Sims is an independent shoe shop, which seems rare enough, selling a small but good range of both…read moremen's and women's shoes. I often go there for the Irregular Choice shoes they always stock. They also sell other well known brands including Rocketdog etc. Prices are pretty good and they will price match sale prices, which is really good. It's off the high street and near lovely boutiquey shops, so often much nicer to visit than crowded Bullring stores.

Sandal House is one of the best places on the Soho Road for shoes! Although they specialise in…read morefootwear for Asian clothes, they have simpler designs that imitate Western styles. They cater for men, women and children of all ages. So, for women, there are extremes of stiletto styles to complete flats and comfort for varying age groups. There is also a selection of jewellery and handbags, which are averagely priced for the area but I have found similar designs elsewhere in Birmingham at more reasonable prices. The staff is polite but tend not to engage in conversation. They often have a sale or a reduced items rack in the middle of the shop floor with shoes at as little as £10! The most convenient parking is behind the shop which can be accessed at the corner of Nationwide. It's only 40p for the hour!

I have bought shoes from here a number of times over the last ten years or so, the shoes are very…read morewell made, something that has been confirmed to me by independent cobblers who I have used for a long time. The great things about the shoes is that due their welted construction they are repairable, not the case so much with cheaper shoes, also they are high quality and are very comfortable when worn in, also the service from the staff in the store is very good, a specialised profession not just a shop assistant's job. I have found them to be excellent, Mark, Daniel and Sam who has recently left to travel the east a sad loss, replaced by Zeb who doesn't seem to me to up to the same high standard as the others, although he is new and he needs to learn alot, so time will tell. Expect to pay for the quality of the shoes and of the service they average out at about £500 to £600 or more depending on the range that you choose from. All in all these shoes are an investment as they can be kept smart and comfortable for years with any repairs done by the company.

Ooh this is a posh shop - for ages I'd only dared peek in the window but I do know someone with…read moreoddly shaped feet who swears by this place so feel I can write about it with a bit of authority. Crockett and Jones (sorry but don't they sound like a crime fighting duo?) offer both a bespoke and more mainstream range of shoe ware. Although the handmade shoes are rather expensive they are, according to my oddly shaped footed friend totally worth it. The more main stream collection features beautiful looking brogues and low-heeled shoes and boots. As well as that they sell belts, boot polish and from what I gathered from my last peep in to the shop itself (I now know where the phrase 'well heeled' comes from - the gents in there looked loaded) a small selection of ladies shoes. Inside the store it's a nice mixture of wood and comfy chairs and surprisingly light - however I felt a tad self conscious in my hush puppies (scuffed) so made a hasty retreat. A quick visit to their website shows that as well as Birmingham, they have branches in Paris and New York - how many shoe stores do you know that can boast that?

Faith is a great place to find the absolute latest footwear trends. Very pricey, but worth it for…read moreunique shoes you won't see on anyone else. As I'm a tightwad, I only shop their sales, and still have never seen a pair of shoes I've purchased from Faith on anyone else (except a cross dresser in SoHo once, but that's not important right now). When looking for my wedding shoes, I wanted something really different and not typical. Wearing Converse or Docs under a big parfait wedding dress has been done and is a bit twee by now, so I couldn't do that, but wasn't sure exactly what I wanted. Poor Mr Yankee Girl traipsed into every shop in the Bullring whilst I Cinderella-ed every shoe in the kingdom searching for just what I wanted. I finally found the PERFECT pair at Faith. My dress was an unsual colour, sort of a light beige with pink and gold undertones. The shoes were five-inch-heeled gold sandals with slightly pink sparkly accents. With foot-less pantyhose and some toenail polish, I was good to go! One thing I really like about Faith is that their salespeople are always present and helpful, but never pounce. They just keep themselves busy arranging shoeses and walking about the store, so they are present but not like the annoying gadflies found in most shoe boutiques. Faith really has the feel of an upmarket boutique, and I feel gorgeous just walking in there. Their styles are always fresh and never just what everyone else is selling

A great shoe shop that goes up to a size 9! They have…read moreregular sale or discount offers on, so you can always afford a new pair of footwear without breaking the bank, but of course, as with any good shoe shop - you can easily spend too much, but who cares when the shoes are this good! Staff are always lovely and very helpful, but not in that pushy 'buy shoes!' way. Plus the shoes last forever! Go and try for yourself.

I nipped in to get some sandals for my wife as her cheaper ones from other retail outlets had fell…read moreapart after quite short usage. I was impressed by the quality so bought some causal shoes for holiday/home and some very sturdy slippers. I think there is a quote that - "Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten." Nige

To be honest, I'd kind of almost given up on Clarks. They were relegated to the same category as…read moreEcco in my mind: kind of sensible and boring. I have to admit that they've surprised me! They've come on an awful lot in the last few years and now there are lots of fabulous styles, which also manage to be comfy. This branch is particularly good-they have a really large selection and the assistants are friendly. It's a bit annoying that they're trying to "help" once you walk in but they're actually not pushy at all. I think they just have to approach customers. They're quick to actually find the shoes if you do want to try some on and will find similar ones to try if the ones you want aren't there. They'll also order them for you if your size aren't available. They told me that they get more size 3s than the other branch nearby though, so you might not even have to wait if you try here! This has kind of become my go-to shoe shop, and not because of my advanced age and feet that are tired from running. It's bright, full of stock and shopping is a breeze. How could I not spend my money?

Small brightly lit, clean and well organised shoe store, caters for the whole family and has a good…read morerange of shoes. You can pick up a decentish pair of school shoes for around the ten pound mark, ok so they are not going to last for any vast amounts of time but with how quick kids feet grow its ideal. They dont offer a shoe fitting service so it is pretty much trial and error and you do have to rely on self judgement and the word of your little cherub that they are comfy but all in all good value for money. The staff here are friendly and if your after a certain pair of shoes in a certain size will do their best to locate them for you even if it means trying another store.

From the owner: Shoe Zone is the UK's leading value footwear retailer. We love nothing better than helping our…read morecustomers find exactly the right shoes, and always at affordable prices. Our huge selection of shoes for all the family means that whatever the occasion, whatever the outfit, you're sure to find something you'll love.

I've sold and bought stuff at Encore. I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the items I've…read morefound. They sell primarily women's second hand, designer clothes that are in very good condition, however they also have a small men's section that I've snapped up a few pieces from - a Jaegar dress shirt, a few nice polos and some formal trousers. The shop presents itself as upmarket; it's sell products of high-end clothing stores or designers, but at a smaller price due to their second hand nature. Some of it is a bit dated, I imagine for the older man or woman, but nonetheless it has a nice range. You can bring unwanted clothing here and they will sell it providing it meets their standards (designer, good condition, in season etc) So, you can either find a fresh ensemble or make some money (or both!) with Encore.

I like places such as Encore and that is because they offer high end fashion but at prices which…read morewon't do your bank balance an indeterminable amount of damage. They specialise in nearly new designer wear at Encore and the idea behind it all is that the savings are then passed on to the paying public. I have to say that I was impressed by what I found, the selection is mainly women's clothes but men should keep their eyes peeled as there are some gems to be found in store. As well as being able to buy high end fashion they also offer the option to sell your own designer wears, however be sure to note that they are specific in terms of what they take. Don't attempt to bring in a Prada shirt you found in a charity shop ten years ago as they require in season clothing.

Reasonably priced mens & women's quality vintage clothing…read more Top Banana and many of the shops on York Road share the ethos of the old-fashioned shop keeper. The staff like to have a natter with the customers, offer them a hot drink if they're having a good mooch and often give discounts if you buy more than one item. There aren't many places to buy quality vintage clothing for men so Top Banana has an edge over most other shops. The focus is mainly American vintage from the 60s-70s and the majority of the stock reflects this, but they have everything from 40s to 90s - you just need to have a good rummage! Fans of converse and vans if you haven't heard of Top Banana where have you been?! They have LOADS and prices range from £15-£25. Prices are very reasonable but don't expect bargain basement prices like £1 etc.. this is quality merchandise which would set you back a pretty penny down south! Grab it while you can before someone else does! While you're here pop next door to Cherry Reds for some yummy food or two doors down to Polar Bear Records,

Vintage gold converse, weathered denim shirts and an abundance of classic pieces from yesteryear -…read moreTop Banana offers something that few clothing stores do these days - and that's authenticity. They have some really nice stuff, some of it I imagine would make you look like Tony Soprano, a 70s mobster or Dirk Diggler. Their range is enormous for a small shop - from vintage varsity, leather and demin jackets to knitwear, polos and an array of slick shirts. All of the items I have bought from Top Banana have a timeless quality about them that only get better with age. With Top Banana you're guaranteed to get some fine clothing for a fair price that even a young Jean-Paul Belmondo would give a nod of approval to.You will leave a (fashion) law unto yourself, swaggering like a don, whistling 'ain't no stopping us now' and ready to share your new-found slickness with the world. At least I did.