Clarks is well known as a comfort brand and they’re hard at work on merging comfort with more trendy styling. I had the opportunity to check out some shoes from their fall lookbook, and will report on two favorite picks, both fitting the requirements of cute and comfortable.

Suitable for work or to dress up jeans, I think the Indigo by Clarks Amaze shoe (shown above) is a great fall pick. This pretty Mary Jane pump is ladylike in silhouette but gets a dose of saucy treatment via croc print contrasting. Functionally, it’s an impressively comfortable pump, thanks to the cushioned footbed and the 2-inch heels that are wide enough to provide good support. Amazingly, there was no break in period whatsoever. Another plus is that the shoes are styled to look as if they have metal closures, but actually fasten via Velcro, which makes these shoes about as easy to get in and out of as your kid’s shoes. The Amaze is available at Piperlime (love them for free shipping!) in maple leather and black leather, and at the Indigo site also in black suede and café bordo suede.

My second pick – the Privo by Clarks Hammock – is great for on the go mom comfort. These slip ons are sporty in look due to the shape and decorative perforations and stitching, and they’re lightweight, flexible, and are constructed using a shock-absorbing textured insole for extra comfort. These shoes are nice to help your casual look appear, well, less casual (definitely opt for these shoes over your grubby sneakers!). The Hammock is available at Piperlime in black and pewter, and at the Privo by Clarks site also in dark brown and navy.

In general I think Clarks is making great strides in the fashion meets function arena. I’d love to see them continue to evolve to move beyond their traditionally sporty/conservative styling to incorporate brighter colors, prints, and fun baubles and embellishments, while retaining their ultra comfortable infrastructure.