It’s a running dialogue that many of us have with our closets: How to squeeze into previously purchased and beloved shoes that our now aging feet no longer find comfortable. As previously discussed in agebuzz, one of the many “joys” of aging is the impact on our feet: they spread out, become larger, suffer from bumps on toes or fallen arches underneath, and are generally not happy when boxed in too tightly. Especially for women used to wearing “stylish” shoes with higher heels, the practical result of getting older may be a break-up with a beloved pair of pumps. For more of the realities facing your older feet, slide into your slippers, and read more here.

The good news is that for older women, the era of the stylish sneaker may finally have arrived. Numerous fashion figures in the know, such as Rachel Zoe and Alyson Walsh, have come out to proclaim the sneaker as a new essential component of a stylish wardrobe, albeit one that can come with designer labels and luxurious materials. Recognizing that you can combine comfort and couture, fashion insiders have determined that the sneaker can rise from its humble origins to adorn both the runway as well as the running path, and options exist for all types of wear in between. Walsh, for example, has a post outlining the options for the “grown-up” sneaker while Zoe has a new post of polished sneakers that all retail under $50 and will allow you to be stylish without the stilettos. And Who What Wear also has a new post touting the sneaker options for women of any age– so you can feel a part of the fall fashion scene no matter what’s on your feet. Finally, if you find yourself traveling again these days, you may want to check out Travel and Leisure’s recent post on the 13 most comfortable slip-on sneakers to get you through whatever journey you’re on.

But perhaps the most famous feet wearing sneakers these days belong to none other than Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris, whose Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers have lit the political press on fire. Everyone wonders: Is she trying to send a political message with the shoes? How shall we interpret her decision to ditch the heels and pound the pavement with her “Chucks?” No matter what your political preferences, there’s one clear takeaway message: that it’s time for women to wear comfortable footwear when they have a job to be done!