Real stories · Pretty, comfy sandals

The dainty little sandals that are as comfy as they are pretty

I'm 67, and I do love a pretty, dainty sandal in the summer — the sort with a little T-bar that looks nice with a summer dress. But the pretty ones always pinch and rub, so by the afternoon I'm wincing, and I end up back in something clumpy and dull.

That's always the choice with dainty shoes, isn't it. The pretty ones hurt, and the comfortable ones look like nothing at all. I'd rather given up on dainty for good.

Then I found the Anouk sandals from a British label called York Boutique — little low-heel T-bar sandals in the summer sale. I chose the white, and hoped for the best.

What a lovely surprise. There's a soft cushioned insole, a tiny low heel, and a secure T-bar with a buckle that keeps the foot in place, and the perforated design keeps them cool. They're every bit as dainty as I hoped, but soft as slippers underfoot.

Dainty and pretty, but soft as slippers underfoot. My feet are so happy.

Pretty little sandals like these, I assumed, would be fifty pounds. But York Boutique sells direct, so they were just £24.95 in the sale. I was so pleased I nearly ordered the yellow too.

A friend admired them at lunch, surprised they were so comfortable. They come in three colours — black, yellow and white — and in sizes 2.5 to 7.

If you like a dainty sandal but not the sore feet, do treat yourself to a look. The Anouk is rated 4.6 out of 5 by more than 300 women, it's £24.95 in the summer sale instead of £50 — half price — and the middle sizes always seem to go first.