fashion

Holiday fashion is filled with landmines - from dodgy speedos, unflattering bikinis and of course, the ultimate in fashion faux-pas; men wearing socks and sandals (just stop doing it!).

When you're on holiday one of the biggest fashion statements you can make is with your shoes. So, we're going to take a look at our top-picks and showing you the best in holiday footwear.

Getting down with the Uni-Sex!

Birkenstocks - the classic Birkenstocks are not only one of the best examples of unisex shoes but also are perfect for any age group - Dad's get involved! With their padded soles and soft leather they are pretty comfortable which means they are perfect for sight-seeing and moseying around city centres but also they're secure enough to hold-up to sun, sea and sand. If you're doing more than just lazing on the beach - these are the choice for you, they come in tonnes of colours too!

Flip Flops - Now, we have some issues with Flip Flops. Yes, they're handy and yes, they are great if you are sitting round the pool but that's about it. In a city centre, if someone treads on the back of them; that's it, they break. If you're on the beach, you end up sinking in to the sand, if you're in the sea, they float away! Where they do win through though is that they are cheap, light and colourful. In addition with major brands like Havaianas storming through the holiday fashion market - Flip Flips are here to stay (for all you Australians, we mean 'Thongs').

Ditch the trainers lads, get a pair of these!

The Classic Boat Shoe - Boat shoes have left the limitations of strictly 'men's holiday shoes' and have taken over everyday life. Boat shoes with jeans, boat shoes with shorts; lots of opportunity to wear them but rarely ever seen around actual boats...curious! Anyway, let's not forget though that these are perfect for holidays. Secure, comfy, practical and light. They are airy and also look pretty cool with shorts - Win, Win! They come in some pretty terrible colours at the moment so we'd suggest sticking to the tried-and-tested navy blue or tan.

Espadrilles - Now, we remember Espadrilles being wedges with long bits of string attached and were 100% only for women. However, the next big thing to hit the world of holiday shoes is men's Espadrilles. They have a corky bottom to them which means they are great for sand and sight-seeing. They are colourful which is always nice and are made of some kind of potato bag material which makes them durable and if you end up in the sea, isn't the end of the world. These are our ones-to-watch for summer holiday fashion this year!

Ladies love a shoe!

Wedges - Now, us girlies love our wedges but it is important to choose the correct pair for the right occasion. When going out in the evening, comfort is best, if you can find a wedge that gives you glamour as well as comfort; the better! Wedges on the beach are not ideal. Wedges are great for hitting the town and dining out in restaurants and bars. With a range of styles available, there is always a wedge to suit you! Choose wisely ladies!

Finding the perfect flats

Flats are every girl's best friend. They are comfortable and can still compliment your holiday fashion. Although not ideal for the beach, flats trump wedges any day when it comes to comfort and cosiness. Coloured flats add an element of fun and are great for shopping days in the city and town. Flats with a bit of glitz and glam also compliment holiday fashion and are great for night outs with the girls for relaxing and chilled evenings.

Top for Girls holiday footwear

Having the perfect shoes are the final touches to compliment a gorgeous holiday outfit. For dresses and skirts (particularly maxi dresses), sandals with a glittery design add a touch of glamour to complete any outfit. For shorts or cropped trousers, the gladiator style never seems to go out of style. This style is particularly popular with celebrities such as Paris and Nicky Hilton who have been spotted rocking a range of gladiator sandals. The straps add a touch of chic and sophistication to any holiday fashion.

Top for Guys - getting it right

We're going to stick our necks out and say that boat shoes are going to stay the holiday style heavyweights this summer. The development in the range of colours and styles will keep the trend-setters happy whilst their comfort and practical laid-back style will keep men of all ages happy. After all, cool comfort and style is what it's all about with holiday fashion at the end of the day!

This post was written by guest writer Marian Adjei - check out more of her articles here