I have plenty of sneakers and boots, but I’m short on dressier Spring and Summer shoes. The old loafers and flats that I usually wear are finished. I passed on the very worn-out flats, but have held onto the loafers until I can find replacements. In the meantime I’ve tried on a LOT of warm-weather shoes, and have thankfully found some contenders.

Here is this week’s roundup of top picks, which includes the footwear styles I’ve tried. You’ll see classics, trends, and avant-garde looks in the mix.

1. Franco Sarto Vana and Everlane Day Glove Flats

This silhouette is a new-look modern ballet flat that does not slip off the foot because of the ample coverage on the vamp and sides of the shoe. Both styles are super soft and comfy if you can wear flat footwear. They can accommodate an orthotic, but you might need to size up. Visually I preferred the look of the Franco Sarto snip-toe style, but it was too wide. Padding them with insoles did not work well enough either. The round-toe Everlane version was a much better fit on my low-volume feet, and an insole worked well to create a great fit. But they don’t have the white in my size, so I’m waiting until they replenish the stock. The Everlane store manager suggested I look again in a month. So if you need a wider fit, go for the Franco Sarto.

2. Paul Green Lil Flat

These are elegant and chic on the foot, and more of a lighter warm cream than the darker cool grey in the stock photo. Extremely comfortable, beautifully luxe, and well made. The snaffle hardware is a subtle light gold. They are made in Austria with eco-friendly materials and manufacturing practices. They can work on a wider foot. I managed to make them fit with two strategically placed sets of insoles. I’m deciding whether they will work well enough for my feet and walking lifestyle. I am smitten and hope they work out. They are a great addition to my horsey wardrobe capsule.

3. Brooks Brothers Supima Cotton Cable Sweater

I have this in white and navy. It’s beautifully made, crisp, polished, tailored and classic. 100% cotton, relatively lightweight, and machine washable. It’s fitted, but not too tight, and has an extremely neat and snug neckline. The cables are refined, flat, and don’t look bulky. The sleeves are long, but are easily cuffed. The length looks streamlined and not slouchy. I’ve worn both colours a few times already and love them. 

4. Bella Vita Ira Strappy Sandal

These are a gorgeously simple and refined modern classic gladiator. Made in Italy. I have a hard time getting sandals to fit but these worked in a narrow size in white. They are soft, comfortable, and breezy. I usually don’t wear sandals, but since our Seattle Summers are hot these days, I need one pair for just in case. They come in wide and extra wide sizes too. Thank you Bella Vita for making a diverse set of widths.

5. Free People New Frontier Western Mule

I was looking for a refined pair of white clogs and found this mule-clog hybrid, so I tried the white. They fit my feet so do not try them unless your feet are on the narrow side, and have a low vamp. They fit well, and were relatively comfortable. But I found the heels too high, so back they went. They look sleek and refined on the foot, and a little dressier than chunkier clogs.

6. COS Dresses

COS dresses are an acquired taste, because many of the styles are voluminous and architectural. I see some fitted styles coming through too. Personally, I like their big, baggy and breezy shirt dresses if there is enough structure in the sleeves, shoulders, and neckline. I’ve had great luck with some of their dresses in the past, so they are on my radar. I’ve ordered the first turquoise style and will let you know how it fits. COS produces sustainably and ethically, and most of the items are machine washable.

A light shade of yellow is on-trend at the moment, and it’s called butter, or butter yellow. It’s neither mustard, daffodil, nor citron but more of a pastel yellow tint, created by mixing saturated yellow with some white. The result can be very, very light yellow or a more saturated pastel that borders on a mid-tone. Some butters look a bit beige and like raw corn. 

We’re seeing butter yellow across all wardrobe items and incorporated into some patterns too. Here are some examples:

Butter yellow is more versatile than I thought. To my eye, it looks good worn with tints of white, earthy browns, olive, light pink, guava pink, shocking pink, tomato red, orange, turquoise, and most blues. Some of my friends like to wear butter yellow with grey, black and white, and it looks fab. Butter yellow with melange grey has an ‘80s flavour to it.

I got a pair of super comfy, suede butter yellow loafers last year, and wore them a lot in the Spring and Summer with the colours I mentioned above. I tried to get a bag to match but no luck yet. In the meantime, I wore them with one of my citron bags which doesn’t match, but works quite well. Or I’d carry a mismatched bag. I’m looking forward to wearing them again soon.

My heart is with bright and acidic citron, but if I bumped into a fab butter yellow denim jacket that matched my shoes, I’d enjoy wearing that too. Over to you. Do you like butter yellow, and will you wear it? Remember that the pastel can work well as an accessory or pair of shoes if you don’t fancy it as an item of clothing.

Who else remembers wearing light blue with black in the late ‘90s? I do. I wore lots of light blue denim with a black support act. Light blue suiting with a black top, or black suiting with a light blue top. I also wore light blue with white. These days I don’t wear black, but simply substitute it with dark blue. That works well too.

Combining light denim jeans and shorts with black tops, or light denim shirts and jackets with black bottoms is probably the easiest way to wear the look. You can wear a light denim skirt or dress with black footwear, or sport a light blue and black pattern. A light blue sweatshirt with black leggings is another way to go, as is a light blue Spring tweed jacket with a black layering top. A shirt with narrow blue and white stripes gives the illusion of light blue from a distance. Wear that with black bottoms and you’re wearing the vibe too. Here are some examples.

I liked this combination on the model below. It combines a light blue jacket with a black layering top. Instead of light blue or white jeans, or black bottoms, the model wears a fluid pair of cropped and pleated high-waisted pants in a warm shade of caramel. The black loafers effectively pick up the black of the top and bookend the model’s hair. To my eye the mix of cool-toned black and light blue works well with the earthy and warm caramel pants. The tortoiseshell button on the blazer brings together the warm and cool colours in a subtle way too. I see a black or caramel bag to complete the look. Lovely!

I’m almost always in the mood to wear light blue with white and/or dark blue in the Spring and Summer. Are you in the mood to wear black with light blue?

In my experience, when you have dry or very dry hands and feet, nothing is as effective as Cutemol. It’s an odourless, thick, white cream that takes a while to absorb but it does the moisturizing job beautifully. It absorbs faster when the skin is slightly damp. You don’t need a lot of it, so it lasts for a while. It also makes your hands and feet less dry over time. 

I’ve completely converted to Vanicream skincare products because I am prone to contact dermatitis, eczema, and cosmetics stinging my skin. The Vanicream suncreen is AMAZING, and the best I have tried to date. It’s a water-resistant, paraben-free, unscented mineral sunscreen with one active ingredient: Zinc oxide 12%. The texture is fabulous and it does not irritate my skin. It applies smoothly and absorbs quickly. No pasty white residue, and a little goes a long way. It feels and looks dewy on the skin. I’m not the only one who likes this sunscreen because it’s quite hard to get at the moment. I hope it comes back into stock soon.

Care to share your favourite hand cream and sunscreen?