These Might Be the Only Flats I Ever Wear Again
By Piper McNaughton
March 17, 2026 at 12:00AM
I've spent much of my career wearing shoes that asked me to choose between style and comfort. As a fashion editor, I've worn countless flats that were on trend but quietly punished my feet by midafternoon. I told myself that was normal: that pointed toes meant pinching, flats were supposed to feel flimsy, and comfort meant sneakers.
At some point, that tradeoff stopped feeling worth it.
I wanted a flat I could wear all day — not just to my desk, but through errands, meetings, travel and dinner plans — without thinking about my feet at all. It had to be polished and professional for work, casual enough for weekends, and built to last more than a season. Increasingly, I wanted to feel good about how it was made.
That’s when I started wearing Rothy’s The Point II.
What surprised me wasn’t just how comfortable these flats felt right out of the box, but how easily they slipped into my routine. I found myself reaching for the pair without planning to. They became my go-to travel shoe, my “let's walk, not take a cab” shoe, my wear-with-everything shoe. After months of testing, I realized I wasn’t searching for another flat anymore.
What We Weighed
Assessing each option across core performance, value, and reliability factors.
Author Expertise
Piper McNaughton is a supervising editor overseeing fashion and footwear coverage. She has tested and reviewed dozens of shoes for everyday wear and previously wrote for The New York Times, Real Simple, Women’s Health, and InStyle.
A washable flat designed to last
Rothy's
About This Product
The Point II from Rothy's is a comfortable, polished pointed-toe flat designed for everyday wear. Made from recycled plastic bottles and knit to shape, it’s supportive enough for long days, versatile enough for work or travel, and durable enough hold up over time.
Why It Won
Where most flats fall short
Over the years, I’ve worn plenty of flats across different styles and price points, and most tend to fall short in familiar ways. Ballet styles skewed too casual. Structured leather pairs looked smart but left my feet aching. Pointed flats, in particular, were often unforgiving — constricting at first, painful by the end of the day.
The Point II felt different immediately. The knit upper had structure but also give, molding to my foot instead of fighting it. There was no stiff edge digging into my heel, no tight pressure across my toes. The first time I wore them, I kept them on all day, waiting for the usual discomfort to creep in. It never did. That was the moment I started paying attention.
What makes Rothy’s different
Rothy’s shoes are made from recycled plastic bottles that are transformed into a soft, flexible yarn. Each shoe is knitted to shape, which minimizes waste and gives the upper a seamless feel. You notice this most in how the shoe moves with your foot — it flexes where it should and stays supportive where it matters.
The Point II builds on the original design with a slightly more refined fit and a sturdier feel underfoot. The insole has enough cushioning to sustain long days, without making the shoe feel clunky or overly padded. It still looks like a classic flat, but it performs like one that’s been thoughtfully engineered.
Knowing the materials are recycled also changes how I feel wearing them. It’s not just a shoe I like; it’s a shoe I'm not conflicted about buying or recommending.
How they feel in real life
The real test came during a long weekend trip to New York City, when I brought just one pair of flats. I walked everywhere: through museums, down long blocks of shopping streets, up and down subway stairs. I wore The Point II from morning coffee through a late-night dinner. At no point did I wish I’d packed a backup.
My feet felt supported, not sore. The pointed toe never felt restrictive, even after hours of walking. By the end of the day, I wasn’t thinking about my shoes at all — which, for me, is the mark of a truly comfortable pair.
Back at home, they've become my go-to flats. I wear them for workdays, errands and evenings out. They’re the shoes I grab when I don’t know exactly how much walking I’ll do — and don’t want to worry about it.
Durability and washability (which actually matter)
Flats tend to show wear quickly, especially if you rely on them daily. After months of regular use, The Point II still looks remarkably fresh. The knit hasn't stretched out or lost shape, and the sole shows only minimal wear.
Being able to wash them is a bigger advantage than I would have imagined. When they start to look tired, I throw them in a cold wash, let them air dry, and they come back looking almost new. It’s a level of practicality that leather flats can’t match — and one that makes these easier to live with long-term.
Style that works everywhere
The Point II strikes a balance that’s harder to find than it should be. The pointed toe looks sharp and intentional, but the overall design feels relaxed and modern. I wear them with jeans and sweaters, tailored pants, and dresses, and they always work. Rothy’s offers the style in a wide range of colors and knitted patterns, which makes it possible to build a collection of the same shoe. But even owning just a pair in Black has simplified my closet.
Why I stopped looking for another flat
After testing shoes for years, I don’t say this lightly: The Point II has replaced nearly every other flat I own. It’s the pair I trust when I’ll be on my feet all day, when I’m traveling, and when I want to look pulled together without thinking too hard about it.
I used to assume I’d always be stuck choosing between style and comfort. With these flats, I stopped searching. And that’s what makes them different. If you’re tired of buying flats that look polished at first but fall short with wear, The Point II offers an end to that cycle. It combines durability, design, and sustainability without asking for tradeoffs.
This article is written and edited by a fashion writer who selects the products and ensures the information provided is accurate. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the publication date. We may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases made through these links.