People always ask about my favorite shoes, but no one believes they're from an orthopedic brand

Vionic

• I've worn my Vionic Reagan Mules in three different cities, and have received compliments and questions about the brand. No one believes that they're actually orthopedic shoes.
• Vionic is a footwear brand that works with podiatrists to develop comfortable shoes with built-in orthotics and arch support.
• The Reagan Mules won't slip off your feet and come in three easy-to-wear neutral colors. They're also on sale for $90.

My quest for the perfect work shoes has been going on for years.

All I want is a pair of comfortable, durable shoes in a neutral color that goes with every outfit and are actually cute - is that too much to ask? For a long time, it was.

Then I got a pair of Vionic Reagan mules and everything changed. (Okay, that's a bit dramatic, but if you've discovered your favorite pair of shoes, you know what I mean.)

Admittedly, when I first took the mules out of the box, I wasn't that impressed. The silver color was a little more intense than I had anticipated and the shoes were on the heavier side. The Reagan mule is a loafer style, and comes in black patent leather, and sand - I actually wondered if I should have gotten one of those colors instead.

But I decided to give them a shot and at least break them in. Vionic suggests wearing its shoes for a few hours at a time initially so your body has a chance to adapt to the built-in orthotics. I wore them around my apartment and they were comfortable enough, so I took them outside.

At the end of my first full day of wearing them, I had a small blister on the top of each foot. Normally that would put me off, but the rest of my feet felt great, so I covered the blisters with heavy-duty bandages and kept wearing the shoes. A few wears later, the shoes no longer caused blisters and were perfectly molded to my feet.

Speaking of fit, one of the most frustrating parts of buying new shoes is when they're comfortable in the store, but then start to hurt as soon as you wear them outside and scuff up the soles so you can no longer return them.

That's not an issue with these mules, or any of the shoes by Vionic actually. You'll have 30 days to wear the shoes - yes, including out of the house - and if you don't like them for whatever reason, you can return them for a full refund. The only caveat is that the shoes have to have been purchased from the Vionic website directly.

Anyway, after about a week, I knew there was no way I was sending these back.

Normally when I wear mules or other backless shoes, I'd have to scrunch my toes to keep the shoe from falling off, but that's not the case with these. The leather upper is substantial and covers most of my foot, ensuring that the shoes stay on and I can walk normally.

Courtesy of Elizabeth Yuko / Business Insider

Most importantly, they were so comfortable.

The built-in orthotics are perfectly shaped for a foot, so they're not just flat. The width is considered a standard medium, but were actually wide enough for my feet, which is a huge bonus. The sole is made of rubber, making every step cushioned and stable too.

None of this by accident. Vionic works with podiatrists to design the shoes, and many of the styles - including this one - are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association. I also felt like my walking posture improved the more I wore the shoes.

But while all of that is great, if I didn't like the way the shoes actually looked, I knew I wouldn't wear them.

The silver color really grew on me after a while, especially since I could wear them with black, navy and everything else. Better yet, the style works with dresses and skirts, as well as pants. The loafer style is on the more casual side, but the two tassels on top add an element of style and fun movement.

The first time I wore the shoes to the office, I got plenty of compliments. That was nice, but then a stranger stopped me on the street and asked where I got my shoes. In fact, that happened multiple times in three different cities. I'll say they're orthopedic shoes, but they routinely don't believe me. Can you blame them though?

The biggest issue I've had with these shoes - aside from the initial blisters - is that I've worn them out a bit. After very regular wear for about a year (not every single day, but pretty frequently), the lining on the insides of the shoes rolled up and peeled off. But that was easily fixed with inserts from the drugstore and only happened because I wore them so much. Also, at some point, I may need to take them to my cobbler to be resoled, but again, that's normal wear and tear - especially if you live in New York City like me.

The Vionic Reagan mules are a comfortable, stylish and versatile shoe that quickly became a wardrobe staple for me. These were my first pair of Vionics, and I liked them so much that I ordered several other styles - including a heel that I can wear all day.

Buy the Vionic Reagan Mules at Vionic for $89.99

Buy the Vionic Reagan Mule on Amazon from $37.48 to $139.95

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