I Review Comfortable Footwear for a Living and These are the Best Shoes to Buy During the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Ever since I was served a creepily well-placed Instagram ad five years ago, Margaux shoes have been my ride-or-die. I have worn most of the signature styles, and as a ballet flat connoisseur (I've had a pair on my feet since age 5; I'm 28 now), I'm confident when I say, this is end game.

All their designs are handmade in Spain and reflect an elegant, classic style that's versatile and easy, yet elevated. I've had a pair of The City Sandals for a few years, and the 2.5-inch block heel strikes the perfect balance of height and walkability. They're the heels I reach for most in my closet, if I think a fair amount of walking will be involved. I live in New York, after all. I needed a little break in period for straps, but after wearing them down, I'm now always blister free.

In terms of pricing, Margaux skews in the mid-high end, but this is actually a good sale price. Trust me—I'm regularly scrolling their website, and the only time you might do better is during the brand's annual archive sale or sample sale. If you need another reason to splurge, these shoes last. I recently took my 4- and 3- year old flats to the cobbler, and they look like new, for less than half the price of buying a pair new. One investment, a lifetime of wears.

Ballet flats have seen no end to their iterations, from the super trendy mesh numbers to all manner of Mary Janes. I like to keep things classic, with small twists, if any. Cole Han's square-toe ballerinas with a dainty bow are just the ticket. But, design aside, what really drew me was the padded, contoured footbed that provides a little extra support. I've been testing many shoes with similar inserts and have to say, this feature does make a difference.

I was a Keds girl at the height of the Taylor Swift and kate spade new york collabs, and walked a bazillion miles through the streets of Paris until mine were falling apart. While there are arguably more comfortable and supportive sneakers on the market (like the On Cloudnovas, above), I appreciate the street sensibility of Keds, and their relative affordability—right now, this trendy eyelet platform pair is $50.

Today is an absolute scorcher, with thunderstorms forecasted. That means fall boots are the last thing on my mind. But at under $300, this deal is too good to pass up. Again, I'm always monitoring Margaux sales because I wear these shoes almost every day. Here, you can choose from three colors (black, black suede and chocolate suede) and a medium or wide width. I have a suede iteration of this boot, and paired with a medium-weight wool sock, these 2.5-inch booties get me through New York winters just fine.