I wanted to love these, I've had my eye on them for so long. I admire the Clarks brand, very reputable as a well-made, quality product, if not a little school-marmish with respect to style. I bought this pair over the winter with high hopes of rocking them this spring, with a pair of capris or a denim skirt. I finally wore them for the first time last week during a spell of fantastic weather. After one day of wear, my arches were killing me, to the point where I could barely walk in my bare feet. The footbed is cushioned, one of the highlights of these lovely looking shoes and the heel itself is not overly high. But the arch support is very high and somewhat hard, or perhaps I just have low arches (I've never had flat feet before even having had three kids!). I spent a great deal of time massaging my feet and working out what felt like plantar fasciitis, arch strain that runners often get. I've been slowly 'breaking' these in, because I don't want to give up on them just yet. I do still feel a tenderness in my arches after a day but it seems to be getting better. The jury is still out on this purchase. I would recommend trying these out as soon as you buy them, and keep your receipt handy.