Okay, so while I'm madly on the hunt for a new pair of gladiator sandals to get my feet in the mood to really kick off summer, I'm well aware that many of you will be sick of the sight of them and will be wanting some other chic alternatives.
These brown toe post sandals really caught my eye because they deliver just that - they're not gladiators, but they still look fashionable and, most importantly, pretty darn good. The jewel detailing means they will sparkle and glitter in the sun, but the neutral tan colour means they're not overtly blingin'. Just perfect. They're a very reasonable £25 from Evans.
Related: Colour block satin heels from Evans | Evans red patent lace up shoes
All you fellow Londoners out there dealing with the tube strike, I commiserate. I also wish to impart some (yes, rather obvious) wisdom to all those who are making their way to and from work today and tomorrow and that is: wear some comfy and rainproof walking shoes! Don't do as I did this morning and wear your silly old ballet flats, as when you have to walk across London in the rain, you'll find this isn't the best idea going...
I'm wishing I had of thought of this earlier and arranged to have had these cute Cath Kidston plimsoles on my feet instead. They look like they could withstand a bit of walking and even though they're no waterproof wellies, they'd probably do better to keep the rain out than my pumps. Very cute, too! They're £16 from Cath Kidston.
Related: Cath Kidston floral print wellington boots | Turn your shoe heap into shoe heaven with Cath Kidston's shoe tidy!
Shiny Shiny's Zara Rabinowicz writes...
Whilst these shoes are no Havaianas, they do serve an Indiana Jones-esque purpose of allowing you to discover buried trash dirty cans treasure as you pad along the beach. Cleverly hidden in the right sandal is a copper coil, which attaches to a battery pack strapped to your right leg. The ring creates a magnetic field around the sole of the shoe, and when you pass over something metallic (within a 2 foot radius) the field is disrupted and the battery pack vibrates and flashes red.
Now you can go dig up whatever exciting thing is underfoot - making you the Nancy Drew of beach trash/lost wedding rings. They work off a 9 volt battery, and are sure to look...er, extremely stylish (?!) when teamed with that itsy bitsy bikini. They're $59.99 from Hammacher Schlemmer.
* For more girly gadgets and fun female-friendly tech stuff, visit Shiny Shiny.
I came across these flats using the very brilliant (and very addictive) Shop Style site, and before I looked closer and saw they were available from Debenhams, I could've sworn they were designer designer - you know, the very expensive kind of shoe by a brand I'll probably never own shoes by.
Imagine my surprise when I found they were designer of sorts, but from a capsule collection by Rocha.John Rocha which I could actually afford... yippee! A great springtime classic in a colour which will go a lot further in your wardrobe than you can even anticipate, they're £22 from Debenhams.
Related: Red patent bow court shoes from Debenhams | Bargain Tuesday: Chiffon bow peep-toes at Debenhams
Oh, brogues. I'm still not really sure about brogues. I have a friend who would happily wear them everyday for the rest of her life, but I've never owned any, nor felt the need to.
And I have the utmost respect for Christian Louboutin, but I'm not sure giving them the sparkle treatment was a good idea. They look a bit like tap shoes from a production of Rent, or maybe something Graham Norton might have in his wardrobe for a night out. If they float your boat, they're £380 from Net-a-Porter.
Related: Brogues
I think these jelly sole sandals by Chloé have the potential to look really chic. Or really like your 80-year-old granny's orthopedic sandals. It's funny though, because the two "trendy" qualities about the shoe - the jelly sole and the snakeskin print leather ankle strap with lace up - are the two things that have N-A-N-A written all over them.
What if they were plain black? Or brown suede? Would I then be associating them with lawn bowls, word jumbles and Countdown? I'm not sure. If you happen to think they're appropriate for anyone under the age of 65, then you can find them at Liberty of London for £260.
Related: Chloe oversized bow wedges | Chloe's white raised leaf ankle boots
I've said this before, but I am addicted to my Havaiana flipflops and it would take a mighty great shoe to get me out of them this summer. However, I'm not against changing things up a little, even if it's on a purely rotational basis, so I'm going to be on the lookout from now on for something to add to my 'summer essentials' shoe pile.
These flat sandals from New Look have a lot of potential - they're a flip flop design, but are a bit different to the norm thanks to their pretty beaded ankle strap. They're also a very affordable £25, so even if they don't outlast my beloved Havs, I won't be too cross with them.
Related: New Look studded flat sandal | New Look polka-dot platform peeps
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