If you’re an American woman over 30, you’ve probably tottered around on spiky stiletto heels, clumped along on platforms, had your feet disfigured by pointy toes and been a long-suffering fool for fashion. So are you ready for what’s next? (Better sit down and take a load off of those bunions.)

Comfortable shoes. Make that attractive, comfortable shoes. Something you can wear and not be mistaken for your mother or grandmother.

Shoe designers are replacing standard rigid heels and soles with what the industry is calling “unit” bottoms, or bottoms that are made of a single piece of material, such as rubber or polyurethane. The shoe bottoms often have the ridges, indentations and swirls found on athletic footwear.

This ped pampering isn’t confined to shoe bottoms, either. Molded footbeds, inner cushioned layers, oblique toes, square heels, stretchy materials for the upper part of the shoe, and thick, padded straps are some of the features designers are building into footwear.

Retailers and manufacturers say they are simply responding to the customer’s desire for shoes that feel as good as they look.

“The customer has been asking for a long time for comfortable footwear,” says Carol Steele, a fashion director for Nordstrom’s.

“It’s an extension of the emphasis on comfort in sportswear,” Steele says. “With the big statement being made with utilitarian features like cargo pockets and drawstring waists, there’s a need for shoes that have an athletic style and level of comfort.”

In addition, she says, people are staying home to work, and they need clothes and shoes that fit their more casual lifestyle. They’re also traveling frequently for both business and pleasure, and want footwear that will get them through airports and long flights with ease.

Steele says acceptance of these shoes by the fashion crowd started with styles shown by Prada, the hot Italian clothing and fashion company, a couple of seasons back.

“Prada is a fashion leader. They took the molded sole and made it mainstream,” Steele says.

While they’re perfect to wear with casual clothing, can comfort shoes be worn for dressier occasions? “There’s a very big trend to flat shoes for evening,” Steele says. “They can look beautiful and sexy.”

For the office, Steele likes the look of loafers or Mary Janes with unit bottoms. When the workplace is casual, mules can be worn with dresses or pant suits. Another option is the platform sandal.

At Nine West, the entire spring line is focused on comfort features, says Katherine Ringwood, who’s part of the product development team. One group is called Cloud Nine.

“Unit bottoms are major. It’s revolutionizing the business,” Ringwood says. “It’s like marrying a sneaker with a shoe. All the traditional shoe shapes are being updated with ergonomic bottoms.

“In addition to the unit bottoms, we’re adding ergonomic features to many shoes,” Ringwood says. “We’re beginning to experiment with different linings that are cushioned with sandwich mesh and tricot. Some of them have foam that molds to the shape of your foot. Broader toes are another important design trend.”

Comfort shoes are here to stay, says Ringwood, who is 45 and has worn her share of high heels and platforms before switching to comfort shoes.

“I’ve totally embraced stretch; I run around a lot,” she says. Her favorite style right now is Nine West’s Sharonda, a moccasin with a unit bottom.

“I don’t have time to be hobbling down the subway stairs,” she says. “I have a need for speed.”