Pointed Shoes Are Back, and Honestly, They Fix Every Outfit

If you're only buying one pair, make it a pointed ballet flat in black or chocolate. Jeans, a suit, tights and a mini: they go with all of it. Russell & Bromley is the pair to save up for (the leather goes buttery soft), while & Other Stories and Mango do really good ones for a lot less.

One honest warning: a very sharp point on a very long flat can tip into Wicked Witch territory. If you've got bigger feet, go for a slightly softer point. Not a flaw, just proportions.

A pointed ankle boot with a slim mid-height heel is the shoe that carries you from October to March. It disappears under wide trousers, looks cool with a midi, and won't kill you on the walk to the station. Kurt Geiger is brilliant for these, and Hush if you're on your feet all day.

Feeling brave? Pointed knee-highs. The toe makes them read less Christmas market, more Paris in the rain. Wear them over sheer tights with a knit dress and thank us later.

A kitten-heel slingback is the most useful going-out shoe you'll ever own. You can dance in it, it works with jeans and a nice top, and you won't be hobbling to the cab by 11pm. Whistles and Reiss both do lovely ones in black patent and burgundy suede.

With straight jeans that just skim the ankle, so you get a flash of shoe.

With wide trousers long enough to almost cover them. Just the tip peeking out is so chic.

With tights and a mini in the same colour as the shoe. Legs for days.

With chunky white sports socks? Please don't. They do not get along.

A pointed toe lengthens the leg. Simple as that. It carries the line of your trousers or tights out past where your foot ends, so everything looks a bit longer and leaner. A round toe stops the line short. That's why the same jeans can look sharper with one pair of shoes than another, and why stylists reach for a point when an outfit looks a bit stumpy.

Yes. The trick is that the point should start after your toes finish. Cheap versions often taper too early and squash everything into the end. Try them on in the afternoon when your feet are at their biggest, walk on a hard floor rather than the shop carpet, and go half a size up if your toes touch the sides. Soft leather or suede will mould to your foot. Patent and synthetic won't.

Kitten heels are the secret middle ground. A small heel shifts the pressure off your toes, so lots of people find them more comfortable than a totally flat pointed shoe.

& Other Stories and Mango are the high street's best for pointed flats and slingbacks. Russell & Bromley has made them for decades and the quality shows, so it's worth it for the boot. For Toteme, Aeyde and The Row, Net-a-Porter and Mytheresa have the edit. And Vinted is full of barely worn pairs, since plenty of people buy pointed shoes, wear them once and lose their nerve.

Black first, always. Then chocolate brown, which is softer and looks lovely with navy and cream. Burgundy is the fun third pair. Leopard is the one that makes jeans look like an outfit, and snakeskin effect sits nicely between leopard and plain if you want pattern without the noise. Metallics are for party season, and a pewter or gold flat is more versatile than you'd think.

Pointed toes scuff first, so get a rubber sole and toe protectors fitted at the cobbler as soon as you buy them. It costs about £20 and doubles their life. Stuff them with tissue when they're not on your feet, and polish the toes once a month.

Our advice? Buy black first. Go back for the burgundy once you're hooked. You will be.