The sale includes everything from platforms to pretty little flats, boots to brogues, plus everything in between.  My favourite platform bargains are these summery, flowery pairs, costing just £30.

Pink satin floral platform, £30

Strappy corsage platform, £30

Shop the sale now!

Some people call them thongs or thong sandals, flip-flops or beach shoes.  But whatever you want to call them, these top picks in women’s flip-flops will keep you comfortable and stylish until autumn comes!

Havaianas slim season white, £21.99, Cloggs.co.uk	Ipanema Gisele Bundchen starfish, £13, Barratts	Nude chain & bead strap, £16, Dorothy Perkins
Ugg Tasmina in black, £46, Schuh	Paul Smith sky blue flip flops, £59, Yoox.com	Rocket Dog rope detail flip flops, £20, Barratts

The shoe collection is mostly understated and very… nude!  But your wedges, shoe-boots and gladiator sandals are all there.  As are a really pretty pair of flatforms.  Here are my favourites:

Vachetta Koemi Sandal

Suede Kimoko Sandal

Buffalo Leather Reiko Platform

Check out the whole collection on DerekLam.com

Unfortunately, if you live in the UK you can’t order online so you’ll have to get on the phone instead.  Details are on Derek Lam website.

I must admit, I was a bit sceptical about this rather masculine trend when it came around.  But brogues have really grown on me (obviously not literally) recently.  And so when I happened upon these cute brogues in Dorothy Perkins whilst doing a spot of shopping today, I couldn’t resist the temptation to have them as our featured Shoe of the Week.

£25, DorothyPerkins.com

They are brogues for the most part.  But they are canvas, and this, along with the almost Mary Jane-like lace up strap in the middle makes them look a bit more summery than many other brogue styles.  Perfect with a bright floral-print summer dress methinks.

And at just £25, you really can’t not buy them!

Browse more brogues on DorothyPerkins.com

In the past few years, the cost of designer shoes has climbed to such extravagant heights that most people are now trying to find ways of purchasing their designer shoes at discount prices.  This can mean waiting until there is a sale in your favourite shop, online or in the real world, or finding the best places to shop for discounted designer shoes.

Here are a couple of my favourite places to shop for designer shoes.  Some of the sites listed below offer reduced prices all year round, whereas others are sites to keep an eye on, because they’ll have some great (usually seasonal) sales throughout the year.

If you’re really hunting for a bargain, it’s worthwhile following the websites you like on social network sites like twitter or facebook to keep up to date with any sales they might have.  And if you don’t mind your inbox getting a bit clogged up, don’t forget mailing lists.

Yoox

Yoox.com is all about designer shoes, clothes and other accessories for less.  It’s unlikely that you’ll find any regularly priced shoes on the website at all.  Yoox.com does tend to go through stock pretty fast, so we’d recommend that you check it often, especially if you’re looking for something in particular.

Shop Yoox.com now

Net-a-porter

Packed with the latest styles in shoes from loads of top designers, Net-a-Porter.com is home to some of the best designer shoe sales on the web.  Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Yves Sans Laurent, Miu Miu, Michael Kors and Gucci are all there, alongside a ton of other designers.  Make sure you visit regularly to keep track of the sales.

Shop Net-a-Porter.com now

Farfetch

Farfetch.com brings the worlds best independent fashion boutiques into one place, providing a really easy way to buy from global designer fashion brands including some of the best known such as Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Stuart Weitzman, D&G, Sergio Rossi and Chloe.  Not only is Farfetch.com a great place to check out the latest styles, there’s usually some kind of sale going on.

Shop Farfetch.com now

The Outnet

If you’re looking for designer shoes for less you have to check out Outnet.com, where designer shoe bargains are abound.  Nothing ever seems to be full price on Outnet and the stock turnover is fast.  With big names like Herve Leger, Sergio Rossi, Jimmy Choo, Fendi, Alexander Wang, Emilio Pucci, Diane von Furstenberg and Calvin Klein it’s worthwhile checking regularly to see what they’ve got available.

Shop Outnet.com now

House of Fraser

House of Fraser is one to watch for their seasonal sales on designer shoes.  Amongst others, House of Fraser is home to designers such as Kenneth Cole, Kurt Geiger, UGG, Radley, Karen Millen and Bertie, so it’s worth checking out their sales.

Shop HouseOfFraser.co.uk now

Selfridges & Co.

With designers such as Gina, Carvela, Stella McCartney, Kei Kagami, Nine West, Lanvin, Guiseppi Zanotti and French Connection, Selfridges.com is another one to keep an eye on for sales.

Shop Selfridges.com now

This spring, our feet will be given a well deserved break from the nerve numbing high heels we’ve been wearing the past few years, because heel heights are coming down in the spring of 2011.

Cream crochet ballerina flats, £18, Dorothy Perkins

Animal print leather pumps, £59.95, Moda in Pelle

If this has got you freaking out so far, don’t worry.  There are still going to be plenty of high heels around.  It’s just that this season, there’s going to be a much wider selection of new, trendy lower heels and flat shoes to choose from.

So those of you who have a 4 inch limit (or less) will be pleased to know that it won’t be difficult to find fashionable ballerina flats, kitten heels and low- mid-height court shoes and sandals.

Side bow low heel court shoe, £62, Schuh

Peep toe low heel court shoe, £52, Dune

Take a look along the high street, and you’ll see that block heels are all over the place right now, and they are definitely a must have for any fashionista this coming season.

Partner your block heels with a pair of bellbottom denim flares or a colourful miniskirt to perfect that 1970′s look.  Summertime chic!

Guess high heel sandals, £84, Yoox.com	Red ruffle t-bar high heels, £70, Schuh	Black block heel court shoes, £46, Dorothy Perkins
Multicolour platform sandals, £89, Yoox.com	Black Gardenia glitter sandal, £25, Barratts	Polka dot Red or Dead platforms, £75, Schuh

Schuh have a really good selection. Check it out.

I am aware that it’s not entirely rational to be bridal shoe shopping already, but every shoe obsessed girl out there knows what I’m talking about!

Today I came across the new wedding shoe collection from Moda In Pelle and was very pleasantly surprised by the selection on offer.  They have some really cute designs, heels and flats, and everything from the vintage look to super chic.  Something for everyone.  And to top it all off, the prices aren’t too bad either!

Here are my favourite picks of the bunch:

Reenie in gold, £85.95, Platform sandal with side bow detail	Castle in ivory, £59.95, Peep toe courts with ruffle detail	Sakis in silver, £109.95, Glam strappy sandal with stud detail
Manhattan in taupe, £129.95, Leather peep toe with exposed heel & lace up back	Doria in raspberry, £29.95, Suede peep toe court with ruffle toe & hidden platform	Rotherham in champagne, £65.95, Sling-back peep toe court with flower detail
Rosella in silver, £39.95, Diamante twist sandals with knot embellishment	Narina in pink, £49, Thong sandal decorated with pearl diamantes	Frosting in cream, £59.95, Leather ballerina pump with gorgeous corsage

See the full collection here

These smart wedges are the perfect balance of smart & casual.  Pair with your favourite jeans, or wear with a smart skirt.  Anything goes with these versatile delights.

£85, House of Fraser

Carvela Katy is a trendy wedge incorporating contrasting leather and wood detailing as well as metallic clog studs.  Finished with buckle fastenings this style will see you right through the day into the evening.

Round toe wedge by Kei Kagama, £539, Selfridges

So what are they?  Well, they are sculptural leather and resin shoes.  They’re a “…[fusion] of fashion and architecture”.  They are “…wearable art.”  They are 100% leather upper, resin and fibreglass heel.  And they are also orange.

But the question I had when I first saw them was, quite simply:  Are they shoes?  And the answer is yes.  They fit the definition; I checked.

The part that continuously draws my attention is the extra bit of sole on the toe.  I’m not usually a stickler for practicalities, but this suggests that walking wouldn’t exactly be a breeze, and the words robotic, ungainly and awkward are floating about in my head.  Although standing still would be a rather simpler feat.  Perhaps that’s the key…

Personally, I think they might be more art than shoe.  And there’s a lot of art I can’t make sense of.  So maybe that’s it:  I don’t understand these shoes.  But I don’t want to have to understand shoes.  I just want them to look lovely on my feet, and make me look lovelier in the process.  And these Kei Kagama wedges do not do it for me.

And to finish, a quote from my good friend when I asked him his first impression of the above:

“Wow.  They look like some freaky dutch things gone nuts.”

Are they art?  Perhaps.

Would I wear them?  Not a chance.

Would you?