The season's shoes lean toward low heels, pointed pumps and details like straps, buckles and plush fabrics. A classic pump is the safest place to start. Loeffler Randall's dark brown gathered satin Rio pumps, McQueen's black Niko Mary Jane pumps, Le Monde Beryl's black velvet Petra pumps and Gianvito Rossi's brown crepe-satin pumps each lean toward a different trend.

The kitten heel is the trend with the most staying power, and fall's versions come in animal print. Saint Laurent's leopard faille Secret slingbacks, Herbert Levine's leopard pony hair pumps and Toteme's tiger-print calf hair pumps are the bold options, while Aeyde's black leather Helia pumps are the ones to wear every day.

Straps and buckles give a plain shoe some structure. JW Anderson's beige buckled slingbacks and Ferragamo's black Migea pumps are dressier, Dries Van Noten's buckle-detailed loafers are the practical choice, and Church's burgundy Sheila Mary Janes add the schoolgirl note that runs through this season.

Velvet is the easiest way to make a shoe look seasonal. Zimmermann's mustard velvet mules and Amina Muaddi's blue velvet Lupita mules bring colour, Aquazzura's black velvet Amira pumps are the evening choice, and Roger Vivier's dark purple crystal-embellished Flower Strass pumps are for when you want a little shine.

Texture is the quieter alternative to colour. Tory Burch's beaded canvas pumps, Khaite's black calf hair Valerie pumps and Bottega Veneta's Scaletta pumps all add surface interest, and Balenciaga's patent Avenue pumps show how much a glossy finish can do.

Shoes are often where a trend is easiest to try, since you can wear them with clothes you already own. If you take one thing away, let it be that the kitten heel is the most useful of this season's ideas, because it works at the office, at dinner and on a long walk. Velvet and calf hair are fun but seasonal, so treat them as extras rather than the backbone of your shoe wardrobe. We would skip very high stilettos in fragile fabrics unless you know exactly where you will wear them. A pointed low heel in black or brown is the one pair almost everyone will reach for.