If you seeking elegant but traditional shoes for special occasions such as a weddings, or need…read moreappropriate footwear if your profession has a formal dress code then Arabesque is worth a visit. They stock Italian and Spanish designer shoes that are smart but comfortable classics, beautifully made from leather and suede that will lift your stature with out being excruciatingly high or ultra trendy. The target here is really for the well heeled older woman, but on the other hand I have noticed there are good sales on here so the prices are by no means out of sight. So I should confess my eye is on some rather nice wedge heel black suede numbers. There is also a selection of classic handbags to marry with the shoes. It's very old school in here, with a charming, gentlemanly proprietor in charge. As a small shop, the service is attentive so is best for those who are genuinely interested in the stock rather than casual browsers.

As I shuffled in the door of this Holywood shoe shop I knew I shouldn't have bothered - I'm a girl…read morewho likes to spend time in flip flops, trainers and Converse and this place was just a bit too upmarket for me. The shop assistant didn't even say hello as I walked in. This made me sad. I was only really coming in to look at the sale. No size 8's - this also made me sad. I tried on some 'Fly' wedges in yellow and red in size 7.5 and was surprised they fitted and that they were reduced from £80 to £40 - I love it when a 50% off sale does what it says on the tin! Unfortunately they weren't for me - too bright I think. The shoes are all very classy, upmarket and famous brands and I will definitely go back another day if I ever become classy, upmarket or famous. A good shoe shop on a main street selling good quality stylish shoes at decent prices.

Hurray! Another lovely shop on Holwood High Street. Zamba is a newly opened upmarket shoe shop…read more Well, it is in Holywood. There are all sorts of goodies for your trotters, from sky high wedges to flip flops and I can't wait to see the winter collection. Most of the styles are very glam, think animal print cork wedges and open toe shoe boots, but still very classy. There's nothing tacky to be seen and the shoes and sandals look like they cost a lot. Which is good because they aren't cheap. Wedges are around £55, and flip flops about £35. More formal shoes for say a wedding are around £90 - £120 but they are very glam and a pretty unusual. The labels stocked include Fly, Marco Tozzi, Tamaris and Hilfiger. There's a good range of Fit Flops too which is what I treated myself too. I live in hope that the sun will eventually come out to play.

I always knew the summer was coming to an end when we made that long trip across Belfast to go get…read moreschool shoes in Reids. It was both exciting and depressing in equal measure. This shoe shop is huge, and it's pretty old fashioned. But something must be working because it has stood the test of time. I think it must be a family business to have survived this long. Apart from school shoes, I know a lot of people that go there to get wedding shoes (my mother included) and other occasion footwear.

A true Belfast institution and famous for its selection of children's school shoes. It also sells…read moremens and ladies shoes and I think it's fair to say that you won't find anything really fashion forward here, more like traditional and good quality men's shoes like Barkers and ladies boots and shoes for the over 30s. There is a wide range of kids school shoes so even the fussiest little darling should find a pair they like here. Top marks also for the balloon and Fredo Frog that goes in the bag with every pair. A really clever and appreciated little touch that I've never found anywhere else. I'm going to go against my own selfish rules for keeping bargains to myself and share the secret of the Reids kids shoe sale. Held once a year around Hallowe'en, it has some of the best bargains I've ever seen. For example all kids Geox trainers are reduced to an unbeatable £15. Given that Geox can be up to £50 full price, that is a really great sale. Here are the essentials - go early on the first morning of the sale, take cash as they don't accept cards in the sale, sharpen your elbows and bribe the children with whatever it takes to get them to do as they're told in among the slightly crazed crowds. You'll emerge battered and exhausted but with some of the best bargains ever.

Now I know feet can be a bit of squeamish subject for some people but sometimes you just have to…read moreman up and get the beasts treated. I had to go here a while ago as I'd a minor foot ailment and I must admit I wasn't looking forward to it one bit. I made the appointment on the phone and the lady was totally pleasant and I immediately got a bit more relaxed and pencilled the date into my diary. Of course I was a nervous wreck by the time the date came around but the clean, calm surroundings of the surgery put me at ease. The staff were all quite young and very friendly so the whole process of registering and treatment was very relaxed. I know it's sometimes considered impolite to talk about this most heinous of subjects but feet need love too. Shuropdpy, despite the punning name, will provide that in an effective and professional manner. Oh, there's also an adjoining shoe shop which sells all kind've shoes and accessories in varying styles. Pros: Excellent, professional service. Cons: Don't be shy.

Zamba is an upmarket shoe shop located a tiny bit incongruously in between the bakeries and…read morechemists of Kings Square. It's a total treasure trove of unusual shoes, boots, sandals and handbags and they do some jewellery too. Shoes are from ranges like Tommy Hilfiger, Fly London and Tamaris and I've bought a few fab pairs like the Hilfiger flip flops I wore until the design actually wore off! I got a super pair of wedges there a few weeks ago which will be on my trotters as soon as the temps go above freezing in Belfast! I especially love the Tamaris sandals and shoes which are bang on trend but not super high so you can actually walk about in them without snapping an ankle. My Hilfiger flip flops were £15 and the wedges £45 so the prices are in between cheap and heart stopping which is a good place to be. A little whisper though for bargain hunters - the Zamba sale is definitely where you'll snap up a pair of beauties for a good price.

There are some undeniably beautiful clothes and shoes in this little shop. Designers such as Paul…read moreSmith and Margaret Howell are to the fore, among many others. Perhaps I was too underdressed to be in here really in the view of the sales assistant who pointedly though rather unnecessarily explained what items were on sale even though there was an adequate notice. I wondered if people dressed up specifically to shop here, that was certainly the impression I had of the other extremely well heeled looking ladies of a certain age who were also inspecting the dresses, trousers, skirts and various womens wear etc on display. A luxurious if some what snooty place.

Envoy won best fashion store in Ireland by the Irish Times for a reason, Its stunning…read more The setting is simple, chic and quite raw. Brands such as Toujours and Orslow sit alongside pieces by Dries Van Noten and Paul Smith. Amazing shoes from Paul Harnden and embossed silver bracelets by Maria Rudman. The detail and craftmanship is amazing. Yes, it is not typical high street prices but you are getting much more than high street quality. I have a collection of rings by Lebanese designer Rosa Maria, the collection is out of this world. They are also the only stockist in Ireland of the Italian bags by Mansur Gavriel. The staff are very well informed on the products.

The magpie that I am loves sparkly things, and everything sparkles in here, and today so did the…read moreservice. I was just walking through to the Paperchase part and accidentally, totally deliberately, found myself in front of my favourite perfume. As I took a sneaky sniff a glamorous assistant appeared by magic and suggested that they had special gift sets round the corner if it was something I was interested in. When I explained I wasn't looking for a gift, it was just something I loved, she said she hoped Santa would bring me some and rushed off to a drawer where she produced some samples of it for me to 'keep me going til Christmas'. What a sweetie! Yes, House of Fraser is not cheap, but with lovely service like that (which has happened before) I'll always be back. I'll just wait until the sales.

I generally shop online for H of F. As too be honest the layout of the shop freaks me out…read more Of, I may on occasion, rush to the Tom form aftershave and give myself a blitz. But no one can prove nothing. Don't feel that the store has any soul.

Barr & Co probably hasn't changed in 30 years, and, indeed, why should it? It caters I would say…read moremainly for older people - men and women - with a selection of soft and inexpensive shoes and slippers that would be comfortable and easily worn on tired feet. The biggest nod to fashion trends or any form of quirkiness would be the zebra striped wellington boots, imitation crocs and the almost irresistibly cheerful tiger feet slippers! Other stock includes various children's shoes, slipper and wellingtons. Should you need gum boots, which are good for the snow (when it happens) but can be hard to find in the city, they've also got what are about the best in that line - proper black Dunlop ones and some green boots too.