Where to find the art and sole of summer

Living in the UK, with its distinctly unpredictable summer weather, you need to be deliriously optimistic to buy even one pair of properly summery shoes, since there is every chance they may never be worn. Happily for the footwear industry, many of us take holidays in reliably warm, dry climates, thus necessitating the purchase of something flimsy and fabulous for sauntering along the seashore, while others of us are merely optimists/fashion victims (delete as appropriate) and thus wish to hoover up the most on-trend and desirable sandals on view from Brent Cross to Bowdon, regardless of practicality.

The über-fierce gladiator sandal is still around, often in flat versions and often in gold - a genius idea, since gold matchesg everything and thus reduces the necessity to take multiple pairs - a particular benefit with increasingly restrictive airline luggage allowances.

Some of the funkiest sandals are on the high street, notably at Barratts, the formerly rather naff chain which has been transformed by new owner Jonathan Ziff. Most styles are now in real leather, with on-trend styling, pricey-looking trims and excellent value. Their flat gold gladiator is not only totally a la mode, but versatile and terrific value at £45. Miss Selfridge also has a mini-wedge gladiator in dark gold, and French Connection has a very edgy gladiator in palest taupe suede, both of which are city- and beach-friendly. Other notably fab flats include Stella McCartney's raffia and rope sandal which alludes to a gladiator but is classic enough to outlast the trend.

The other big sandal trend is the ankle cuff, a gladiator/shoe-boot cross-over. Hobbs has a pretty, pair in pale yellow with rope trim, while Next has neat, ethnic pair with beads and tassels.