Bared Footwear Review: Why I Love the Towhee Low Heels

My Bared Footwear review? I am obsessed with this brand. I bought the silver leather Towhee a little over a year ago, wore them for six hours at a wedding, and walked several blocks from the hotel to the venue to attend a wedding. They felt like sneakers. Yes, I am talking about heels.

At Stylishly Grounded, I write about shoes that are actually comfortable and look good enough that you want to wear them. A female-founded brand is a bonus. Bared Footwear is one I have been so excited to write about because these shoes solved a very specific problem in my closet.

And apparently, I’m in good company: Meryl Streep wore Bared boots during a The Devil Wears Prada 2 press-tour appearance. Miranda Priestly in comfortable shoes? I love it.

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How I Discovered Bared Footwear

I first found Bared Footwear online while hunting for comfortable shoes. A few days later, I unexpectedly stumbled upon their temporary pop-up store in SoHo! I went in, tried the shoes, and I was s o l d. I have been recommending the brand to everyone ever since.

Their shoes don’t just look classy, they’re also designed for comfort: Bared was founded by podiatrist Anna Baird. You can read Bared’s story here. A woman building shoes with both foot support and style in mind? That intrigued me, and then after testing them. sold me.

The Towhees I tried on in-store and the ones you see me wearing in these photos were gold. I ultimately bought them in silver because I also came across the Reformation Petra Cylinder Heel, which had a chunkier cylinder heel and ended up being comfortable for me, too. That became my gold pair. So my party-shoe lineup is Bared Towhee in silver, Reformation Petra in gold.

The Problem: Wedding Heels I Could Actually Walk In

Every time I had a formal event, I ran into the same problem. I had heels, but I did not have functional, low-to-mid height heels. So many dressy options were over three inches (or made of cheap plastic), and I cannot comfortably walk in those. The lower heeled options I found often looked like casual block-heel summer sandals, which wasn’t the look I wanted with a wedding guest dress.

The Towhee hit the sweet spot. The metallic leather and strappy shape felt dressy enough for my occasion outfits, while the 6 cm heel (approximately 2.36 inches) was a height I could manage. It also had enough substance underneath me to feel balanced. The height, heel shape, and cushioning all worked together.

Are Bared Towhee Heels Comfortable? My Six-Hour Wedding Test

This is the reason I recommend them. I wore my Towhees for six hours at a wedding, including a walk of several blocks from the hotel to the venue. I knew I needed shoes I could actually move in. That is why I wore these.

They felt lightweight, the footbed felt amazing, and they felt like light-weight sneakers. I had no grip issues during that walk. I haven’t tested them on grass, cobblestones, or wet surfaces, so I can’t speak to those conditions.

They were comfortable straight out of the box and have become even comfier with wear.

The Footbed and Straps Make the Difference

The footbed is a huge part of why I love them. There is cushioning and support under my foot, instead of that flat, hard feeling I associate with so many dress shoes. Bared describes its biomechanical footbed as having midfoot arch support, a heel cup, and a metatarsal dome. For me, the result is a heel that feels like I’m walking on clouds.

The straps deserve their own praise. Straps that are too thin can dig in; straps that are too thick can make a shoe feel too casual for the dress I’m wearing. These are the right balance for me: delicate enough for an evening outfit, comfortable enough that I’m not annoyed by them.

How Do Bared Towhee Heels Fit?

I’m normally a US 7.5 and bought the EU 38. They fit true to size for me. My pair also came with gel pads to help fine-tune the fit, which I thought was a thoughtful addition and part of the value.

One buying note: Bared’s current Towhee page says the style runs short and recommends sizing up. My size 38 worked for me, but I would check the current guidance and ask their team if you’re between sizes. Their customer service has been excellent in my experience: quick responses and a courteous team. They help making a decision very easy.

Quality and Wear After a Year

My silver pair has held up well over a little more than a year. The material feels good, the shoes are lightweight on my feet, and they still do exactly what I bought them to do.

For context, these are special-occasion shoes. I don’t wear them every day, so this is an assessment of occasional event wear rather than daily commuting. I also bought another pair called the Sapayoa a few years ago (but they’re now no longer made)too, so I’ve tried a bunch of their metallic heels.

How I Would Style the Silver Towhee

These are evening and occasion shoes for me: wedding guest dresses, special events, and going-out outfits. I wouldn’t personally wear these open-toe metallic heels to work.

I also love the idea of them with wide-leg satin pants. The shine and delicate straps would give the outfit that dressed-up finish without needing a towering heel. With a simple top and a bag, that is an evening outfit I would happily wear.

If your event outfit starts with navy, I’ve also written a guide to what color shoes to wear with a navy dress, including metallic options and how to think about the shoe shape.

What About Bared’s Higher Heels? My Godwit Try-On

I also tried the Godwit in gold leather in-store for about 20 minutes, and I was floored by how much I loved them. Bared lists the Godwit heel at 8.2 cm, approximately 3.23 inches, so it is higher than my usual SG preference.

I was skeptical. I literally started an online destination focused on lower heels. But the cushioning and support surprised me during my try-on, too. I’m still not a high-heel girl, so the Towhee is my pick. If you love more height, though, I would absolutely put the Godwit on your try-on list. (That is a first impression from a store visit. I haven’t put the Godwit through the same Towhee test.

Are Bared Heels Worth the Price?

For me, yes. The silver Towhee is currently listed at US $299. What makes the price make sense to me is that the shoe actually fills the gap I bought it for. I have a dressy heel ready for an invitation, and I can walk in it.

As a millennial, I would rather spend around $300 on a high-quality pair I can keep reaching for than $60 on shoes that make me regret buying them halfway through a wedding. The cheaper pair is not much of a bargain if it hurts and I avoid wearing it again. Also if you have a bunch of heels you hate, you’ve likely already spend $300 pairs on 3 bad ones, so instead avoid that and get these.

The cost per wear comes down as I wear them to more weddings, parties, and evenings out. At $299, ten wears would be about $30 each; twenty would be about $15. For me, the value is having a pair I can use again instead of getting stuck with uncomfortable shoes and shopping for another pair before the next event.

Bared does run periodic sales. If you shop one, check the return terms: its current US policy offers 60-day free returns for shoes in as-new condition, with sale purchases eligible for store credit or exchange. Final-sale items are excluded. Try your shoes indoors before wearing them out.

If you are still deciding which style fits your wardrobe, start with Bared’s women’s bestsellers. The Towhee is currently marked as a bestseller, and their team can help you narrow down the options.

Who I Recommend the Towhee To

For someone looking for a no-BS heel that covers the following criteria:
Low heel ✓ Stable heel shape ✓ Cushioned footbed ✓ Comfortable straps ✓ Good materials ✓

For more silver heels recommendations, see my edit of comfortable metallic silver heels under three inches.

Who Should Skip the Silver Towhee?

If you need one pair for regular office wear, this open-toe metallic style would not be my choice. I wear mine for evenings and special occasions.

The Stylishly Grounded Perspective: Final Thoughts

I love Bared Footwear, and the silver Towhee is an easy SG yes. It solved a real problem: I needed shoes that looked right with an occasion outfit and let me actually enjoy wearing it.

Low heel? Check. A heel shape I can balance on? Check. Cushioned footbed, comfortable straps, and good materials? Check, check, check. Walkable? Check.

I want a closet with shoes I can reach for when an invitation arrives. These have become that pair for me. Comfortable from the first wear, even comfier now, and still looking good after occasional use over a year later. I recommend them all the time for a reason.