When customers come into the shop asking for a comfortable waterproof boot I always lead them to our Panama Jack selection.

I really don’t think that you will find a better boot at this price. I always think of the boot as a ‘Jack of all trades’ style. It will compete with all the Gore-Tex lined walking boots for outdoor activity functionality but it’s equally happy teamed up with a pair of jeans and having a pint down the local!

I love these boots, my last pair is nearly 5 years old and if I’m, honest I haven’t looked after them very well. In fact the only thing I have done is treat them to a new pair of laces!

Now, due to their rather weathered appearance they have now become my workshop / garden boots but I can’t recommend these boots more highly, to me they really are ‘the king of boots’!

When an invitation arrived for Summer Dinner Dance I decided that given the grey skies that seem determined to sit constantly above us I would opt for a bright and colourful dress in defiance.

Last year I purchased a dress from Wallis which was destined to be worn to a wedding reception then at the last moment like a typical female I changed my mind and wore something else.

Anyway I have decided that the dress is now my perfect option for the Dinner Dance but I didn’t really have a suitable pair of shoes. I knew exactly where to head, The Golden Boot in Maidstone. In the past I have never been disappointed with the range on offer and the most exceptional, knowledgeable and friendly service.

I called in on Thursday and since I had last shopped at The Golden Boot the ladies department had been given a stylish makeover. It looked very stylish and I quickly spied a pair of beautiful dressy peep toe fuchsia pink sandals called Zinda Stelline.

One of the assistants greeted me. I showed her the dress, I brought it with me as it is a mix of so many different colours and I wanted to be sure of a perfect matching pair of shoes. I find that sometimes the colour you have in your mind doesn’t always match your purchase when you get it home.

I was shown three or four different styles. All were absolutely beautiful matches to the dress. Luckily it wasn’t busy when I came into the shop and all assistants were brilliant and offered their personal opinions. One girl even suggested a more casual Gabor design, a wedge sandal called Mary saying that it meant I could even wear the dress in the day time for a less formal choice of outfit.

Now it was decision time. My eyes kept wandering back to the gorgeous pair of Zinda’s. I learnt that it was a Spanish brand and an assistant pointed out the solid patent heel and two tone design, saying that it really did match the bright colours in my dress perfectly. Trying them on yet another time, the fact that they were comfortable was such a bonus that it made my mind up for me.

Even my husband was complimentary about the shoes, he noticed that everything matched so nicely.

The evening went wonderfully and during the course of the evening two ladies asked me where I had got my outfit from.

P.S I will be back to purchase Gabor Mary, I think it will give me the opportunity to wear the dress again and it will look great with white jeans.

The classic Gabor brogue is perfect for all day comfort and really versatile. It can be dressed up for a special occasion with a belted skater dress, or would for a casual look pair the shoes with classic chinos.

I think it would look great with my white dress from Topshop.

Gabor Bauble is another of Harriet’s favourite Gabor styles for the season. The soft cream leather has a summer feel and the small heel adds a bit of glamour to the classic brogue design.

Gabor Bauble looks great with denim or chinos for a smart casual feel, the taupe colour adds a vintage feel to the design.

I chose these shoes as I needed a pair suitable for work. I wanted a summer style and so thought the tan would be a good choice. I needed something with a small heel as I am not too confident walking in heels and at work I am on my feet all day. Toffee is perfect as it has a low wedge heel which allows me to rush around while still looking smart.

Wonders Toffee has fast become my favourite pair of shoes, I wear them all the time. The tan leather is great because it goes with so many colours, I can wear the shoes with most of my summer wardrobe. The shape is really easy to dress up and down as well so I wear Wonders Toffee to all types of events.

Here are three outfits that I wear the shoes with.

This is what I originally bought the shoes for- work.

This summer we changed our staff uniform colour from red to green, and so I wanted a pair of tan shoes to match the new shade.

The second outfit is a lot more formal, the dress is from Matalan and I bought it for a special night out at Jamie’s Italian. I think the tan is really versatile, it really suits this floral pattern.

The third outfit is what I would typically wear for shopping, Wonders Toffee is really comfortable to wear so it can be a really long shopping trip too! The shoes go well with jeans, especially these mahogany ones.

As you can see I get a lot of wear out of these shoes, I dress them up or down to suit what I’m doing. Wonders Toffee has been a really good buy for me.

I struggle to find shoes that are comfortable, I have wide feet but really don’t want to have to settle for a frumpy design just to get a comfortable fit.

I went in to The Golden Boot with the mind set that I wanted a classic black court shoe that I could wear formally, I didn’t know about my trip to the races at this point, I just wanted a good pair to keep in my wardrobe. A very helpful assistant Katie helped me and introduced me to Gabor shoes. She explained that Gabor shoes were German and often come up a little wider than Spanish and Italian shoes. At first I wasn’t 100% convinced especially when I saw the elegant designs, I really thought that they wouldn’t be suitable but decided to give it a go.

Katie bought me a selection of  shoes, she had a good knowledge of wider styles that would be suitable for me. We stuck to black, and I was surprised by just how many court shoes were suitable for a wider foot. We tried each pair on, and although Gabor Merilyn was most comfortable the other two would have also been suitable.

I chose Gabor Merilyn as I loved the floral detail at the toe, it just made the court shoe a little more special. Most importantly it was comfortable but still dressy so I was really pleased to find a shoe that fitted me and I felt confident in.

When I was invited to my partner’s work event at Ascot I knew exactly what shoes to wear. I just had to get a dress to match. It wasn’t difficult as the shoes are black but I found a great dress from Debenhams Collections at Lakeside. The black belt and trim at the neck suited the shoes and it is the kind of dress that you can wear again and again- not too formal and suitable for all seasons.

I really enjoyed the day and am really pleased with my Gabor shoes, they are exactly what I wanted, a real classic that I can wear season after season.

For the adults to celebrate we organised a meal with friends at Mu Mu, followed by drinks in the bar and the following weekend had a family lunch with all the children invited too.

Then came the important bit- what to wear??

I traipsed around the shops with a good idea of what I was looking for but didn’t have much luck until I visited Phase Eight. The shop assistant was so helpful and even suggested dresses that I never would have tried on without her advise. In fact she was so helpful that I couldn’t decide between two dresses and so with a little coercing, convinced my husband that I needed both.

Now with two dresses in hand I had to find the perfect pair of shoes to match. This is not such a difficult task as I work at The Golden Boot and always have my eye on the next pair I want to buy. I love Peter Kaiser shoes so they were a natural choice and found two that matched the dresses beautifully.

For the evening in Mu Mu’s I decided on the peachy rose dress paired with Herdi. The sand patent colour highlighted the warm beige detail in the dress and I always think that nude shoes elongate and compliment your legs.  I am not very tall but my husband is over 6 ft and so I always feel more comfortable in a high heel, in fact I wear heels most of the time.

I always find Peter Kaiser really comfortable and Herdi was no exception. I was on my feet a lot, and even had a dance but the slight platform is  cushioned under your foot and I can honestly say I was comfy all night.

For the family get together I decided on Peter Kaiser Pallia in black to match my lacy dress from Phase Eight. The heel was just a little lower so I felt more confident running after the kids who were all extremely excited about the meal out. Luckily I already had a matching Peter Kaiser hand bag, which although formal has enough room so you can take everything you need, even candles for the cake!!

1.The Dandy of the Underworld sole inspired by T.Rex’s final studio album. It features an embossed image of lead singer of the band Marc Bolan. The English singer, songwriter and guitarist is one of Jeffery West’s Hero’s. The larger than life character helped to cultivate the glam rock era and remains one of the most recognised figures of British Rock and Roll. This sole is featured on Jeffery West Tanner

2.The second sole design uses Jeffery West’s idiosyncratic handwriting to beautifully scribe verses taken from the bible such as “My flesh is meat indeed” John 6:5.

Known as the Flashman’s spirit sole, it takes inspiration from the fictional character Harry Flashman, another of Jeffery West’s Hero’s. The Victorian Brigadier General, created by author George MacDonald Fraser is in his own words a scoundrel, liar and cheat. Expelled from Rugby, he joins the British Army where he runs away from battle, loots, gambles, boozes, and beds every woman he can without any sign of remorse. This sole is featured on Jeffery West Zotico.

3.The “pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name” sole is influenced by The Rolling Stones. The quotation is taken from their song Sympathy for the Devil which ranked as the 32nd greatest song of all time. featured on their 1968 Beggars Banquet album. It is written from the point of view of Lucifer, warning the listener what he is capable of as he lists his previous exploits including The Crusades, The Bolshevik Revolution, WWII and the killing of the Kennedy’s. This sole is featured on Jeffery West O Toole

4.The red leather sole is embossed with an illustration of a skeleton with a cane. The rich dark red leather oozes decadence and compliments the gothic illustration. This sole is featured on Jeffery West Reptile

5. The “decadence sleaze and excess” verse is embossed in tan leather. Jeffery West pride themselves on craftsmanship and quality, this sole is a classic Goodyear welted construction which is famous British, made in their Northampton factory. This sole is featured on Jeffery West Taro

6. The Degenerate sole is another example from the Flash man’s Spirit range, taking inspiration from rebellious British icons like Oliver Reed, Richard Burton and Lord Roche. The vivid red leather sole really stands out from the crowd. This sole is featured on Jeffery West 309.

7. The final sole in blood red leather has been hand crafted in Spain. It is from The Muse and Black Line collection and has a tattoo style “devil woman” illustration embellishment. This sole is featured on Jeffery West 3356

All sole illustrations are personally chosen by Guy West. The creative designs finish the product beautifully and really show what Jeffery West is about as a brand.

I love my Merrell shoes, I’ve had this pair for 2 years and they’ve done me very well. I’ve ridden with them in Morocco and the Alps and to honest I’ve abused them, yet they still come back for more!

The Vibram sole has worn well considering the impacts they take. The only issue I’ve found is that they aren’t water proof similarly when I run I go cross country although my running shoes are light they leak like a sieve and my feet get cold.

Ok so onto the Salomon XA pro. I’ve always liked the look of Salomon shoes however being a ski maker I’m always wary of brands that don’t specialise in one thing and maybe piggy back on the power of their brand. It turns out that footwear is actually the biggest part of their business not skis!

I’ve been using these XA pro’s for 6 months now and quite honestly they are superb. I’ve binned my running shoes as the XA pro’s completely out performing them. The Gore Tex lining keeps my feet warm and most importantly dry; I actually find them as comfortable as running shoes despite the fact that they are slightly heavier.

So onto the most important thing, biking!

What prompted this article is the ride I have just been on. It’s rained every day for the last 5 weeks this has resulted in a very wet and muddy cycle route! Despite being wet through my feet remained dry and warm. The Salomon XA pro’s really are a great all rounder packed full of features. I love the speed lace system, it looks like a gimmick but it works brilliantly and has shown no signs of wear and tear.

It holds you foot securely and makes taking them off and on really easy. No more trailing laces and double knots!

If you want tough durable water proof, walking, running, hiking and cycling shoe…look no further!

Peter Kaiser Pepsy follows the jewel bright trend set to be huge this season. The ruby red leather is truly glamorous and the peep toe shape emulates the footwear of the 1950′s giving the style a vintage edge. Chunky platforms are everywhere this season and Peter Kaiser make the most of the popular shape adding a cushioned padding under the ball of the foot for extra comfort. These fab shoes would look great with full skirts or would add a lovely finishing touch to a LBD.

Peter Kaiser Martina is serious foot candy. Inspired by a day by the sea, the denim peep toe design incorporates lots of key trends. Stripes are a firm staple for this season and the red an white bow adds a fun flirty feel to the sandal. The mix of textures and fabrics is another look key to footwear design for SS1. Martina show cases the best of Peter Kaiser designs, they use their extensive experience of footwear to create quirky and fashionable styles.

Peter Kaiser Periko is a stunning peep toe design, the bright and exciting shoe in turquoise patent has a slight neon hue which is another key trend for SS12. The towering heel is made a little easier to wear bu the deep and cushioned platform. The elegant ankle strap enables you to feel a little more secure and looks fantastic on. The glossy patent is of the highest quality and extremely soft to the touch, Periko really is the ultimate party shoe.

Peter Kaiser Pallia has a unique feel, the design mixes soft suede with glossy patent to highlight the beautiful shape of the shoe. Peter Kaiser is all about putting your toes on show this season and this peep toe design is no exception. The threaded turquoise leather ribbon is very delicate and feminine and it proves that The Peter Kaiser design team is crazy for colour this season.

Peter Kaiser Susa has the lowest heel featured in this article. The almond toe shape is comfortable and flattering and the style looks wonderful in the glossy lipstick red. Susa is what Peter Kaiser do best, they take a classic style and add a twist to make a unique, stylish and contemporary design. This shoe comes in a variety of colours including Black, white, sand, turquoise and leopard to name but a few but I think the red will add a zing of colour to any outfit.

We stock a range of stunning Peter Kaiser evening bags to match their statement shoes.

If you need any other information on our Peter Kaiser range give us a call. A member of staff would be happy to answer any questions you have regarding fit or shoe care.

If you have bought a pair of Peter Kaiser shoes from us previously we always value your feedback.

At The Golden boot our Gabor collection features a range of career minded shoes, Including sleek pumps, classic courts, and elegant mid heels.

Take a look at some hand picked designs that we recommend-

Through experience, we all no that everyone is different and some people’s worst nightmare would be to spend all day at work in heels. If this sound’s like you here are some flat pumps suitable for your work wardrobe.

Gabor Zeta is a great style if you are required to be on your feet all day at work. Zeta is an E fitting style and so the flat pump would make a good work shoe for those with wide feet.

Gabor Agassi is always a best selling style for us. The classic ballet pump design with patent toe cap is formal but comfortable. The style is so versatile that it would be suitable for in and out of work and would suit both trousers and skirts.

Gabor Rita is another wide fitting flat shoe suitable for work. It is an E fitting and is produced using the softest of leathers for all day comfort. The interlinked ring decoration across the foot is separated by a braided leather chord along the centre.

For others a mid height heel may be preferable for work. A little heel can add just a little height but comfort remains the key factor. Mid high heels are perfectly professional and will compliment your work wardrobe.

Gabor Sonia in Black patent will add a little gloss to your Monday mornings. The mid heel ballet pump is a formal design finished with a leather bow trim. The design is really comfortable as it is produced using Gabor Sacchetto construction, this means that there are no internal seams inside the shoe.

Gabor Picture is a Mary Jane design with a Velcro fastening. The style is suitable for wider feet as it is an E fitting. The cut out leather upper and open shape make this an ideal style for work throughout the summer.

Gabor Styx is a mid heeled court shoe, perfectly suited to the work environment. The Gabor style shows is beautifully finished with intricate leather work including braided leather and studded metal strap across the toe. The small heel means that you can add a little height without sacrificing comfort.

If you want to upgrade your work wear and like to add a little glamour to your work wardrobe Gabor will have some suitable high heeled designs for you. The elegant range includes Mary Jane designs and classic court shoes.

Gabor Chandler comes in black leather and suede. The almond toe shape is easy to wear and will compliment both trousers and skirts. The pretty bow detail is highlighted with a contrasting cotton stitch outline. The formal design is hardwearing and will be suitable for everyday wear at work.

Gabor Divine is a pretty Mary Jane design with two buckle strap fastening. The shoe comes in black patent or leather and will be a smart choice of accessory for your work wardrobe. Divine is leather lined and the pointed toe will look great with skirts, dresses and tailored trousers.

Gabor Soria is a classic court shoe which is extremely comfortable to wear even though it has an elegant 8cm heel. The slight platform is cushioned and padded and is fully leather lined. The style comes in a large variety of patents, suedes and leathers.

If you need any advise on work shoes, please feel free to contact us on 01622 752349, or if you have already bought shoes for work from us we would be really happy to hear your feedback.