Everywhere you look in Jones Bootmaker, you can see leather. That's what they do, you see…read more Aside from stocking famous brands like Cat and Ted Baker, this serious shoe shop stocks a massive selection of leather shoes and boots. In fact, it's so much about the leather that they only carry four or five trainers for boys. Jones Bootmaker also has a great range of shoe care products behind the counter. If you want to tenderly care for your shoes then they have brushes, polishes and shoe horns. Who would ever want to buy a wooden thing shaped like a foot that you put in a shoe to help it keep its shape? Is this the kind of thing a boy will never understand?

There are stores that have a strong identity and style and others that aim to appeal to everyone by…read morestocking a bit of everything. One glance at their confused window displays reinforces that Moda In Pelle fall firmly into the latter camp. There's no attempt to woo new customers with eye-catching graphics or cool displays, just simple rows of heels and sparkly shoes on the bottom row, ankle boots on the middle row and knee high leather, suede and jewelled boots on the top two rows. This might work if only some of the shoes and boots in the window weren't so damn ugly! Inside the shop is just as bad with radically different styles rubbing soles next to each other. I actually spotted a fabulous pair of white boots with tasteful silver studs but I wasn't going to shell out £120 on them when they were next to boots I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy! To quote teachers across the world: Must Try Harder!

You'll notice a lot of my reviews are focussing on sales at the moment... well, tis the season, and…read moreon (at the time of typing) this, the Monday that is supposed to be the most depressing Monday of the year (first bills after the festive period and what-not), what better to bring cheer to yourself (girls) or any female you know than a nice pair of footpieces. Yes, there is nothing that quite lifts the spirit like a new pair of shoes, and I have to say, Moda in Pelle has one of the best sales I've seen in a long time. A shy and retiring little boutique amongst the smaller Market Street shops, this branch just off St Ann's Square is a right little gem. And as for those reductions, well, you can't argue with a stunning pair of bright red wedge sandals reduced from £80 to £25. Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you, and it'd be rude not to grab them - after all, thinking of that summer holiday is probably keeping you going right now... I've always found the staff in Moda in Pelle very friendly and helpful, and they give you space to browse. There's a great range of shoes on offer too, from the aforementioned wedges (and plenty of them... I love my summer wedges, so this is a must for me) to Ugg-esque Edhas and Dais and biker boots, fancy courts and pretty pumps to a lovely variety of handbags. To me it feels like a nice little halfway point between the ostentatious self-worth of Kurt Geiger and the cheerful high street demeanour of Office and Faith. If you're after a little treat in the sale, don't miss this one out.

Stocking what can only really be described as stripper shoes, Strutt sell loud ladies heels for…read morewomen who really like to strut their stuff. Most of the women I've seen in here look as though they do some burlesque or follow very bold fashions, but that said the shoes are just epic and awesome as they are so out there. If you dress to impress and can walk in heels like a pro I'd recommend you take a look in Strutt because you might just fall in love with some of the shoes they have. Up on the first floor of Affleck's Palace just next to Funky Totz, Strutt sell unique shoes and reasonable prices (a pair will set you back a fair few quid but they will be worth it for the reactions you'll get). Strut up to Strutt and make yourself feel like a lady.

This branch of Schuh is the brand's only branch in Manchester city centre, it is located on Market…read moreStreet which is basically next to the new branch of WHSmith and the Arndale Centre. I called in this branch just to take a look at the footwear and see if there was any other clothing available ahead of my upcoming week in Barcelona, having used Schuh before when ordering my Ralph Lauren Polo trainers as I found them cheaper than rivals such as JD Sports, I thought this branch would be great on my search today. Schuh is a retailer which supports MyUNIDays, where you can get 10% off here in this instance if you qualify for it. The staff here didn't seem too welcoming or friendly sadly. The overall store inside, just seemed abit of a mess to me, it seemed to be a similar sort of layout and decor style to the other Schuh branch I have visited in the past, in Blackburn but for a city centre this just doesn't cut it. The store doesn't really stand out either on Market Street, which is the main shopping street in Manchester and as you go in, you can basically taste the clutter and disappointment, so sadly I feel this store let's down a big city like Manchester so deserves a single one star.

This branch of Schuh sells exactly the same stock as the Trafford Centre branch but it tends to…read morehave friendlier staff and a more buzzy atmosphere. Saturdays and Sundays are hellishly busy, especially at the beginning of the month when everyone's just been paid, so if you're wanting to try lots of pairs on try a week day. The stock changes monthly with a vast array of sensible, silly, ornate and outrageous shoes, heels, mary janes, boots, trainers and sneakers. Brands include Red or Dead, Rocketdog, Fly London, Irregular Choice, Fred Perry, K-Swiss, Adidas, Converse, Vans and Schuh's own excellent brand.

Recently refurbished, this Shoe Zone store is in the Manchester Arndale in the Halle Malle section…read moreof the shopping centre, it is basically located next to the new multi-million-pound dining complex, next to CeX and Archies, and opposite the former Starbucks unit which is currently vacant. The refurbishment brings the store in line with the new Shoe zone layout they are slowly implementing, which makes the stores just seem a lot less ugly and hideous. The store does look and feel a lot nicer now, a way to describe Shoe Zone would be similar to Primark, but mainly for shoes, the shoes are more "budget" and if you have special requirements for shoes other than getting a quick pair which might not be fantastic quality, this place isn't for you. They basically have the shoes lines up ready for you in different sizes, and you don't really need to call a member of staff to get your shoes, as traditional. The staff don't seem as helpful or friendly as other shoe stores as a result. 2* - Decent for getting a cheap pair of shoes, you only plan to use once or twice, if you're looking for quality or perhaps a better and more fashionable choice this isn't the place for you.

Ah, Shoe Zone. Aka the Twilight Zone. Not because it's full of pale kids with greasy hair and an…read moreunnatural lust for vampires, no, because I find it to be one of the most confusing shoe stores I've encountered since Deichmanns. I set foot into Shoe Zone just once, simply because I was desperately seeking shoes to match the wedding outfit I had for New Year and I was getting to the point where I literally had to jump into every shoe outlet in Manchester. Otherwise, there had been nothing to entice me into Shoe Zone. No intriguing display, no pretty colours... it's like the Army and Navy store version of a shoe shop, militant, bare, minimalist and seemingly laid out by a person with OCD. Indeed, what you will find is very neatly stacked and colour coordinated shoes. You just won't find interesting shoes. It's a great option for people seeking simplicity. You've got brogues, wellies, loafers, something for the kids... but party shoes and ballet pumps, platforms and strappy sandals are noticeably absent. You know when Jen refers to the outdoor smoking area in The IT Crowd as 'Soviet'? That's kind of how Shoe Zone feels. Fine for the basics, cheap as you like, but a little too military for my tastes.

Clarks! Who didn't love using the strange foot-measuring machine as a kid? What little girl didn't…read morewant a pair of Princess Magic Steps with the key in the sole? The joy of the foot-measuring machine was that slight nervous anticipation when you thought it could potentially squash your foot but it stops just short. Parents trusted Clarks because they seemed very focussed on ensuring their children's feet weren't going to be uncomfortable or deformed due to shoes. They wouldn't sell you anything just for the sake of making a sale, they want to sell you the RIGHT shoes. And the left ones too for that matter. Hehe. So you'll never get a pair of foot-massacring party heels at Clarks, so what? That ain't the Clarks way. It's cosy and comfy feet in their book, and anything with a heel has a heck of a lot of cushioning, and that heel sure as hell won't be a stiletto. It'll be something chunky, like in the 60s. Clarks very handily categorises its shoes via function, such as workwear, smart, casual, college and so on. You know you're getting quality, with their soft leather, well-fitting footwear. And they even do half sizes as standard. Do you know how many shops just refuse to acknowledge that half sizes exist? Tons. It might be sensible, but Clarks doesn't have to be boring. They've always catered to their audience while maintaining a subtle plateau of innovation, and that's what we love about them. When I worked at Barratt's I used to gaze longingly at the Clarks a few shops down. There's a shoe shop where people care about feet, I thought, explaining for the fiftieth time that day to a customer that we didn't do half sizes. Clarks has proved itself recession-proof, and it might just be time-proof too.

This is Manchester's Clarks store, yes they is some in smaller towns like Bury and Oldham however…read morethis one is in the city centre, and is much better than my local one, which is quite small and located opposite Heaton Park in the Sainsbury's They have a private section for kids upstairs, which gives you that little bit more of peace when looking for shoes. Both sections are a decent size Most Clarks' shoes are stocked here however they is a selection avaliable on the website to order in. The staff seemed quite nice and helpful. Unfortunatly I had to leave with no shoes and none being right for me due to feet problems and they was nothing on the website. This is a nice store and I prefer the in store experiance rather than online especially for shoes and it looks like I am going to have to kiss Clarks' goodbye. 3 stars for the good size of the store and staff, I can't give more due to the price of some shoes and they could definitley be more selection, in colours for example other than laces shoes, which I don't like.

Over priced £1 for pva glue what on earth caused such money…read moregreed not to mention is maze like structure and the so called reusable bags that I'm sure are recycled condoms

Had my first experience with these folks at a Friday Night affair at Manchester Arndale It has…read morealways bugged me that wineries don't have food available to go with their wines. Well, Arndale sure fixed that by having these folks come of their first Friday Night food and wine soiree. The pizza choices were about a half dozen. Prices are very reasonable for a 10" pizza ($10-$13) which was just right for two of us. We had the Meat and 'Shroom. Very tasty, not overwhelmed by red sauce and fresh mushrooms. Baked just right with crusty edges, but not too thin crust. I'd say medium crust, but still foldable to eat by hand. The pepperoni pizza looked like a winner too. Their wagon is clean and modern and opens up so you can see the wood fired stone oven and them making the pies. Very fast service too. We hope to be able to see them again.

It all looked very nice to me…read more The store was typically decorated in that modern retail favourite of lacquered white surfaces and art nouveau cardboard cutouts, the lighting was subtle yet enticing, the staff well dressed and helpful and- I suppose most importantly- the clothing was tasteful and glam. "Nothing wrong here" I thought. "Nah, it's for old people" my girlfriend said. Oasis- nice, tasteful, full of old people (allegedly).

Thinking which of Arndale's stores might have that glam factor about them? Oasis is your guess…read more I've seen dresses there to be full on glamorous; perfect for weddings and ceremonies where dressing up is the thing. Clubbing, sexy dresses might be amiss. Their collection of classy office wear and evening wear is also delightful and my friend has informed me time and again how much she loves slipping into that perfectly stitched pencil skirt of hers. The store is quite airy and not too filled, free spaces always give the mind an illusion that there is room to relax and think. The great part would be the sale section at the back of the store where you can get lucky and find many dresses and blouses for mere £15-20. Always an extra something to make you swell up with content!

Russell & Bromley always have at least one or two pairs of truly divine shoes in the window. Right…read morenow, they have a gorgeous, leather, studded ankle boot in a variety of colours. At £295 they're way over my budget but if I was loaded I'd be tempted to buy a grey AND cherry red pair. The leather feels good quality and unlike other shoe companies, they feel comfy instantly. You would think selling lovely shoes to people with too much money would be a breeze of a job. Unfortunately, the staff in this branch can be a little cold and snooty. The decor is also a little old fashioned, bringing to mind old department stores with doormen in dicky bow ties. Still, those boots....!

Russell and Bromley is where I dream I could shop. Perhaps if I stopped pouring my wages straight…read moreback into Sir Phillip Green's pockets I'd actually be able to afford a timeless pair of leather penny loafers with tassles á la Alexa Chung. At between eighty-five and ninety-five pounds a pop they're definitely an investment piece with some serious style credentials. And it's not just the loafers which are so delicious - the ballet pumps and chunky leather sandals all pack a punch. Everything about this shop just oozes English sophistication from its setting in the chic St. Ann's square to the tasteful décor and... edible shoes. Oh!

I love Office. It's a shoe shop so I was always going to!…read more But Office is good, the staff are friendly, the shop is well set out, the range is fantastic and it's really reasonably priced. Especially during the sales! It's the first place I head to! They sell a wide range of designer shoes as well as their own brand too, nothing over £150 though I don't think so not hugely high end. They've always had my size in things and I've never felt pressured to buy anything, more encouraged (and I do not need any encouragement)! Good for both boys and girls so it can be quite easy to drag your boyfriend in!

Whilst I don't like Office I admire it's upfront approach…read more It could have been called Millionaires Row, Wall Street or High Courts but it chose to keep it real and admit to it's level- office workers. Refreshing though it may be, this honest and realistic approach means you're never going to emerge from Office clutching onto a bag that contains something individual, something that'll make you stand out- but I suppose to many that's a good thing. Don't want to go against office policy. What's that you say? "Ba-a-a-a-h?"