Trainers

Starting with comfort and practicality a pair of trainers is essential. These are the workhorses of your wardrobe, the shoes you wear for getting jobs done like racing around town, driving in comfort and playing around with the kids in the park. You probably end up wearing these at least every other day and replace them about once a year.

Because they are thinking of their trainers as a dependable but boring staple, most women just settle for something fairly ordinary. However there’s a chance here to buy a dazzling alternative that cheers you up every time you look at them. Choose a pair of baseball boots that are smothered in sequins or boast a funky pattern, or beat your kids at their own game and go for a really hip pair of trainers. You are going to be wearing them several times a week so let yourself have some fun with them. At the very least it’ll mean that they’ll always be able to jazz up an otherwise ordinary running outfit.

Wellies

These also fall into the practical category – a must if you ever venture into the countryside. You can buy into the ongoing trend for funky welly boots decorated with everything from spots, splashes and stripes pretty much anywhere on the high street. Be aware though that they tend to be expensive and that nothing marks you out quicker as a city slicker amongst the locals.

Flat Shoes

A good looking pair of flats for work events, school meetings and pounding the city streets in style are a great addition to your collection. Ballet styles with rounded toes and a bow are good for girly girls who want to look feminine without tottering around in heels when they’re in a hurry about town. For something with a bit more edge consider ones with more of a pointed toe. One of the best options is the super flat banana shoe with slightly rounded toe that fold neatly in half and even comes with their own carry case so that you can slip them into your handbag. Perfect for anyone who can’t handle walking long distances in their heels but can’t afford to catch taxis everywhere.

High Heels

Here we come to the (Achilles) heels of the wardrobe. Let’s face it: whatever the most celebrated shoe designers might claim, skyscraper heels may look beautiful but they are just not comfortable. They’re called ‘killer heels’ for a reason!

But if you do want to pick a pair of great high heels, make sure you buy ones you will actually wear more than once, otherwise they really are a waste of money. There are ways to minimise the pain however. Everyone has their own breaking point of how high they can go and how long they can stand in a given pair without feeling the dreaded ball of the foot burn. You should aim to get at least an hour’s straight standing time out of a pair of heels. Anything less really is a waste of money. Go through your wardrobe and be ruthless – sell or swap anything that you realistically cannot wear and invest the money in putting together three or four pairs of shoes that are beautiful and wearable.