A morning in the Shoe Galleries

Selfridges department store on Oxford Street is both a venerable London institution and a bona fide emporium of up-to-the-second style. Last month they opened the Shoe Galleries, ''a 35,000 square-foot shrine to shoes featuring 55,000 pairs of shoes and 4,000 on display''. Naturally, I was very excited and a ShoeClub excursion was planned. To ''do'' the Galleries properly I drafted some help: Shoe Assistant and model for the day, Lily (aged seven-and-a-half), and her mum, Heather. The girls drove up from Suburbia on Saturday morning and we prepared to be wowed.

First stop: Dolce & Gabbana, where Lily tried on these shell-pink patent pumps (above). Very nice, but the pink sequinned peep-toe stilettos (below) were our favourites. Who can resist an update of Dorothy in Oz's red shoes? And Lily's candy-striped socks really rocked this look.

We were somewhat underwhelmed by Jimmy Choo, and surprised at how those Chanel yeti-boots that look so tempting on Freja Beha in reality felt a bit... polyester. So on to the boudoiresque Christian Louboutin concession, which was full of customers and even fuller of cheerful and friendly staff. We liked the mirrored display cabinets, and loved the bejewelled trainers and gold-studded shoe boots. These red and black patent and net stilettos (below) were comparatively understated but, oh, so chic.

While Lily tried on a great pair of red and black snake print Jonathan Kelsey peep-toe heels (above), I fell in love big-time with the Viktor & Rolf ''Coconut'' platform boots (above and below). At £495 they were considerably cheaper than many of the shoes that were catching Lily's expert eye – including a wonderful pair of Alexander McQueen wedge boots, which, she pointed out, had a very smart little silver plaque on the sole. Still, a bit of a splurge for a Saturday morning, so we kept moving.

Next stop, the main Designer Room, where I spent quite a while ooh-ing and ah-ing over some fabulous Lanvin wedge heels (below). Alberto, the very sweet shop assistant, almost had me persuaded that I could justify the price tag (somewhere north of seven hundred quid) – but not today.

Back in the ''Exclusives Arena'', Lily hit on a mini-trend for gold studs. These black suede and gold studded shoe boots by Mulberry were, she assured us, very comfortable (if about three sizes too big) and the neutral-toned Stella McCartney classics-with-a-twist (bottom) were also a hit.

Exhausted by our morning, we adjourned to Soho for lunch and gelati. As Lily wrote up our notes (below), Heather and I reflected on the fact that once she is actually old enough to wear these styles, my goddaughter is going to cost me a fortune in Christmas and birthday presents. Well, she does have excellent taste in shoes.

Do good, look good

Monday night at Howick Place, London: to a charity auction at Phillips de Pury hosted with Tatler in aid of the Bhopal Medical Appeal. In the sale was a collection of traditional Indian water pots customised by artists including Tracey Emin, Anish Kapoor and Sir Peter Blake. In attendance was a stylish and informed crowd of committed supporters of this excellent cause – many with excellent taste in footwear.

It was a night for black leggings and black opaque hose. I loved the nude-and-black lace Alaïa ankle boots (top) and these Nicholas Kirkwood midnight blue lace wedges (above).

Two views above of a fabulous pair of leopard print Louboutin stilettos, accented with a gold chain slung low on the heels. I also loved these understated but very cool Miu Miu shoeboots (below).

These black patent Prada ankle boots looked wonderful paired with ruched black leggings. Well done ladies: a very satisfying lesson in how to look good whilst simultaneously doing good.

Clever clogs

Clogs may not be everybody's cup of tea, but they are always a statement, and I am always pleased with a clog-spot. On West 14th Street last month I saw these cool black studded ones (above). Their wearer looked to be channelling The Runaways with her punky leggings and purple tights. For a completely different fashion take, how about the smart tan leather Russell & Bromley clogs (below) I spotted in central London yesterday? Strapped and studded and yet a world away from Manhattan street style. Clever, no?

Southern gentleman style

When I recently posted here for the first time about mens' shoes (camouflage Converse trainers) reactions were, well, mixed. Vadim in Moscow commented, "Why is it always this way? High heels, velvet – all for girls, and when it turns to mens' shoes, here we are: bloody sneakers!" David in London said, "If a shoe does not last 15 years I am disappointed." Well, ShoeClub fans being such an exacting bunch, I certainly hope I can make amends with this post.

The handsome burnished calf dress shoes above are by Sid Mashburn of Atlanta, Georgia. These are "Double Buckle Monk Strap Shoes," cap-toed with a double sole. Their proud owner, my friend George, had them delivered last week. According to the website, Mashburn shoes "are handcrafted using Goodyear Welted construction involving over 200 highly skilled operations." George tells me they are actually benchmade in England and all the details on the inside are hand written by the cobbler (see below).

Sid Mashburn promises it will ensure you are "properly dressed and properly served" – and, obviously, very properly shod.