1. Mellow Yellow ‘Lounis’ gingham wedges

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    turquoise gingham wedges red gingham wedges

    Mellow Yellow ‘Lounis’, £61.60

    I’m normally drawn to gingham shoes (Or gingham ANYTHING, if I’m completely honest) the way a magpie is drawn to anything shiny, but I somehow managed to miss these cute little gingham wedges when they first appeared on the Sarenza website. This is a bad thing, in that I’ve missed out on them for however long they’ve been there, but I guess it’s a good thing, too, because I discovered them just as they were reduced in price in the Sarenza sale, going down to £61 from the original £88.

    Gingham is such a classic summer print that I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how fabulous these would be for this time of year, working with shorts, jeans or dresses as required. While the red version is more classic, however, I really love the fact that these also come in turquoise: it’s a little more unusual, but it still looks wonderful in this print, and will work easily with a variety of other colours.

    The low heels and fabric uppers should make these cool on the feet and comfortable to wear, but as they’re on sale there are only a few pairs left in some sizes, so you might want to hurry if you want to grab a pair.

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  2. Miss KG rose gold studded ballet flats with bows

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    Miss KG studded ballet flats

    rose gold ballet flats
    pointed ballet flats with bow

    I only went into TK Maxx to buy a new bed for my dog, I swear. If there’s a way to enter that store and NOT leave with a new pair of shoes, however, well, I haven’t worked out what it is yet, which is why by the time I reached the checkout I found myself clutching these little studded ballet flats by Miss KG. Whoops.

    In my defence, I’ve been on the lookout for pointed gold flats for a while now, and as I’ve mentioned in the past, when I see a pair, I tend to just grab them, knowing that even if I don’t need them now, I’ll definitely be needing them sometime soon. These ones obviously aren’t gold, but the metallic upper is close enough, and I think the shade will be just as versatile. It was the oversized, studded bows which really won me over, though: it’s not often that I find a pair of flats I LOVE, as opposed to a pair I just think will be useful, so I figured it would be a shame to leave them behind – especially when they were just £17.

    As is always the case with TK Maxx, you have to hunt to find your size, and resign yourself to the fact that you won’t always be successful. In this case, although I scoured every shelf in the shoe section (People often put shoes back in the wrong spot, so it’s worth checking even the sections that aren’t your size) I could only find two pairs of these, one size 7 and one size 3. I normally wear a 4, but as luck would have it, the size 3 turned out to be a decent fit, so home they came!

    If you fancy a pair of your own, I managed to find them on the TK Maxx website, too, and they’re a pound cheaper there than I paid in store, for some reason, although you will also have to pay extra for shipping.

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  3. Tabitha Simmons for J Crew ‘Folly’ rose high-heel Mary Janes

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    Tabitha Simmons for J Crew 'Folly' rose high-heel Mary Janes

    Tabitha Simmons for J Crew ‘Folly’, £320

    Available now for pre-order, these Tabitha Simmons for J Crew Mary Janes have to be one of the most summery twists on this style I’ve seen. These use two different floral prints: one for the heel/toe and one for the rest of the upper, plus a distinctive shape, complete with gently curved heel and blue-trimmed sides. The two different prints, combined with that trim, gives these a bit of a “home-made” feel for me, and reminds me a little of a patchwork quilt. I say that in the nicest way possible, though: I think these are totally charming, and very whimsical, and while I’m sure that’ll put some people off, I’m equally sure that it’ll be a huge selling point for others.

    If florals are your thing, these will be a great addition to your shoe closet, and the fact that they have closed heels and toes means they’re the kind of summer shoe you’ll still be able to wear on those days when the weather report doesn’t deliver the kind of weather we’d normally associate with this kind of print.

    “These are the shoes we’ll be wearing all summer long!” says J Crew. Well, I’m not sure about that, but I’d definitely love to wear them at least some of the time!

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  4. BHLDN ‘Lovestruck’ gold heart-embellished peep toes

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    gold shoes with heart detail

    BHLDN ‘Lovestruck’, £425

    If you’re ever looking for a really special pair of shoes, but all of the usual suspects are falling short of your requirements, one good tip is to check out some of the bridalwear ranges. As many brides choose to wear colours other than the traditional white/ivory on their feet these days, you can often find fabulous shoes in shades like gold or silver which will work just as well for non-brides as they will for those planning a trip down the aisle.

    I found these ‘Lovestruck’ peep toes at bridal retailer BHLDN, but you wouldn’t necessarily know to look at them that they were designed with weddings in mind. They have versatile gold uppers, a comfortable(ish) 3″ heel and, most importantly, a set of little sequinned hearts dotted around the vamp. They’re very sweet, and although they’re definitely on the pricey side at £425, if the occasion is special enough to warrant the expense, they could just be worth it.

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  5. Charles Jourdan ‘Helina’ patent pumps

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    pink patent pumps red patent stilettos

    Charles Jourdan court shoes, £278.99

    I tend to describe point-toe pumps as “classic”, and while that word certainly describes the shape of these shoes, the bright, patent uppers make sure these are definitely not your regular courts: and unlike most shoes which meet this description, they’re probably not the kind of thing you’d wear to the office either. (Well, unless your office happens to be a much more fun place than any of the ones I’ve ever worked in.)

    Actually, I think the patent uppers and colour choice here gives these shoes a bit of an 80s vibe. This is particularly true of the bright pink pair, which could’ve stepped right out of a Cindy Lauper video, but the red version is also a bit of a throwback: I know the models in Robert Palmer’s ‘Addicted to Love’ video wore black pumps, not red ones, but that’s what these shoes make me think of anyway!

    In addition to the colours, these shoes are also notable due to the triangular insert under the heel, which gives them a more angular appearance. I’d actually prefer the shape without it, because my preference has always been for curved shapes rather than square ones, but it certainly adds another point of interest, to set these apart from all of the other pointed pumps out there right now.

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  6. Giuseppe Zanotti black rhinestone bow sandals

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    black rhinestone bow sandals
    black bow sandals

    black rhinestone bow on shoe

    Giuseppe Zanotti sandals, £715

    I tend to associate Giuseppe Zanotti with super-high platforms and futuristic designs, but the designer is more than capable of turning his hand to a far more classic style, too, and these rhinestone sandals are proof of that.

    These have a t-bar shape with the cutest little puffy bow ever, and a dramatic, black rhinestone-studded upper. Unusually for Giuseppe Zanotti, the heel comes in at under 4″ (The actual height is 3.7″): that’s only “low” in comparison to most of the rest of this brand’s styles, but should be comfortable to walk and dance in, especially for those who are used to heels.

    I think these would make an absolutely gorgeous pair of evening sandals, with their biggest drawback being the fact that I’d probably spend most of the night admiring my own toes: well, a bow like that is just begging to be stared at, isn’t it?

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  7. Zara floral print pointed court shoes

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    floral print blue court shoes

    Zara court shoes, £29.99

    I know floral prints are ubiquitous at this time of year, but one of the best things about them is the fact that there’s no end to the amount of variation that’s possible with the same print. “Floral print” can refer to anything from a delicate ditsy to a very bold poppy print or similar, and numerous other styles and colours in between. In this case, it takes the shape of a very muted, watercolour-style floral, which ends in a block coloured toe, in a beautiful cobalt blue. It’s one of the more unusual floral prints I’ve seen recently, and at £29.99, it’s also one of the least expensive, which is always welcome news.

    While we’re on the subject of floral print, I know I’ve featured Topshop’s ‘Gwenda’ pumps a few times now, but I just can’t allow this new floral version to go un-commented upon:

    floral print court shoes

    This is a totally different print from the one shown above, although the basic shape of the shoe is very similar. I love both of these, so I’d find it hard to choose between them. Which would you go for?

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  8. Boutique 9 ‘Milana’ Crystal Pumps

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    black studded shoes black shoes with pointed toes and studs

    Milana Crystal Pumps, $190

    I know you’re thinking these are just ANOTHER pair of studded pumps, but you’re wrong. Well, actually, no you’re not: you’re right, they ARE studded pumps. They’re not just ANY old pair of studded pumps, though, and if you take a closer look, you’ll see that each of the studs is topped with a tiny little crystal. That makes them TOTALLY different, right?

    I’ve liked this look for a long time now, and think it’s an easy way to jazz up a pair of classic black pumps, and also to give a little bit of an edge to a more conservative outfit. Studded shoes always have a bit of a “tough” feel to them, but add that element to an otherwise very ladylike shape, and it’s much easier to pull off, even if it’s not your usual kind of style.

    The crystal accents on the ends of these particular studs makes them as appropriate for evening wear as they are for daytime: gotta love a shoe that does double duty!

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