Shooting boots

Saturday afternoon in Soho (NY), there were a lot of marvellous embellished boots in evidence. I loved these studded black ankle boots (above). Spotted the studded lace-up wedges (below) on Spring Street: the loose lacing really makes the look.

More black beauties, below: Chanel bovver boots! How cool is that?!

Saw this great pair of mint green cowboy boots on Prince Street, and moments later more green boots: the wonderful Lincoln green ponyskin and leather numbers below are Manolo Blahnik. Robin Hood as 21st-century style icon: we love.

The midnight hour

Friday night outside the Gansevoort Hotel in NY's Meatpacking district is a shoe blogger's paradise. You can't walk ten paces without running into a lovely pair of Louboutins or a gorgeous set of Dolce & Gabanna heels. At midnight the streets were clacking with black strappy stilettos and nude patent pumps. And oh, those heels! 4-inch, 5-inch, 6-inch... not merely fabulous but also fabulously coping with the cruel irony that this most fashion conscious street is made of... cobble stones. To paraphrase the immortal words of AC/DC, ladies: for those about to strut, we salute you.

Wet Wednesday in NYC

London girls responded to last weekend's cooler temperatures with slouchy summer boots, but when I arrived in NYC on Wednesday to hot New York August rain I found that Manhattan ladies had taken the boots trend a step further – wellingtons.

They were in every colour, pattern and label. Who knew the sexy lingerie label Victoria's Secret also make pink rubber boots (above)?

Hunter Boot Ltd have been manufacturing wellies for 150 years. They provided boots for the British Army, notably for soldiers to wear in the flooded trenches of World War I, and have Royal Warrants from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Now Hunters come in rainbow hues, including magenta (above). I particularly like the space age silver ones below.

More designer labels: these very chic green wellies by Marc Jacobs (above) and the ever-popular Burberry check (below).

There were also plenty of classic black wellies. The girl below said hers were actually kids' size.

These shiny rubber boots (above) are from Strawberry – and brand new. I like the cowboy shape below (''I forget where I bought them, it was online.'')

Sitting out the damp in Union Square: Air Wair Doc Martens.

Cool summer

It's still August, but summer in London is already blowing hot and cold, and on Saturday afternoon in Chelsea it was definitely more – well, if not exactly cold, then certainly rather cool. The coolest girls on the Kings Road had ditched the flipflops and gladiators in favour of summer boots. When I asked the American twins above where they got their funky footgear, they replied, "Follow us!" – destination All Saints. The girl outside the Saatchi Gallery (below) was rocking "last season's Massimo Dutti", in beautiful black ponyskin.

Below: these lace-up platform ankle boots are from Urban Outfitters. I love the combination of bold shapes and colours and the flash of (a single) ankle.

A cool summer is not limited to London, mind you. I was in Dublin recently and spotted these gorgeous tan leather ankle boots with cut-out patterns (below). Their owner was from Barcelona, so sadly these won't be available in my high street any time soon.

One more pic from Dublin earlier in the summer: the trend for distressed boots hasn't been front-page fashion news, but there's a lot of it on the streets. I think these (below) were River Island. A (very) early homage to Tom Hardy in Mad Max IV? Or preview of recession-dressing to come? We shall have to wait and see...

Between Spain and SW1

There comes a time of the year when my thoughts turn to loafers – driving shoes, docksiders, topsiders, deck shoes, whatever. Moccasins. The weather is getting a tad cool for full-foot exposure but sneakers are too much and ballerinas just don't have the arch support. With a couple of transatlantic trips lined up and autumn approaching, I anticipate chilly economy-class cabins, long delays in Immigration, and lots of standing around waiting for flights to be called. I crave comfort- (as opposed to just comfortable) footwear. Moccasins. My favourite place to buy moccasins is in the Saturday morning market at Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol (above). They're made in light leather, come in dozens of unexpected colours, and cost about ten euro a pop. Recently I found myself loafer-less, thanks to a series of unfortunate events (two pairs succumbed to a bad storage decision and mildew: a third pair were eaten by a puppy named Lola). And thanks to the unreasonable demands of the day job I haven't been able to fit in a flit to Andalucia. So it was time to pay a visit to London's slip-on shoe centre: Blue Velvet on the King's Road.

Blue Velvet (above) stocks smart flat shoes and boots. I am sure there are a few heels in there, but they're not front and centre. Fashion-forward this place aint, but what it is is insanely popular with the Sloane Square ladies who lunch and their daughters who (quite clearly) don't – witness the crowds there this particular August Saturday afternoon.

A few weeks ago I had earmarked a pair of moccasins in teal-blue patent leather. So, it transpired, had the lady trying on next to me. And we wanted the same size. Things could have got a bit unseemly but luckily Blue Velvet knows its clientele very well. It actually lists on the website how many of any particular pair of shoes are in stock. This evening there is one less of the blue leather moccasins number CM24. My feet are feeling very loved-up.