Russell & Bromley always have at least one or two pairs of truly divine shoes in the window. Right…read morenow, they have a gorgeous, leather, studded ankle boot in a variety of colours. At £295 they're way over my budget but if I was loaded I'd be tempted to buy a grey AND cherry red pair. The leather feels good quality and unlike other shoe companies, they feel comfy instantly. You would think selling lovely shoes to people with too much money would be a breeze of a job. Unfortunately, the staff in this branch can be a little cold and snooty. The decor is also a little old fashioned, bringing to mind old department stores with doormen in dicky bow ties. Still, those boots....!

Russell and Bromley is where I dream I could shop. Perhaps if I stopped pouring my wages straight…read moreback into Sir Phillip Green's pockets I'd actually be able to afford a timeless pair of leather penny loafers with tassles á la Alexa Chung. At between eighty-five and ninety-five pounds a pop they're definitely an investment piece with some serious style credentials. And it's not just the loafers which are so delicious - the ballet pumps and chunky leather sandals all pack a punch. Everything about this shop just oozes English sophistication from its setting in the chic St. Ann's square to the tasteful décor and... edible shoes. Oh!

barrats is a great place if your looking for quality shoes, always start here! downstairs there is…read morea large range of womens shoes ranging from ugg boots to office wear. upstairs there is a decent mens selection but not as good as the womens. the childrens section is always good with a good range of sizes for those growing feet. staff proffesional and very helpful!

Quality range of country clothes, if your needs any Hoggs clothing (jackets, breeks, trousers,…read moreboots) this is the online superstore!

If you're after a pair of box-fresh sneakers to go with the cool threads you've just bought from Oi…read morePolloi or Thomas St. Post Office, head to Size? A tiny store-front at the bottom of Market Street, it's run by a chain but looks and feels like an independent boutique with great music, enthusiastic staff and a mind-blowing range of sneakers, trainers, baseball boots and hi-tops. As well as all the big labels, they stock exclusives from Fred Perry, Puma, Nike and Adidas Originals. When I popped in yesterday, they also had a full set of the new Adidas collaborations with Jeremy Scott, Redman, Kazukit and Nizza Colabs. When I mentioned liking the former, the guy smiled and said they were out of my size already and were expecting the rest to fly out by the rest of the weekend. The lesson? If you see something you love at Size?, snap them up!

The genius of this place is that despite being a rather successful regional chain, it lets you…read morebelieve that it is a small independant gem, which in turn makes you feel like your trainers are a real find- just don't look in JD Sports if you want to avoid disapointment! Added to this is the free magazine which really gives the place a community feel- you belong because a guy called Mike on page 33 says your trainers are 'fly'! Despite Size's tiny proportions, it's glass front shows off all of it's wares, sucking you in from across the street like a road safety ignoring tractor beam- when will you be happy Size?! When one of those taxis finally catches me as I zombie across the road?! It's obvious that the guys inside know their stuff as Size stocks only the very best. From classic Nike Air Max and Converse to up to the second Pointer and Tretorn, the stocklist is idiot proof.

There are stores that have a strong identity and style and others that aim to appeal to everyone by…read morestocking a bit of everything. One glance at their confused window displays reinforces that Moda In Pelle fall firmly into the latter camp. There's no attempt to woo new customers with eye-catching graphics or cool displays, just simple rows of heels and sparkly shoes on the bottom row, ankle boots on the middle row and knee high leather, suede and jewelled boots on the top two rows. This might work if only some of the shoes and boots in the window weren't so damn ugly! Inside the shop is just as bad with radically different styles rubbing soles next to each other. I actually spotted a fabulous pair of white boots with tasteful silver studs but I wasn't going to shell out £120 on them when they were next to boots I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy! To quote teachers across the world: Must Try Harder!

You'll notice a lot of my reviews are focussing on sales at the moment... well, tis the season, and…read moreon (at the time of typing) this, the Monday that is supposed to be the most depressing Monday of the year (first bills after the festive period and what-not), what better to bring cheer to yourself (girls) or any female you know than a nice pair of footpieces. Yes, there is nothing that quite lifts the spirit like a new pair of shoes, and I have to say, Moda in Pelle has one of the best sales I've seen in a long time. A shy and retiring little boutique amongst the smaller Market Street shops, this branch just off St Ann's Square is a right little gem. And as for those reductions, well, you can't argue with a stunning pair of bright red wedge sandals reduced from £80 to £25. Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you, and it'd be rude not to grab them - after all, thinking of that summer holiday is probably keeping you going right now... I've always found the staff in Moda in Pelle very friendly and helpful, and they give you space to browse. There's a great range of shoes on offer too, from the aforementioned wedges (and plenty of them... I love my summer wedges, so this is a must for me) to Ugg-esque Edhas and Dais and biker boots, fancy courts and pretty pumps to a lovely variety of handbags. To me it feels like a nice little halfway point between the ostentatious self-worth of Kurt Geiger and the cheerful high street demeanour of Office and Faith. If you're after a little treat in the sale, don't miss this one out.

Manchester is surrounded by so much amazing countryside, with the great expanse of the Peak…read moreDistrict just a few miles away. It figures that there should be some serious outdoor shops in Manchester's city centre. At first, you would think Cotswold was just a place to buy well made and nice-looking hiking jackets, jumpers and fleeces. If you go beyond the small ground floor you'll soon find that there's an expanse of gear to be found in the basement and on the first floor. Downstairs in the basement, they stock professional climbing gear with helmets, karabiners and ropes all on display. They've got a great selection of maps and videos as well. Upstairs is the place to buy a force-10 gale storm proof tent, if that's what you need. On the stairs down to the basement I found a couple of notice boards, where staff had posted pictures and info about themselves and the outdoor activities they specialised in. It was a nice touch and goes a long way to prove that Cotswold is all about getting out and having real fun in the outdoors with great hiking and climbing gear to do it with.

Home from home, split over 3 floors Cotswold is one of my favourite places. With a good mix of…read moreevery bit of outdoor kit you could need and friendly staff who will endure to go into minor detail of the pros and cons of a variety of equipment. The basement has all your clothes, boots, climbing harnesses, DVDs (I'm just listing equipment). Additionally Cotswold invests time in its clients; because of this you have 20% discounts for university climbing members and the lark. All very nice of them. If you listen to recent weather reports anyway it would seem that alpine clothing is going to see a sharp rise in purchases. Long live Cotswold that's what I say.

This little shop is in a slightly random place but is a hidden gem for people who like a bit of…read moreurban style. Selling a small range of clothing from brands like ekko and nike it also sells trainers and smart shoes from ranges by Nicholas deakin amongst others. This place is worth a bus ride even if its just to see the limited edition nintendo trainers designed by Russell simmons of Phat Farm!

Zara is a lovely place to check out, but this one like it has progressed from the last time I…read morevisited 2 months ago but still has some changes that are needed. The ground floor was actually pretty organized this go round but it's really hard to find an employee to assist. One issue is possible because the employees look just like a regular shopper so you are unsure who to ask except the cash register individuals. The escalator going to the second floor was broken, so you will have to walk unless you can get on their elevator. On the second floor they also have self checkout and exchange and return registers. When I was asking an employee a question that was at the exchange/return counter, she was really on edge which I am unsure why. She finally just dismissed me and told me to go to another counter to check out since the self checkout machines cause so many issues. All I needed was an employee code to proceed with taking the locks off. Went up to floor three and the cash register employee that assisted me was so sweet and helpful! Normally I love Zara's for odd and end pieces but this one could work on customer service and working with finding a way to help the layout more shopper friendly.

If I had a body like Penelope Cruz, I would be able to swish in and out of Zara and pick up stylish…read morenew blouses, trousers, blazers, knitwear and dresses on a monthly basis. Knowing the Spanish fashion houses makes beautifully tailored clothes to perfectly fit the European figure, I wouldn't even have to try them on. I'd just stroll over to the cash register, exchange greetings with the assistant and walk out knowing I had some lovely additions to my wardrobe. Sadly, I don't have a body like Penelope Cruz and nothing - I repeat NOTHING - in Zara ever fits me!