shoes I know are going to feel good for me. I did a ton of hiking in these shoes in Northern California and the Redwoods. It feels like they have my back and like I can push myself to keep going because I know my feet won’t feel so bad.” — July 2024
Joey Fatone
“Nike obviously comes out with great sneakers, and I love them a lot. Lately, I’ve been on a kick with the SBs, the Dunks. I love all the colors, but I just keep going back to the pink ones with the orange swoosh. They’re dope. They’re comfortable. I love ’em.” — April 2024
DJ Khaled
“I love all Air Jordans. I’ve been wearing them since I was a baby. It’s hard to pick my favorite ones because I love all the different styles. The OGs are so classic. But I have to say my favorites would have to be the 3’s. I like that they mix it up with the different textures and shapes, like with the cement print. And then we get blessed with all the great collaborations. I’ve done one myself, and so have Travis Scott and Virgil Abloh. That’s what I love about Jordan. He’ll collaborate with somebody on something we love already. We just added our personalities to it.” — April 2024
Stacey Bendet
“I don’t like wearing flat sneakers. I feel so sad in them. I have pairs of Nikes that I take to East Village Shoe Repair in Brooklyn and have them add platforms. Nike Dunks were the latest ones. I’m so not a sneaker head. I’ll be like, Oh, I love the color of those! Or, That works for the shoot I’m doing. But my kids love Nike Dunks, so I got Nike Dunks. I’ll wear them with leggings and a crop top and jacket. I’ll even wear them sometimes under a ball-gown skirt to be comfortable.” — November 2023
Ashley Greene
“I’ve been a Nike fan forever. Their shoes fit me really well and always give me the right amount of support, but the pair that I have I love because they’re all black so I can travel with them. I feel like you can wear them through the airport, you can wear them obviously to work out, but I can also wear them on a casual day out. I love doing HIIT workouts, so having something that l can move in and be agile was important.” — December 2021
Brit Bennett
“Growing up, I always had one pair of shoes that I got at the beginning of the school year and just wore. But my sister is a huge sneakerhead; she got me really into sneakers and pointed me toward the Air Max 90s, which are now my favorites. It’s a classic sneaker that comes in lots of fun colorways and is just comfortable. Mine are a sort of teal and blue; I bought them so long ago I don’t remember where I got them from. In New York, you spend a lot of time looking at people’s feet because you’re walking places or you’re on the train looking at someone’s shoes. God forbid you’re making eye contact.” — November 2020
Noah Schnapp
“It’s kind of a trend right now and everyone has them. I have them in white so they go with any outfit. They’re comfortable so I wear them everywhere. I feel like everyone, at least all teenagers these days, wears Air Force 1s or Converse. But I would much rather have Air Force 1s over Converse for sure. I think Air Force 1s are cooler, and they’re more comfortable.” — February 2020
Keke Palmer
“I’m always wearing my Air Force 1s. They’re the most comfortable, the most classic, the most stylish shoe. They’re a go-to thing in my closet.” — September 2019
Chris Bosh
“You know, they’re a classic. I’ve got three pairs: black and white, white and red, and blue and white. I’m a dad, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to start wearing loafers all the time. I’m a sneaker guy. But you can dress these up or down. And they’re comfortable — no-frills, nothing crazy, super-simple — you just can put them on and go. Plus they’re recognizable — they bring back memories for people.” — May 2019
Glenn Howerton
“These are just so damn comfortable. I have a weirdly shaped foot. I wear orthotics, and I think that’s what they’re good for, but it’s also why I love these sneakers. They’re just like wearing socks.” — February 2019
Ben Van Leeuwen
“I like that these look like regular Vans but that you can also work out and walk ten miles in them, which you can’t do with regular Vans because there’s not enough support. They’re like a cross between Vans and a big, bulky shoe, which I know are cool but I don’t like going out in something like that — it feels funny. I’ve been experimenting with taking the one little subway line in L.A. and walking from downtown back to Silver Lake, where Laura O’Neill, our co-founder, lives. The shoes really come in handy for that.” — May 2024
Nick Jonas
“I like to take a classic approach to my style but with a little bit of an edge — pops of colors or something vibrant. That way, that classy tailored feel is always there, even when I’m just wearing jeans and a T-shirt (or a T-shirt with a suit, which is a cool move because it also has that edge). For my everyday wardrobe, I wear these Vans a lot. I own two or three pairs right now because they’re so easy to throw on and pair with anything. It adds a nice punch to any outfit, but they’re also comfortable. They’re in my bag every single time I travel.” — October 2021
Taran Killam
“I’ve owned a pair of these since second grade. (Different sizes, obviously.) They’re the most comfortable shoes in the world. They’re great for travel, especially through security, as not only are they slip-on shoes but they have a secret, secondary slip-off function.” — August 2018
Shangela Laquifa Wadley
“I’m wearing a pair right now. These sneakers come in really cool colors and styles, but they’re also very comfortable. I have red ones, neon-yellow ones, gray ones, and a pair that’s like a mauve-pink color. I just love them.” — June 2020
Gary Shteyngart
“I bought these sneakers at Alife on Rivington. The salespeople there are so cool. One of them said to me, ‘These sneakers make you look like a drug dealer.’ I was like, ‘I’ll take 20 pairs, please.’ But they just make me feel supercomfortable, like I’m walking on panna cotta.” — September 2018
Jason Wu
“I love these sneakers so much. I met the co-founder Ryan Babenzien through a mutual friend years ago, and I’ve been wearing these sneakers ever since. They’re comfortable and made in Italy — I’m on my feet all day, every day, so I need comfortable sneakers.” — September 2017
Ariana Madix
“When I was on Dancing With the Stars, my feet were just in the worst condition. The costume department gifted me these Oofos recovery slides, and at one point, they were the only shoes I could actually walk in because my feet were so beat up. They feel amazing. They’re my favorite and the only slides I have.” — April 2024
Paulina Alexis
“These are my everyday shoes. They’re comfortable, durable, and easy to slide on and off any time I want. I even wear them in the middle of winter in the snow. If I’m running to the store, I just slap on my slides. I wore mine to a fitting for Reservation Dogs, and the costume department even suggested I wear them for some of my scenes. I personally like the regular black-and-white ones because they go with anything.” — August 2023
Baz Luhrmann
“I know these are kind of hip, but I love that they are the perfect travel footwear. One, they’re amazingly comfortable. Two, they’re easy to kick off. I travel so much, and if there’s one thing that drives me crazy, it’s taking my shoes off in the TSA line. I can even kick these up and catch them. Because I’m known to wear these, friends and family often gift them to me for birthdays. I have an almost embarrassing array of them, but the midnight blue ones are my standard fit.” — June 2023
Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield)
“I really connect with hideous footwear that’s designed to be comfortable. UGGs, Crocs — you name it. Once I discovered these, I started wearing them all the time around my house and outside my house, with socks and without socks. They’re truly the most comfortable shoe that I’ve ever found, and I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert. I love my Crocs, too, but these are so much more comfortable. More cushiony. They’re designed to be worn after a lot of exercise. It’s a similar weight to a Croc — very light — but there’s a thicker sole and just a little bit more support.” — March 2024
Amna Nawaz
“My husband’s a runner, and he got turned on to these Recovery Slides. This is another thing I picked up from him. I don’t train nearly as hard as he does, but after a long run or at the end of a long day wearing heels, these shoes feel like pillows under my feet. They’re not the most attractive things — I wouldn’t necessarily wear them walking around outside the house — but you cannot beat the comfort.” — May 2023
Samantha Irby
“I was doing let’s say research, scrolling, and saw these that have some special ‘wobbleboard technology’ that keeps you from tipping over. I wear them all the time. I buy one pair a year and wear the shit out of it. Then I recycle them and get another pair. It’s the least sexy piece of footwear you could ever put on your feet. My body is at a point of decomposition where this outfit also needs to help me. This shoe needs to push up my flat foot. This underwear needs to come up and compress my belly a little bit. I’m fully in that stage of life, and you know what? I’m into it. There’s nothing in my life that I want badly enough to be uncomfortable while doing it.” — May 2023
Julia Quinn
“I found out about these from my mom during a trip to Europe, I think, back around 2011. A little while after, I saw a sports-medicine doctor for an issue with one of my heels, and he described what would be the perfect shoe for me: something backless with a supportive, thick sole. I was like, ‘Oh, like these?’ And pulled up the Fit Flops on my phone. He was like, ‘Yeah, pretty much.’ I bought a pair for myself and now live in them. I have them in four colors strewn around my house so I can put them on at any moment. I even wear them on the elliptical.” — May 2023
Elvira
“It’s funny, I used to always call Birkenstocks ‘lesbian shoes.’ But now I wear them all the time, and I’m a lesbian. I don’t know if they turned me into a lesbian or what. I use them for slippers in my house, I use them for walking and hiking, and to wear them around town because they look awesome. I get compliments all the time. If you’ve worn high heels for 50 years, like I have, your feet are screwed. These are just about the only shoe I can wear now that feel comfortable, and they have arch support. I have them in gold, bronze, and I just bought some new ones in a beautiful brown.” — October 2022
Jamie Chung
“The most comfortable sandals. I’m from San Francisco, so we’re quite granola there. Birkenstock has always been a staple. I wear these year-round, even with socks. I have a pair with shearling for winter and the rubber ones for the beach.” — August 2021
Maggie Holladay
“I used to make fun of everybody who wore them. Now I’ve had a pair for five years and they’ve completely molded to my feet. They’re so comfortable. I love to wear mine with socks and Levi’s.” — February 2021
Whoopi Goldberg
“They’re not the most attractive, but boy do they make your feet feel good. My feet even look like Birkenstocks when I’m not wearing them. I try to find unique Birks — I wore them in my 20s and 30s, and now I’ve come back to them in my 50s and 60s, so it’s full circle. Let me tell you, they’re great for your back. I have really flat feet, so if you want to know about comfort, I’m all about comfort. I’m wearing the black ones right now, but I have red ones with cats and Darth Vader ones and orange ones and silvery ones.” — November 2017
Andrew McMahon
“Rainbow Sandals is based in my hometown of San Clemente, California, and they are like a part of your uniform out here. Everybody wears them. They’re incredible handmade leather sandals. I’ve gone as many as five or six years on a single pair of Rainbows. It’s a bit of a badge of honor how long you can hang on to a pair before having to refresh and get a new one. Hysterically, I used to wear them onstage when I played with Something Corporate back in the day. Eventually, I decided shoes might be more suitable in the long run. But when I’m hanging out and the weather is decent, these are pretty much the only thing that I put on my feet.” — October 2021
Kristin Cavallari
“I live in these things. I call them my house shoes, but I find that I wear them all the time. There are two layers on the top; the upper top layer is a kind of meshy material that’s a little stretchy, which is nice for a perfect fit. The footbed is kind of squishy — not foam, but definitely really soft and just so comfortable.” — October 2020
Sasha Velour
“When you’ve got a good sock, you have to wear a sandal or something to show it off. The best part is not the ankle; it’s usually the foot part. I wear four pairs of pantyhose and tight heels often for large parts of the day. So I like my feet to be able to breathe, but I’m not going to subject people to what they look like — so I’m a socks-and-sandals kind of gal. I love that they’re very affordable and comfortable. I do have to replace them every year for the sake of my arches, but they’re a solid sandal.” — May 2024
Sasheer Zamata
“I can’t even remember when I started wearing Tevas, but I feel like it’s been years. My friend Nicole makes fun of me and calls me a hippie witch. Which I am. But I also want to be comfortable. I’m always looking for shoes that have good arch support, and Tevas do. I feel like I can walk forever in them. Plus, you know, you get your toes aired out. I’m a big fan. I’ll wear my Tevas with anything.” — August 2020
Angela Kinsey
“If I could only wear one shoe for the rest of my life, it’d be flip-flops. Because I’m a dork, sometimes I’ll even wear socks with them. My daughter hates that and rolls her eyes, but whatever — they’re functional. The Roxy ones are comfortable, and I like how I look in them. I have a really small foot — I’m like a lady’s size five — and these fit me really well.” — March 2020
Maddie Ziegler
“I’d always wanted a pair of slides. I actually had a pair of Fenty x Puma ones, which I love, but aren’t really an everyday thing. And then when we went on tour, our wardrobe backstage is really just about walking around in slides because walking barefoot backstage is not a good idea. So they gave us these robes and Adidas slides to wear with our leotards. Now they just remind me of being on tour, which is a nice memory. Of course, they’re really comfortable and stylish too.” — March 2017
Carrie Brownstein
“I have three pairs. They’re the perfect indoor-outdoor shoe. I like coming indoors and taking off my shoes — it keeps the house clean, I think it’s more hygienic — but I don’t like putting on slippers. I need a shoe with a little structure that makes me feel like I’m still capable of doing something besides sitting on my couch. And I think these shoes have a really good hybridity. You can still take the trash out or go get your mail, but they’re great for indoors too. They have a rubber sole, so it doesn’t feel like you’re just padding around the halls of an institution. You’re still capable of standing upright, sending off an email, conducting an interview. I’ve got my thinking cap on despite wearing these comfy shoes.” — March 2024
Phillip Lim
“They’re my early-summer-to-late-fall slippers. I wear them for dinners, I wear them with shorts, I wear them with sweatpants. I even wear them on the red carpet sometimes. There’s something about the lack of weight — when you slip into this, it’s super-comfortable. It’s good for your feet too, because it’s really the closest thing you get to your actual foot being on the ground, but with a layer of protection. I love the shape — they just look great, the proportions.” — February 2024
Carson Kressley
“These are a preppy classic. They’re little velvet slippers that you can wear out of the house, but they call them slippers. They’re super-comfortable and have a lot of flair. They’re pricey, but they don’t cost a fortune. I actually collect them now, too, so besides being a shoe, they’re a hobby, which is very dangerous. I have about 30 pairs. I went to a formal thing over the holidays and wore a black velvet pair. I have linen ones that I wear when I go to Palm Beach or L.A. I just got ones with carriages on them, and then I got fox heads because I love foxes. They can be kind of saucy, too. Like, you’ll have a screw on one and a ‘U’ on the other.” — January 2023
Marcel Dzama
“These slippers were a Christmas gift that my wife or maybe my son picked out. It was probably my wife, but I think he got the credit for them as a gift. They remind me of something my grandfather would have brought with him from Ukraine. They have a real homemade, old-world style, and they actually keep my feet warm in the winter. I wish I would’ve had them when I lived in Winnipeg, Canada. They almost look like they could be made out of the same industrial felted wool Joseph Beuys used to make his felt suits. I forget I’m wearing them sometimes when I go outside. So it’s nice that they have a waterproof sole. I had the leather ones, and they got worn out much faster. They are so comfortable that I have even forgotten I’m wearing them and made it all the way to the studio not realizing I didn’t switch into shoes.” — October 2023
Lisa Lucas
“These German boiled-wool high-top slippers are the most comfortable things. They have tread on the bottom, and because I am a grubby person, I regularly wear them outside of my home, like to the bodega — which is disgraceful, but also one of my great joys. I’m basically in for any ugly-but-comfortable shoe trend, and I’m happy to stay with that ugly-but-comfortable shoe trend well beyond the moment where it’s acceptable, or cute, or ironic. The Glerups are mildly attractive if a little slipper-looking, and the thing about boiled wool is that it keeps your feet really warm. I do a lot of reading at home, and curling up in a chair and having warm feet and a blanket and a good book is really important. I’m constantly trying to life-hack the best way to be the most comfortable while sitting and reading a book.” — November 2019
Alex Eagle
“I’ve worn Charvet slippers for about ten years; they’re so comfortable and they last for ages. My husband bought me my first pair, and I’ve lived in them ever since. I put them on as soon as I get in the house, and I’ve got a pair at my cottage as well. I travel with them — you can wear them instead of flip-flops or sandals because they’re so comfy. And they have great classic colors. I’ve gotten a bit braver with the shades. I got a really beautiful kind of bubblegum pink last time I was in Paris for Fashion Week. But I live in my red ones — they’re just a perfect, deep, bright red.” — August 2019
Editor’s note: Alex’s red pair is no longer available, but we found the slippers in black.
Phillip Lim
“I have four pairs. I have them in this royal blue. I have them in clementine, which is the orange. I have white ones that are super-chic, but they’re sold out constantly. And I have a pair of navy ones that I’m literally wearing right now. What’s incredible about them is the way they’re built: it’s a full rubber-injection construction, and then there’s a removable cork insole. So when it gets dirty, you remove the cork insole and rinse it down and it looks brand-new. I do everything in these clogs, from gardening to traveling to walking around the city. They’re amazing for airports because you just slide them off, no unlacing involved. It’s heavy-duty, so it protects your toes from potential accidents. The shape is really great for dressing up as well. Everyone wears those chunky Bottega rubber mules — these are the Italian clog version, but for $78.” — February 2024
Kelis
“On the farm, I live in Crocs. At this point it’s become Jordans onstage, Crocs on the farm. I’ve got winter Crocs, rainbow Crocs, tie-dye Crocs, I have them all. My kids wear them, too. We’re a Crocs family to the point where I’m like, we have farm Crocs and leaving-the-farm Crocs. They’re not the same.” — September 2023
Ben Baller
“They are so damn comfortable. At my age, everything becomes about that. There’s a reason so many doctors wear them: They are not only comfortable but so easy to clean and breathable, and they can be worn with or without socks and as a clog or with the strap on the back. It’s just an all-access shoe. My two pairs are collaborations with Takashi Murakami, one of the greatest contemporary artists of our time.” — March 2021
Ally Maki
“Who knew I’d be in my 30s rocking Crocs? But they’re just so comfortable. You can’t get them off my feet. It started because I shot this movie called Shortcomings, which was directed by Randall Park. We shot in New York during the blazing-hot summer and in between scenes, our amazing costume designer, Ava Yuriko Hama, had Crocs for everyone. Normally for comfort shoes I would just wear slippers or something, but I said, ‘Okay, I’ll give it a try.’ The minute I put them on, it was like Cinderella and the glass slipper. So I got my own pair, these funky tie-dye ones.” — May 2023
Nicole Scherzinger
“I was so stoked when Crocs came back in style. You kind of feel like you’re getting a massage while walking in these. And they’re super-light so they’re easy to travel with. It’s just a smart shoe. I specifically like tie-dye because the colors go with a lot. I put together cute travelling outfits wearing these.” — October 2022
Buddha Lo
“The comfortability comes from the cork. You’re standing on your feet. I remember one time I bought new Birkenstocks for a restaurant with Gordon Ramsay. I managed to break them in within a day. Usually takes a week, and I’m like, Oh my God, I just got these today, and I’ve already broken them in. But once they’re broken in, they’re the most comfortable shoes. These are kind of like my everyday shoes now. I wear them pretty much everywhere. When I’m at work, I wear them. When I’m out having a casual day, I’m wearing them.” — March 2023
Photo: retailer
Eric Adams
“The more you wear them, the more comfortable they become. Florsheim is a throwback. The shoes are made well and I can wear them with different things. Burgundy is a universal color. It goes with black suits, cream khakis, blue slacks. It gives you that versatility. I walk parades in them, knock on doors.” — June 2021
Rumaan Alam
“I bought my first pair of these probably eight years ago. I’m about to buy my fourth pair. They last a long time. They are extremely handsome, in my opinion. They’re very straightforward and incredibly comfortable and really, really well-made. They’re a very comfy thing to wear ambling around the city, and if we were traveling, you could also wear them on the plane and feel good. Mine are always brown, and they have to be the driver, not the loafer. They look like what a really rich person would wear to feel comfortable, and that works a particular kind of magic on me.” — October 2020
Phillip Picardi
“I’m wearing these right now. I’ve always been a sneaker guy in Common Projects or Stan Smiths, but I got tired of the white sneakers, and I gravitated toward these over the summer. The back of the shoes can actually fold in or out, which is just so great. If you’re in a suit, you can be more dressed up, but if you’re not, they’re like a slipper. They’re even more comfortable than sneakers. They’re polished enough that you can wear them with jeans or trousers, and your outfits will be equally elevated in either scenario.” — October 2018
Myriam Badault
“Last winter, I was staying at the Standard in Miami, and Sabah had a pop-up in the hotel. They were selling these shoes, so I bought some there. They’re so comfortable and easy to wear. I got the blue ones, and then a gold pair. They’re made in a special workshop, so sometimes you don’t have all of the colors available at one time. I like that they don’t overproduce.” — November 2019
Morgan Parker
“Another very classic Morgan situation. Loafers and a blazer. I’ve worn loafers at the beach, at a pool, in the woods. I remember I was at a residency once in the woods. Everyone’s shoes were out by the door, and another writer was like, ‘Whose fucking loafers are these!?’ And I was like, ‘Who do you think?! I don’t have the right shoes for this. I have loafers and they’re comfortable.’ So yeah, I have quite a few pairs of loafers. The Bass are classic; those are the ones I’ve had since I was a teenager. I have black, I have brown — I actually put pennies in those. I have ones with tassels. I have the patent ones — those are fun especially in winter. Having a shiny shoe really spices things up. I love them with socks, without socks; I think they go with everything.” — February 2019
John Derian
“We’re in the woods a lot on the Cape. There’s a lot of cranberry bogs and things of that nature, and I can just waltz through it in these rain boots. Mine are green. They make me feel like a little kid, and they make me feel indestructible. I’ll also wear them in New York City in the snow, and I’ll throw them on just to run across the street. They’re comfy. I’m not really one to dress up. For shoes, I like a slip-on — can’t bother with laces — and I like that these boots aren’t too heavy or very stiff. If I could wear them all the time, I would.” — May 2023
Tomás Mato
“My friend told me, ‘If someone were to make a portrait of you, you’d be wearing these shoes.’ They’re not wrong. These replaced other Doc heels I had that got discontinued, but I ended up liking these more because the platform makes them more comfortable. I can actually pump in these, so it’s my everyday New York City pumping shoe. I literally just bought an extra pair of them and haven’t worn them yet because I want a painted pair of DIY Docs — I just don’t know what to get on them yet.” — August 2022
Emma Chamberlain
“I don’t really have a specific style. Like, the other day I was wearing a full black-leather look and tomorrow I might wear a pink miniskirt. I’m truly all over the place. But Doc Martens are such a staple for me. They give me a rockstar feeling, like I could stop on a drum set with my boots if I wanted to. My first pair was shorter; I don’t know what I was thinking because these platform ones are life-changing. I only wear platforms now. They’re so comfortable, too, once you break them in. They take every outfit from ‘That’s cool’ to ‘Whoa, look at her.’” — November 2020
Dove Cameron
“When I did Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., they dressed me in all these kinds of combat-esque clothes because I was a villain. When I was done filming, I wanted to order all the stuff I wore for one outfit I was in for a lot of the time. The character was just so sexy and badass, and I felt amazing. So I gave my mom the link to the Doc Martens — I don’t remember why she helped me order them — and I guess I gave her a link to the men’s version, and told her the wrong size too? I don’t really know what happened, but now I have these oversize men’s Doc Marten boots. I’m usually a six and a half or seven in women’s shoes, and these are like an eight in men’s. They’re huge, but I think that’s what makes them extremely comfortable. I really like that they kind of drag on the ground and feel a bit heavy. This sounds so funny, but they don’t look like clown shoes, trust me.” — November 2020
Debby Ryan
“I seriously couldn’t live without black boots. I have a bunch that I’m obsessed with, but I probably wear my stacked Docs the most: They’re super-easy and go with everything. I feel the most like myself in black boots. I can climb a tree or skateboard in them, or run to a train, or defend myself. They make me stand a little bit taller if I’m walking to my car on a dark street or whatever. I like to replace the shoelaces with ribbons to soften the boots and give them a masculine but still cute and chic look. I think that really describes me all-around: A black military boot with a feminine satin ribbon is very much my aesthetic.” — January 2020
Brenda Song
“I love UGG boots for winter, UGG slides for summer, and UGG slippers at home. I, of course, started wearing them in the early aughts, when they were hip. I know people hate them, but I love them. I travel in them. They’re so comfy, and they last forever. I’ve had my UGG boots for a concerning amount of years, and I probably should get a new pair, but they’re just so good. The more you wear them, the more comfortable they are.” — July 2022
Kiernan Shipka
“I think Uggs are iconic for a reason. I remember when I was filming Mad Men when I was like 6 or 7 or 8, when January Jones would come to work, she would always wear Uggs. All the ladies on set would wear Uggs with all of the wonderful clothes when their feet weren’t seen. I just remember becoming so obsessed and wanting Uggs and then getting them, and they’ve just stuck with me. They’re as easy as a slide. I wear them on set. I wear them in my everyday life.” — April 2022
Pepa (née Cheryl James)
“I have every color of Uggs — blue, beige, black — in tall and short. But I prefer the short ones because I travel all over the world and they’re easy to take off and on in the airport. They’re the most comfortable shoes, whether I’m going to the airport or the supermarket. If I’m running around, I just throw my Uggs on. I wear them instead of sneakers because they fit so well and they’re warm.” — March 2020
Venus Williams
“I look like I could protect the planet when I wear these. They’re so comfortable that sometimes I wear them where I shouldn’t, like places where people step on your feet and the shoes start to get scuffed. I actually wore a silk dress the other day and put these on as a joke, but I made it work. I mostly wear these to dinners or events, and I’m always traveling with them. I’m about to order a second pair because I wear them so much. I have them in my cart now.” — April 2022
Photo: retailer
Marc Newson
“These have become a staple during the last year while I’ve been locked down in the Cotswolds, where we’ve just experienced one of the wettest winters on record. They are comfortable, they fit really well, and they’re incredibly well made. I love that they’re a natural rubber product that’s lined with leather. You don’t feel like you’re putting your foot into a garbage bag or something. They’re still not that easy to get on and off, but they’re easier than all-rubber Wellies because they’re lined with that relatively smooth material.” — April 2021
Jena Malone
“I’ve owned two pairs my entire life. I’ve had the standard, easy ones for almost 25 years. I just recently bought the heeled version that looks a little cuter. I love them and wear them all the time. They’re good work boots. I can get into trouble in them and help other people out of trouble in them. They’re waterproof, which is important. If I’m caught in a rainstorm, my feet aren’t going to get wet. They’re so comfortable that the other day, I was running around cleaning my house and forgot I had them on.” — March 2024
Hunter Lewis
“I got my first pair of Blundstones about 12 years ago, and they became indispensable. I wore them as a professional cook working the line because they were comfortable and easy to clean. I also could wear them hiking, and then when I started working in food media, I could dress them up with jeans and a blazer. I just feel good every time I wear them. They’re so practical, I’ll get shout-outs from other people wearing them. The shoe-shine guys will comment on them. When I met Laura Brown of InStyle, I was wearing them, and she gave them a nod. I feel like that gave me fashion cred.” — February 2019
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings