These Comfy Ann Taylor Heels Make Me Feel Like Kate Middleton (& They’re Under $150)

But first, let’s go back to the beginning. It all started when I got a ‘big girl job’ at a major bank, which quickly led to a dramatic meltdown over the lack of professional clothes hanging in my closet. You see, I had a closet full of going-out clothes, athleisure and college sweatshirts to keep me going from class during the weekdays to bars on the weekends, but I had no proper trousers or pairs of acceptable heels that didn’t have a gigantic platform to get me through a 9-to-5. So, one day while walking around New York City, my mom and I stumbled across an Ann Taylor.

At the time, stepping into the brand’s storefront felt like a betrayal to my youth (I’m laughing at the irony now because it’s one of my favorite places to shop), but it was the only store where I knew I’d be able to buy a few appropriate outfits to wear to the office. That’s when I came across the pumps that have since become a workhorse in my closet. Black and rather simple, I was immediately drawn to the heels for the sleek silhouette and classy style. They have a contoured d’orsay cut, which creates a separation between the back and front of the shoe. While this seems like a minor detail, the silhouette creates such a streamlined look and elongates the legs.