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Scarlett Chase Comfort Footwear Brand: Interview, Top Orthopedic Shoes

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Best Comfort Shoes for Women to Shop at Scarlett Chase

Sandra Powers Murphy cut her teeth on Wall Street,  started her own broker-dealer, published a book on marketing consulting, and otherwise stayed about as far away from the footwear industry as one can.

Then, the mother of six experienced an awakening — in the form of a work trip to New York.

 ”It was 7:00 p.m., and I really wanted to catch the last train back to Boston. It was pouring rain and there were no cabs, if you can imagine a time before Uber, and I was like, ‘The only way I’m making this train is by taking off my shoes and running the 10 blocks,’” Murphy tells Footwear News.

“Which is literally what I did, and when I got to Penn Station, I thought, ‘Oh my God. I probably just gave myself meningitis.’ How is this possibly what women were stuck dealing with? I just had this great day of meetings, I had the resources, and yet I couldn’t solve this problem,” she continues. “So I got on the train, called my assistant at the time, and she asked me, ‘What would you do if you could do anything, Sandra?’ I replied instantly, ‘I would solve the shoe problem.’”

Fast forward to 2026, and Scarlett Chase, named after one of Murphy’s daughters, is solving the so-called shoe problem by refusing to sacrifice chic looks in the name of comfort.

Courtesy Scarlett Chase

Powered by proprietary, first-of-its-kind technology called SC360, each Scarlett Chase offering fuses orthotic-grade support (think high-rebound, energy-returning foam insoles; constructions that transfer weight away from the ball of the foot and into the heel, crafted with guidance from orthotic experts and biomechanical engineers alike; shock-absorbing platforms on the outsoles; and bunion-accommodating uppers) with trend-right silhouettes that point to one of the label’s most notable accomplishments — manufacturing its styles in the same European footwear workshops that give birth to Jimmy Choo’s, Prada’s, and Miu Miu’s latest.

Accordingly, Scarlett Chase “spares no expense,” as Murphy puts it, swathing its highly rated models in natural, crème de la crème materials like Italian suede or sumptuous napa leather. Cameron Diaz, Viola Davis, and Kelly Clarkson have all cosigned the “Scarlett Chase difference” over the years.

To fill a major, glaring hole in the women’s shoe market (that is, not having a suitable pair of heels for keeping up with male colleagues’ comparatively effortless treks from building to building), Murphy first came out with a hero product called the Scarlett 75 Pump. Its pièces de résistance?  “A patented, hidden platform bottom made of leather to give you the illusion of even more height, as well as a cushiony, custom, removable OrthoLite orthotic that can work in your running sneakers,” Murphy says.

Scarlett Chase Scarlett 75 Pump

The Scarlett 75 — with its sexy pointed toe, micro suede lining, croc-embossed leather, and superior cushioning — will end your footwear woes, once and for all.

Price upon publish date of this article: $475

Taken together, these elements result in a pitch change that takes pressure away from the toes.  ”As people age, like it or not, the fatty part of the front of the foot spreads and thins,” Murphy explains, which makes it all the more crucial to find a shoe capable of evenly distributing the weight and preventing joint strain that could radiate all the way up to your back. Scarlett Chase is that shoe.

Beyond its Scarlett 75, the same principles apply across the women-owned company’s Portia 75 Stretch Bootie, Audrey 55 Pump, Chase Loafer, Cali 45 Sandal, and more quick-to-sell-out bestsellers. Unifying most selections is an ability to fold down to tidier proportions (the real luxury for frequent travelers), a surprisingly light weight, and inclusive fits: evident in everything from expanded-width boot shafts that pamper larger calves (“ women literally try our boots on and cry,” per the founder) to more spacious toe boxes.

Scarlett Chase Portia 75 Stretch Bootie

All-around SC360 comfort meets a confidence-inspiring appearance in this wine-tinted, stretchy, weatherproof boot you’ll want to take from the office to date nights and back again.

Price upon publish date of this article: $745

Scarlett Chase Audrey 55 Pump

Backless, adjustable, and reinforced with a custom heel that doles out plush sturdiness you’ll appreciate, Scarlett Chase’s Audrey is made for all-day movement — much like its other elevated counterparts.

Price upon publish date of this article: $595

Scarlett Chase Chase Loafer

Scarlett Chase witnessed a 300-percent year-over-year growth in sales from 2024 to 2025, and styles like the Chase Loafer serve as ample explanation for all this hype.

Price upon publish date of this article: $495

Scarlett Chase Cali 45 Sandal

The Cali 45 Sandal comes to you with a midsole molded out of sustainable cork and the kind of arch-blessing footbed that will allow you to dance the night away… or walk 10,000 steps before noon.

Price upon publish date of this article: $475

Looking at the Scarlett Chase lineup as it stands right now, it’s hard not to acknowledge just how aligned each shoe feels with footwear directives set in stone on recent runways. Strappy sandals in metallic finishes, horsebit loafers, and kitten-heel slingbacks abound at scarlettchase.com, but Murphy is quick to point out that Scarlett Chase is trying to be classic, not trendy.

“I love Chanel and I love the original Dior, so you’ll always see us with a clean aesthetic,” she adds.

In other words, timeless versatility is the bedrock of the assortment, but Murphy doesn’t shy away from giving customers a bit of a “choose your own adventure” when styling their fresh purchases.

Take the Fiona Cowboy Boot as an example. The patent-pending design boasts an incognito zipper, inherent forefoot lift, and foot-cradling tech guaranteed to make your festival-season outings more enjoyable. But the star of the show is undoubtedly the boot’s sold-separately, interchangeable gaiter, taking it to full length in seconds while ensuring you can easily stow the style in a carry-on versus hauling it through airport security in original packaging.

Scarlett Chase Fiona Cowboy Boot

Take a moment to wave goodbye to your struggles of squeezing into stiff cowboy boots when you’re already running late, what with Scarlett Chase’s ingenious (and oh-so-darling) creation.

Price upon publish date of this article: $625

Scarlett Chase Fiona Cowboy Boot Gaiter

Simply clip on this intricately embroidered gaiter and go (to line-dancing lessons or otherwise).

Price upon publish date of this article: $275

Genius? That’s Scarlett Chase’s defining adjective, and Murphy hopes to introduce the brand to a younger crowd demanding the same commitment to their foot health as someone in their 40s to late 60s — while still working with a close eye on the latter demographic’s needs and wants.

“ I think fashion totally misses out because these are the women who have money to spend, and nobody cares. People don’t pay attention to them enough. My target customer won’t just buy one pair of shoes. They’ll buy 10. They’ll buy the bootie and the boot.  They want the look without the pain, and they’re not going to compromise anymore,” shares Murphy.

As for Scarlett Chase’s median prices of $500 or more? They’re not your lightning-deal bargains found on Amazon, but the ends, as they’re wont to do, completely justify the means in this context.

Courtesy Scarlett Chase

“ You’re paying way more than that for solving the problems you create. You wear a bad flip-flop once, and all of a sudden you need to go to the chiropractor. People don’t connect those things together, but they really should,” Murphy tells us.

She views Scarlett Chase as the antidote to the “ low-cost Amazon solution,” ideating pieces that can and will last a lifetime — no need to keep the receipt for a future return.

On what motivates Murphy to keep doing the thing, day in and day out: “I want to  empower women, from journalists and attorneys to doctors, athletes, and the Kelly Clarksons of the world singing on stage. I want women to realize they can look amazing and feel supported at the same time. When someone says, ‘I never thought I’d get another pair of boots’ or ‘I gave up on heels’ and now they’re saying, ‘You’ve given me a chance to do that again’? This is why I get up in the morning.”

Shop Scarlett Chase’s Most Popular Comfort Shoe Styles for Summer

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, wrote about tentpole sales, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on the best up-and-coming footwear brands you should keep on your radar (and shopping history).

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