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.

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.

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.

Shoe Zone is a stockist of all kinds of footwear for men, women, and children. This is a real 'no…read morefrills' shop (which, in general, are becoming hugely popular in these tough economic times) and while you're not going to find a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes or expensive Italian loafers in here, they do have a decent selection of footwear, ranging from trainers and boots to slippers and sandals. This is the type of shop you love to find when you're on holiday and realise that you've forgotten a pair of trainers, or the shoes you bought a month ago aren't nearly well enough broken in yet for walking around Belfast or up at the Giant's Causeway. Cheap and cheerful is the essence of this shop - I picked up a pair of desert-type boots here for under £13. Considering those type of boots all look the same with a pair of jeans, they were a bargain. This wouldn't be a bad place to kit the kids out with their 'back to school' shoes, either.

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.

Made my first visit to the Kennedy Centre today after hearing a lot about it on Yelp. Seems to be…read moremore than just a shopping centre with an on site cinema, a food court and plenty of independent retail outlets. I was impressed by the Kennedy Centre, for a Sunday it was really busy but not cramped like some other shopping centers. There's plenty of parking with an underground car park making it an ideal place to do your big shop at Sainsbury's. As well as Siansbury's The Kennedy Centre also boasts an Argento, DV8, Blue Inc and many other chain stores. If you haven't been to The Kennedy Centre I suggest you pay it a visit. It's only a few minutes from the motorway making it unbelievably convenient.

A mini shopping centre on the Falls Road. The Centre seems to have gotten a lot quieter since 2009,…read morewhen the local supermarket there was sold to Salisbury's, but they're hoping to increase footfall to its former levels - the revamped cinema is open, they managed to get Poundland into the Centre (which has been expanding and opening shops at an impressive rate since the recession kicked in), and the global giant Burger King will take residence there around the end of the summer 2010. The Salisbury's store itself is huge. Aside from that, you also have the typical shops and services you'd expect - post-office, coffee shops, clothes shops, chemists, hairdressers, jewellers, etc., and it's a pleasant enough place to wile away an hour or two. There's ample parking, including an underground car-park at the back.

Belfast's choice of shoe shops is nothing special in my opinion, however, Office is one of the…read morecity's better assets in that area. I first got to know the Office chain in London and it's always maintained the same standard of edgy trendiness combined with mixed quality. Also their stock in Belfast is pretty much on a par with London, so there's some comfort in the knowledge that we are not in a complete backwater over here. Some of the shoes not of the best manufacture and consequently passing fashion triumphs over comfort, but there is a balance of shoes and boots that are a cut above that. However, despite the vagaries I seem to end up buying something here just about every year. You have to keep an eye on this shop because sometimes I think the better stuff sells out quickly. In general Office is quite good - though the choice is probably better for women than for men.

I really rate Office, despite it being a change store it seems to cater for the alternative shoe…read moretastes and offers a wide variety of different shoes. Built in the "Schuh" mould Office is still a little bit on the expensive side. You can often find shoes they sell directly from the maker or website for a whole lot cheaper. But one thing that weighs heavily in Office's favour is that when it puts on sales it is well worth being first in line as they really do slash their prices. I got a lovely pair of Fred Perry plimsolls at 50% off but the amazing thing is that other shops were still selling the exact same shoes at full price. All in all Office is the place to go if you want a quality pair of shoes or are not sure what you want. But my advice would be to be on the look out for an Office sale.

This is certainly the shoe shop that stirs up the most memories from my childhood and I think that…read moreis probably the case for quite a few people. I remember with almost endless fondness the machine that told you what size your shoes are and the shoes that when you put the soles together they made a picture of the dinosaur. This shop is as standard a Clarks as you can get. The staff are friendly and polite and always helpful. The store itself is clean and tidy and nice and easy to get to with plenty of parking. The only thing is that they aren't the most fashionable but I think that is ok. You will get a solid pair of school or work shoes in here. Always at a good price and always top quality.

I wanted to get my son's feet measured to make sure I have the right fit and that I am not damaging…read morehis feet with ill fitting shoes, so off to Clarks we went. I didn't need to book in as there was plenty of staff around to measure his feet there and then. They gave him a pair of socks as he was in his bare feet and measured them without a problem. He did curl his feet up a lot and pull them away, but I feel that the staff member did an excellent job at measuring them accurately. The staff member asked if I was going to have a look for a pair of shoes for him, without putting pressure on to buy in Clarks. I wanted to get a good quality pair of first shoes for him and there were lots to choose from. The staff member suggested the trainers for him as he will get more wear out of them as they are slightly more generous in size. I respect her honesty and help. Even though Clarks are slightly more expensive I feel that they are worth it. They have some nice little shoes and not all of them are that boring

Way back in 2010 I was perhaps a little harsh on this branch of TK Maxx. I think that sifting…read morethrough clothes is the reason that people shop at TK Maxx, they enjoy the excitement and the possibility of getting a real bargain. Sifting isn't actually too bad at this TK Maxx as the staff keep the rails in pretty good order. Belfast now has plenty of fashion outlets but it doesn't have much similar to TK Maxx. This store is huge and set over 3 floors. It has a woman's section, kids section, men's section and even a dedicated jewelry counter. My advice would be that if you are looking for something specific then come to TK Maxx and see if they have it in store, you could save yourself a few quid.

Tkmax is a huge department store with men/women clothes, footwear, homeware, food, kids toys,…read moreluggage and general random things like frames and art. It's all supposed to be 60% less than regular high street prices. There are always was/now prices to give idea of prices. The home department is my favourite part.

I never usually venture into stores like this. And not without reason, as I recently discovered…read morewhen visiting Rojo. The most stunning designer shoes line the walls of this sleek footwear boutique, in every shape, size, colour and style you could possibly imagine. And we're talking big names here - Chanel, DKNY, Gucci - the real deal as it were. Yet, despite the designer names, the price tags weren't quite so bad as I thought they would be. Fair enough, £129 isn't exactly what I would spend on a pair of shoes, but it's all about the label, dahling. A few awe-inspired moments were spent gazing at the multitude of beautiful, and well-reduced due to the sale, shoes. It was at this point that I felt completely out of place, and I think everyone else realised this fact too. Despite my best efforts to fit in (I was wearing my £55 heeled brogues), it was never going to happen. Perhaps it was the Primark jeans that gave me away, or the fact that I looked like a small child in a toy shop, but either way, I was determined to make a swift exit (via the UGG section of course...they have the most gorgeous blue boots for ladies, and turquoise ones for girls). As long as you put your best foot forward, or ensure that the shoe's on the other foot, you'll be fine. Or something like that...

The onset of autumn is unfortuate in some ways but the good thing is all the latest boots that…read morestart appearing in the shops, because that's how I prefer to encase my feet in the winter. In Rojo they're somewhat beyond range at £180+ on average but there was a pair of black suede ones for less. They'd last for 10 years with fair treatment without looking out of place, so compare that to what you might fritter over the same period on cheap stuff and you've got a case for some serious purchasing...Ok, maybe not yet. Anyway - there are also the shoes and the clothes section but as far as I am concerned Rojo is about the boots.

Ecco is a shop shop that I was most unsure about finding anything in until lately when after…read morespotting something black and tidy that might do for work I decided to try on a pair. They were actually, I found, very comfortable after the assistant, evidently an enthusiast for the Ecco cause, also pointed out that these shoes might feel a bit different because these shoes have plenty of space for your toes and good arch support. That might sound like a recipe for clodhoppers but they aren't. I'm quite impressed especially because so many shoes are uncomtortable and wonder if I should admit to being a convert to the Ecco cause - or not?

Ecco isn't a shoe shop that I would go to, to buy my casual shoes. It always a bit clinical and…read moreserious to me and that's very off putting. But I took a jaunt in looking for something for work that didn't enjoy tearing the crap out of my feet, which is rare in the shoe world. The staff were immediately asking me if I needed any help when I walked in which always freaks me out, but she left when I said I was just browsing. After about 20seconds another member of staff bounced and I fled the shop! I hate not being left to shop in peace!