Thigh-high pirate boots have started to look a little bit “last year,” so we’re keeping it current with ankle booties (until we have fight our way through waist-high snow drifts).

Beige suede Dolce Vita desert-style booties ($140) go with everything, and with a hidden wedge, everyone will wonder if you grew a few inches overnight. At Brown’s Shoes, 1191 Ste. Catherine St. W, Montreal, 514-987-1206, www.brownsshoes.com

We love Sam Edelman’s sleek ankle boots ($265) for adding instant height and stiletto-sex appeal. The Bay, 585 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-281-4422, www.thebay.com

Grrrr! These animal print booties ($165) by Nine West add a little bit of danger without any overkill. Nine West‎, 1344 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-395-4660, www.ninewest.ca

Leave it to Jeffrey Campbell to turn black booties into bejewelled beauties ($230). Little Burgundy, 1127 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-286-9414, www.littleburgundyshoes.com

Okay, at $1,200 these certainly aren’t in every budget, but be inspired by Alexander McQueen’s hot pink booties and add a pop of vivid colour to your wardrobe. www.ssense.com —Jennifer Nachshen

The difference between shoe shopping for ourselves and our little ones is that we are looking for the wow factor for ourselves, but the cute factor for our kids.

Life & Soles, a new-Vancouver based online shoe store has a huge amount of the cute factor, starting with these Native Fitzsimmons baby hiking boots. They are lightweight, waterproof, odor resistant, and absolutely adorable. The site also stocks Converse, Havaianas, and Salt Water, in mini sizes.

Now we can rest assured they are wearing something comfortable and stylish while accompanying us on our marathon shoe shopping trips.
—Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

Native Fitzsimmons hiking boots, $59.99 at www.lifeandsoles.myshopify.com

Don't miss our Editors' Diary for some tips on post-pregnancy dressing

It will soon be time to bid adieu to peeptoes (and mandatory pedicures) and welcome fall footwear. The hottest trend for autumn will bring you back to your preppy private school days (no uniform required).

Tassled loafers get a vibrant update from ALDO ($70). ALDO, 1021 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-499-1809, www.aldoshoes.com

An animalistic take on the classic penny loafer ($90) at Locale. Locations online. 

Hit the deck like a true prep in a pair of updated Sperry Top Siders ($100). At Brown’s, 1191 Ste Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-987-1206, www.brownsshoes.com

Get cosy in hot mocs from Hush Puppies ($130). Locations online.

Go for brogue with these Two Tone Lace-up oxfords from Pretty Ballerinas ($295). At Pretty Ballerinas boutique, 392 Victoria Ave., Montreal, 514-489-3030.

We’re feeling like A plus students already.
—Jennifer Nachshen

It’s time for the little piggies to be free.

The adorable Salt Water Sandals, seen on stylish celeb kids including Suri Cruise and Matilda Ledger, are now available in Canada—and so cute we can hardly stand it.

Quality crafted in a rainbow of 14 colours from bright lime to shiny champagne, the four styles (Original, Sea Wee, Surfer and Sweetheart) range from infant to tween sizes and have a classic, European look that never goes out of style.

Even if she wants to wear them with a tutu and Dora tee. —MT

From $41 at ChloeinStyle.com and select retailers.

A walk of shame is embarrassing. But it’s even worse when it involves hobbling home in painful pumps.

We come prepared with Damn Heels ($20 including tax), a flirty little pair of foldable flats that you can pop into your purse to unfold and employ when necessary. The adorable ballet shoes come in black, silver, and gold, to match last night’s outfit and a cute reusable tote bag to carry those sadistic stilettos.

Allowing you to stride with pride.

Available online and at Boutique 1861, 1861 St. Catherine St. West, Montreal, 514-908-1861, www.damnheels.com

The "put your shoes on" tango just got a whole lot easier.

Modeled after its hip adult line, the kids Fall 2010 line of Native Shoes are super comfortable, casual and colourful (Hollywood Pink, Pencil Orange, and Gossip Purple are just a few of the punchy hues). Laceless and ultra light, we love that these too-cute sneakers are easy to slip on and off.

Well, as easy as it can be to get a 4-year-old to put his shoes on.

Kids shoes $35, Junior shoes $39; available at Young and Fabulous, 200-1700 Sprucewood Ave., Lasalle, Ontario, 519-962-8530, www.youngfabulous.com and Antisocial, 2337 Main St., Vancouver, 604-708-5678, www.antisocialshop.com

Nicolas Sarkozy may have scrapped his annual Bastille Day garden party but that doesn’t mean we can’t still honour the day.

We’ll be kicking up our heels à la française in a pair of Lyon-made Palladium boots (from $70).  Constructed from re-engineered rubber and stonewashed canvas, the Baggy Canvas model comes in preppy colors like grape, pale pink and sky blue. In 1947 the French Foreign Legion stomped through the desert in high-top Pampas, but we’ll be storming the Cinema du Parc for its Truffaut retrospective.

Bonne Bastille!

At Influence U, 476 Ste-Catherine Street W., Montreal, 514-931-3283, www.influence-u.com

Whether it’s autumn in Austin or summer in Saigon, we love trolling foreign towns.

But the next time we get blisters in Beirut and aches in Oban, we’ll be quick-changing into a pair of Pocketflops. These springy flip flops (from $15) are made out of durable recycled tire rubber and fold together for easy packing. From lavender paisley to black-and-white damask, each pretty pair comes with an organic cotton bag and plantable paper tags embedded with wildflower seeds.

Now that’s going the extra step.

At www.pocketflops.com

Just because you won’t wear Crocs doesn’t mean you can’t still rock a pair of rubber shoes.

Inspired by runway fashion trends, OKA b. footwear is stylish and waterproof, with massaging foot beds that make each step feel like a walk on air. We flipped for the open-toe popsicle pink Madison slides with green zebra ribbon (from US$30, pictured), and the Anastasia ballet flats (US$35) with fringed satin bows.  Even better, each pair can be recycled (just ship them back to the company when you’re done).

We’ll rubber stamp that.

At www.shoesthatloveyou.com

The Winter Olympics are five days from over, but we’re keeping the spirit alive with a pair of patriotic steppers.

That morning sprint to work may not merit the national anthem, but you’ll feel strong and free getting there in a pair of red and white Canadian flag flats ($205).

Go Canada!

At Pretty Ballerinas, 392 Victoria Ave., Westmount, 514-489-3030, www.prettyballerinas.ca