Zero Drop Dress Shoes for Women: 5 Must-Haves

Are you looking for the best zero drop dress shoes for women? Shoes for women probably come in most variations.

People’s tastes differ widely and this has pushed manufacturers to keep on designing new styles that will tickle the fancy of the ever-growing market.

Taste is also heavily influenced by current trends. You will find that no matter how many shoes a woman has when a new trend comes out, it is most likely that you will find more women buying those shoes. 

Zero Drop Dress Shoes Womens

Photo Name What We like
Xero Shoes Cassie
Xero Shoes Cassie This is a lightweight shoe. It is highly breathable. The strap makes it easy to get in and out of.
MaxMuxun Women Shoes Flats Classic Ankle Boots There are a variety of colours to choose from. The soles are very flexible. They are very comfortable.
Git-Up Non-Slip Adjustable Shoes These shoes are lightweight. They provide reasonable arch support. They are fairly comfortable.
ALTRA Women's Paradigm 4.5 Road Running Shoe They are designed for the female anatomy. They provide good arch support. They are very comfortable.
Vivobarefoot San-Dal
Vivobarefoot San-Dal Womens They are lightweight. They are easy to put on and to remove. Made out of pure leather.

It does not necessarily mean that the purchase is brought on by necessity, as much as it is brought on by wanting to be on-trend. Regardless of your reason, shoe shopping can be therapeutic, and it is fun!

But it is not always about finding the pair that looks a certain way. Sometimes you need to find shoes that also serve the purpose. This will mean you need to look for specific features in shoes. 

Most women’s shoes have a heel of some sort. This has been the trend for many years.

However, there are different reasons why women cannot wear heels or why they are not appropriate for certain occasions.

In as much as dress shoes normally have some sort of heel, there are also times where you do not feel like wearing heels, or you may have a medical condition that does not allow you to wear them.

It is possible to find zero drop shoes and still look drop-dead gorgeous in them. In this article, we take a look at all the available options for women’s zero drop dress shoes.

No heel elevation whatsoever can do you some good and provide much-needed relief.

In a Hurry

Do you need a quick guide to buying the best zero drop dress shoes for women? There are a few factors that you will need to keep in mind.

Take time to look at the sole of the shoe and make sure that it has no difference in the inches in the heel and inches in the forefoot.

The sole of the shoe will need to be flat throughout the shoe. This is how you will know that the shoe is zero drops.

Because you are looking for a dress shoe, it means that the design has to be versatile and stylish enough for you to dress up. 

Make sure the design is not too casual and that you can wear it with different formal dresses or outfits.

Check on how the shoe fastens and make sure that this compliments the design whilst keeping your foot secure.

You also want to make sure that the shoes are comfortable and that you can go about your business without worrying about the shoes that you are wearing.

You may also want to check on the sole of the shoe and make sure that it has the amount of cushioning that you need. 

Our Top Pick

Git-Up Non-Slip Adjustable Shoes

We have done our research and found our favorite pick to be the Git-Up Non-Slip Adjustable Shoes. It has an adjustable closure which allows you to adjust them the way that you need to. The insole is cushioned, and it also has arch support. Your feet will be pretty comfortable, thanks to features such as a wide round toe breath cloth with elastic hollow out knit upper.

The comfort that these shoes offer means that you can stand in them, literally all day The outsoles are made by out cushion, increasing the shoes ability to absorb shock as your foot strikes the ground. These shoes stretch and they make good walking shoes.

Product Reviews for Zero Drop Dress Shoes for Women

Xero Shoes Cassie

I believe that most of us will know this design as Mary Jane. This is a design carried by quite a lot of brands.

Xero has been able to provide you with a lightweight shoe that is very comfortable. No, they’re not barefoot shoes, however, they’re barefoot inspired.

To keep them as close as possible to being barefoot the manufacturer makes use of what they call the field true rubber soles.

These soles provide you with the best foot feeling plus a reasonable amount of contact with the ground. This is to say that you maintain the sensory engagement as well as the underfoot protection. 

You will also be pleased to find that these shoes are not only lightweight but also flexible. They allow your foot to move and bend as it would naturally do without the hindrance of shoes.

By virtue of being zero drop or non-elevated these shoes help you to develop proper posture.

The webbing that is used on issues is Sandow inspired. The overall design of the shoes is such that you will be able to maintain good balance and agility. 

You also be happy to know that these shoes are suitable for vegans. In most cases, the Cassie runs true to size.

In the event that this doesn’t go quite to plan the manufacturer has a very proactive approach to correcting the error.

As you can probably tell, these shoes are ideal for casual wear and being used as dress shoes for those who would like to stay on flat feet. They are obviously very breathable.

Pros

  • This is a lightweight shoe.
  • It is highly breathable.
  • The strap makes it easy to get in and out of.
  • The outsole provides good traction.
  • There is toe box protection.

Cons

  • They are not non-slip.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

 MaxMuxun Women Shoes Flats Classic Ankle Boots 

MaxMuxun Women Shoes Flats Classic Ankle Boots

There is a tiny heel on these shoes which in some cases could disqualify them for not being quite zero drop.

Having considered the market we thought it was worth having these shoes as possible a list because they provide something that is missing.

They come with shafts that measure approximately to the ankle level from the arch is. The design of these shoes is such that they are a comfortable fit.

They are designed to allow you to get in and out of the shoes with incredible ease. The insoles of the shoes are made to give you a good amount of cushioning. 

You have exactly 5 colours and designs that you can choose from. As such, there is a lot to be said about the versatility with which you are able to enjoy these shoes.

They are suitable for use in all sorts of occasions without of course ignoring their suitability for being used as dress shoes.

You also be pleased to know that there is some emphasis that was placed on ensuring that these shoes are durable.

They have high quality outsource that provides you with both comfort and longevity.

I know we’ve already mentioned durability but you also be happy to know that these shoes can be worn all year round. They can pass as winter shoes due to the coverage that they provide.

They did not get too hot inside which means that they can also be used during the summer.

The variety of colours that they come in also means that you can use them in the office as well as out on the town.

Pros

  • There is no breaking in period required.
  • The flat heels are stable.
  • They run true to size.
  • They are very cute.
  • There are various designs to choose from.

Cons

  • The quality is inconsistent.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

Git-Up Non-Slip Adjustable Shoes

Git-Up Non-Slip Adjustable Shoes

If you like the idea of zero drop shoes but would love to maintain a good amount of cushioning then these shoes are perhaps the ones for you.

For most people who are not familiar with the brand, taking that leap of faith can be quite hard to do.

This is perhaps the reason why the manufacturer allows you 100-day wear test of these shoes. This is to say that you can have these shoes for just over 3 months.

In this time you can wear them and if you find that you are not happy with the quality at the end of this. You can return them for a full refund.

What’s even more impressive is the fact that the returns are free. 

You probably don’t need telling that these shoes are very breathable. They have a very porous mesh lining over the top of them.

This allows for free movement of air into and out of the shoes. As such you also find that this allows your feet to dry up quickly and to remain dry.

The result is also shoes that do not develop a build-up of fungus. These shoes come with air-cushioned insoles that provide you with good arch support. They also have a wide round tool breath cloth which keeps your feet more comfortable.

The key aim of this design was to provide shoes that can be used in the workspace and for those who spend long parts of their day on their feet.

To make these shoes a little bit more versatile they are 7 colours and designs that you can choose from. You have the neutral black and the more eye-catching green and orange ones.

Did we mention that they have double the shock absorption capabilities of other shoes? 

Pros

  • These shoes are lightweight.
  • They provide reasonable arch support.
  • They are fairly comfortable.
  • They fit quite well.
  • They come in half sizes.

Cons

  • Does not always run true to size.
  • Quality is not always consistent.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

 ALTRA Women’s Paradigm 4.5 Road Running Shoe 

ALTRA Women's Paradigm 4.5 Road Running Shoe

The more daring ladies among us may want a shoe that is a tad bit more versatile and of course, closed.

What these shoes do that the others are not listed do not do is provide you with a shoe that allows you with great versatility and speed of movement.

They are made to look and to perform as well as any trainer that you may find on the market. 

In fact, these shoes are designed to be road running shoes. If you do find yourself needing to get from point A to point B in the minimal possible time then these shoes will come in handy.

Having said that, we must acknowledge that most women looking for dress shoes are not necessarily considering this. 

We’ve seen it done, however. Not only have we seen it done that we’ve seen it done with style and incredible grace. The midsole of these shoes is Altra ego.

They provide you with a lot of cushioning. Your underfoot is protected while you remain on a flat surface.

To ensure that your feet stay flat for the most part you can always depend on the integrated stability pods. The stack height of these shoes is 30MM.

Even with such a stack height you also be happy to find that issues have been able to remain quite lightweight.  

For those who fancy the option of being able to choose their favourite pair from a wide range of options, you will be happy to know that they are full colours and designs that you can choose from.

The black one, of course, is the most versatile one as it can be worn with most colours.

There is minimal branding on the shoes which makes them that little bit more suitable for use as dress shoes.

The lacing makes them a bit more appealing and allows you to adjust the fit 2 the way you want them to be.

Pros

  • They are designed for the female anatomy.
  • They provide good arch support.
  • They are very comfortable.
  • They come in some lovely colours.
  • They are quite aesthetically pleasing.
  • The toe box is quite wide.

Cons

  • They are on the higher end of the pricing scale.

CHECK REVIEWS AND PRICE

Vivobarefoot San-Dal Womens

For the final pick, we went with one of our favourite brands Vivobarefoot. These shoes were developed with a collaborative effort with a tribe in Namibia.

With the support of this community, the manufacturers were able to bring back an ancient shoemaking skill.

These shoes are hand-stitched and made from eland skin. For those who may not be aware eland is the largest antelope in South Africa the outsource these shoes I made out of leather as is the upper part of the shoes. 

These shoes are designed to recreate ancient running shoes that were used by the San people in the Kalahari desert.

The sandals that they would have used would have had to be incredible to take on the sort of conditions that the Kalahari presents them with.

You probably don’t need to be told that these shoes are off a minimalist sort of design. They allow your feet to breathe as nature would have had them do. 

But they also provide you with a reasonable amount of underfoot protection without hindering any movement. They are incredibly lightweight as you can imagine from just looking at them.

Part of the reason for making them the way they are is the fact that the design that inspires these shoes was for hunting. 

The hunters would have had to be on their feet for prolonged periods and to move freely.

I’m sure most of us would have come across these shoes or designs that are similar to them as part of the sandals that we used to.

These ones are elegant enough to fit into the category of dress shoes while remaining functional enough to be used for running.

If that is not the minimalist dress shoes women that we all want, I am not sure what is

Pros

  • They are lightweight.
  • They are easy to put on and remove.
  • Made out of pure leather.
  • The design is quite minimalist.
  • Uses ancient cobbler skills to make these shoes.

Cons

  • They are quite pricey.

CHECK REVIEWS

Buyer’s Guide

Regular training shoes versus zero drop shoes, what is the difference?

The main difference between the two types of shoes is the construction of the shoes.

This means that the cushioning that is in the shoes are different. The construction of the shoes determines how your feet strike the ground.

Zero drop shoes often have wider toe boxes that allow your toes to splay and also allow for more foot movement within the shoes.

Regular running shoes are normally more structured and designed to correct under pronation and overpronation. This helps keep your feet aligned to a certain extent. 

Can zero drop shoes help relieve pain? 

Zero drop shoes provide stability and comfort that other shoes may not be able to. They can prevent back, foot and knee pain.

This is because these shoes transfer the pain from the knee and instead take it to the calf muscles.

Shoes with zero drop, discourage you to strike the ground with your heel, and instead encourage forefoot striking.

Your foot does most of the shock-absorbing in this case whilst shoes with a heel to toe drop, encourage heel striking.

The reason these are used for training is that the heel to toe drop has been known to help increase your speed.

However, it can affect your posture after some time because you are constantly being pushed forward. 

Where are zero drop shoes most popular?

Trail runners often prefer zero-drop shoes. This is mainly because they are made of less material and don’t have any extra cushioning or structure in them.

The lack of extra structures or cushioning makes these shoes lighter and therefore makes them a favorite for trail running.

They are popular in trail running and ultra running, where you have slower paces and longer endurance.

Conclusion

Women choose to get zero drop shoes for various reasons. One of the top key features you are probably looking for in a zero drop shoe is comfort.

This means that you need to make sure that the sole and insole of the shoes are comfortable. Take into consideration the condition of your feet before you buy any shoe.

For example, if you have fallen arches, you need a shoe that supports the arches adequately. Ultimately, comfort is subjective, and something that only you can measure.

Your feet will tell you what you need. We hope that the shoes we have reviewed in this article will help you find your perfect comfy fit. Happy shopping!

Hi there. This is Clare. Dave and I manage this site. We are outdoor enthusiasts. Most of the content is about products that we love using or have researched.
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