Shoes are always an issue when I shop in the UK for clothes to wear here. Having a bit of a shoe fetish doesn’t help. The problem is that shoes get ruined here in no time at all. First there’s the dust. My cute mint green, kitten-heeled, suede sandals managed to get dirty innersoles from wearing them once. Not that I was trekking around in them. Nope. My wearage consisted of walking across a road, into a car, and then getting out of the car, crossing a pavement and going inside the Four Seasons (definitely NOT a source of said dirt).

All Cairene sandal-wearers will attest to that moment where you begin to feel dirt crunching under your toes as the moment of lost hope: never again will those brand new, squeaky clean shoes look the same. And it doesn’t matter where you walk, the Cairo dust will prevail. Somehow. Even at home, inside, with all the windows closed, in a matter of half an hour, clean tootsies begin to pick up dust from a newly washed floor.

Next comes style, which is in part affected by the dust issue. Hot weather means summer styles. Mules, flip flops, closed toe, open toe, heels (and then how high?). The summer options seem endless. But they fool. Of primary importance when choosing the style is not the actual style, but what it can do for you. Hot weather makes feet “glow”. At this point, the desire to stay fashionable begins to hit dusk. Feet slipping around on synthetic innersoles is not that comfortable. Add in partial (or full, if you’re unlucky) swelling because of the heat and it’s now full blown night without even a moon. There is only one solution: Birkenstocks and forget fashion. Well, fashion can come in later, but for everyday, one lone pair of Birks that will get disgustingly dirty is the only way forward. And they are sort of fashionable.

Fashion is of primary importance to the Egyptian shopper. With their toes on the pulse, shops stock everything the would be buyer could want. Sandals are increasingly popular in recent years with the return and rise of the religious rag trade. Savvy sandal wearers, with their shortened trousers or long abeyas wear socks to cover their modesty and attempt to keep their feet clean. Socks with toes provide the perfect solution.

Accompanying this conservative renaissance comes a desire to stand out. It is this that the local shoe market caters for perfectly. So, without further ado, here are a selection to whet your appetite (oh yes, contain yourself).

First up (brawn before beauty) are some for the men:

Smart summer style is easy for men: brown or black.

Gucci sandals Egyptian styleeee.

As if the sandals weren’t good enough, a kiddy sand rake seems to be a stylish prop for Gucci.

Now for the beeeauuutiiiifullll laydees.

Not really my style.

Neither are these (click on image to get full glory)

Gucci is a favourite amongst Downtown Cairo fashionistas.

Teacosy designs make a statement in sweltering Cairo

And last, but of course not lease, my absolute favs: steel capped stilettos!