My tips for a commuter shoe:

- As with any pair of shoes, the way the fit your feet is very important. They should be really comfortable right away, So try on several pairs from different manufacturers if you can and buy for comfort. But realize that the soles should be stiff so they wont feel like normal shoes when walking but they're better when pedaling.

- Buy shoes that give you the option of clipless even if you don't jump in to that right away. (the arguments for and against clipless are well documented in this forum I'm not weighing in again) If you do you're set, if you don't they'll still perform well due to the thinner profile on the pedal and stiff soles among other things.

- Get the right weight for the temps you are mostly riding in. Depending on where you live and ride it might be sandals, or mesh panels, or regular nylon/cordura, or leather, or winter insulated. I have all of them, but I ride all types of weather, all types of bikes, as well as commuting for decades.