Sorry American shoe makers, your store fronts are nothing compared with Loake…read more First of all, Loake is an icon in the world of shoes, well known for the quality of their products. It's exceedingly difficult to find a pair in the US, as they don't have any store fronts. Yes you can find them, but only in large department stores, and limited styles and sizes. To find a storefront with the full line up was awesome. And then of course there is the customer service; it's second to none. the man I worked with, Robert, took so much time talking with me, and picking out the exact pair that would fit it was almost comical. I ended up with a pair of suede boots, but I tried on about 10 pairs after being measured until the exact fit was found. The price point is less than some iconic American brands such as Allen Edmonds (and like 1/3 of the price of Alden). Best of all they gave me a dram of whisky while I shopped. Can't recommend this place enough, high end shoes and superb service. If you're into shoes and can get to a Loake store you should

I'm not a shoe person at all but I think I'm in love with this store!…read more I'll get it out of the way and say it's one of the more expensive shoe shops on Princes' Street! However, the quality written all over the shoes speaks for itself. You find men's and women's shoes, sandals, boots, pumps, brogues... If you're ever for a loss at what to at around midnight, head over to the store where the shoes at wonderfully lit in all their glory for some late night window shopping. The staff (meaning the one lady I spoke to a few weeks ago) is extremely friendly, and the store is so large and glitzy you might be tempted to buy something you may not really be able to afford!

Russell and Bromley are luxury shoes at their best. Beautiful, classic and timeless, this footwear…read moreis pricey but you can be sure that you are getting fantastic quality and longevity for your money! The handbags are simply beautiful too, with clean lines and sumptuous leather quilting which rivals any Mulberry bag I have ever seen. The bags range from around £100-£300, depending on size, but my favourite is the Quilt Trim Shopper at £145, not too bad at all for a bag which will grow old with you! Well worth saving up your pennies for!

When I want a nice pair of shoes, Schuh is my go to place. I am a big fan of some of the brands…read morethey stick and my pink Hush Puppies shoes are the best shoes I have ever owned, in fact I regret not buying 2 pairs! I was in Schuh recently looking for a pair of everyday trainers, and obviously they came up trumps with some new balance lovelies. What impressed me most though was after I tried them on and said I'd take them, the shop assistant asked if I was paying cash or card. When I said card he went to get the mobile card machine and I paid there and then without having to get into the queue at the tills. A very clever touch, and one I haven't seen anywhere before. Well done Schuh, your customer service continues to be excellent.

I love Schuh, it's is easily the best shoe shop in Edinburgh. Situated in a massive premises on…read moreFrederick St, they have a huge selection of delightful offerings for both men and women. Asides from stocking a lot of high profile labels (Adidas, Irregular Choice, Red or Dead, Ugg etc), they also have their own brand which successfully copies the latest trends, but retails for a cheaper price. There are always lots of helpful staff wondering around eager to help you on your quest to find the perfect pair and because the shop is so large, you can always find a seat in which to try things on. The student discount (10% off) and generous returns policy (you have 365, yes 365, days in which to change your mind) make this place a winner.

Bit of a Jones fan. It is not the cheapest place in the world to buy shoes, but what you do get is…read moregood quality and long lasting. I first discovered Jones about 4 years ago. Shoes tend to rip my delicate feet to shreds so I tend to avoid shoe shopping - its all about where the seams are at the heels. I discovered I could get lovely shoes with leather insides, soft inside heels with non raggedy seams and for once, my feet were not shredded. Since then I've flirted with Kurt Geiger and Duo, but I still return to my first true shoe love. Sales can be decent and staff know their product which can be rare these days. Just got boots, recommended by a staff member as I was looking for boots to zip up - my calf muscle is solid after training so skinny boots don't fit. And she made me feel better by telling me the boots I had tried and failed to get up my legs were 'the skinniest in the shop' rather than just normal sized. So good that the girl next to me asked which boots had been recommended as she (as a runner) had the same issues as me. So Jones, I can't believed you've not been yelped till now. You'll never do the sparkliest shoes but for great basics, high quality shoes and boots, I still love you!

What a cool name! And what a cool place! I went into this shop when I first moved to Bruntsfield…read moreand agreed with Schwartzenegger - I would indeed be back. They have a lovely selection of shoes and the whole place was decorated really tastefully. However, the shop is small and space is limited, ... shoes are therefore limited. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed that there were only a few pairs of shoes out. They were lovely shoes too - heels, flats, boots - I bought a gorgeous pair of brown patent ankle boots. I also bought a really nice, unusual purple belt which I always get compliments on. It was a nice shop and has a great deal of potential, I just wish there was a greater selection. I've not been back since that first visit - partly because I had a feeling it would be the same stock and partly because I know I would spend more money if I did, but I peer in the window now and again to keep an eye out. It;s definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in the area, but don't go to any trouble.

What a gorgeous little shoe shop! Ooh! Ruby Shoes is full of beautiful shoes, which look more…read moreexpensive than probably are. They sell all kinds of shoes, from flip flops and sandals, to doc martins to warm boots - you name the occasion and Ooh! Ruby Shoes will have the shoes perfect for the event. They have an excellent range of different types of shoes and at the moment the shop is filled with sandals and wedges which range in price from about fifty pounds to eighty pounds. I bought a pair of black high heels in this store last year for £60 which I have worn a lot as they are suitable for both going to work, and going out in the evenings, so they were definitely worth the money. The shoes are of excellent quality, which is why they are a wee bit more expensive than similar shoes which you could find in the high street stores. Ooh! Ruby Shoes also sell a selection of scarves and handbags, which are made of pure leather and are completely gorgeous, but quite pricey. The staff are always friendly and don't overcrowd you when you are in the store - the perfect combination! Ooh! Ruby Shoes is the perfect little shoe shop for any girl with a shoe obsession.

I thought Sole was going to be a bit swankier than it was - by swanky I thought we would be in the…read more £££ hundreds region for shoes and boots. It wasn't THAT bad, although for certain pairs it's still extortion. Sole sell the popular, trendy brands such as Ugg, Converse, Blowfish and Diesel. They also do some brands which aren't my thing like Fred Perry, but seemingly they try to cater for a spectrum of tastes. They have Birkenstocks for a hefty fee. They look comfy, like a few of their brands, but I don't really see what the attraction is to brown, bulky shoes. If you're going to spend a lot of money on a pair of tootsie warmers, go all out and get something more adventurous. You might as well if you're flashing the cash! Regarding this shop, I'm not as appalled as Stuart is - probably because I was expecting the prices to be through the roof. Shoes will be longer lasting in here than in Primark, so I may have to argue with Mr B and say that they will be better for your feet and worth paying out to. But as has been rightfully outlined, shoes at a tenner have largely served me longer than some of the brands they have in here. Converse have a particularly bad track record for getting holey and eroded, much as I love Chucks. It's got Soul, but it's not Super Bad.

The type of shoe store that you've seen 100 of before, and will likely see 100 of again before…read morelong, Sole sells middle to upper prices shoes, to people of the middle or upper range of trendiness and earnings. I'm actually boring myself writing this...

If you are looking for good quality, no nonsense, sensible shoes then take a trip to Ecco. I guess…read moreit's aimed at the older generation and most of the shoes remind me of the shoes my primary school teachers wore. Just by looking at the selection of shoes here, you can tell that they are fabulous quality and you will get years of wear out of them. The current window display has a range of sandals that offer good grip and support too, so perfect if you have problems with your feet. They have an excellent range of shoes for both women and men and in addition to work shoes and sandals, they also have outdoor shoes.

When buying shoes in Edinburgh you'll find that you get a large range of shoe shops offering…read moredifferent qualities and it can be hard to tell which ones are overpriced and which are genuinely of higher quality. At some places it will be easy to tell what you are getting because you'll be paying very little, but you'll very clearly notice the lack of quality in the items. These might seem a bargain at under £10, but in terms of long term value they are more expensive than you might think. These cheap ones often only last a few months, whereas any shoes from here will last many years. In the end it does make sense to buy your shoes from here simply because they last so much longer. The person who advised me to first look into buying shoes from here was almost evangelical about them and it did indeed take a lot of convincing before I accepted that they didn't work in Ecco's marketing department. I do personally get sick of the days when my cheaper shoes start falling apart just as it starts raining heavily and if that's a problem you've been plagued by in the past then this is the shop that has the solution for very reasonable prices.

StockXChange is an amazing concept and I can't believe that I've only recently discovered it! The…read moreconcept is amazing and the result is that you can get a designer dress, handbag or other fashionable item for a fraction of the original retail price. Tucked away behind George Street you will find this fabulous boutique! As I browsed last week there were so many gorgeous items that caught my eye and I would have loved to have browsed for longer but I sensed that the longer I browsed, the more dangerous it would be come and I could feel a hole starting to burn in my pocket as I drooled over some handbags. Basically, everything in store is a second hand, gently used item and this is reflected in the discounted price. If you do want to clear out some of your designer items (lucky you), then you will get 50% of the price that it sells for in StockXChange. They get knew items in all the time so it's always worth checking back to see what else they have on offer. The prices aren't dirt cheap but if you think of what you could have spent in the first place then you realise that you're getting a good deal and all the items I saw looked brand new. I have to admit, many items didn't look that great and the only think going for them was the designer label if you'r really into that but I guess everyone's taste is different and with the stock changing so often, there'll be something for every fashionista. I guess one woman's designer junk is another woman's designer treasure!

I stumbled on StockXChange this past weekend while shopping for a skirt/dress for a wedding…read more After looking in every store we could imagine, we were pooped and decided to throw in the towel. Saturdays on George St are a bit crowded so we thought it would be best to walk via Thistle St, with the possible added upside of finding a random hole in the wall store that could offer something decent. The first thing we noticed was the Cambridge Bar (ooooh, THAT'S where it is!). The second thing we noticed, just across the street, was the StockXChange. We saw that it's pre-owned/lightly worn designer clothing at affordable prices and decided give it a quick browse. Within 20 seconds of looking I found a lovely gray LK Bennet dress in my size, and decided to give it a whirl. OMFG that's a good dress. I loved it, my friend loved it, and the shopkeeper/manager/owner loved it. The best part about her was the fact that even though she knew she had a sale with me, she was still lovely and attentive and trying to help me visualize how I would put the outfit together ("you have to put on heels to know what it'll really look like!"), pulling out various options of shoes/jewellery/jacket, knowing that I had everything at home but just having fun dressing me. She explained (as I purchased the fabulous dress) that they operate on a system whereby someone brings in a piece of clothing, they decide whether they will accept it, agree on a price, and then keep it in the store for 6 months. If it's not sold by then, it goes back to the original owner. The original owner will receive 50% of what the store sells the piece for, and they receive their payment once the item is sold. If I had more time (and money!) I would have loved to have browsed the racks for more magic finds, but as it was I was absolutely thrilled with what I got. I will absolutely make this place my first port of call next time I need a special new piece for my wardrobe.

Shoe Zone attempts to offer half-decent shoes at bargain prices. I was in there in February hoping…read moreto find such a bargain on some new kicks. I was extremely disappointed, however. The trainers looked massive and clumpy with large, obvious stitching. They looked like they would literally fall apart after a week's worth of hard - not to mention embarrassed - walking. I'm no expert but I would guess that the women's shoes would evoke similar reactions. One of my friends dropped out of uni before Christmas and, having lost his student grant, is forced to buy his footwear from Shoe Zone. He sincerely advocates the store, argueing that it's better than T K Maxx, but I'm covinced that this is either denial or self-delusion. If you're after ultra-cheap shoes and are indifferent to style then Shoe Zone might be for you, but otherwise I don't recomment it.

You know what, I can't help but love this place…read more Yeah it's cheap, yeah it's crappy, yeah the staff aren't overly-cheerful and yeah the shop is crowded with shoes....but it's funny, right? Who doesn't like this sort of place?! It's great if you're looking for a place to buy a cheap pair of shoes for a specific event, where you don't care if you wreck them.

I actually really like this place. If you're from the U.S. then it's literally just like TJ. MAXX!…read morethis one is two story. Not too sure if they have a toilet, but I'm sure they do. It's a pretty big store. I also noticed some unique clothing, which I'm a fan of. If I had more room in my luggage then I would've bought some stuff. Haha!

Came here looking for some clothes and luggage. It was just OK and ended up not buying much. Would…read moreput this slightly better than Primark and lower than Mark and Spencer.