I own eleven pairs of black heels and I would confidently wear about four of them. That’s not a humble brag, that’s a genuine indictment of my own decision making over the last six years, and it’s exactly why I’m fussy about this now. The rest are sitting in a box under my bed being too pointy, too stiff, too “seemed fine in the shop lighting” to ever leave the house in again.
A proper black heel earns its place by doing two jobs at once. It has to look like you made an effort and feel like you didn’t. That’s the whole trick.
The best ones have a shape that does something clever, a curved heel, a slightly squared toe, a strap that sits somewhere unexpected, so they don’t read as boring even though black heels are, by definition, meant to be the quiet option. And they need a heel height you can actually stand in for longer than one drink. I learned this the hard way at a colleague’s leaving do, three hours in, gripping a table like it owed me money, while my friend Priya sailed past in block heels looking smug and pain free.
Styling wise, this is where black heels earn their keep. Slide them under a wide leg trouser and they disappear in the best way, just a flash of heel at the ankle doing all the work. Pair them with a slip dress and they go instantly evening. Wear them with jeans and a proper blazer and they take the whole outfit somewhere smarter without you having to try. They’re also the one thing that can rescue a slightly too casual outfit at the last minute, chuck them on over a jumper and trousers combination that was heading nowhere and suddenly you look like you planned it.
Occasion wise, this is your after work drinks, your wedding guest safety net, your “I don’t know the dress code so I’m hedging” shoe. Not fete appropriate, not for cobblestones, not for a friend’s garden party unless you fancy sinking slowly into the lawn mid conversation. But for anything with a bit of floor and a bit of purpose, they’re the pair that gets grabbed first, every single time.
Top Picks
BLACK HEELCERQULARRIVER ISLAND Womens Black Platform Block Heel Sandals Synthetic UK 7 Elegant
$32.49 CERQULAR
BLACK HEELFLORALKINIFaux Suede Ruched Detailed Mid-Calf Slouch Stiletto Heel Boots - US 4/EU 35 / Black
$43.99 FLORALKINI
BLACK HEELNINA SHOESWomens Simeon Black Satin Ankle Strap High-Heel Platform Sandals
$99.98
$48.99 NINA SHOES
FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Shoes Sarto Kayla Block Heel Sandal (Black Leather) 9.0 M Slip On Fit, Square Toe, Slip
$150.00 FRANCO SARTO
FLORALKINICroc Print Wide Fit Pointed Toe Stiletto Heel Knee High Boots-White/Orange/Red/Green/Black/Cyan/Brown/Lime - US 11/EU 42 / Brown
$95.99 FLORALKINI
FLORALKINICroc Print Wide Fit Pointed Toe Stiletto Heel Knee High Boots-White/Orange/Red/Green/Black/Cyan/Brown/Lime - US 5/EU 36 / Cyan
$95.99 FLORALKINI
MODA DI ANDREA (US)Sneakers Heel
$574.53 MODA DI ANDREA (US)
FLORALKINIRhinestone-Embellished Platform High Block Heel Ankle Bootie - US 8/EU 39 / Black
$113.99 FLORALKINI
CERQULARRIVER ISLAND Womens Black Platform Block Heel Sandals Synthetic UK 7 Elegant
$32.49 CERQULAR
FLORALKINIFlower-Embellished Ankle Wrap Around Open Toe High Heel Stiletto Sandals - US 8/EU 39 / Black
$66.99 FLORALKINI
SHIEKHWomen During-S High Heel Bootie Black Boots 10 Black
$34.99 SHIEKH
SHIEKHWomen Yuko-38 High Heel BLACK High Heels 8.5 BLACK
$44.99 SHIEKH
SHIEKHWomen Edit Stiletto Heel Bootie Black High Heels 8.5 Black
$64.99 SHIEKH
SHIEKHWomen Ashlee-3 High Heel Black High Heels 8.5 Black
$29.99 SHIEKH
CERQULARELANA RICCI Womens Classic Block Heel Leather White Black UK 6 Elegant
$32.49 CERQULAR
FLORALKINIFaux Leather Pointed Toe Slingback Stiletto Heel Pumps - US 9/EU 40 / Black
$62.99 FLORALKINI
CERQULARVERO CUOLO Womens Lace-Up Black Leather High Heel Ankle Boots UK 5 Stylish
$49.39 CERQULAR
CALVIN KLEINCalvin Klein Women's Women's Camilly Heel - Black
$99.00 CALVIN KLEIN
FLORALKINIFaux Suede Ruched Detailed Mid-Calf Slouch Stiletto Heel Boots - US 4/EU 35 / Black
$43.99 FLORALKINI
PEDRO SHOESIzzie Heel Sandals
$73.90 PEDRO SHOES
STICKALZ – CAR GRAPHICS & VEHICLE DECALSHigh Heel Stiletto Shoes Woman Bag Purse Female Fashion Beauty Wall Sticker Decal Vinyl Mural Decor Art L2330 - 15x24 / Matte Black
$37.49 STICKALZ – CAR GRAPHICS & VEHICLE DECALS
J RENEEJ. Rene Women's Faleece Slingback Pump in Black, Lace/Satin, Size 8.5 WW, 1.5 Inch Heel
$109.95 J RENEE
FLORALKINIRhinestone Embellished Diamante Heel Strap Detail High Block Heel - US 7/EU 38 / Black
$50.99 FLORALKINI
THE LUXURY CLOSETDolce & Gabbana Black Quilted Nylon DG Heel Slide Sandals
$861.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
J RENEEJ. Rene Women's Jovana Patent Slingback Pump in Black, Size 6 M, 1 Inch Heel
$109.95 J RENEE
J RENEEJ. Rene Women's Finola Slip-On Sandal in Black, Mesh, Size 6 M, 1.5 Inch Heel
$114.95 J RENEE
FLORALKINIFaux Leather Scrunched Slouch Mid-Calf Pointed Toe Stiletto Heel Boots - US 12/EU 43 / Black
$84.99 FLORALKINI
J RENEEJ. Rene Women's Taveta Patent Slingback Pump in Black, Size 6 M, 1.5 Inch Heel
$99.95 J RENEE
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Shoes Franco Kaori Block Heel Slide Sandal (Black Leather) 10.0 M Slip On Fit, Square Toe, Slip
$140.00 FRANCO SARTO
STEVE MADDENSteve Madden Women's Tilly Block Heel Sandals - Black - Size
$99.95 STEVE MADDEN
J RENEEJ. Rene Women's Jollee Slip-On Pump in Black and Red, Fabric, Size 6.5 M, 1.5 Inch Heel
$134.95 J RENEE
J RENEEJ. Rene Women's Kori Slip-On Pump in Black and Brown, Fabric/Hair-on Leather, Size 6 M, 1.25 Inch Heel
$119.95 J RENEE
CERQULARBELLAMICA Womens Black Platform High Heel Shoes Synthetic UK 4 Elegant Classic
$32.49 CERQULAR
−71%
SHIEKHWomen High Heel Pump Mellina Black Glitter High Heels 6 Black Glitter$34.45
$9.99 SHIEKH
−78%
SHIEKHWomen 057 Wedge Heel Black Shoes 6.5 Black$45.41
$9.99 SHIEKH
−78%
SHIEKHWomen 034 High Heel Pump Black/Red/Gold High Heels 6 Black/Red/Gold$45.41
$9.99 SHIEKH
−69%
SHIEKHWomen Roxy-1 Low Heel Ankle Boot Black Boots 5.5 Black$32.23
$9.99 SHIEKH
−78%
NINA SHOESWomens Rhiyana Wine Satin Peep Toe High-Heel Classic Pump$90.86
$19.99 NINA SHOES
−47%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Makayla Block Heel Sandal Black Faux Leather DRSCH 6.0$75.45
$39.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−51%
NINA SHOESWomens Simeon Black Satin Ankle Strap High-Heel Platform Sandals$99.98
$48.99 NINA SHOES
−41%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Ella Block Heel Sandal (Black Fabric) 11.0$84.73
$49.99 LIFESTRIDE
−60%
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Block-Heel Ankle Boots$149.88
$59.95 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
−25%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Rhythmn Block Heel Sandal (Black Faux Leather) 6.5 W$79.99
$59.99 LIFESTRIDE
−21%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARMuk Luks Women's Lucy Lula Block Heel Ankle Booties (Black) - Size 10.0$79.73
$62.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−50%
STEVE MADDENSteve Madden Women's Twain Block Heel Boots - Black - Size$139.98
$69.99 STEVE MADDEN
−30%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARJournee Women's Sonny Wide Calf Knee High Block Heel Boots (Black) - Size 10.0$114.27
$79.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−21%
J RENEEJ. Rene Women's Rowin Slingback Pump in Black, Patent/Grosgrain, Size 6 M, 2.75 Inch Heel$120.24
$94.99 J RENEE
−29%
NATURALIZERNaturalizer So-Sweet Strappy Sandals, Black Leather, 12.0W Open Toe, Platform Heel, Ankle Strap$147.87
$104.99 NATURALIZER
−33%
FAMOUS FOOTWEARVionic Women's Reyes Slingback Block Heel Shoes (Black Nappa Leather) - Size 10.0$164.16
$109.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
−20%
DRAPER JAMESRamona Mary Jane Heel$147.50
$118.00 DRAPER JAMES
−36%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade Duo Block Heel Sandals, Black$226.56
$145.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−60%
SHOPBOPLoeffler Randall Malia Curved Heel Simple Sandals with Ankle Wrap Black/Diamond 6.5$395.00
$158.00 SHOPBOP
−30%
IFCHICBurberry Cadet black leather loafers with heel - IT$945.00
$661.50 IFCHIC
