Real stories · Cool feet, comfy steps

The pretty open-toe sandals that keep my feet cool and never rub

Hot, pinched feet by mid-afternoon — that was my summer, every summer. I'm 67, and the pretty sandals always rubbed somewhere or squeezed my toes in the heat, while the comfortable ones looked like I'd given up. By the time I'd walked to the shops and back on a warm day, my feet were hot, tired and sore.

What I wanted was simple enough: a pretty sandal that let my feet breathe, cushioned every step, and didn't rub — even on a warm afternoon.

Then I found the Rosamund sandals from a British label called York Boutique — retro open-toe sandals, and I chose the soft beige that goes with everything.

They're exactly right. The open toe lets the air through, which is why my feet stay cool even on the warmest days, and the soft padded footbed cushions every step so nothing aches. The gentle low wedge gives a little lift without any wobble, and the smooth leather-soft straps have never once rubbed. Pretty enough for lunch out, comfortable enough for the whole day.

Cool toes, a soft cushioned step, and not a single rub all afternoon. And they're pretty, too.

Sandals this comfortable, I assumed, would be sixty pounds. But York Boutique sells direct, so they were £29.95 in the summer sale. I was delighted.

A friend admired them over coffee and wrote the name down. I'd made sure before ordering that I could send them back if they didn't suit — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free — so there was nothing lost by trying. They come in beige, black and brown, in sizes 3 to 10/11.

If summer leaves your feet hot and sore like it did mine, do treat yourself to a look. The Rosamund is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 300 women, it's £29.95 in the summer sale instead of £60 — half price — and the middle sizes always seem to go first.