Women's Shoes Can Also Be Comfortable

Shoe shopping, for all its glories, can often be a masochistic affair. Towering platforms, tottering heels and all the pinching and poking in the world don't seem to deter some women from their pursuit of the perfect shoe. However, these uncomfortable beauties are not practical for 99 per cent of occasions, and the humble comfortable shoe gets overlooked. There is plenty of style to be found in cheap and comfy women's shoes, and these are a few of the best styles for summer:

Slippers

Slippers are the new "it shoe", and for good reason. Stylish women from Italy to Cape Town have been spotted wearing them all over town – and these are women who would normally never leave the house without heels. Materials range from leather to velvet to tapestry, and they add a touch of old-world glamour and chicness to any outfit.

Brogues and boat shoes

Menswear for women has been in style off and on since the 1920s, but brogues are here to stay. Classy ladies have worn them out since Katherine Hepburn and Faye Dunaway, and modern styles run the gamut from menswear-inspired to dainty with feminine detailing. Take your cues from stylish tomboys of yesteryear for a hip professional look – pair cognac leather brogues with skinny jeans, a striped top and a sharp blazer. Take the hipster look a little further by swapping your brogues for some boat shoes.

Ballerina flats

Ah, ballerina flats – always there in times of need, tucked into handbags to rescue sore feet after a night of dancing in painful heels. Bring your ballerinas out of the shadows and give them pride of place as your main pair of shoes, rather than an emergency backup. Lace ballerina flats are the perfect pair for a summer sundress, wear an elegant cream pair with a metallic toe cap to a wedding, and bring out the leopard print to add some interest to your chic jeans and blazer.