Nana Talks Favourite Shoe Brands, Heels & More

The question I’m asked most often is how I wear heels every day. Honestly, practice makes perfect. I’ve been doing it for 20 years without really thinking about it. My biggest tip? Start small, a kitten or block heel is the easiest way to build confidence. It won’t feel too overwhelming or like you’re about to topple over. And never, ever wear a new pair for the first time to a big occasion. An interview, wedding or first date isn’t the moment to discover they’re not comfortable. Always do a test run, even if it’s just a trip to the corner shop.

Right now, I’m really into zebra print and colour block heels. There are so many great styles available, from designer to high street, and they instantly add another dimension to any look. I believe animal print is a neutral, so they pretty much go with everything in my wardrobe. My current favourite pairs are the pony skin mules from Next and the Magda Butrym courts that I recently picked up in the summer sales. 

My first designer heels were the Gucci Webby mules in metallic gold. A friend who worked for the brand kindly shared his staff discount, and I tracked down the very last pair on holiday in Puerto Rico. Since then, the words “sold out” have never deterred me – if I’m obsessed with a pair, I’ll find them. They definitely hold the most sentimental value and I still have them to this day.   That said, I buy most of my designer heels from outlets like Bicester Village or luxury sale platforms like Classles. My pink Gucci slingbacks from Bicester are still my best bargain to date. 

High-street heels are one of my specialist subjects. Designer pairs are wonderful but the high street is where I’ve honed my eye for styles that look far more expensive than they are and are comfortable to walk around all day in. I think Topshop will always be the OG, followed closely by Zara, and more recently Massimo Dutti and COS.

I used to despise a kitten heel. Fast forward a few years and they’ve become one of my most-worn styles. Perhaps it’s age, perhaps it’s how my style has evolved, but they now feel seriously chic and it’s the closest I’ll get to wearing flats. 

I will buy the same pair of heels twice. This is something I have been doing for years after wearing out my favourite Topshop pair. Heels inevitably wear down quickly – especially on a daily London commute, so I’ve learned to buy duplicates of the pairs I love most. That way, I never have to worry about recreating a look if one gives up. It’s one of the best pieces of advice I can offer. 

Some silver heels from Christian Louboutin and Loewe are high on my wish list. The Miss Z Slimimule Leather Heeled Mules and Toy Embossed Pumps are like built-in jewellery. Think of silver as neutral with attitude – it elevates the whole look without competing too much. 

Wedges are my new go-to for special occasions. Sculptural wedges are having a moment and I couldn’t resist the red Dries Van Noten pair I picked up recently. They’re what I call a car-to-dinner shoe – sky high and not designed for distance, but worth it for the impact.

I never met a pair of mules I didn’t love. They are the most versatile style I have in my collection and my favourite at this time of year. I have metallic pairs from Mango, a netted pair from Zara, a block-heeled pair from H&M and I am still obsessed with the orange pair from The Attico which I treated myself to during lockdown. 

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