Having the energy to teach all day means you can’t be plagued by pinched toes or tired soles. You need to be quick on your feet and you need to be able to illustrate your personal style at the same time. You could be classically elegant or perhaps a bit modern and funky – but either way you need durable, well made shoes that can keep up with your students and keep your feet comfortable and happy throughout any kind of day.

Likewise, we know that all teachers out there are on a budget – but I recommend considering a wise investment in a high quality comfort shoe that will last throughout the fall, winter and spring over buying ill fitting discount shoes in higher quantity. To that end, we’ve made some smart and truly well made shoes for our fabulous lady teachers.

You may not have heard of Naot, but as soon as you slip into these shoes, you’ll never forget them. This is a shoe brand that is all about combining comfort and classic fashion – with a little edge of modern design. Here we have the Naot Kirei, a lovely flat, Mary Jane style that is classic but updated with contrasting textures and detailed stitching.

The strap is adjustable Velcro for maximum comfort and fit and the suede footbed is made with latex and cork for maximum shock absorption and all day comfort. This footbed is also removable so if you have a custom orthotic or preferred footbed, it can seamlessly fit into the well constructed, stylish and durable Naot shoe.

Next up, we pull from one of our favorite brands here at Planet Shoes, Clarks. Clarks has an eye for classic silhouettes and beautiful, high quality materials and the Clarks Timeless is timeless indeed. They also have the benefit of decades of shoe making which has led them to incorporate some excellent comfort technology in the brand.

This means you get a simple, elegant style that you can pair with almost any outfit and your feet will thank you for the active air insole system that absorbs shock and cushions your soles. The shoe is flexible, supple and simply accented with contrast stitching and a low, stable heel. If you need an every day shoe and you like simple, clean lines, Clarks is a great brand for you and the Clarks Timeless will serve your needs beautifully.

If you prefer a sturdier shoe, or something that will easily work with trousers and jeans and can move indoor and outdoor with no worries, you may consider the SpringStep Vicky. This is a modified slip on – really like a Moc, with a zipper enclosure on the soft leather upper.

Spring Step is absolutely designed to keep you on your feet all day, with special incorporated spring technology to help you go further, faster and longer. The insole is super soft cushioned for maximum comfort and the insole has excellent arch support. The shoe is also light and flexible and the classic colors and European styling is simple and elegant.

Finally, we bring you an option from Earth. Earth footwear has been around for a long time and has an absolutely stunningly loyal and vocal customer base because of the quality and comfort of their shoes as well as the special technology that is incorporated in every pair.

The Kalso Negative Heel is a design that slightly elevates the ball of the foot, shifting weight back to your heels. This improves posture and also helps you to burn calories and build core strength just by wearing the shoes every day. Earth offers lot’s of great designs, but we chose the Earth Inertia to show off today because of its updated and feminine styling.

Perfect for trousers, jeans, skirts and dresses, these Earth shoes are lightweight, super supportive and incorporate BioFoam cushioning which keeps your whole foot in comfort while you burn calories just by being a great and active teacher.

Ankle strap sandals and shoes are in style in a big way this spring and summer. The best part is that there is a huge versatility of styles available, so whether you prefer the sexy bohemian lace up the ankle or the more structured ankle strap incorporated into a gladiator sandal, you’ll be able to find a great ankle strap shoe or sandal for this season.

Perfect with capris pants, your favorite spring or summer dress or your micro mini, these ankle strap ballet flats, sandals and shoes will highlight the length of your legs and draw attention to your slim ankles ankles and calves. Fashionable shoes this season are all about the details, so check out some of our favorite styles and see which tickles your fancy!

The J Shoes Splash is as innovative and feminine as it is fun and flirty. Offered in bright pink and black, with a T strap sheep leather upper and a peep toe, this shoe is architectural, sexy and very different. Inspired by the traditional ballet shoe, the kitten heel will highlight your sexy calves and the elegant lace up can be customized for your comfort.

The J Shoes lace up pump will act as an exclamation point to any fun and modern outfit this season, so take your fashion to the next level and really make a Splash!

The Chinese Laundry Citrus is another delicious ankle strap offering this season. Based on the popular ballet flat, this ankle strap peep toe pump has also incorporated a green colored python textured upper. The sheen and the texture make these flats stand out in a crowd.

What we love about these shoes though, is that although they have a bold look, the elegance and classic shape of the ballet flat offers a gorgeous balance of style. Leave it to Chinese Laundry to find that fabulous balance!

The Clarks Flutter is a beautiful, fashionable but classic shoe, that brings together the ankle strap, the wedge, another popular trend this season, and the great quality we’ve come to expect from this long standing shoe manufacturing leader. This Clarks sandal has a full grain leather upper with elegant contrast sticching and a delicate ankle strap buckle.

As attractive and versatile as this shoe is, it also incorporates all the comfort technology we love from Clarks. The wedge heel is lightweight and the cement construction offers flexibility and shock absorption. With a dense polyurethane foot bed, the shoe will ultimately conform to your foot. Once you put a pair of Clarks on, you’ll never want to take them off.

Not everyone can indulge in a high heel so we thought we should highlight a gorgeous offering from one of our most popular lifestyle and fitness brands; Earth Footwear. The Earth Fauci is a gorgeous gladiator sandal with an elegant Velcro double ankle strap. The embellished up front connects to create an elegant and textured T strap that offers incredible stability and comfort.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the footbed incorporates Kalso Negative heel technology so you will actually burn calories and improve muscle tone while you walk. We love this shoe because there are a lot of fitness sandals out on the market right now – but few that elegantly combine so many of today’s hottest trends!

Clarks Shoes have been around for a very long time. The classic styles and high quality withstand the tests of time and whims of fashion. One of their best known shoes is the Desert Boot, inspired by a very popular style worn during World War II. Essentially, a dress ankle boot for men, they look as good with business casual as they do on the weekends and the construction offers excellent support for the foot and ankle.

There is some new buzz about the Clarks Desert boot coming out soon! According to the Daily Record, Luskentyre Harris Tweed, a one man Harris Tweed operation, who has supplied cloth for Madonna’s shoes, is supplying Clarks with 1000 yards of the same tweed for the next generation of Desert Boots!

Madonna popularized the traditional English tweeds in 2008, prior to her divorce from Guy Ritchie and her subsequent move to New York City – but nevertheless this sturdy, elegant and handmade cloth is experiencing resurgence because of her attention. The trend was also solidified by appearances on Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker.

Harris Tweed is a luxury cloth that has been hand woven on the Outer Hebrides of Scotland using local wool for centuries. Luskentyre Harris Tweed has supplied huge companies before, namely Nike, who used the Harris Tweed to create an unusual sneaker released in 2004. Weaver Donald John MacKay hasn’t changed his process for more than 40 years and is thrilled to see the resurgence in popularity of the beautiful woven cloth.

Clarks, well known for their classic and elegant styles are taking a calculated risk by pushing themselves beyond the leather and suede usually found throughout their shoes and boots. Harris Tweed though, with its muted natural color palette and cozy durability maintains the classic look for which they are famous.

It seems, inspired by trendsetters like Sarah Jessica Parker and Madonna, Clarks plans to up the style quotient from the traditional suede used in the Desert Boot, to a more luxurious, handmade and texturally interesting material. When classic materials and modern design come together the right way – it’s usually a home run, so I can’t wait to see what they come out with!

Interviewed by Alexander Lawrie at the BBC News, Clarks marketing manager said: “One of the styles will be a ladies high 1970s boot and the other will be in the desert boot, which was the brainchild of desert boot designer Nathan Clark.”

“We are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the desert boot next year and we wanted to use top-quality British materials to style the desert boot to commemorate each decade of the 60 years,” continued Lawrie. “ The Harris Tweed desert boot we felt reflects the 1950s and it will be available in August.”

So, if you’re already thinking about fall trends, keep your eye out for classic Harris Tweed. After all, Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker usually combine a great flare for the dramatic with fabulous classic looks. I know I’m thinking about them!