These Sneakily Comfy Heels Feature a Toe-Cradling ‘Squish Ball’

After suffering a foot injury that prohibited her from sporting her beloved heel collection, Dong took matters into her own hands, teaming up with a podiatric surgeon to devise a comfort-first heel. The shoes rely on a stretchy, flexible structure and a lightweight cushioning pad that’s built into the sole, relieving all pressure points. As one editor eloquently dubbed the feature, “the squish toe” elevates the ball of the foot, which generally gets the most abuse.

Currently, the brand offers heels in U.S. sizes 4.5 to 11.5, and notably, in three different toe widths: narrow, medium and wide. To ensure the best fit possible, Ally offers a trial, which allows you to rent the shoes for one week ($40) and either buy, exchange for another size or return—no strings attached. (Shipping is free nationwide.)

Ally’s signature silhouette (mid-heel, pointed toe) is available in premium lambskin leather in a select skew of neutral and jewel-tone colors. As Dong explains it, they started out with a pointed toe heel because it’s classic—but also because it’s the hardest shape to make comfortable successfully. With their formula down pat, the brand now plans to expand into additional styles—starting with a bridal collection (umm, yes please!) launching July 2019.