When I first moved to New York City from the Midwest, by my second or third day, my feet were covered in blisters. And they were so sore, I was icing them at night! Why? Because without a car, I started walking everywhere. These days, if it’s 30 minutes or less away, I prefer to go by foot than hop in a sweaty subway car. Luckily, my mom introduced me to Madewell’s Sidewalk Low-Top Sneakers, a simple white leather shoe that combines comfort with style, and that’s always pain-free.
My 66-year-old mom, a nurse, knows a thing or two about being on your feet all day. When she’s off duty, the last thing she wants to do is put on a pair of shoes that hurt her feet. So I trust her when it comes to comfortable footwear, and I’m glad I took her word for it with Madewell’s sneakers.
The Sidewalk Low-Top Sneakers are so comfy, they feel like you’re constantly walking on a cushy yoga mat and there’s no „break-in period.“ You can wear them for a long walk right out of the box. The leather upper is soft, the sole offers just enough traction and height, and their simple design goes with any outfit.
I got my first pair in 2019 when the shoes first launched, and since then, I’ve bought multiple pairs. Over the years, the brand has made minor updates like making the sole a little chunkier, but they all fit the same. I usually wear a 7.5 in shoes, but I opt for the 7 because I like mine to fit a little snug to really hug my foot (former ballerina here!). On the other hand, my mom is also a 7.5 and she wears her regular size.
While they’re pretty durable, when I destroy them in the mud or just want a new, pristine-looking pair, I don’t mind shelling out the cash for new ones. The cost per wear is almost nothing! Of course, I’ve bought backups when they go on sale, too. I’m not the only Madewell shopper that stocks up, either.
According to Madewell’s website, nearly 500 people added these shoes to their bag in the last week.
„I absolutely love these!“ said one fan in the reviews. „They are my go-to for dress down and dress up. I’ve bought two pairs of these shoes over the last four years and here I am again buying my third! You can’t go wrong with them. They will break down, but I wear mine five out of seven days a week. … So worth it!“
„I’ve worn these same sneakers for almost three years and I’m on my third pair,“ wrote another. „I wear them nearly every day of the year because I love them so much! They are the most comfortable leather sneakers I have ever worn. I wear the heck out of a pair every year and then buy a new one.“
The only downside to these kicks is that there really isn’t much arch support. If you’re looking for that, you may have to go with more of an athletic-style sneaker or purchase inserts to put inside them.
„Great sneakers, comfortable out of the box, will look great with jeans and dresses,“ shared another person, adding that they „wish they had a little better arch support.“
That said, you can snag the shoes for $88 at Madewell, online or in stores. Trust me (and my mom): If you’re looking for a new pair of sneakers to wear with jeans, dresses, and shorts — ones that won’t make your feet ache — this pair is it. The simple design goes with any outfit, and no, they don’t look like „nurse shoes.“
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.