#7 Get some killer slippers

Earlier this month, designer Alexander McQueen walked his outrageous nine-inch snakeskin and patent leather shoes down the Paris catwalk. At the same time, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists tabled a motion at the recent TUC conference urging employers to consider the long-term health problems caused by wearing high heels and proposing that high heels be included within a company’s health and safety risk assessment  (details, if you’re interested, at www.feetforlife.org) . Unless high heels are deemed necessary for the job, they say,  employees should demand their right to wear sensible shoes.

Both seminal events may well have failed to register on your news radar as you are unlikely to have had much need for anything in the way of an outdoor shoe recently beyond a flip flop or care-worn Converse. However, although the style pages of weekend supplements may be off limits right now, you too can inject glamour into your ‘work’ wardrobe by dressing up those slouchy jeans and old jumper with a pair of killer slippers. (‘klippers‘?)

Here is a selection of some of the best ‘house shoes’ for Autumn-Winter 09.  [Warning: image quality may vary. Sorry about that.]

Felt slippers designed by Pia Wallén, Skandium, £37. My sister swears by these as they are warm, don’t fall off, and she can put the rubbish out in them. They come in a variety of bold colours – black, off-white, grey, red, green, yellow, blue – as well as mini-me children’s sizes. www.skandium.com. (The bad news is that you may have to wait as they are currently not in stock online.)

Sheepskin babouche, Toast, £49. Supersoft sheepskin from the kings of cosy. ‘Nubbly’ exterior and suede lining, padded insole, tread-down heel and suede sole.  www.toast.co.uk

Wool felt slippers, Toast, £49. Suede sole. Very Scandi with their rounded toe and slight lip at the heel. Fantastic colours: Kingfisher (pictured), Iris, Blood Orange, and, erm, Grey. www.toast.co.uk

High-glam silver pumps, Toast, £59. metallic leather lined with silk velvet, finished with a suede sole. Linings come in a variety of opulent colours: silver/nankeen yellow, silver/magpie blue, pale gold/cerise (pictured), pale gold/burnt orange. www.toast.co.uk

Polkadot Slippers, Boden, £29. Available in Aqua, Lavender, Conker, Blush, and Zesty Green. Tempting fake-fur lining and prety bow. Machine washable.  www.boden.co.uk

PomPom, John Lewis, £15. Fluffy, furry and fun. www.johnlewis.com

Ecru linen ballet slippers, Muji, £10.95. Minimal. Breathable. Sensible. www.muji.eu

Jersey roomshoes, Muji, £8.95. Dark grey with ivory stripe. Soft and slouchy. www.muji.eu

Garrick slipper, John Lewis, £45. 100% sheepskin with a sturdy, slip-resistant sole. www.johnlewis.com

Seville leather slippers, John Lewis, £45. For those David Niven moments (smoking jacket not included). www.johnlewis.com

But if you really want to be on-trend this Autumn, you’ll need these:

Clash black patent and silver metallic two-tone  leather slippers, Newbark, £295. Yes, you read that right. £295. No decimal point. Available from fashion site www.net-a-porter.com. They also come in gold and silver lamé. Style commentators are simply salivating over these, hailing them as the saviours of the flat shoe. Hand-sewn, Newbarks have the exclusive logo embroidered on to a tab at the back of the slipper, a reinforced leather sole, come in a matching leather pouch. A reinforced leather sole makes the designers imagine these are suitable for outdoor use. Maybe in LA, darlings, but for the UK I wouldn’t recommend going further than the bins. Net-a-porter’s Editor’s Note enthuses: ‘Stay ahead of trend in Newbark’s sliver and black two-tone soft leather flats. Take a style tip from off-duty models and wear these achingly hip alternatives to ballet pumps in between appointments.’ Bonus trivia: Newbark takes its name from the saying ‘when the dogs are barking’, a euphemism for having tired feet.

Are these the world’s most expensive slippers?

Do you have other footwear favourites you’d like to share?

Tips for the largely housebound on staying glamourously cosy this winter?

Feel free to add your comments to the collective HTBU knowledge bank.

Recommendations so far:

From Lisa: I’m currently enjoying these mod revival ones. Tempest striped mule, Fat Face, £15,