What more could a girl want in apair of everyday shoes?

Tag : shoes

I often wonder why people make such fundamental errors with theirshoes. And of course it comes down to comfort  it's the one itemof clothing that absolutely must fit and function perfectly, as itcan directly affect our posture and bone longevity.
And so we seek out shoes that will be comfortable through an entireday often forsaking style to achieve this comfort.
I am here to tell you that this summer you can be 100 percent ontrend, 100 percent comfortable and 100 percent stylish by followingthis simple guide to the five essential shoes to have in yourwardrobe for summer 2008.
Gladiator sandals
A gladiator sandal is modelled on the shoes that the Roman warriors wore and involves many strands of straps that buckle across thefoot, ankle and even leg, in some extreme instances.
While they have been around for a couple of seasons already, theyare definitely the 'it' shoe of 2008 and can be found at all themajor shoe retailers.
Preferably in one of the metallic shades (silver, gold or bronze),these strappy sandals come in so many different designs this yearthat there is something for everyone and they are the perfect itemto wear with anything from your maxi dress through to your jeans.
The best bit is that they are often flat  and therefore runningaround in them all day long is a cinch.
For those of you who like a bit of a heel, you can get someincredible ones with heels as high as 100mm. Examples include thenew Twist gladiators from Woolworths and the multi-coloured onesfrom Nine West.
The popular fitness shoe, Fitflops have even developed a gladiatorversion for this season and Julianne Moore and other celebritieshave been photographed in them racing around New York City. Theyare not the most attractive of the gladiator options, but they suredo work those thighs!
For those of you with less than ideal ankles don't worry. As abearer of cankles myself, I have found that as long as you makesure that the straps cross the front part of your foot and then gointo a sling back, you too can wear these trendy shoes. Of course,if you are wearing them with the maxi or trousers, it doesn'tmatter what your ankles are like, just avoid the ankle straps witha skirt or dress to the knee.
Ballet pumps
Still a very popular choice after many seasons, the ballet pump isthe easiest shoe to wear to get everything done in your day whilemaintaining your savvy style.
This season, the challenge is to work some colour into your balletpumps so look out for bright reds, pinks, blues and greens tocomplement your jeans or white trousers.
Ideal for those days or evenings when there is a bit of a chill inthe air, ballet pumps are as appropriate for the office as they arefor club or braai.
Obviously they have comfort built in as they are flat andaccommodate even the broadest feet, but for those of you who areafraid of a bit of toe cleavage being on show, just keep looking asthere are plenty available with a higher front toe area that willcover everything adequately.
The most challenging part of the ballet pump is knowing when tothrow them away. We get very attached to them and they are easy toslip on everyday without taking a good look at the state of them.
Because they are flat and we wear them hard as we run around, oftenwe let them stay in our cupboard past their sell-by date. Balletpumps are inexpensive and widely available so make sure you replacethem as soon as the wear and tear starts to show.
It's for this reason that I also suggest that this is one of thoseshoes that you really shouldn't invest too heavily in. The cheapand cheerful ones wear out at the same pace as the expensive ones I have personally done this road test for you  so it is really agreat opportunity to stock up and replace often.
Converse All Star trainers
The fastest way to get from 'mumsy' to trendy is to replace yoursensible or smart trainers with a pair of Converse All Stars. Youare never too old for these classics, and you can get them in arange of colours to suit your wardrobe in winter or summer.
My advice for summer 2008 is to get a plain white pair that willlook equally good with your jeans, shorts or wide-leg cottontrousers (for that great nautical look that is in this season) asthis will ensure that you get the most wear out of them.
Comfortable, cool and classic& what more could a girl want in apair of everyday shoes?
Sandals
Apart from your gladiators, you also need a smarter pair of strappysandals to see you though the party season. Again, my best advice,is to go with metallics for these shoes.
Although if you are going to invest in a couple of pairs, then onein a neutral tone will make your legs look longer and leaner andone in a classic black will work for every occasion.
Again, these do not need to be high heels. This season, summer isvery dressed down, with simple dresses in feminine fabrics andpatterns being the order of the day. So there is no need to have tobolt on the heels just to look appropriate.
A beautiful floral dress can easily be paired with some silver orgold flat sandals for a very chic look. It will be simultaneouslycomfortable and easy to accommodate any necessary chasing after thedog or small children while you are out and about.
Of course if you like a heel, then there are loads to choose fromin the sandal department, with anything from a peep-toe shoe bootthrough to a patent strap across the toe being cool for thisseason.
Wedges
And finally, the fifth must have shoe for this summer is the wedge.The most comfortable of all the high-heel family, the wedgesupports your entire foot as you walk around, providing a must morerelaxed way to weal a heel.
This season the wedge comes in all style and materials. The veryinexpensive ones have a rope heel with canvas tops. I do think thatthese are often a false economy; however, as they are the first towear out and will only last a month or so of proper wear.
I am much more in favour of the integrated heel  where the entireshoe and heel are made from the same materials and the line istherefore seamless and longer.
With such a large part of the shoe being the heel, it is often abetter idea not to make too big a point of it.
Colours and fabrics for your wedges are as broad as you would wish.Those with beautiful ankles, go for the ankle strap or Mary-Janeversion and those without, make sure your wedge is a sling back forthe best line.
And there you have it. Five shoes, all designed for beauty andcomfort. All affordable and available, and all suitable for busylifestyles where you want look good at the same time as you need tofeel comfortable. Who said style and comfort couldn't coexist?
For more information on Robyn and her personal styling services, goto: www.robyncooke-styleguide.co.za