Until now, I’ve had two uses for cork. It’s the material on the back of my bulletin board that I tack shopping lists to, and it’s the little stopper that seals my champagne. So when I hear that cork can also be comfortable on the soles of my feet, I become as bubbly as a bottle of brut.

Allow me to introduce you to the Mephisto Babata sandal. It turns out that the same low-density, high-elasticity, near-impermeable cork material that holds up my list of supermarket needs, also contours to my foot and cushions to offer arch support like no other. So that’s good. But then the real question that I know is on your mind:

Can a shoe this therapeutic also be cute? Well, I’m so glad you asked!

While the footbed is cork, the upper is soft calfskin leather that comes together to form a fun and flirty flower. Thanks to the floral accent, the Babatas can easily be dressed up or dressed down. The 1-inch heel also offers a nice slimming effect to the legs, so don’t be afraid to pair them with that cute short skirt either.

So whether you’re running errands to cross items off your grocery list, or at an event where you’re popping open bottles of bubbly, the Mephisto Babatas with the cork support are the perfect combination of comfort and style, both casual and dressy. Anyone who tells you differently… you can tell them to put a cork in it.

Footwear etc. offers a wonderful selection of Mephisto shoes; if the flower on the Babata is too ornate for your taste, take a look at the simpler Mephisto Helen.