The most important thing to think about when buying ladies shoes is making sure you have the right size and fit. A ?rough guess that she's a size five? will mean you end up wasting your money on a pair of women's shoes that don't fit, are uncomfortable and will spend their entire life thrown into a dark corner of some distant wardrobe! If you are treating the lady in your life to a pair of designer shoes, make sure you have the exact fitting first. As everyone's feet are different, the width is just as important as the generic size of the shoe. Shoes that are too tight across the bridge of the foot will be uncomfortable, and no matter how glamorous they may look in the box they will never look right on your partner's feet. Look for a retailer that stocks a wide range of width fit shoes to make sure you get the right size and fit. It may take some of the surprise out of a gift, but it's worth it to make sure that the women's shoes you buy her are both comfortable and fit properly.

If you are buying a pair of ladies boots for your partner, also remember that the width fitting also applies to the calf of the leg. A pair of boots that are too loose or too tight on the leg will again be uncomfortable and will not look as good as a pair that fit correctly.

Think about her personal style. Does she prefer a more casual look or is she a lover of glamorous dresses and formal evening wear? Does she love high heels or does she prefer pumps? The type of shoes a woman wears reflects a great deal about her personality, so pick your style with care. Again, although it may be a surprise gift for your loved one, finding out beforehand exactly what style of shoes she likes will ensure that you do not make a bad decision. If she likes heels but doesn't feel comfortable wearing high heels, a pair of low, kitten heels may be the perfect solution. If she's in a high-powered profession, a pair of classic court shoes will be far more appreciated than a pair of strappy heels that would be more appropriate for a night out on the town.

Once you've found out her exact size, what style she likes, what colour she prefers and even if she prefers leather or man-made fabrics, consider looking at buying your women's designer shoes online. Designer shoes can be an expensive investment, and online suppliers often carry a much wider range of choices (usually with a greater choice of width fittings than high street shops). However, do remember to check their returns policy, just in case you make the wrong choice!

Buying a woman shoes can be a veritable minefield, but to make it easier here's a quick, point by point checklist to remember:

? Make sure you get the right size, including the correct width fitting

? If you're buying boots, remember the correct fitting should include the calf fit and leg length

? Find out what styles she likes ? classic or modern? Heels or flats?

? Consider in what situation she will be wearing her designer shoes ? formal or informal?

? What colour should you buy ? the classic brown or black or a more eye-catching colour or even patterned designs?

? Check your retailer's returns policy before you buy, just in case!