French Sole
Urban girls love French Sole ballerinas. Their gold leather insoles are almost as recognisable as the much-loved Louboutin red sole. Available in every conceivable colour and style — we love the navy patent quilted Harriet (£92) — and perfectly practical, Harriets are made with baby-soft leather (that seems to mould to the feet after a few wears) and thin rubber soles, which means that, unlike their imitators, these pumps will run and run. The only hardship is which pair to choose. frenchsole.com
Love Espadrilles
Made in traditional, family-run factories in Northern Spain and the South of France, are these authentic cotton and jute espadrilles. Available for women, men and children in a choice of styles and colours, they are perfect to slip on for a day on a beach. Check out the traditional nautically striped Marra flats, as well as the glam Ziri wedges. From £14.95. loveespadrilles.com
Emmy Shoes
Shoe designer Emmy Scarterfield has solid fashion credentials, having worked with Bottega Veneta and Armani for five years in Italy. Her luxury, custom-made shoe line offers true investment pieces — perfect for a summer wedding or memorable occasion. All shoes are handmade and inspired by vintage glamour, with trademark dramatic finishes such as corsages, embellishments and crystal decorations. There's even an array of matching hairpieces to top the look. The latest 'Secret Garden' collection includes towering heels in vintage bird and floral print fabrics with a tiny crystal embedded on the sole of each shoe. From £260. emmyshoes.co.uk
Fitflops
Don a pair of FitFlops and tone up your leg muscles at the same time — it's genius and what's made these shoes incredibly popular. In fact, since the brand with the 'MicrowobbleboardTM' midsole was launched by Marcia Kilgore (founder of Bliss spas and Soap and Glory products) in 2007, over four million pairs have been sold. Having expanded from the original flip-flop style, the label has since launched boots, slides, clogs and the like. For autumn/winter 2010, a much-anticipated trainer model is will soon be sprung on us. Check out summer's limited edition Fiorella/Anna Sui collaboration with pretty flower embellishments (£70). fitflop.com
Butterfly Twists
These clever foldable pumps are perfect for travelling light. With a flexible silicone sole, they fold down into a neat triangle box so you can carry them in your hand luggage to have on hand whenever tired feet need easing. They come in a range of colours, but we like the classic black style best - perfect after kicking off your heels on the plane. £14.99. butterflytwists.com
