I Wore These Metallic Pumps for the First Time to an 8-Hour Wedding—and I Didn’t Get a Single Blister

I couldn’t believe it…

Author image: rachel bowie christine han photography 100

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Published Jul 22, 2025

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Rachel Bowie/Inez

As I was packing for a close friend’s wedding in Philadelphia earlier this summer, I had to make a sartorial decision only my fellow heel-wearing gal pals will understand: Is choosing the right shoe for the outfit worth the pain? With my two children—and overwhelmed husband—all screaming for me to hurry up already, I decided, yes, and carefully tucked my yet-to-be-worn silver ‘Alta’ pumps from Inez into my suitcase.

You see, they were the perfect complement to the ME+EM dress I had chosen last spring for this summer’s occasion. My dress—a combination of pinks and purples—was begging for a shoe that would give my overall look a bit of sparkle and shine. The metallic silver pointed-toe pump with its mirror finish was just the ticket. It also helped my petite frame stand taller by a whopping 3.5 inches. Exactly what I needed.

Inez

There was a catch: As comfy as this pair of heels felt straight out of the box, I hadn’t worn them beyond a simple try-on. A first-time wear for what was an eight-hour occasion? I told my husband, my colleagues who attended, my hair and makeup lady, pretty much anyone who would listen: Was I mad?

According to Maisie Kate-Keane, a luxury bridal stylist and seamstress based in New York, comfortable wedding guest shoes are typically those with a strap or ones with a block or platform heel. The Inez style I chose didn’t check either of those boxes. Still, with Band-Aids in my cute clutch, I didn’t waiver. Fashion over function, I muttered to myself.

But that’s just it. With the church ceremony and the cocktail reception behind me (we’re talking approximately three hours into the occasion), I suddenly noticed: My feet were in peak shape, with zero pain points to be found. Dinner commenced and so did dancing. I didn’t sit any of it out. I even stood comfortably by the sidelines for some of the toasts and then the father/daughter and mother/son dances, approximately 25 minutes in total. My feet felt perfectly fine.

Rachel Bowie

Was it the proprietary plush insole, which is designed to offer arch support? The soft kidskin leather lining? I’ll admit, there was something about the shoe’s interior that prevented my feet from sticking to its sides. For the record, I bought them a half size up from my typical size (size 8 vs. size 7.5) even though most report that these heels run true to size.

At a certain point in the wedding, my shoes became the focus of conversation—not just for their style, but for their endurance. At the end of the evening, my Band-Aids were left unopened, my feet still entirely blister-free.

A testament to the fact that a good wedding shoe may be hard to find, but it does in fact exist. Still, my favorite part about these metallic pumps is how non-wedding they actually are. Since my friend got hitched, I’ve paired them with dresses, jeans, even an elevated pair of shorts!

$278 at Inez

Rachel Bowie

Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College

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