
One of the biggest pick-me-ups I've discovered, is to head over to the websites of some of the big department stores during sale time, arrange the sale shoes by lowest to highest price and then gaze over the first three or four pages with absolute glee. Pretty shoes! Affordable shoes!
Found at Nordstrom (page 4 in case you're wondering), these MICHAEL Michael Kors oxford platforms may not be all too enticing considering we're headed into summer. But how about those crisper spring days? (Or summer, let's face it - we're in the UK here.) These booties will look amazing with some of the floatier floral frocks of the season and who knows - you might be able to keep on wearing them back into autumn again. At $63.90 (and available in grey, black and chocolate patent), you'd be silly not to snap them up.
Related: Betsey Johnson's 'Lavonne' Oxford pumps - I might be dotty but I like them! | LD Tuttle 'The Suit' open toe oxford pumps
Rubber brogues might seem like a weird idea but in fact they make the perfect festival shoe, they're waterproof, two-tone and feature brogue detailing... What more could you want? Provided your festival isn't completely washed out Melissa's brogues (£50) will be miles better than printed wellies (so over it!) and Hunters (too try hard).
Team them with cosy woolly tights for warmth when the sun goes down and a two-tone dress with a Peter Pan collar for a Broadway-inspired outfit that will turn heads.
These shoes are just crying out to be teamed with a pair of patterned tights, with the cutouts on the side and the peep toe showing off your kooky hosiery to it's best advantage.
They have something of the showgirl about them them which is perfect for channelling the harlequin/showgirl vibe which is going to be big come the end of summer and at £30 from Barratts they're a cheap way of finding your inner 'Pierrot'.
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I'm not much of a sneaker girl (understatement of the century there), and I'd be unlikely to buy a pair unless I absolutely had to, but if I was going to slip into some sneakers, I think these might be the ones I'd go for. They're Converse's classic All Star design, and the thing that appeals to me most about these is the lovely metallic leather: well, if I'm going to do "casual", I'm going to do it with a touch of glamour if I possibly can! These are $72 at Shopbop, which seems like a reasonable price to me for a pair of shoes that'll probably last you a good long time.
Related: Related: Casual Friday: 'Toons' school pumps from Topshop | Casual Friday: Topshop's 'Vanessa' dotty bow pumps | Casual Friday: Blue canvas high tops from Dorothy Perkins
Growing up, I use to love the idea of have shoes that made clickerty-click noises as I walked. I even "borrowed" my mum's heels and walked around the tiled floors when she was out so I could pretend I was grown up or a tap dancer. While I will never be a dancer at this stage of my life, I could certainly pretend with these American Ballet Theatre for Spotlights Tap shoes from Payless for only $24.99. They probably won't hold out well for a professional dancer, but they would be fun for a young dancer looking to learn (or me looking to just tap around the house and annoy the housemates).
Cute doesn't even begin to describe these lace up brogues. They have a flattering low cut vamp, punched holes for the brogueyness and the colour really pops. They will look adorable with some high-waisted shorts and a boat neck loose fitting tee or with a little summer dress.
Snap them up for an affordable £35 from Topshop.
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Metallic is still big news this season and and lace ups are bubbling under as the new alternative to the ubiquitous ballet flats. Lace ups and floaty dresses will be this summer's success story and balance masculine and feminine quite nicely.
These 'Anula' two-tone shoes are £65 from Faith and will look just as good with black jeans or shorts.
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