Inez shoe review 2023: Trying the heels and boots designed for comfort

• Sam's review of The Pilar
• Sam's review of the Paloma in standard calf
• Sally's review of the Paloma in extended calf
• Sam's review of the Mila
• Sally's review of the Mora Heels

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

If you know me, you know one of my missions in life is to find heels that are both comfortable and stylish. I'm fanatical about this quest, testing nearly every brand that pitches itself to marry the two concepts. I've even shed blood for this undertaking. When I wrote our guide to the most comfortable heels, I committed to walking a mile in dozens and dozens of shoes to find the very best — getting blisters, ankle cuts, and aching arches in the process. 

So you should trust me when I say that Inez is one of the best boot brands out there. Not only do the shoes look like they belong on the runway, they're also constructed to be shockingly comfortable. With plush insoles, heel cushions designed to absorb impact, and luxurious materials, their shoes really stand out. Here's what we thought of their best-selling styles.

Sam's review of the Pilar

When I unboxed these, I immediately doubted that I would be able to walk in them. These boots are a full four inches high. And while I'm definitely a heel girl, my maximum is usually two inches for an everyday shoe. But I had to try these because I immediately had fantasies of pairing them with tights and a mini skirt, wearing them peeking out from under flared pants, and adding them as a retro touch to 70s-inspired outfits. And after testing these properly, they exceeded my expectations. Turns out they're not just beautiful, but also beautifully made.  

I walked about a mile and a half in these over the course of an evening and had absolutely no foot pain. The padded footbed and shallow pitch made all the difference. And despite how fashionably unstable they may look, I could easily stand on the crowded, bumpy NYC subway without being terrified of toppling over — which is a true test of balance. 

Plus, there are elastic panels at the side that hold your ankle in securely while also adding comfort. But unlike most boots outfitted with these stretch panels, these are cleverly designed to look more like a ribbed design feature than a piece of plain elastic. I loved this attention to aesthetic detail, but what really blew me away was just how walkable this wild four-inch platform was.  And after about a month of constant use, I can confirm that they work amazingly well with tights, flared jeans, and any fashionable fall look.

Sam's review of the Paloma in standard calf

This chic knee-high boot comes in three materials: black calf leather, brown suede, and shiny brown leather that's textured like crocodile skin. I opted for the crocodile option, which definitely looks very high-fashion in person. I like the idea that as the leather bends and gets softer, the creases will fit in nicely with the outside texture. 

Like with the Pilar, the padded footbed on this shoe makes all the difference when it comes to comfort. They're super easy to walk in, even though the heel is 3-inches high. And like most of Inez's boots, these fit true to size so you won't have to worry about pinching or twisting due to sizing issues. 

The one major issue that I had with this shoe is the height of the shaft. I'm five-foot-two, so my legs are a little shorter than average. This boot hit at the middle of my knee, which is a little unflattering. A knee-high boot should ideally hit right below the knee or a little lower. For context, I measured the shaft of these to be about 15-inches, which is about average for knee-high boots. But for my height, I prefer it to be around 13-inches.

I've worked around this issue by pairing these with midi skirts that show off the boots while covering my knees. This is such a trendy way to wear boots that I don't mind. They also look pretty good with loose pants, but I avoid wearing them with mini skirts. And though there may not be different shaft heights available, there are two calf widths available. I opted for the standard calf version, which was a great fit. 

Sally's review of the Paloma in extended calf

When I first saw this pair of boots, my wife had to basically pick my jaw up off the ground. I mean, they're utterly gorgeous, to say the least. They also come in wide calf and footbed sizing, which just made me even more sure that someone designed these special for me. I get so many compliments every time I wear them — to the point that I've been buying outfits specifically to pair with these boots! 

The croc-embossed finish has a luxurious sheen to it that makes the boots look particularly elegant, and the texture and shine gives even the simplest sweater dress outfit a sophisticated flare. I love the brownish-burgundy pair I tested, but if you prefer a simpler look you can also opt for black leather or chestnut suede. Perhaps the biggest selling point was that I, a notorious heel hater, was able to wear these four hours on end while walking in the city thanks to the boots' well-constructed arch support.

The only drawback I can think of is one that every vertically challenged person who likes tall boots will understand, and that's the fact that they dig into the back of your knee on stairs. It's not uncommon for short people to struggle with knee-high boots on stairs, and it probably won't be an issue for you if you're over 5-foot-4 or so. But at 5-foot-2, I always fall victim to the back-of-the-knee issue. Otherwise, the heel height, pitch, and wide-calf fit, and option for a wide footbed make everything about the boot super comfortable when you're standing still or walking.

Sam's review of the Mila

The Mila is the silhouette of the moment. I can't even tell you how many boots that look exactly like this I spotted on NYC's glitterati during fall fashion week. A pointed toe, a kitten heel, and a slouchy shaft have never been trendier — and the Mila combines them all. I got it in a luxurious black suede, but it's also available in olive, black, and silver leather. 

These are a perfect middle ground between knee-high boots and ankle boots. They hit right at the calf muscle on me, which I was worried would be unflattering since I don't have mile-long legs like the model. But they look amazing with tights. And I can't wait to wear them peeking out from maxi skirts and paired with slim-fitting pants. The only thing I would avoid wearing them with is mini skirts with bare legs, since they tend to emphasize the widest part of my leg.

Again, I can't say enough good things about how comfortable these are. More than platforms or block heels, it takes a lot to make sure that kitten heels are comfortable and provide balance. And these pass the comfort test with flying colors. I would just caution anyone with particularly developed calf muscles that this may not work for them, since the shaft is a touch narrow. 

Sally's review of the Mora Heels

Once you get past the challenge of choosing between the black and brown version of these croc-embossed heels, you won't be able to stop thanking yourself for ordering them. And this is coming from someone who notoriously hates wearing anything higher than a platform sneaker. 

Having wide feet and high arches has always made finding comfortable heels seem like an impossible task. So before I tell you how much I genuinely love this pair of shoes, I really need you to understand just how much I genuinely hate almost every other pair of heels I've ever worn. 

I opted for the "roomy" version of this shoe instead of the standard width, and the placement of the arch support is sublime. My foot feels completely supported, the strap keeps me securely in place, and the pointed toe doesn't feel cramped. Plus, they're not too high at just under 3 inches. I even wore them out on a night where I had to run around to two wedding rehearsal dinners and welcome events, totaling about seven straight hours on my feet, and I didn't complain once (rare form for me!). If you're ready to invest, I would recommend ordering your usual size in heels, which, for me, is half a size down from my regular sneaker size.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.

Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxno6nGrbGOoqWesl2nsre1xLA%3D