Cheryl Shops

Use code Cheryl15Fall24 for 15% off your purchase at Inez. 

You know that thing that happens when all of a sudden, you start hearing about a brand everywhere? I feel that way about Inez—over the summer, their Sara sandals were inescapable, with everyone raving about how comfortable they were. I was somewhat skeptical, especially about a 90mm heel—post-pandemic, coupled with the fact that I'm now in my mid-forties, anything that high is a tall order for me, pun intended. In other words, the sun is setting on my days of wearing heels. But before I go gentle into that dark night—and yes, I am completely mixing my metaphors here—Inez reached out to me and asked if I'd like to try a pair of their shoes. So in the name of investigative journalism (and perhaps as a hail Mary for my once-strong arches), I said yes. While Inez sent me a pair of boots for free, the following are my own unfiltered opinions on Inez shoes. 

First, a little about Inez

"Comfort shoe" used to be a dirty word, but a bunch of brands in recent years have really innovated in terms of making actually comfortable shoes that look cute and not like something your 6th-grade science teacher would wear. Designed by an industry veteran and manufactured in a family-run factory in Spain, the key factor in Inez shoes is the shock-absorbing foam insole, which supports the arch and stabilizes the foot. They put it in their entire line, which encompasses everything from block-heeled slingbacks to stiletto boots. The shoes are generally classic by design, with more current-looking colors and finishes, like metallic silver, rich burgundy leather, and suede. Prices are mostly under $500, with pumps and sandals generally falling under $300 and boots in the $300–$400 range—not bad for Spanish-made leather shoes, but definitely an investment. Are they worth it, though? 

The Caro boot

I will admit, I chose the Caro boot because it is one of the lowest heels Inez offers (it's 55mm, or 2 inches). Keep in mind, I work from home and spend most of my day in slippers; my arches have atrophied in the last five years and I can't wear sky-high heels like I used to. I also chose it because suede is really trending at the moment, and my wardrobe was missing a pair of brown ankle boots. As I've noted many times before, I am not a fan of zippers on boots, so the pull-on style of this one appealed to me. I also feel like Chelsea boots can veer too far into clunky territory, but I liked the streamlined design here. I didn't know how to feel at first about the contrast of the black elastic gore with the chestnut suede, but most of the time, you can't really see it when you're wearing the boots with pants anyway. Coupled with the stacked black heel, it also gives the boot a sort of '90s Carolyn Bessette look, which I am here for. 

My honest review

My first thought was not how comfortable these boots are, but how supportive the ankle is. It's something you don't realize you need until you experience it—with slip-on or zip boots, there's often too much room in the ankle, which adds to the instability. But these fit like a glove and feel very flexible on your foot. That said, they are definitely comfortable; I walked about 10,000 steps on the day we shot these photos, and while these boots weren't anything like wearing sneakers, I was surprised by how long I was able to walk before I needed to sit down and rest my feet. There's a rubber insert on the sole, too, so they're not at all slippery. They are on the narrow side, however; I was only able to wear them with trouser socks (versus a thicker cotton or wool sock), and they were definitely tighter on my right foot, which has a bunion. I ordered my regular size 8.5 and felt they ran true to size, although if this pair were offered in a wide, I would have gone for that, especially knowing what I know now. Many of their styles are available in slim, regular, and roomy widths; if you have a wider foot or want to wear thicker socks, keep that in mind when ordering. Are these comfortable boots? Definitely. Are they the most comfortable pair I've ever worn? Definitely not. But as far as combining comfort and style, Inez goes a long way in bridging that gap, and the quality is definitely worthy of the price. Speaking of which, you can use code Cheryl15Fall24 for 15% off your first purchase. If you see a style you like, I definitely recommend checking them out. 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Karen Kane fringe jacket | Quince cashmere sweater | L'agence jeans | Inez Caro boots (use code Cheryl15Fall24 for 15% off)