In an age of animals rights, it’s no surprise that designer shoes made of leather and wool have taken a rap in recent times. However, instead of the eco-friendly-shoe movement we predicted to arrive with the turn of the decade, we’re shocked to realise that plastic – yes, plastic – is very much coming back into style!

Causing more harm to the world and its population than just about everything else put together, the manufacture of plastic has returned to the world of designer shoes, where the infamous jelly shoe is making a resurgence. This time, however, there’s a whole lot more to them than you might expect.

Most things that come back into fashion end up being nothing like they used to be and the jelly shoe is no different. Various designers have got jelly-shoe fever, including the legendary Vivienne Westwood, and they have taken to moulding the classic footwear into all shapes and sizes – even stilettos! Of course, as is the case for all designer trends, there’s also the budget version – from Barratts for around £15.

Image from plastic-machine.org

Without a doubt, finding the correct fit is the most important part about buying shoes. If they don’t fit properly, they’ll hurt when you wear them, you’ll never feel comfortable and confident and, most importantly, they’ll damage your body. It’s not just your feet that will be damaged either; ill-fitting shoes will have a negative impact of your knees, hips and back, as well as messing with your posture.

Although you should always base a decision on how each individual shoe feels, there’s no doubt shoe size is a good indication and starting point when it comes to trying them on. However, the appropriate size will depend on where you are in the world or, if you’re buying your shoes online, where the shop is based! For this reason, we think it might help if you have access to a copy of the international shoe conversion chart. Behold:

Now if you find some gorgeous designer shoes for sale on a Japanese website, you’ll know the size you’re looking for! Also, for what it’s worth, do remember that you have seven days to return anything you buy online if you don’t like it – there should be no questions asked!

When buying designing shoes for work, there are a few important things to bear if you don’t want to regret your choice within a few days!

The first thing to look for in work shoes is comfort; no matter what you do, you’re not going to be able to do it very well if you’re in constant pain! However, they are also going to have to be smart, but not fancy and, very importantly, hard-wearing. Hence, the best choice of material is probably leather; it looks good, takes a beating and, if you buy sensibly, leather shoes won’t hurt your feet.

Although there are more styles of shoe out there than jobs at the moment, it’s probably best to stick to the middle ranges. Killer heels look good in movies, but you’ll hate wearing them on a daily basis to work! Plus the foot, leg and back problems will stunt your style quickly.

Finally, when to colour, my advice would be to go for black above all else – it goes with everything and always looks smart. If you’re not a fan of black, it may be wise to stick with solid and dark colours; drawing attention to your shoes in the workplace isn’t a sign of the determined, business-minded worker…if that’s the impression you’re going for!

When it comes to shoes (as everything does), I must admit I have something of a passion for boots. In fact, I never quite feel comfortable unless I’m wearing boots… Be it out in the street, in a bar or even lounging around at home – I have boots for every conceivable situation and I love them all. What I don’t love, however, is attempting to put my boots on whilst wearing trousers – especially jeans. You must know what I mean; you pull you trouser-leg taut, tug on the first few inches of boots and, immediately, your jeans start bunching up… The futher you pull the boot on, the more the jeans bunch and so the cycle continues until you’re left looking like an extra from Pirates of Penzance!

This cannot be allowed to continue! The women of the world cannot be forced to suffer this trial every time they want to wear their favourite boots. HENCE, we are proud to bring these to your attention – jean straps!

When first I heard of the Jean Straps phenomena, I thought it was a new designer (French accent, Jean Strapes), but then I realised it was something far, far better. Stirrups, for lack of a better word, which you simply clip around your calf, holding you jeans taut and tight beneath your boots. In short – no more bunching! What’s more, they’re under a tenner to buy, yet will save you hours of faffing and years you’d otherwise lose to stress! Totally simple, totally effective and totally discrete. Perfect.

I support the jean straps movement 100%. Find them here, at Jean Straps.

We have more seasonal shoes today at the Designer Shoe blog – this time for the guys! Consider these cool Christmas offerings from Adidas, for example; Christmas themed Stan Smith 2 or Superstar 2 shoes, in red and green! Although clearly Christmassy, there’s no doubt these shoes will look the part all year round and, because they’re Adidas, they’ll still be wearable when summertime bring games in the park!

If Adidas isn’t really your style, perhaps consider these tartan-style Converse All-Stars instead. A classic shoe with a seasonal spin, these manage to be festive, but without any striking Christmas clichés – a cool and understand style.

Of course, it’s not just the adults that can join in the Christmas fun; if the little man in your life wants a piece of the spirit, there are a range of seasonal children’s shoes for them as well! These adorable blue trainers, for example, will keep his feet nice and warm while advertising his love for Christmas and, more importantly at that age, Santa!

Christmas is nearly here and at the Designer Shoe Blog, this can only mean one thing; Christmas Shoe Time! This is essentially an excuse for the team to whizz around the internet, finding seasonal footwear that we’re sure somebody in your family would love to receive. Even if you’re not thinking of buying designer shoes for Christmas, there are normally some cool shoes to see anyway! Let’s get started with some shoes with the ladies:

For the girlfriend, wife, mum, sisters and grannys in your life, consider these stylish, comfortable and super-seasonal Christmas slippers! I know slippers for Christmas seems unoriginal but, let’s be honest, when else do people buy slippers? By the time last year’s Christmas slippers have be worn to tatters, it’s normally summertime and there’s little need for slippers. Then, before you know it it’s nearly Christmas again so nobody buys new ones for themselves, just in case somebody buys them for them for a present!

If you think slippers aren’t what the classy lady in your life is after this holiday, perhaps consider buying her some stylish seasonal heels for the Christmas Cocktail party. Although I’d advise against bright red heels with a cartoon Santa (not cool), some like these might make a suave addition to any Christmas outfit…

As celebrity status becomes easier to attain than a bus pass, more and more designers seem less interested in making good shoes and more interested in getting free entry to the biggest fashion events on the planet. What’s more, the link between comfortable shoes and fashionable shoes seems more stretched than ever and, as Victoria Beckham found out recently, the results can be catastrophic!

However, luckily for those of us who don’t particularly enjoy suffering to look good, there are still designers who have their feet on the ground. In 2005, former ballroom dancer and engineer Anyi Lu combined her knowledge and eye for style to create shoes for “confident and independent ladies of discrete luxury”. Unlike many fashion shoe designers, Lu’s focus isn’t on taking style to the limits at the expense of comfort; her shoes have comfortable rounded toes and her range included flat and pumps, as well as “sensible heels”.

Having said that, Lu is a creative mind and seizes to the opportunity to “express [her]self anew” with every season that passes. Her line of designer shoes has been successful in America so far, so hopefully we’ll be seeing more of Anyi before long!

Without a shadow of a doubt, Doc Martens are back. Just down the road from my house in Shoreditch, you can find a veritable slaughterhouse of yellow plastic, filled with footwear stamped with the infamous name – they’re being worn everywhere and by everyone!

However, as far as trends in designer shoes go, I’m not sure I approve of this new fashion. You see, Doc Martens have always been a sign of rebellion…and I’m not sure this has a place in the world of designer shoes. However, unlike most fashion writers, I’m uncertain about this whole situation because I love rebellion! I absolutely hate seeing the spirit of Doc Martens compromised by spineless indie-kids, who wouldn’t know anarchy if it took their girlfriend on a date to their own overpriced vegan restaurant!

So my feelings are mixed; I’m pleased Doc Martens are back, but I’m disappointed that the market they now appeal to comprises of everything the original market despised. Any thoughts?

Another Weitzman entry into Fantasy Shoes; his Ruby Slippers were created to be worn at the 2003 Academy Awards. Literally made of 642 rubies, these super-shoes total 120 carats and are worth $1,600,000. Predating his Cinderella Slippers, these shoes are evidence of Mr. Weitzman’s fondness for taking impoverished fictional characters and creating shoes they could never have afforded in their wildest dreams. Somewhat ironically, these shoes are over twice as expensive as one of the four remaining pairs of the original Innes Shoe Co. Ruby Slippers worn in The Wizard of Oz – the last of which sold at auction for £666,000 in 2000.

When it came to it, the Ruby Slippers were never worn at the 2003 Academy Awards. Mr. Weitzman claims that he pulled them out of the show “out of respect for those fighting in Iraq.” … I’m fairly sure the people fighting in Iraq in 2003 couldn’t have cared less whether his insanely expensive designer shoes were worn at the Academy Awards or not – what with being shot at and everything. It would have been more thoughtful to send them to Bin Laden as a peace offering, or at least give them to each soldier in turn and let him wish his way home…

Has anybody else noticed the wonderful new recent trend for fetish footwear? I don’t know how any shoe-lover could have missed the abundance of straps, crazy heels and metallic bits in the modern style; even J K Rowling has bought into it! (Though that doesn’t surprise me…) As a lover of both witches and sexy shoes, I was thrilled to see her strutting around in the style of the season at the Half Blood Prince Premier!

However, ever since Christian Louboutin’s Differas hit the market this season, there has been a steady surge of saucy shoes; until now you can pick up a rip-off style in just about any old shoe shop! I thought this would be a good thing for me, seeing as how I love the whole bondage-style shoe thing; but it turns out that it just isn’t working for me. You see, mass produced extreme-sexy shoes are effectively missing the entire point of saucy footwear. Sexy shoes shouldn’t be commonplace, everyday sightings – they should be reserved for special occasions! It’s not that classiness demands that they are designer shoes costing £800 (yes, JK paid around that much for hers) but, when it comes to kinkiness – cheap and cheerful just doesn’t turn me on.

In my opinion, part of the allure of sexy footwear is the extravagance; the decadence is all part of the pleasure! Expensive sexy shoes focus on pure gratification, communicating that pleasure is of utmost importance; cheap knockoffs from Shoe Express communicate that, whilst pleasure is a good thing, you’ve still got the kids and the mortgage to worry about as well.

My conclusion? This new trend of shoes says a lot about you; truly naughty people buy truly naughty shoes. Cheap, wannabe-naughty-because-it’s-fashionable people buy cheap, wannabe naughty shoes – and it shows.