6 Foot-Care Essentials to Invest In, According to a Podiatrist

The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the first installment, we spoke to Marion Parke, podiatrist and shoe designer, about her top picks for optimal foot care.

Marion Parke is a popular shoe label not only because it’s a trusted brand of First Lady Jill Biden – though her public appearances surely helped spread the word – but also because it was founded by a podiatrist. So what does that mean for the eponymous brand? Medical-grade insoles that offer stability and structure, to start. Marion Parke, DPM, is a podiatric surgeon trained in reconstructive rear-foot and ankle surgery. When she embarked on a mission to provide women with stylish yet discreetly comfortable shoes in 2016, the task was more of a side gig. A year and a half later, Dr. Parke realized she had to choose between seeing patients and operating or running a company, and the footwear business won out. However, she still keeps up her license and attends annual surgical conferences to continue her medical education.

The reason is obvious: Dr. Parke wants to continue creating the very best for her customers while maintaining a thorough understanding of her production process and how it affects the foot. “At the core of every shoe is a twice-patented insole, which is invisibly integrated into every design from flat sandals and loafers to stilettos and boots,” she tells POPSUGAR via email. “The insole is permanently applied in the production process. It’s not removable, so it doesn’t shift around while you’re wearing it, which is particularly important in shoes with heels. Classically and even newer footwear brands that we see emerging, the thought is that extra padding is the answer. The truth is that stability and structure are what make a dress shoe or boot more comfortable and easier to wear for an extended period of time.”

For those of us who wear heels often, Dr. Parke offers a reminder that even the American Podiatric Medical Association recommends avoiding wearing high heels repeatedly, day after day, so routine calf stretches are highly advised to avoid plantar fasciitis. Needless to say, the Marion Parke Classic Pump is currently the bestseller, especially since Dr. Biden’s partiality became known – a feat Dr. Parke still celebrates. “The honor and excitement of knowing she wears my shoes has not faded in the least,” she says. “My husband was sorting through the mail, laughed, and said – ‘Well, you don’t see this return address every day.’ It was from the White House!” Of course, knowing that family and friends are still wearing her original Bernadette Mary Jane that debuted at time of launch is most special. In fact, the team is currently working on bringing back the silhouette with a fresh collection consisting of intriguing heel shapes, new toe characteristics, and new hardware.

Dr. Parke likes to be clear about the fact that her shoes are not meant to guarantee solutions to injuries and are really just built around average feet. That being said, she does have reliable tips and product suggestions for optimal foot care, all of which are outlined below. From nail cuticle oil and moisturizing lotion to shower essentials and covetable sandals from her line, Dr. Parke’s must haves prove she’s equally versed in style and self-care – which is the exact sense you get when shopping on her website.