This black pair from Zara's Spring-Summer 13 collection is bang on trend. It is simple and timeless and oh-so-demure. The shoes have a slight point to the toes and are held at the front by a single suede band. I love the sneak-up-behind-you suede back and the thin black ankle straps. The focal point of these shoes is of course their gold metal-plated heels. Just image the way they'd catch the rays on a day like this!

Boho Chic:

These Faith shoes are the most recent addition to my collection. I was drawn to the chunky features of this pair, the thick criss-crossed front straps and the triple layered ankles straps. The chunky platform and heel of this shoe give it a fun, casual, carefree feel. It has cute plaited detailing and tiny matte metal studs along the straps. The leather straps feel super soft and the natural tone that it comes in makes them a perfect accessory to any outfit. It has a back zip so there is no fussing with fiddly buckles and straps that catch your feet; you just slip them on, zip up and go!

Baby doll:

This next pair is a sky-high suede number from Dune. With a chunky platform, and thick crossed-over straps at both the ankles and over the toes, they feel as gorgeous to wear as do to look at. The straps fasten by a square buckle, which I admit is a little fiddly. But once they are on they look every bit fun and flirty. The hot pink hue adds a pop of colour to your summer outfit, whether you are clashing, matching or complimenting. They have also a very special quality about them that make them extra special, but there will be a whole post to focus on that so I shall say no more.

I adore every one of these shoes, they each have an individual feel about them that cannot be replaced by another pair therefore it is simply not possible for me to pick a single favourite out of the three. Perhaps you may prefer one above all others?

Source: own image. Original price: £39.99

The shoes share the same heel height and gold detailing, both are pointed and both are trimmed with studs, pyramid in the Valentino's, spikes in Zara. While the they are sling back in design, the Zara differ in that they have additional studded ankle straps, a definite plus for me. The main difference though, aside from the price tag and origin, has to be material; the Valentino pair are made of leather rather than suede. Suede, though pretty, tends to be fairly delicate, and is best avoided on wetter occasions (trust me, I learnt the hard way). There is also the plastic (or acrylic, can't quite tell) trim lining the front of the Valentino pair which I can really do without. The only real let down with the Zara pair is that they come in the one colour, black when it was the pink I was lusting after. Having put it off, again and again, my first trip back into city centre after exams brought me to Zara's doors. It look some searching for, the way the store display their shoes is particularly unhelpful. And after trying them on for size, I was in love! Not so surprisingly they came home with me that afternoon.

To wear: I've only taken my studded sling backs out once, a shopping trip that was cut short due to the onset of uncontrollable hay fever. I can report that they are fairly easy to walk in given the small heel, however be sure to keep the ankle strap loose as they do tend to pull when walking and of course it is going to hurt when one foot accidently catches against another, so tread with care. All in all, these shoes look stunning and demure in black with a playful but dangerous streak, perhaps not the most comfortable pair of shoes in the world but then most beautiful shoes aren't.

Currently on sale at Zara, reduced to £29.99, grab them before they go!
http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/shoes/high-heels/studded-sling-back-c434554p1049680.html