In the world of fashionable footwear, it seems that the prettier the shoe, the more uncomfortable it’s bound to be. And in the case of the shoes that you wear on your wedding day—one of the most important days of your life (and one in which you’re on your feet for hours straight!)—comfort should be as important a consideration as aesthetics.
Thankfully for women everywhere, designer Sarah Flint has made it possible to have both. Since founding her namesake company in 2013, the New York–based footwear designer has prided herself on creating shoes that are as comfortable as they are beautiful. Her styles run the gamut from pumps and sandals to boots and flats (Flint’s Natalie flat was made famous by none other than Meghan Markle). And to the relief of fashion-conscious brides, Flint also offers a range of wedding-specific styles that won’t require you to shed them for a pair of flip-flops halfway through the evening.
“I think the most important thing [for your wedding day] is that you’re wearing something that is incredibly comfortable, that looks elegant and sophisticated and of course timeless,” Flint says. “You should not be thinking about your shoes [on your wedding night].”
Flint’s mission was born out of personal experience. From a young age, she inherited a love of fashion from her grandmother and went on to study at Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Though she loved all forms of sartorial expression, shoes, she says, “made my heart beat faster.” But she grew frustrated by the lack of attractive options that didn’t make her feet ache.
“I would save up for luxury shoes, and then I found how uncomfortable they were, and they would sit at the back of my closet, or I’d wear them for part of an event and then swap my shoes,” she says. “And I just thought that was crazy—that the ones that you spend the most money on are the ones that are the most painful.”
So she set out to change that. Partnering with the top factories in Italy and sourcing the highest quality leather, Flint has worked to perfect the technology within her shoes—including extra padding, superior arch support, and steel-rod heels for durability and stability. Flint describes herself as “obsessive” about fit, with styles undergoing multiple rounds of fit testing before making it into a collection. But for as forward-thinking as the interior of her shoes are, the exterior is always timeless (and offered at about half the price of many high-end brands).
Dallas customers will immediately feel the difference upon trying on one of Flint’s designs in her NorthPark store, one of only two brick-and-mortar locations for the brand nationwide. (The other is in Atlanta.) Designed to resemble Flint’s own living room, the store’s traditional look and friendly atmosphere creates a shopping experience that’s as comfortable as the shoes they sell.
“With so many luxury stores, you go in and it’s beautiful, and it feels very rich, but it also can feel a little cold. And there’s often a guy with a suit at the door, and that can feel a little intimidating,” says Flint, who eschewed stark and slick fixtures in favor of chintz fabrics, intricate moldings and fringe trims, and designer lighting (complete with a ceiling medallion). William Morris wallpaper lines the walls, and Royal Copenhagen china hangs above a pair of mantels, which are accented with boxwood topiaries and dried hydrangea stems. Upon entering, you’re offered tea and encouraged to make yourself at home on one of the plush sofas. And though the sales associates are warm and helpful, should they ever be busy helping another customer, you’re invited to grab a size from the try-on wall along the back of the store.
The bridal collection is available to view and try on, as are the wide range of other silhouettes. Many of their most popular styles are available in various heel heights to suit your preference. Should you have feedback on a pair or wish they’d offer a particular shoe in a different material, let the sales associate know—Flint is known for taking customer and employee input seriously, introducing styles and incorporating materials based on feedback.
“One of the things that so many brides have expressed to me is that they like having the option of a block heel or a thicker heel stoma, since so many weddings have been outside,” notes Flint, who wore her own designs to her wedding and postponed reception, which were held during the pandemic.
Indeed, her bridal collection includes many with grass- and gravel-friendly heels, such as the Perfect Block Sandal—available in white and gold leather, with 30, 60, or 90mm heel heights. Prefer something low? Try the Natalie flat, available in a sling or closed-back style. Or dare to wear the Perfect Pump, offered in a variety of colors and materials, in as high as a 100mm stiletto. (Interestingly, Flint notes, heels have once again surpassed flats in sales, something she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen again following the Covid-led shift toward remote working.) Many of the white styles include a blue instep—the perfect touch of something blue.
