Sandals That Are Worth Painting Your Toenails For

Bad news, ladies. It's sandal season. Time to whip out the OPI, stock up on Compeed and prepare to show off your feet. Luckily, I have some sandals that'll help you coax those feet out of your ballet flats or ankle boots. Starting with...

The Ridiculous:

For those of you with balls (of the feet) of steel, the killer keel and tropical print combo of Just Fab's Orli (£49, though you get discounts when you sign up) is unbeatable. These babies make even the most boring clothes look special. Just don't drink too much, or you may break an ankle.

Meanwhile, for my fellow magpies, a pair of these babies from Topshop (£68) are a must. They sort of look like a craft project done in primary school with marbles finished off with glitter nail polish, but surely that's half of the appeal? For this trend, you can blame (or, er, hug) Dolce & Gabbana.

The Practical:

Clarks' Deva mid heels (£49.99) are possibly the most comfy sandals in the world. The little bit of detail on the heel stops from them being super mumsy (only vaguely mumsy) and they have built-in cushioning that means you can wear the mid heel all day without any pain. I have them in the sold out pink and orange colourway. For those who like the sound of that, there's some good news...

Step forward ASOS, where these low-heeled lovelies are yours for £30. Finding flat or almost flat sandals that work with girlie skirts and dresses can be tricky (I can't be the only one who thinks super-strappy gladiator styles give me cankles from hell?) but these fit the bill perfectly. And you'd be surprised how much this colour way goes with.

The Boho:

Boohoo is one of my secret shoe favourites. The styles are dirt cheap, they have a really good range and they're not as uncomfortable as you'd expect for the cost (think New Look circa 2004, before their sizing went funny and the platforms got ridiculous). These embroidered sandals are a very reasonable £25, and also come in black.

If a toe-post style is more your thing, these Zara flats (£29.99) have the added bonus of a slingback strap around the ankle, which stops the pain that you get around the top of the foot from the weight of a sole like this slapping around all day. I live in this style of sandal on holiday, having finally given up on rubbery flip-flops that rip my feet to shreds. You should do the same!

The Wedges:

Head over to Dune for a wedge sandal (£45) that'll see you through weddings, parties and picnics without killing your feet. The cutouts give them a little extra oomph, but the real bonus is the crossover straps, which are much more flattering than a high-up ankle strap that cuts the leg in two. Also, the wedge itself is stacked wood, not cork, which makes them a little smarter.

Finally, one for my fellow retro fans, who need something to wear with their Esther Williams swimsuits and Vivien of Holloway dresses. These babies (Conchita, £74.99) are from Miss L Fire, who're quickly becoming my go-to for sandals that mark the happy medium between boring and "what on earth are those things on your feet" (or as I like to call it, Irregular Choice). Obviously these must be teamed with a matching wicker basket bag and something that has polka dots. It's the law.