Have you seen the film, ‘In her Shoes’?

It’s about two sisters – one sensible and the other not so much. The sensible sister has a vast shoe collection, of which the not so sensible sister likes to borrow from. I don’t have any sisters, but I do have girlfriends, and I imagine that I feel the same way about shoes that Rose, the sensible sister, does.

Maggie Feller: If you’re not going to wear them, don’t buy them. Leave them for someone who will get something out of them.
Rose Feller: I get something out of them. When I feel down, I like to treat myself. Clothes never look any good, and food just makes me fatter, but shoes always fit.

I do like to buy clothes as well, and god knows when someone breaks out the Cadbury I am not about to say ‘no, thanks’, but shoes do hold a very special place in mine, and most women’s, hearts that is very hard to replace with a simple cup of tea and chat.

Shoes can transform you. A plain outfit can be va-va-voomed with a pair of shoes. Killer heels promote confidence and flair, while simple flats can convey naivety and innocence. Leopard prints and bold colours bring out ones personality and soft pinks are perfect for the ballet and the races.

I’ll admit, some of my favourite shoes are not wearable. I bought them so that I can simply take them out of the boxes sometimes and just admire how beautiful they are. I might do a lap of the house, but they would never go outside! I have coffee table books that are about shoes, I have shoe trinkets and knick knacks and even shoe door stops and oven mitts.

Shoes are at the centre of a very wide fashion world. I used to buy my shoes first, and then build the outfit around them. Now I am not so picky – I like my outfit to be well thought through, from shoes to hair accessories, and the order that I buy them in doesn’t necessarily start at the bottom.

Cleaning out my wardrobes has almost been like shopping in my own store! Finding things I had forgotten I had and pairing them with newer pieces is opening up a whole new range of options. I have culled the wardrobe and the handbags – but I am drawing the line at my shoes.

Each of my shoes tells a story – when I bought them, who I was with, who I planned to go out with and where they have been. They say a picture tells a thousand words, but I think shoes say so much more about people, and my shoes say a lot about me. Sometimes I have a lapse and think – I should be more sensible, that I will never wear these shoes enough to get value from them – but then I remember ‘In her Shoes’ and think maybe I’m a bit more Maggie than I am Rose – some shoes were made for wearing.

The latest addition to my shoe wardrobe – Wayne Cooper Autumn/Winter 09. Ooh la la!