Regular shoes usually fit me fine around the foot, but I often struggle to fasten ankle straps because of my chunky ankles and high arches. And boots? Forget it. They all seem to be cut for women with insanely tiny ankles and calves. So I’m always impressed to see more retailers branching out into wider fit shoes and boots.

Very.co.uk are the latest to take the plunge, and they carry a decent selection of wide fit shoes to compliment their size 16+ So Fabulous! range. I was lucky enough to be sent a pair to try recently…

The shoes are Very’s ‘Lisa’ style, a classic black satin peep-toe with some stitched detail around the front. According to the blurb, they’re designed with comfort in mind, which explains why the heel is a moderate 3.5 inches and fairly substantial. They come in an EEE fit which classifies as ‘extra wide’, but they’re actually not as wide as I was expecting.

One of my feet is a half size larger than the other (yep, I’m a freak, but I bet you are too!) and I often have to squeeze it into something that’s technically a bit small, but the wider fit of these shoes gave that bigger foot more room for manouvre, which was an unexpected bonus. However, it also meant my feet weren’t so well supported, and the other shoe felt a bit loose – with tights on the shoe kept slipping off my feet because they weren’t grabbing around the foot enough. Without tights on they were great. I imagine they’d be even better in Summer when my feet are a bit swollen with the heat, that’s when I often find regular shoes are a bit pinchy and uncomfortable. I would probably be better off with a slightly less generous fit, however.

If you struggle to find wide-fit shoes that aren’t too old-fashioned and designed purely with practicality in mind, the So Fabulous range offers up some good options. As far as ‘Lisa’ goes, the heel is a bit too low for my liking, given that the satin makes them quite a formal style, and I have a tendency to go for far more ostentatious designs. But as a basic, classic shoe to stash away for the right occasion, it’s a safe bet.

Trinity, a real fashion-led platform Mary-Jane may be a better option if you want something more adventurous, while I think the red patent ruffled ‘Heather’ is a retro winner.

All the shoes and boots in the range come in sizes 4 – 9 in EEE fit.

disclaimer: these shoes were a gift from Very. However, the review is honest and I was not paid to publish it.

Shoes are the Big Girl’s secret weapon! No matter how much your weight fluctuates they’ll always fit, and an amazing pair of heels can add inches, make legs look slimmer and – most importantly – make you feel like you rule the world. High Street retailers know this all too well, which is why they’re continually upping the ante each season with more ostentatious offerings. Dorothy Perkins have just announced ‘Luxe’, a collection of premium styles named after some of the world’s top jet-set destination. I’m in love, and I bet you will be too!

The five styles – Cannes, New York, Hollywood, Marbella, Paris – all come in a palette of magenta, cobalt, black and metallic and will hit stores and DorothyPerkins.com this month priced between £55 and £65 in sizes 3 – 8. Click the thumbnails below to see bigger versions of some of the shoes. I’ve got my eye on Cannes (the tie front shoe) and Hollywood (the zip-back ankle grabbers)!

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I am a sucker for a new gadget, gizmo or wonder product. But when I heard about Fitflops, my first thought was ‘what a load of rubbish’. A flip flop that tones your legs? Ha! But then, as usual, I got sucked in by the marketing, the good press, the celeb fans and the great reviews. What interested me most, besides the supposed toning / cellulite busting qualities of these new-wave flipflops, was the fact they were supposedly so comfortable…

I’ll admit it, the rumours were true. While I don’t agree with the many people who say they’re comfy from the moment you put them on (like all flip-flops they take a certain amount of wearing in around the big toe) wearing these babies does feel like walking on air. They’re super-light, soft and shock-absorbent, and are so much nicer than flat, hard soled rivals. I’m a big Havaianas fan and thought they were squishy and soft – these are a hundred times better. I’d go as far as to say they’re the comfiest shoes I’ve ever worn.

On the downside, that well-designed, comfortable sole does mean a clunkier shoe in general. The footbed is quite wide and chunky, which is great news for Big Girls with wide feet, but it can limit what you wear them with. I’m quite an overdressed person by nature and these don’t go very well with my floaty dresses. However, pick the right colour (I went for gold Walkstar III’s) and you widen your options. There’s even a sequinned option, but it does tend to sell out as quick as it’s restocked!

Now onto the bit you really care about. This alleged ‘workout while you walk‘. Well, let’s make one thing clear straight away – fitflops won’t make you thin. There are no magical fixes for that as well all know! However, you do feel the burn in your calves when you first begin to wear these for long periods of time. The sole is designed for a better push-off on the toe, more energy output through the middle and more shock absorbency on the heel, which basically makes you work just a tiny bit harder as you’re walking. I notice it most on stairs, but it’s not an uncomfortable exertion, just a slight difference that you get used to very quickly.

Overall, I think these are definitely worth the money if only for the comfort. The toning action is a plus that will make a small difference over a long period of time, especially to your calves, but don’t expect miracles.

Fitflops range from £35.24 to £68.86 at Rubber Sole (including winter versions – boots and clogs) or £36 to £55 at Shudoo.