Buzz has managed to retain its position as one of Cardiff's coolest shoe shops despite stiff…read morecompetition from chains such as Schuh. With Converse, Blowfish, Vans, Draven, Dr Martens and lots of other popular brands in stock, Buzz appeals to students with fresh loans or people looking for mainly non-work shoes - although it also stocks some great boots in the winter. The staff are generally really helpful and quick to serve you. By making sure their stock is constantly changing and bang on-trend, Buzz has stayed ahead of the game and - with its independent status - has that added cool factor.

This is an amazing shoe shop. Staff were so helpful and…read morepatient. I'm so fussy about what I like. They gave me an honest opinion too, rare these days.... Need new boots so making the journey as well worth it. Thanks guys...... much appreciated. See you soon

I do hope my boyfriend doesn't read this, as I'm going to start this review by saying: I'm really…read morelooking forward to having children. While it's a few years off yet, I am excited about the idea of being a mum, and I really hope that this shop is still around when that day comes. The shoes in this shop are absolutely gorgeous. So much so that I'm actually jealous of the children I see in there because they get to wear these shoes, and I don't. This shop is fantastic, selling high quality shoes that are fitted by well-trained staff in a fun and colourful environment. And good shoes doesn't mean they have to be either; so many of them are unstoppably cute. Shoes aside, I noticed the other day that there's a huge selection of hats on the wall. Again, I'm really annoyed that my head's too small to buy one for myself, because these hats are awesome. Absolutely the best place to come to keep your child's head warm while making them look all kinds of adorable.

This is a shoe shop down one of my favourite arcades in the city, namely Castle Arcade. The arcades…read moreare a great part of Cardiff's shopping experience that are generally less busy than the likes of Queen Street and St. David's 2. Though, I'm sure the shops down Castle Arcade are welcoming the pedestrianisation of St. Mary's Street which is bound to bring in a little more foot traffic. Funky Monkey Feet offer a range of children's shoes from early ages to those that are almost teenagers and about to go all grumpy. They tend to be those branded, fancy shoes, so these aren't exactly cheap. I think this will tend to be a shop attended by those that are into fashion and all that kind of thing. They also do toys and a range of clothing for the little ones as well.

The Queen B is run by very glamorous young women who watch you with beady eyes as you touch their…read moreprecious merchandise. It's full of shoes, bags and accessories (incidentally, my favourite things in the world... and now you know) It's very glam without being garish and some of the wedges are so delicious you have to fight the urge to drool, but the atmosphere is a little frotsy. I want to go back there and have my pretty woman moment... "You work on commission right? Big mistake... HUGE..."

Unlike Tiffany, I'm not a fan of this shop at all. The products that they have to sell I think are…read moregarish and overpriced. I've been in this shop a couple of times now and have yet to see anything that I would consider buying for myself. However, I know the products, though not to my taste, are always likely to be to someone else's. But the staff are so odd that I think they'd put off most people from any real purchases. I think that 'The Queen B' says it all really. This shop is for women who think it's named after them. And unfortunately it's run by them too.

This shop with its eye catching shoes caught my attention on a recent trip to Penarth. As well as a…read morestunning range of children's summer footwear the shop also sells a good range of school shoes. Having somewhat wide feet I often have problems buying shoes and was delighted to be able to find a good choice of sandals on offer. The staff were all very welcoming and helpful and seemed genuine in their wish to help me find the right pair of shoes. If you can't make it to Penarth the shop also provides an online shoe store which you can browse from the comfort of your own home.

Yet another shoe shop in Penarth! Phew!…read more When I returned from recent months of travel, the only footwear I had to my name was a pair of flip flops which had seen me well around South East Asia. When I then returned to snow in Wales, my toes took me time and time again to standing outside shoe shops such as this. I have a new appreciation for them. Ogam Igam is an exceptionally well presented shop just around the corner from Penarth Railway Station. They sell a good range of shoes which immediately strike you as a little bit different and fun. With shoes for tots to adults, this is a clean, polite and spacious place to keep toes happy in.

This is super new shop and a very welcome addition to the shops of Penarth. Forever Vintage has a…read moresimply huge collection of some stunning vintage fashions from many different periods. It is a real treasure trove of a shop with two little back rooms simply bursting with fabulous stock. Acessories are also available like hats and gloves and shoes all of which are beautifully presented. The staff are friendly and polite and happy for you to browse and the prices are reasonable.There is an enormous collection of wedding dresses and I believe they run some sort of vintage clothing exchange system too. A fabulous shop!

Shoes, glorious shoes! How happy I was to hear that…read moreSoletrader would be opening in Cardiff. Incase you don't know they sell branded shoes, like Uggs, Converse, Diesel, Paul Smith, Hush Puppies ect ect. My prefered choice of shoes are Converse- I know I should of grown out of them by now but they are so reliable and go with everything. Anyway Soletrader always has a good selection, and also Birkenstocks, the most comfy sandals ever. Staff are a bit hit and miss here and the service lets them down a bit.

Come here for boots…read more They sell a variety of other brands, like Converse and Blowfish, but they're cheaper elsewhere, and their range of Converse isn't that great. But this shop excels when it comes to boots. Whether you're an Uggs fan, or you're more of a Dr Martens person, there are plenty to choose from. This is the ideal place to come when winter kicks in because you can go straight to the boots and immediately find what you need. This isn't the most colourful of shops, in its shoes or the shops personality in general (or the staff's personalities for that matter) but it's all about practical, everyday footwear. Great for browsing in that everything is clearly and spaciously displayed, however, it's worth checking the prices of some shoes in other shops before you buy them here, as Soletrader tends to be more expensive.

This little shop is so unassuming, if you were wandering up the high street you'd need to keep your…read moreeyes peeled to even see it but it's got some really great stock and is well worth a peek inside. If like me, you have a small fetish for summer sandals then this is the place for you right now. The shoes probably cater towards slightly older folk who have a real love for comfort because they sell birkenstocks but I love me some birkens and usually find them quite difficult to track down in Cardiff. They stock hush puppies and cloggs as well, so if you like that kind of thing, you'll LOVE it here.

Now I know I said Schuh was my favourite shoe store, well Barratts is the best shoe store. Slightly…read moredifferent in that it is equally as fantastic, but I can see how some people may not feel as at home in Schuh as I do, while I find it hard to imagine a woman who would not love Barratts. Barratts is the place to go to get a pair of sexy heels that aren't too OTT. Heels that will go with everything, as opposed to that one outfit you don't even wear that often (or even the outfit you swear you'll find eventually but never do...). Most of the shoes here are simple, classy, but sexy at the same time. They're versatile and would go with pretty much anything. And they're all of a higher quality than the shoes you'd get in a high street clothing chain like New Look or Primark, so you know they'll last a while. This is probably the best place to look for prom, graduation or similar shoes, purely because they're comfortable, tasteful, are in colours that are easy to find matching dresses for, and remain fashionable at the same time. The boots and flats are equally great, as are the children's shoes. The men's shoes aren't really anything special, but again would be ideal to for (semi)formal occasions, and will be shoes that you can wear again and again for years to come. I've also recently discovered that this particular branch now sells women's shoes from a size 1 (!!) to a size 10. And I'm not talking special shoes that no-one would actually want, I mean the same shoes that everyone else gets, just in size 1 and size 10 too. I don't have feet that small or that big, but I think it's pretty cool that anyone who does can buy shoes that are actually for fashionable women, rather than restricted to buying children's or men's shoes. I can't talk this shop up enough; it really is just fantastic. It's also one of those wonderful shoe shops that does most of its styles in hundreds of colours so when you find a style that you really like, you can buy lots and lots of pairs!

She Wears It Well is a small boutique located on Barry High Street that offers a range of women's…read moreclothing, shoes and accessories for a more mature generation of women. Although it's not my taste, the clothing appears to be well-made and reasonably priced. However, handbags appear to be the main draw here, with a range of styles and colours to suit a selection of tastes. She Wears It Well appears to have most of their autumn/winter items on display now, which include scarves, tights, hats and faux fur boots. Another reminder that summer is sadly over. Weirdly, She Wears It Well carries a range of Monsoon toiletries, which may prove helpful for devotees who can't make it to the Big Smoke. The shop assistant was incredibly cheerful, despite the disgusting Welsh weather that we come to expect in October. As much as I hate the seasons here sometimes, it does prove to be a fantastic conversation starting point, so for that I am grateful.