As legendary shoe designer Jimmy Choo once said “The right shoe can make everything different”.
Shoes are so much more than a practical staple to protect your feet as you go from A to B. For many, shoes are the outfit. They’re where most of our paycheck goes and tie the whole ensemble together.
If you subscribe to the belief that you get what you pay for, it’s never more accurate than when it comes to shoes. A bargain price is likely to reflect poor quality and you may even find it costs you more in the long run to constantly replace them - as well as putting a bigger dent in the planet’s already diminishing resources. Opt for quality materials and impeccably made constructions and not only will they last longer, but are easy to repair if they get damaged. Mend don’t spend, after all.
This doesn’t mean you necessarily need to fork out a fortune for designer shoes, but plan tactically and you may just find that the more sought-after fashion houses are likely to hold some resale value if you decide they no longer fit into your outfit rotation.
You will also want something that will see you through season after season rather than ephemeral trends - with options that are versatile enough to fashion for the office with weekend appeal too. Comfort is king too, if they’re going to leave you blistered or bleeding, you won’t wear them so their cost-per-wear will be astronomical.
When looking for a special occasion shoe, this is where you can get most creative. Whether it’s for your impending nuptials or as a wedding guest, look for a shoe that will bring you joy to wear or add a great piece to your collection. Classic brides may stick to the white dress code but consider the ability to dye them once the celebrations are over.
Investing in your shoedrobe? See the brands to know below.
Amina Muaddi
Price: £550-£945
Joy in shoe form, the Amina Muaddi footwear proves that more is always more with her signature glitzy adornments. Founded in 2018, the elegant evening collections have already been spotted on the feet of fashion doyennes Rihanna and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - no doubt chosen for their striking yet practical fluted square-shaped heel.
Opulent? No doubt - but these are shoes with longevity, built to last as the eponymous designer ensures quality and craftsmanship is of the utmost important. Each shoe is designed in Paris and made in Italy with vibrant colourways and striking embellishments that go beyond just crystal to extend to feathers, glitter and beads.
Aquazzura
Price: £500-£1425
Given the seal of approval by Meghan Markle, this shoe brand played a dominant role in her official royal engagements - and it’s clear to see why. The beautifully-made and even more beautifully designed shoes are sophisticated and elegant. These are timeless shoes that transcend the concept of trends to form part of your formal footwear collection for all time. The founder Edgardo Osorio places equal emphasis on comfort as on aesthetics, which make these wedding guest dressing essentials.
Axel Arigato
Price: £215-£310
While the name may suggest Japanese roots, Axel Arigato was founded by Swedish designer Max Svärdh as a lifestyle brand. Offering shoes and apparel, the name is a representation of the fusing of a Japan meets Scandi minimalism. The trainers are perhaps the most sought-after shoes from the label and are defined by their juxtaposition of suede and leather, constrast heels and sleek silhouettes. These are very much fashion shoes with a 90s leaning that are ubiquitous among the street style set. Fashion meets sustainability here where each shoe is made by hand using eco-conscious materials.
Buy now, Axel Arigato
Bettina Vermillon
Price: £120-£493
The Bettina Vermillon woman doesn’t take herself too seriously. The collections are defined by a playful irreverance with a colour palate you’ll likely not find anywhere else. From the colourways to the silhouettes themselves, the free-spirit of the label runs throughout and has garnered attention from the likes of Chiara Ferragni and Ashley Graham. All the shoes are made in Italy using high quality fabrics.
Bottega Veneta
Price: £350-£6,580
Bottega Veneta’s signature Intrecciato-woven leather is an instantly-recognisable, infinitely duped (but never quite replicated as impeccably) design detail that is ubiquitous throughout the Italian fashion house’s accessory collection from the bags to the shoes. It’s been part of the brand since the 1960s and remains ever present today.
The shoe offering retains the polished sophistication of the house with the selection of fine materials put together by hand using expert craftsmanship. Yes, leather is the dominating material but you’ll also find shearling and surprising touches of mesh and rubber.
By Far
Price: £134-£495
By Far has expertly captured the zeitgeist with its nostalgic 90s-inspired footwear and accessories. The brand’s influence has been swift and impactful with fans of the label crossing generations. The shoes have been worn by trailblazers from Beyoncé and Michelle Obama, to Kendall Jenner. The label has roots in Bulgaria but makes each of its shoes in a family-run factory using sustainable leather and suede. These are classic, everyday styles that will form the basis of your outfits for years to come.
Buy now, Net-A-Porter
Brunello Cucinelli
Price: £272-£1190
For its mens and womenwear offering, there are few brand’s more premium than Brunello Cucinelli. While its roots are in cashmere and boundary-breaking knitwear, the Italian house has evolved to become almost synonymous with the smart-casual dressing scene and considered as one of the country’s ‘finest ambassadors of style’. The shoes follow suit in the brand’s aesthetic for timelessness so you’ll find trainers, flip flops, espadrilles, loafers and sliders in pared-back earthy tones.
Christian Louboutin
Price: £292-£2,595
Any discerning wedding guest who catches a glimpse of the signature red sole of your Louboutin heels as you walk down the aisle is sure to be impressed.
Better yet, if stilettos are likely to make your feet scream SOS by the time the party starts, the French label offers a selection of comfortable trainers for a more dancefloor-friendly solution.
Buy now, Selfridges
Ferragamo
Price: £635-£960
Salvatore Ferragamo has a rich history that dates back to Florence in 1927 and has since gone on to adorn the feet of every A-list Hollywood icon in the years since. The epitome of Italian craftsmanship, the shoes are ripe for black tie events, weddings and cocktail parties. Loafers are the most famous silhouettes, but don’t sleep on the architectural heels.
Gianvito Rossi
Price: £354-£2,830
If you’re looking to create a capsule shoe wardrobe, Gianvito Rossi makes a convincing case for stripping back your collection to the essentials - and these essentials are crafted impeccably in traditional hues. Gianvito Rossi is the son of legendary shoe master Sergio Rossi and the brand honours traditional mastery where the skills are passed down from generation to generation yet are used to create modern silhouettes using contemporary shapes. You’ll find sleek silhouettes cut in leather, suede and calf hair. Chelsea boots, sandals, pumps and loafers are where the brand excels.
Golden Goose
Price: £175-£1,695
The pre-distressed aesthetic that is the Golden Goose signature will appeal to those who immediately seek to dirty their box fresh shoes as soon as they arrive. The brand was founded with the idea of ‘perfect imperfection’ but don’t for one minute think that means the label sacrifice on the luxury details. Quite the opposite. The trainers are adorned with intricate details and the star appliqué that is the finishing touch that has become the brand’s signature. The most popular silhouettes are the Superstar and Hi Star, which, much like the rest of the collection, have been handmade in Italy.
Jimmy Choo
Price: £275-£7,000
If you’re in the market for heels with elevated design details, look no further than Jimmy Choo. Taffeta bows? Check. Glitter encrusted? Check. Pearl embellishments? Check. Or, if you’re a more understated bride, it’s a collection that also includes more subtle satin, metallic and patent designs.
Buy now, Jimmy Choo
Mach & Mach
Price: £311-£995
Evening footwear will never be the same again once you catch a glimpse of Mach & Mach. The aspirational shoes are defined by extravagant bling dazzling detailing that will be immediately appeal to magpie-types. Crystalline embellishments and oversized bows are what the sister duo Nina and Gvantsa Macharashvili behind the Tbilisi-based brand are most famous for. Now a fixture on the red carpet scene, these are shoes that are disco ball dance floor ready.
Manolo Blahnik
Price: £519-£1,230
Featured in Sex and The City, Gossip Girl and The Devil Wears Prada, you’re sure to have heard of Manolo Blahnik. For a pair of wedding shoes even Carrie Bradshaw would be proud of, this is the place to go.
Whether you prefer the label’s signature crystal buckle front-and-centre or would rather a jewel-adorned strap, the breadth of options avaialble means your wish will be the London-based label’s command.
Buy now, Selfridges
NEOUS
Price: £395-£604
NEOUS is an independent London-based label that specialises in bags and shoes, the latter of which have architectural constructions yet are minimalistic by way of design. The footwear is made from calfskin and buttery soft suede. As soft on the exterior as they are on the feet, these shoes are defined by their comfort.
Buy now, NEOUS
Paris Texas
Price: £321-£715
A brand that embraces contradictions, Paris Texas marries the sophistication of the French fashion capital with the playful cowboy associations of the US state. This, maybe unusual combination, results in shoes that are well-made, high quality and yet are feminine, fun and eccentric. The signature stiletto boots are given a new makeover each season - see the glitzy knee-high boots for evidence or keep it classic with croc-embossed silhouettes.
Roger Vivier
Price: £520-£2,900
Paris born label Roger Vivier has been a fixture on the fashion scene since 1937 and played a reoccuring role in the wardrobes of some of the bestdressed people around the world, including Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot and Queen Elizabeth II to name just a few of its extensive celebrity clientele. The buckle detail is the brand’s signature but there’s elegant designs like bows too, which are all set on skyscraper heels, pumps, ballerina, sandals or boots.
Tod’s
Price: £510-£690
Your everyday shoedrobe will be elevated by the Tod’s signature loafers. The Italian fashion house is legendary for its quality leather goods where only the best will do. It was founded by Filippo Della Valle in a cobbler’s workshop in 1900 and has been passed through the generation with the majority still controlled by the Della Valle family.
This ensures that the premium nature of the shoes has been preserved and the signatures of the brand - namely the pebble-soled shoes, durable materials and supple constructions - are retained to this day. The loafers are made for all seasons with materials ranging from leather to suede and the collection includes the legenary Driving as well as Penny loafers.
