It’s not about one particular shade of green this Spring season – it’s about all of them. From rich emeralds, citrusy limes and forest greens, to apple, pear, mint, sage, jade, shamrock, pistachio, chartreuse and olive. Saturated, pastel or muted, there’s probably a shade of green for you. But if you’re still not convinced you look good in green, sport it through accessories, handbags or footwear instead of close to your face.

I like greens when they are blindingly bright, super sour (like citron), or in a shade of olive. I like to pair different shades of green with one or a few of the following colours: yellow, turquoise, cobalt, purple, white, cream, charcoal and black. I loved how Laura used emerald green in one of her Mum-on-the-go outfits. It screams Spring in a clean and fresh way.

I do not like green paired with red because it can look Christmas-y. I also tend to stay away from pairing emerald green with navy or ink blue because that feels too nautical. But these particular colour combinations do work and can look fab if you like them.

I have a wardrobe full of timeless citrusy green and olive tops, knitwear and scarves. I have apple and lime green handbags and a brand new emerald snakeskin clutch. I’d love to add an emerald or apple green blouse, dress and skinny belt, and I might add a pair of green shoes too. Fun green items lift my spirits so they’re definitely on my shopping list.

It is nice to see various shades of green alongside the sea of coral and jewel tones in stores. Variety and choice are the spice of life. Clockwise starting at the top left: Apple green hooded trench, chartreuse cropped water resistant trench, shamrock and turquoise muffler scarf, pear piped belt, pear wristlet, emerald cardigan and emerald belt.

Generally speaking, shoes must be comfortable from the word go. You shouldn’t put too much hope in an uncomfortable shoe getting better over time, no matter what the salesperson is telling you. But there are some isolated cases where you can increase a ped’s comfort level by altering the fit.

Here are your options:

• Shoe stretching: Shoes can rub if they’re snug across part of your foot, like over a bunion. Shoe stretching often helps and is especially effective with  soft leather (patent and plastic shoes don’t stretch as well). Cobblers or Nordstrom can stretch an entire shoe or part of it at a price. It takes a couple of days and is well worth a try. Home shoe stretching kits are also available. The kit contains a hardwood stretcher with inserts (for extra spot stretching) and shoe stretch spray to permanently stretch tight shoes for a better fit.
• Comfort inserts: Cushioning insoles make a shoe that is slightly too large a little smaller whilst adding oodles of comfort. I pop a cushioning insole into all my closed shoes and the ones I like best cost $1.50 at the drugstore. Heel grips can prevent shoes from slipping off your heel. I’ve stuck on two at a time to keep some of my shoes on my feet. Moleskin is useful to patch up rough spots on the inside of shoes. Footpetals provides a range of products that can help to prevent anything from aching heels and arches to the blisters caused by the straps of slingback sandals.
• Custom made orthotics: Have orthotics tailor made for your feet to increase arch support. You can slip them into most closed shoes.
• Calf-width alterations: Achieving the correct fit on a pair of knee high boots is hard when you have super slim calves. It’s pricey to have boots tapered, but sometimes worth the expense if the boots are comfortable in every other respect.

Don’t give up on a pair of shoes too soon. You might be able to doctor them so that they go the distance. I’ve learned that taking along an extra pair of insoles when I shop for shoes solves some fit issues instantly. Having the toe box stretched to accommodate my often squashed pinky toe has worked wonders. I also have clients who swear by their orthotics and home stretching kits.

Do you have your own shoe alteration tips to share?

Low heel shoe stretching kit and spray (left) and heel grips (right). It isn’t only new shoes that need doctoring. Making shoes last is especially important in tough economic times so keep taking those hard working peds back to the cobbler for re-soling, re-stitching and any other type of repair. It’s sure to put a skip back in your step.

More often than not the answer I have been hearing recently is “timeless” because people want their items to last longer than a few fashion seasons. It is the safer option. I have heard this both my from my clients, and in reader comments on the YLF blog.

I see things differently. In a recession you need more of a reason than normal to make a purchase. You want to feel fashionably recharged, and you need the uplifting boost of something new and exciting more than ever. Adding another pair of dark blue jeans, cropped cardigan or classic black handbag into the wardrobe mix might just feed your fashion rut. So try something new and purchase fun items that make you smile.

I am not the only person who seeks the value of something that is different to the rest of my wardrobe during tough economic times. Years ago as a buyer for classic ladies fashion I used this logic to justify a range with many items that my target market hadn’t seen before, but were still in line with her fashion persona. Much to management’s surprise, the strategy paid off and my department outperformed all other ladieswear departments in that chain.

How about you? Do you find yourself gravitating towards trendy items or timeless items when budgets are tight?

These handbags might not be to your taste, but they illustrate the point. The classic handbag on the left is timeless, elegant and streamlined, but the oversized style on the right has a fun, creative edge. That’s the one that would make me smile, especially since I could carry it in three different ways. At less than a third of the price, the trendy piece would win hands down over the more timeless version.

Strappy, special occasion heels are hard to find because most of them are uncomfortable, which makes us feel like giving up before we’ve even begun the search. But I came across this T-strap sandal style recently and it’s a win. I had three clients to prepare for uber formal occasions recently (one of whom was actually going to the Oscars), and they all ended up with this sandal, each in a different colour.

Remember that you’re not looking for an 8-hour walking shoe for these occasions. It’s 2 hours maximum with lots of sitting in-between. With that in mind the comfort level of this sandal is manageable. The straps are soft, the toe box is roomy and the support is fairly good. It’s also the type of shoe that can be stretched for extra comfort. The elastic inset on the slingback part helps and the heel is only three inches high (not four inches as the site information implies).

The aesthetics of this strappy heel might not be your cup of tea, but don’t rule it out completely. It’s a flop proof, classic strappy sandal that will do the trick in a pinch, especially if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on shoes and need something basic. Give this sandal a go if you’re after a strappy heel for an upcoming wedding, or formal function. It will look equally fab with a suit or pair of jeans.

The “Empire” sandal comes in a few extra colours and black, retailing from $59.95 to $69.95. Paint those toes to make this sandal pop.