From sex-on-legs vertiginous wedges to the flattest of girly ballet pumps, it would seem fashion has turned schizo on us again, but the real key is just keeping to one look at a time. So, in other words, when you want to wear the new season stack-heel, pair with a 1940s' pencil dress or a slinky, feline skirt but don't try putting them with '80s' leggings or a Grecian dress. Pumps are to be worn Audrey Hepburn-like with black trousers or a cute floral dress, but not with bell-bottoms or, in fact, anything wide-legged.

Wedges and platforms are best worn the new urban tailoring . . . khaki trousers, wide city shorts and cricket jumpers . . . and look great worn casually with denim and feminised with a floral blouse. Just don't try putting them with teeny mini shorts unless you really do have legs that go for miles.

Stack heels What's it all about? With the return of ladylike, classic and vintage looks comes the return to one of fashion's most enduring shapes: the round toe, stack-heel, which looks set to become this season's new rage in footwear. Where to buy them? Sold out within weeks of hitting Office, Oasis and Reiss also have some great stack heels, although if you have the money it is no harm going for some fabulous designer ones by Marc Jacobs or Eileen Shields at Harvey Nichols. Wear with: Pencil and tulip skirts, figure-hugging dresses and anything hour-glass. Think 1940s' movie starlet Mustard and green with wooden heel, 175, Reiss Brown leather sandals, 159, Mango Open-toe bow-tied sandal with rivets, 180, Karen Millen Croc skin, 395, Eileen Shields at Harvey Nichols and 5 Scarlet Row, Temple Bar, Dublin 8

Pumps What's it all about? The cult of the pump continues for summer '06, a style which has very much been influenced by everything from classic '50s' movies to the new craze for everything beatnick. Where to buy them: Everywhere from Topshop to Penneys, Office to Harvey Nicks have a take on the pump but true pump-lovers will buy them online at cult UK store French Sole www. frenchsole. com. Wear with: Skinny jeans, pretty summer cotton dresses, cropped trousers, clam-diggers, black pedal pushers. Think La Dolce Vita meets An American in Paris Pink metallic leather pumps, 44.90, Mango Sailor-style navy and white pumps, 198, Dolls, Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Emerald green silk flat pumps, 310, Harvey Nichols, Dundrum Shopping Centre Lime green satin flats, 135, Reiss

Platforms What's it all about? Cork and weave wedge heels were huge last summer, and this season it looks like the craze is set to continue, with platforms getting even higher than before (have you seen those red D&G ones in Brown Thomas? ). Where to buy them? For the best of the bunch, check out the shoe rooms in Brown Thomas, Dublin, where you can get all the best designer wedges.

Otherwise, Arnotts has a great range of Tommy Hilfiger's and Office has every shape, size and colour. Wear with: Jeans, jersey wrap dresses, city shorts, cricket jumpers, and knee-length skirts Swirl heeled wedge, 65, Tommy Hilfiger at Arnotts Blue and silver cork-heel wedge, 90, Replay at Arnotts Metallic winter green giant wedge, 325, Robert Clergerie at Harvey Nichols Brown wedge heel, 59.90, Zara