Open-toe jobsready to wear

Open-toe jobs

Patchwork brown sandal, pounds 69.99, Office, as before. Beige sandal, pounds 59.95, Bertie, 36 Molton Street, London W1, and Bentalls, Bentalls Centre, Wood Street, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey. Enquiries: 0171 935 2002. Tan wedge, pounds 185, Pollini, 47 Sloane Street, London SW1, 0171 235 9025

WEDGES, STRAPPIES and sandals with ankle straps are what you should be wearing this summer. But these things frighten me. Last week, I saw a fashion editor whose name is best left out of it, staggering down a flight of stone steps in the spindliest-heeled, ankle-strap sandals I have ever seen. Her descent was slow and laborious as she clung onto the banister with her heels swaying alarmingly. She looked ridiculous and it is highly likely she will see out the rest of the summer encased head to toe in plaster. Fashion should never rule your life like this. What joy is to be had from something that cripples you so? Here is a selection of mostly sensible sandals, with a few high-fashion, high-maintenance exceptions, because there's no point being a fascist about this.

Copper reflex thongs, pounds 95, Armando Pollini, 35 Brook Street, London W1, 0171 629 7606. Gold leather thong, pounds 45, L K Bennett, 83 Kings Road, London SW3, 0171 352 8066. White leather with silver hoop, pounds 32.50, Vivaldi, from Debenhams, Oxford Street, London W1. Enquiries: 0171 935 2002. Pale- blue suede wooden-clog platforms, pounds 89.50, Russell and Bromley, 24/25 New Bond Street, London W1

Gold "Queenie" mule, pounds 49.99, Roland Cartier, from Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London W1. Enquiries: 0800 192192. Banana suede mule, pounds 195, Jimmy Choo, 20 Motcomb Street, London SW1, 0171 235 6008. Brown leather snakeskin wedge mule, pounds 69.99, Marilyn Anselm for Hobbs, branches nationwide. Enquiries: 0171 586 5550. Tortoiseshell mules, pounds 49.99, L K Bennett, as before

Green ponyskin-heeled mule, pounds 195, Robert Clergerie, from Le Coin, 315 Brompton Road, London SW3, 0171 591 0022. Blue leather-knotted mule, pounds 125, Russell and Bromley, as before. Enquiries: 0171 629 6903. White cross-over demi-wedge mule, pounds 44.99, Next. Enquiries: 0116 2849424. Mail order: 0345 100500. Grey/black mosaic mule, pounds 146, Patrick Cox, 8 Symond Street, London SW3, 0171 730 6504, and Blueberries II, 137 Church Street, Blackpool, 01253 22358