Shoes galore

We all know someone who lives in constant dread of shoe shops, knowing that there is never anything out there that will fit their tiny or too big feet. They seem resigned to the fact that they have to spend the rest of their days in generic loafers or masculine running shoes. However, those days are over with the introduction of Selve.

The Jermyn Street shop is winning hearts with its semi-bespoke business that lets the customer create her own shoe with their latest designs. She is free to choose the material, colour, heel shape and strap to suit her individual tastes and obviously size is no longer an issue.

Founder Karen McIntyre told Vogue.com: "One woman cried when she realised we could make her a pair of knee lenghth boots. She had a high instep so she had never found a comfortable pair before."

Karen and her husband John Barron first came upon the idea to open a bespoke shoe shop when they discovered Claudia Kierserling's semi-bespoke shoe business during a business trip to Munich last year. They fell in love with the idea and asked her to develop the idea for the UK market. They are now working together with ex-Marni designer Rosa Aivito and things are going swimmingly.

"It's an exclusive service but it's 100 per cent inclusive. If your feet are smaller than a four or larger than a seven you need never feel like a freak again," says McIntyre. That's like music to our ears.