A girl never forgets her first pair of proper designer shoes. My first pair of Jimmy Choo shoes still make an appearance every spring. As soon as the weather starts to get a little warmer, the toes get pedicured and out come my favorite sandals. I don’t know what it is about them that makes them so lovable…

It could be the nostalgia effect i.e. first boyfriend, first car, first beautiful shoes. It could be because they are kitten heel and so cute and comfy. It could be that they have adorable rainbow stripes. However, mainly I think that it is what they stand for, that winter is over and that summer fun is on its way.

So get your ’symbolic summer sandals’ ready and who knows maybe some sunshine is just around the corner!

Even ‘wintery’ brand Ugg have some yummy summer sandals!:

Every girl wants to feel special on her wedding day, indeed nothing can induce the special-factor better than the most stunning pair of shoes in the land. (Author floats off in dreamworld of dresses and shoes).

OK so I am not fortunate enough to be having my own special day any time soon but I do have the pleasure of attending a few weddings over the coming months, even as part of the wedding party and I am of the opinion that a girl should also be able to feel special on someone else’s special day!

So the search began for the perfect wedding shoe - which of course depends upon the outfit!

The Bridal Wedding Shoe:

There simply cannot be anything more sensational than a white/cream/ivory wedding shoe. Satin, leather, crystal - it does not matter the effect is the same - to make the wearer’s legs look long and tanned (yes the white shoe creates the impression of golden skin on even the pastiest legs)!

When the quest for the perfect wedding shoe began, I discovered two things:

1. There are some truly HIDEOUS designs out there:

2. There are some truly STUNNING designs out there:

When purchasing wedding shoes there are some important considerations to keep in mind:

Location of wedding: Whilst stilettos may be the most lovely - they are no good on a Caribbean beach! You do not have to go with the hideous flip-flop, other options are available:

Duration of the wedding: Will you be wearing the same shoes all day? If you do choose a pair of stunning stilettos make sure you consider the fact that you will be wearing them for a considerable time, there will be aisle walking, there will be dancing - do you want ball-of-foot ache ruining your big day? Either practice and break-in the wedding shoe (I find cleaning the best test) OR choose an option with a smaller heel. If you are feeling extravagant - have both!!!

Designer: Do you have a favourite/dream brand of shoe? Is it Gucci, Manolo, Jimmy Choo, Gina? If so what better excuse to indulge than your wedding day!! Even the most frugal/tight/sensible groom cannot complain on your wedding day!!!

Height of the groom: A pivotal factor in wedding shoe decisions!

Wearability: If you want to spend a lot on wedding shoes then try to pick a style which you will wear again. A classic sandal style would be lovely for holidays in future, a Crystal encrusted sandal for evening wear etc. A closed-in white/cream court shoe is unlikely to be worn again (unless you are an Elizabeth Hurley white-jeans wearer or a white power-suit kinda girl).

Material: Whilst satin is lovely, it is not very practical if it gets dirty. In particular a satin court shoe could be ruined by a muddy puddle. Leather may well be a more practical option if you are thinking of longevity.

With all of the above in mind, I made my selection for the perfect wedding shoe and for the upcoming nuptial season I puchased:

The Jimmy Choo Pabla - white (stunning tanning effect), lizard skin effect leather (practical, easy to clean), kitten heel (comfort, wear-ability), classic sandal design (perfect for my hols), understated (after all you have to give the real bride a chance)!

Just seen a great post over at shoeflyer.com - about how best to care for your designer shoes. After-all when you have spent £250+ for shoes you need to make sure they are in tip-top condition!

We’ve come a long way since the old wives saying: Red shoes - no knickers. In fact - over the last few months some of the shoes I have most coveted have been of the scarlet variety. They make a striking impression with black trousers - or dress up your favourite old jeans.

When I first saw the Jimmy Choo Friday - in In Style magazine I swear my heart skipped a beat, so great was my longing for this shoe! In fact so great was my obsession for the ruby slipper that my Dorothy complex began. I would wake in the night to take a peek at the mag, I would find myself browsing the net for a glimpse.

Finally the day arrived - pay day - I spent the income of a small country purchasing the ravishing beauties. All of the evils of the world were solved once I had these shoes. I was convinced of the magical powers of the ruby slippers and wore them to a job interview - would you know it I got the job!

But… could I walk in them, could I heck. Despite hours of practice, I still cant! I have to say though - they still look great when you are sitting down!

The mighty power of the red shoe still lives on. There are some stunning examples out there. The nicest rubies that I have been able to find are:

Peep Toe Lovelies

Perfect Patent

Bowtiful