T&C Tried & True: The $140 Flats I Walked Miles in During New York Fashion Week

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Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.

I'm willing to sacrifice many things during New York Fashion Week: sleep, personal space, my workout schedule, and certainly a bit of sanity. But one thing I'm truly unwilling to give up is comfortable footwear. Though Fashion Week has its glamorous moments, the day-to-day schedule of editors like myself is more akin to a marathon than a stroll down the red carpet. This season, it was these $140 Birdies Hummingbird ballet flats that kept me on my feet for hours.

According to my fitness tracker, I walked more than 30 miles in five days, running from one fashion show, designer presentation, and after-party to the next. Thanks to NYC traffic, it's often faster to walk or ride the subway than it is to take a taxi, so it's crucial that my footwear is up to the task. After clocking in tens of thousands of steps, I can say with confidence Birdies' Hummingbird flats are some of the best walking shoes I've ever worn.

Equipped with the brand's "Barefoot Ballerina technology," these are unlike other flimsy ballet flats I've tried. The quilted satin insoles are flexible yet offer ample arch support and cushion thanks to multiple layers of shock-absorbing, high-density foam. Plus, the $140 ballet flats are perfectly on-trend for fall—especially when done in my go-to gold leather finish (though you can also grab them in over a dozen other cool versions, including a nearly-sold black mesh style).

Slim enough to slip inside my handbag, these were easy to wear during my commute before I switched to heels when arriving at an event. Much to my delight, my Birdies earned praise from a few eagle-eyed editors who spied the brand's signature grosgrain backtab and logo hardware peeking out of my Bottega Veneta tote. So by the end of Fashion Week, I found myself ditching my heels altogether and sticking with my Birdies flats instead.

And I'm not the only one who's obsessed with the brand's comfy-chic flats. Alongside making fans of countless other fashion insiders (my fellow NYFW attendees included), they've also been worn by A-listers like Meghan Markle, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, and Town & Country's September cover star, Katie Holmes. Though Birdies' celebrity-worn Crane flats are nearly sold out, you can still score a few sizes and colors for just $60—down from their original retail price of $150.

Below, you'll find a selection of celebrity-worn Birdies shoes and trending Birdies styles I spotted while out and about during New York Fashion Week. All would make wonderful additions to any fall wardrobe.

The Crane Flats

The Starling Flats

The Starling 20 Loafers

The Hummingbird Mary-Janes

The Starling 50 Booties

The Sparrow Flats

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