Real stories · Slip on, walk all day

The slip-on wedges I can walk round town in all morning without my feet complaining

A sandal I could slip straight into and then actually walk in for hours — not just admire on the doormat — that's what I'd given up hoping for. I'm 67, and I'd learned that summer shoes come in two sorts: the pretty ones that leave my feet burning halfway round the market, and the sensible ones that look like they came from the chemist. And nearly all of them have some buckle or strap I have to bend down and fiddle with, which my back has opinions about.

What I wanted was a smart, easy sandal I could step into standing up, with a proper cushioned sole underneath and a little lift, that would carry me round York for a whole morning without a single complaint from my feet.

Then I found the Ottoline sandals from a British label called York Boutique — slip-on wedge comfort sandals, and I chose the cream with the little gold buckle.

They've made me look forward to my mornings out again. There's no fastening at all — I just step in and go — and the footbed is properly cushioned, which is why the pavement never seems to reach my feet. The low wedge sole gives me a gentle lift and, unlike a heel, it's broad and steady under the whole foot, so I feel sure of myself on the cobbles. The gold buckle across the front is only decoration, but it makes them look far dressier than they have any right to be. They come in a wide fit as well, which is a kindness for warm days.

Slip on, walk all morning, and my feet aren't sulking by lunch. That's the whole review, really.

Sandals this comfortable and this smart, I assumed, would be fifty pounds. But York Boutique sells direct, so they were £24.95 in the summer sale. I could hardly believe it.

A neighbour asked whether they were as easy as they looked when she saw me step into them at the door — they are. I'll admit I checked before ordering that I could send them back if the size wasn't right — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free — which made it an easy yes. They come in five colours, sizes 3½ to 10½, standard or wide fit.

If your summer shoes are either pretty or comfortable but never both, do treat yourself to a look. The Ottoline is rated 4.7 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.