Five shoes that survive wedding season

Wedding season means four hours standing, a marble floor and a car park at the far end of the venue. Height is not the variable that decides whether you make it to the end of the night.

Vamp height. A shoe cut slightly higher across the toes holds the foot without gripping. It is why a 95 mm stiletto with a high vamp beats a 70 mm one cut low.

Sole material. A leather sole on marble is a hazard. Ask for a rubber tap — any cobbler in Al Quoz will add one in an afternoon.

A block heel is not a compromise. A 40 mm block under a long dress reads the same from across a room and lets you stand for four hours.

Bring the second pair. A folding ballerina in the clutch is not defeat; it is the reason you stay for the dancing.

Break them in on carpet. Two evenings at home, indoors, before the day. Never straight out of the box.