Anne Marson quotes me in a story The Politico published today that addresses a key issue about working (hard) on the Hill: how to find stylish shoes that you can wear all day. For women, the idea is to still look attractive and feminine without looking like a tramp and without having to teeter around like a delicate little flower. As any woman who has suffered through a day in crippling pain from blisters knows, life is too short for uncomfortable shoes (we've all been there: once the pain starts, you'd give anything to be wearing the ugly-but-comfortable pair in the back of your closet). And really, women in Washington are too smart, too with it to deal with this sort of inconvenience. A female friend of mine from college who now works in town as a lobbyist once joked (sorta) that high heels and purses are what's hindering female progress - literally weighing and slowing us down. Wouldn't it be nice to track down shoes that are not only stylish and comfortable, but also appropriate for both work and personal life?

I make a number of suggestions in the article, but here's one that didn't get printed: get your shoes re-heeled completely! It's a good way to save cash while feeling like you're getting a completely new shoe. I once did this with a pair of tall boots that came with a ridiculous stiletto heel but an incredible sale sticker. I swapped 'em out for a stacked version at American Valet and voila, a completely wearable boot for very little money.

Some options I've been liking recently include these always-stylish Mary Janes from Clarks that have a great retro look and would look adorable with maroon, gray, or deep purple tights, these and these from Butter. And though I typically think of Ann Taylor as the Jennifer Aniston of fashion (yawwwwwn), I actually like like these little flats from Ann Taylor and these sleek tall boots. However, according to my mom, their shoes are "notoriously uncomfortable." Anyone else agree?