I’m delighted to see that, according to top fashion pundits, stilt heels are now passé – I still have bad feet from my youth when I succumbed to the sexy allure of stilettos. Do you remember winklepickers? If there is any justice, the man who invented them is burning in hell. Kitten and mid-height heels can be just as attractive and they don’t make your calves ache.

In terms of retail therapy, nothing hits the spot quite like a pair of new shoes but never buy them first thing in the morning. The best time to shoe shop is late afternoon, particularly if you’ve been on your feet all day. By then your feet will have swollen to their maximum size, so you minimise the risk of the new pair pinching.

Don’t be tempted to buy shoes that only fit with an additional rubber insole – either they fit or they don’t. It goes without saying that the same pair should never be worn two days in a row and proper shoe trees for every pair of shoes that you own are a must. They can be bought online – to find a supplier, type cedar wood shoe trees into Google or any similar online search engine.

In a recession we all have to make sacrifices but footwear is probably the only part of our wardrobe that can have an impact on our health. Without paying silly prices for designer names, I do believe in buying the best shoes I can afford. If your feet hurt, it affects your balance and posture. The problem travels up from the toes – to the calves and the spine – and, before you can say Blahnik, you have back problems.

Florence is my favourite city for shoe and glove shopping. The goods are made locally (of the finest soft leathers in colours you won’t see anywhere else) so the prices are really competitive. If you buy more than a couple of pairs, the savings should take care of a weekend’s travel expenses.

While you’re there, an absolute must is a visit to the Ferragamo Shoe Museum. When, aged nine, Salvatore Ferragamo made his first pair of shoes for his sister’s confirmation, he found his calling and went on to become one of the world’s top shoe designers. His clients included stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe, who insisted on stilt heels. Unlike so many shoemakers, Ferragamo studied anatomy to ensure that his shoes would please the eye without hurting the foot. God bless him.

Located in the Palazzo Spini Feroni in the heart of the city, the museum has more than 10,000 pairs of shoes, dating from 1920 until 1960 when he died. They are displayed on rotation alongside photographs, sketches, books, magazines and wooden lasts of famous feet. As a place to spend a leisurely hour or two, it’s a delight – and far less crowded than the Uffizzi.

Another good bet for shoe bargains is Duty Free in Heathrow’s international terminals. For something that will add a bit of pizzazz to that little black dress, check out the Vivienne Westwood selection.

Fashion apart, the best shoe advice I ever got was from a young salesman in Bally. I told him I needed a new pair of sensible shoes for a trip to Manhattan. I’d picked out a pretty pair of loafers, sturdy enough to cope with a rain shower and with just enough heel to accommodate my high arches. The young man looked doubtful. “Will you be doing much walking?” he asked. When I said “yes”, he whipped back the loafers and vanished into the stockroom, returning with an almost identical pair. “Rubber soles,” he explained, “they are essential to minimise impact if you plan to pound pavements.”

When I got to Manhattan, I walked all the way from 96th Street to Washington Square without even a twinge of sore feet. Since then, the first thing I do when I buy a new pair of shoes is drop them in at the cobblers to be rubber soled.

Tip of the month
If you suffer from high arches, avoid wearing flatties. This includes those cute hotel towelling slippers – they stretch out the arch and can cause cramp. You are much better off to go barefoot.