Heels have long been hailed as the shoes to wear for fancyevents, from parties to weddings to big meetings at the office, but let's faceit - they're incredibly uncomfortable. While most of us have coveted a pair ofstrappy designer stilettos, we often pay the price for purchasing them whenwe're limping two hours into a night out on the town. The truth is, heels hurtso badly because they're horrible for our feet. Twisted ankles, plantarfasciitis, heel and arch pain and stress fractures along the balls of our feetare all par for the course when we wear these babies too frequently, but manyof us endure the pain anyway. Heels may seem like they're the only acceptableshoes to don for a big event, but that's not the case. Next time you're lookingfor a pair of shoes that will look great with that little black dress but don'twant to spend most of the night looking for the nearest seat, you might want toconsider trying out a new look.

Flat sandals

In the summer months, flat sandals will be your best friend.Many styles are just as fancy as heels, and they look good with skirts,dresses, shorts and pants. One of the best things about sandals? Unlike heels,they transition well between very casual outfits and very fancy ones. Keep in mind that flip flops, while stylish, are prettyhorrible for your feet. You'll want to opt for sandals that wrap around theback of your heel, like gladiator sandals. Regardless of the type of sandalsyou choose, make sure they have plenty of arch support. 

Flat boots

There is an endless variety of flat boots to choose from,which makes them an excellent heel substitute. One of the unique things aboutboots is their varying heights, each of which look fabulous with a different bottom.Tall boots look great with skirts and dresses, while you can rock short bootswith almost anything. Combat boots and biker boots will give an outfit someedge, while riding boots have a certain sophistication to them. To up the number of outfits that look good with your boots,make sure you invest in a classic pair as well as a few fun ones. A tall brownpair and a short black pair will cover almost all of your wardrobe at once. 

Wedge sneakers

This style of footwear is super popular right now, and whilenot as ideal as regular sneakers, they're so much more comfortable andsupportive than sky-high heels. The have more cushioning than other shoes bynature, and they totally surround your feet and even have laces, giving you farmore support than a traditional pair. Another good option? Wedges by TOMS. Even with sneaker wedges, it's still a good idea to choose aheel that's roughly two inches tall. Super-high wedges still distort the shapeof your foot and put tons of pressure on the balls of your feet. Because theseshoes don't have an ideal amount of bend, you'll still want to limit howfrequently you wear these.

Loafers

Loafers may not sound flattering, but hear us out on thisone. While they were once reserved for suit-wearing businessmen, loafers arenow en vogue and come in so many styles and colors that give a vintage edge tooutfits. They have more arch support than ballet flats, but if you find youneed a boost, you can always add in a pair of arch inserts or heel pads. 

 Converse-style sneakers

Like their wedge sneaker sisters, this footwear option ismaking a huge comeback. These days, sneakers aren't reserved for a pair ofbeat-up jeans and baseball hat - they're often worn to contrast much fancieroutfits, giving them a fun and eclectic fair. Case in point: Some brides evenchoose Converse on their wedding days. It's a bit of an extreme example, butit's the creativity that counts.

 Oxfords

These menswear-inspired shoes are an old classic that havetruly never gone out of style. You'll still find the shiny black Oxfords yourgrandmother wore in many store, while some modernized versions are covered inblack studs or cool prints. One great thing about Oxfords? They work well inevery season, from spring to winter.

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