Shoes are one of the hardest-working accessories in our wardrobe—particularly in a corporate environment. They need to complement our professional style while standing up to the demands of a full working day.
As a corporate lawyer who has spent the majority of her life inside an office, Mariko Kuo has learned more than a thing or two about how to dress for work in a way that feels polished while still leaving room for personality. And shoes are an often overlooked component that can make quite the difference to any look.
Mariko's style tends to be quite clean and paired back citing Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy as one of her biggest style inspirations, which is she loves to add wow shoes to her looks. When navigating a busy London commute she switches to flats, but when she changes into heels, her shoes need to work just as hard as she does. Below, Mariko shares her five top tips when choosing your summer work shoes.
There’s a reason why shoe brands are shoe brands. They understand proportion, comfort, craftsmanship, and most importantly, what makes a shoe look elegant, sophisticated and polished.
Over the years, I’ve found that the pairs that consistently deliver on both style and comfort come from brands that specialise in shoes. Think Manolo Blahnik, Roger Vivier, Jimmy Choo and Gianvito Rossi. Time and time again, these are the shoes that never let me down. Unsurprisingly, many of the styles I'm coveting this summer come from these iconic footwear houses.
Open-toe shoes can absolutely have a place in the office, but I prefer to keep them refined with a peep-toe silhouette. As tempting as Greek sandals, slides and flip-flops may be, we must remind ourselves that we are going to the office, not the beach.
Instead, showing just a hint of skin feels far more polished than exposing the entire foot and helps maintain a professional, sophisticated appearance. Peep-toe mules are particularly effective for summer workwear, offering both elegance and practicality.
Saint Laurent’s Babylone, Gianvito Rossi’s Dorotea or Jude’s Date mules are perfect examples. They strike the right balance between relaxed and refined, making them an ideal partner for a midi skirt, pencil skirt or tailored trousers.
If I had to choose one shoe style for the office during the summer months, it would be the slingback. As temperatures rise, a little extra breathing room for your feet makes all the difference. Slingbacks offer the polish and impact of a classic court shoe whilst being eminently more practical. The ability to slip them on and off easily throughout the day, especially under our desks, is something our feet will thank us for when we make it home.
One of my all-time favourites is Roger Vivier's Belle Vivier slingback. With its signature architectural buckle and elegant patent leather finish, it's a timeless style that effortlessly elevates any workwear look.
AQUAZZURA
Screen 85 cutout mesh-trimmed leather pumps
Manolo Blahnik
Svemutasli
Roger Vivier
Belle Vivier Patent Leather Slingback Pumps in Multicoloured
FERRAGAMO
Sara 95 croc-effect leather slingback pumps
4. Look to Loafers for Long Commutes and High Step Count Days
Yes, I wear flats too. For all the glamour of heels, the reality of the London commute means flats are often the smartest choice. I do keep a few pairs of heels at the office to change into, but there are plenty of days when I simply wear flats for the whole day.
My go-to flats are a classic loafer. They make a confident statement, look effortlessly chic with tailoring and offer all-day comfort. Tod’s loafers are amongst the best I’ve found, thanks to their beautifully soft Italian leather and impeccable craftsmanship. I’ve genuinely never had a blister from them.
If there’s ever a season to experiment with colour and pattern, it’s summer. Perhaps it's the sunshine or simply the collective boost in mood that comes with longer days, but summer feels like the perfect opportunity to have a little more fun with office dressing. Whilst many workplaces still favour a neutral palette, footwear offers an easy and sophisticated way to introduce colour without overwhelming an outfit.
Red is one of the standout shades this season, and shoes are a great way to incorporate the trend. I particularly love Manolo Blahnik’s red-and-white polka dot courts or any of their iconic Maysale mules with their pilgrim buckles in an array of patterns and colours. They add personality and visual interest, whilst ensuring they are elegant enough for the office. I tend to pair statement shoes like these with a neutral outfit. Demure on top, party on the bottom.
Manolo Blahnik
Yquem
Manolo Blahnik
Maysalebi
GUCCI
Horsebit-Embellished Leather Pumps
VICTORIA BECKHAM
Harlow Mask Suede Sandals
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With so much choice in the world of perfumery, how is one to choose a signature scent without paying attention to the fragrance families they're naturally drawn to? From botanical greens and saccharine gourmands to smoky, sultry ouds, we all have a preference for one, or several, scent profiles. Ahead, our judges have made the selection process much simpler by sharing their verdict on the best perfumes across the most popular fragrance families.
How are the products tested and judged?
The Fragrance Awards have been judged by a panel of industry experts, bringing together the sharpest noses and most discerning voices in beauty—from industry-leading Marie Claire UK editors to renowned fragrance specialists: Nicola Bonn, Mowa Osifeso, Suzy Nightingale, Thomas Dunckley, and Clémence Pellé. Judges tested the scents and provided scores based on perfume family, innovation, longevity and packaging.
WINNER: BEST GREEN
FREE YOURSELF
AETHER
Judge Nicola Bonn describes this fresh green as "addictive", and indeed, it features a heady, moreish blend of salty blackcurrant, bell pepper accord, fresh hyacinth and narcissus absolute.
WINNER: BEST WOOD
Granado
Amazônico
Crafted to reveal the mysteries of the world's largest rainforest, Granado's Amazônico is a feat of contrast and textures, between earthy and green and dry heat and humid. "I love the apothecary style of this fragrance," comments expert Clémence Pellé. "This woodsy is timeless, elegant with a touch of retro."
WINNER: BEST FLORAL
Grandiflora
Madagascan Jasmine
This floral unisex is a unique take on the classic jasmine fragrance, thanks to notes of mango, tropical fruits, green leaves, smoke and cacao. Our judges all agreed on one thing: it's addictive.
WINNER: BEST MUSKY
Gritti
Muskaria
The personal favourite of master perfumer, Luca Gritti, Muskaria is a luxurious blend of noble musks, precious resins and rare spices, including labdanum, benzoin and ambrette.
WINNER: BEST CITRUS
Jorum Studio
Risso
"I love the slight fun creative take of Jorum Studio," notes Clémence Pellé. "There's always something unexpected, and it's like vitamin D in a bottle."
WINNER: BEST SKIN SCENT
Mabelle O'Rama
Lunar Dust
This sensual, woody skin scent takes inspiration from the moon's cool, powdery surface, as well as it's warm lunar glow. Nicola Bonn says: "I'm completely and utterly in love with this incredible fragrance."
WINNER: BEST FRUIT
Veronique Gabai
Délices des Bois
Here, it's a sun-kissed fig from the gardens of the south of France that takes centre stage, with its sweet, milky sap. It's expertly blended with sandalwood, cedarwood, dreamwood, and jasmine.
WINNER: BEST GOURMAND
Maison Louis Marie
No.15 Vanille Infinie
Judge Suzy Nightingale was full of praise for this sugary fragrance: "The sweetness in Vanille Infinie is burnished, like flambéd brown sugar atop a vanilla bean-flecked créme brulée. It makes for a gorgeously grown-up gourmand which, nevertheless, doesn't feel too buttoned up to have some serious fun."
WINNER: BEST AMBER
EX NIHILO
Blue Talisman Extrait De Parfum
Clémence Pellé states that this as a scent to go "out out": "There's so many layers and so much depth. It's a seductive amber with a mysterious edge."
WINNER: BEST CHYPRE
Brunello Cucinelli
Brezza Gentile
This UK exclusive pays homage to the earthy terrain of the brand's native Umbria, with an invigorating, perfectly grounded mix of bitter orange, pink pepper, and patchouli.
WINNER: BEST SPICY
Atelier Versace
Safran Royal
As its name connotes, Safran Royal bottles the rare essence of saffron, the world's most expensive spice. It's singular scent is enhanced with Moroccan wormwood, as well as leather and amber.
WINNER: BEST OUD
Dolce&Gabbana
Velvet Desert Oud
A quintessential "sexy" scent, Dolce&Gabbana's Velvet Desert Oud opens on a heavy wave of incense, before unfolding into something smokier, with enigmatic notes of dark wood and deep amber.
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It's 6.30 pm on a Friday evening, and I'm so hot, I'm struggling to breathe. Thick heat has been pooling around my shoulders from the moment I sat down. Perhaps not surprising, given the UK's ongoing heatwave—but this heat hits different.
Sweat drips down my stomach as I focus on my breathing. Desperate for distraction, I try counting the panels on the wall. I fail, and instead find myself watching heatwaves rippling through the air. The smell of timber and warm pine fills my nostrils. My necklace burns against my skin. And then a man in a pointed wool hat asks the love-hate question: "Shall I pour some water over the coals?"
I'm trying Camberwell's newest sauna, Urban Heat, a wellness opening that's become something of a staple in mine and my husband's weekly routine. A traditional Finnish design, their sauna sits at anything from 75°C to 85°C—though, thankfully, there are ice baths, too, meaning you can cool off between rounds.
As a Wellness Editor, I've been well aware of the boom in interest in saunas over the past few years—I get about five different invites to new openings across the city every week.
But truthfully, I'd written them off. There wasn't one near us, and a 40-minute tube ride home is enough to undo any sense of calm. Beyond that, I'm also not particularly well acquainted with the art of sitting still. Even when I'm having my weekly Sunday night everything bath, I'm replying to emails, making to-do lists for the week ahead, and bookmarking "must hear" podcast eps.
But after hearing a colleague rave about the restorative effects that saunas had on her physical and mental wellbeing, I booked a session. A ritual central to Finnish life that dates back over 2,000 years may have only just made it to London, but I couldn't wait to get stuck in.
Speaking to Marie Claire UK previously, Jake Newport, a member of the British Sauna Society and CEO of Finnmark Sauna, explained that the boom in interest in saunas right now reflects a societal shift in how we're choosing to spend our free time. British culture has wellness at its core now - as I touched on in my recent fitness tourism article, we're craving experience, connection, and genuinely effective recovery practices.
“People are increasingly spending money on experiences that support their wellbeing, rather than going to the pub, because they offer a different kind of social connection,” he shared. “The rhythm of sitting together, slowing down, and stepping outside into the fresh air or cold water creates space for conversation and connection,” he says. “That’s a big part of why it’s resonating with so many people right now.”
There are a whole host of studies proving that using saunas regularly is good for both body and brain. The main benefits span improved cardiovascular health, neurocognitive health, stress regulation and sleep quality.
“Research has found that an evening sauna increased deep, slow-wave sleep by more than 70% in the first two hours of the night and by around 45% across the first six hours, compared with a night without sauna,” Newport goes on. “It also significantly reduced the amount of time people spent awake during the night.”
Not just that, but the heat of the sauna relaxes your muscles and improves circulation, with one recent UK-based studies from researchers at Oxford and Greenwich concluding that even monthly sauna sessions can boost your mental health - their hypothesis was that some of the benefit may come from the ritual and community aspect of sauna-going, not alongside the physical benefits of the heat itself.
“The heat encourages blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles, which can help reduce soreness and stiffness,” says Newport, who cites a study published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. The researchers found that adding sauna sessions after training increased treadmill time to exhaustion by around 32%. In simple terms, the sauna “allowed people to run further and faster than they would if they didn’t sauna bathe,” he says.
Alanna Kit, neuroscientist and co-founder of Arc Community, adds: “When the body is exposed to heat, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is the same stress response triggered by anxiety, exercise, overwork, or emotional pressure. With regular practice, the sauna trains your nervous system to recognise that activation and return to equilibrium more efficiently. Over time, this builds our physiological resilience to stress.”
Heading to the sauna for the first time, I'm not sure what to expect. I've checked what to pack on the website and have flip-flops, a towel, and toiletries for after our hour-long session. Reflecting on why I'm anxious about an hour spent unwinding, I realise that I haven't sat without screens, input, or noise for quite a long time.
I'm a marathon runner, you see, and a Health Editor at a heritage women's lifestyle magazine. Minutes are optimised; every second counts. Despite considering myself fairly healthy, somewhere along the way, I hadn't left much room for stillness.
That first sauna trip, I remember smiling around the ten-minute mark. Something shifted in me—no dramatic lightning bolt of clarity or wellness-influencer epiphany, rather, a small, quiet loosening, like I was finally exhaling after holding my breath for too long. My shoulders dropped. I unclenched my jaw. My brain went quiet.
Fast forward 60 minutes, and I feel like a floaty cloud. I'm physically less tense, mentally clearer, and unbelievably zen. As per Urban Heat's instructions, we do cycles of fifteen minutes in the sauna, followed by five minutes of ice bath, cold shower or ice plunge.
Week two, and I quickly learn just how much hotter the higher benches are. I plonk myself confidently on one of the top seats before realising that I can only make it to eight minutes—humbling, but a reminder that you need to accustom your body to the heat, as well as remember to respect the practice.
By the end of the first month, I'm actively looking forward to our weekly sauna session. I'm mid-marathon training block, and can actively feel the good that the heat is doing for my muscles and tired legs—while I can't afford weekly sports massages, a sauna trip feels like a close second, plus a more affordable (and less painful) way to give back to my body working so hard to bank the training miles.
The lounge area at Urban Heat in Camberwell.(Image credit: Ally Head)
Months three to four:
Come spring, and I'm faced with a highly stressful and busy few months, even by my standards. Work is busy, marathon training has ramped up, and I've been feeling a low-level hum of anxiety.
I realise that I've missed a few weeks of sauna visits because I've been so back-to-back with work, and book a session on the spot—my first solo session without my husband. I feel calmer with it in my calendar, and proud of myself for being proactive about my self-care and "me" time.
Come the weekend, I'm reminded of how grounding and soothing the whole experience can be. 60 minutes without a phone, screen, or any distractions is truly a gift in this day and age, and my body and mind are thanking me. Five minutes in, my brain is racing as much as I'm sweating. But come the ten-minute mark, I feel my mind starting to clear.
There's a particular kind of peace that only exists at 85 degrees, legs stuck to your towel and feet against a hot wooden floor. You can hear your heartbeat, your breathing, and the low murmur of other sauna attendees chatting about their week. It's cathartic, and the combination of the heat, your breath, and the beautiful realisation that there's no need to rush is the sort of instant reset it's hard to find in other wellness offerings.
I book a few more sessions for my husband and me on the spot, already excited to return.
Senior Health Editor wearing a sauna hat during one of her weekly sauna visits—something she now feels is integral to her wellness routine.(Image credit: Ally Head)
Months five to six:
Come month five, and we're raving about our sauna experience so much to family and friends, we've made it a part of several weekends away. We visit saunas in Bristol, Brighton, and even Italy.
Italy is by far one of the most memorable—we're lucky enough to get to experience two traditional Aufguss rituals at Cape of Senses Hotel in Lake Garda and Sensoria Hotel in the Dolomites. Both have the same underlying structure—a guided session where trained "Aufgussmeisters" place balls of ice infused with calming essential oils onto the hot stones. They then use a towel to waft the steamed scent around the sauna, resulting in a more heightened experience.
It's intense, choreographed, and rather spiritual—unlike anything we'd experienced before. I'm also in awe of the level of skill both of our practitioners show, and impressed to learn that there are only ten trained at that level in the whole of Italy.
Back in London, though, and we're still happy regulars at Urban Heat. They have social Friday sessions, guided workshops, and even breathwork lessons to teach you more about the ways mastering your breathing can impact your sauna experience.
Six months on, and I think it's evidence enough of how much I've loved our new Friday night ritual that we're still going. I'm pretty hard to impress when it comes to wellness trends—they need to be truly transformative, easy to incorporate into my day-to-day routine, and genuinely worth my time.
But the sauna, for us, has been all of that and more. I'm less achy, sleeping better, and my stress levels have gone down significantly (both my Garmin and Oura agree). Most of all, though, I love our little Friday wellness ritual—it's social enough to replace the pub, while being incredibly soothing at the same time.
I guess the Finns were right. Saunas aren't rooms built for comfort—they're rooms built for surrender, which, as it turns out, was exactly what I needed.
The sauna at Cape of Senses in Lake Garda, where a trained Aufgussmeister gave Ally one of her first Aufguss experiences(Image credit: Ally Head)
Shop MC UK's go-to sauna essentials here:
Sweat and Chill Sauna Cap
If you're in the market for a sauna hat, these Sweat and Chill sauna caps are on my to-buy list. Handcrafted from 100% natural wool felt, they're designed to keep your head, hair and scalp protected from intense heat.
Lamu Swim Manda Bottom in Blue Polka
I've been testing this bikini from independent brand Lamu Swim in recent weeks, and I'm a big fan. It's supportive, quick drying, and a gorgeous colourway. I love that sustainability is a core tenant of the brand, too.
Artah Cellular Hydration
Did you know? Popping some electrolytes into your water or smoothie post-sauna can help replenish the salt you lose when sweating. ARTAH's Cellular Hydration is one of my favourites - it's sugar- and artificial sweetener-free and tastes like homemade lemonade.
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Welcome to What Lily Loves, a personal edit of the pieces, places, and ideas currently inspiring me. Think of it as your insider guide to what’s shaping my wardrobe and daily rituals. From standout finds and under-the-radar designers to shopping destinations, cultural hotspots—from restaurants and theatres to podcasts—here are the latest discoveries I’m loving.
Growing up, my mother always invested in good shoes. From shopping with her at the Harrods Christmas Sale and in small Italian boutiques, I understood from an early age the value of craftsmanship and the endless possibilities of design. It goes without saying that, by investing in well-made leather shoes, she built up quite a collection over the years. To this day, some of the pairs I borrow most are her holiday sandals.
As I get ready to go on holiday, one style I always pack is a great pair of metallic sandals. I look for a pair that will work with most outfits—primarily for evenings spent at dinner with family or at a beach bar—but that is also easy to walk in when navigating sandy beaches and comfortable enough to wear all day. Ticking all those boxes are the Aquazzura Barely There sandals. Available in a wide selection of colours, I recently purchased a pair while on a trip to Milan. Their minimal design and gold colourway mean they complement a multitude of outfits.
Spotlight On
Chan Luu
(Image credit: CHAN LUU)
I first discovered Vietnamese-born designer Chan Luu over a decade ago, drawn primarily to her beaded and shell jewellery. Throughout her career, Chan has championed local artisans and supported fair labour practices, so much so that her efforts have been recognised by the United Nations. While the brand has always had a loyal following, more recently it is her Shantung silk trousers and boho-inspired tunics that have gone viral. Perfect for holidays, they'll work just as well styled with warmer layers in autumn, making the transition back into post-vacation life that bit more colourful. Here are all the pieces currently on my wishlist.
Shop the edit:
Chan Luu
Chloe Sequin Tunic Turquoise
Chan Luu
Shore Collar Necklace Clear Quartz
Chan Luu
Techno Taffeta Barrel Pant Rose
Chan Luu
Sequin Apron Top Black
Chan Luu
Ursula Bracelet Multi
Chan Luu
Dupioni Collarless Coat Translucent Green
New In This Week
H&M
When it comes to choosing what to wear in the intense UK heat at the moment, it feels more like a quest for survival than simply deciding what I want to wear each morning based on my mood. Finding pieces that keep me cool while still looking polished and work-appropriate is always front of mind, so I was pleasantly surprised by H&M's latest drop. It features pared-back co-ords with subtle tassel detailing, great tailoring, and a hint of animal print—all versatile pieces that can be styled in a multitude of ways, to the office or to dinner, building on looks already in your wardrobe.
Shop my edit:
H&M
Draped Tie-Detail Top
H&M
Asymmetric Halterneck Dress
H&M
Flip-Flops
H&M
Tailored Bermuda Shorts
H&M
Asymmetric Cowl-Neck Top
H&M
Fringed Skirt
On My Radar
Cats at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
(Image credit: Feast Creative)
Not many people know that, from the age of 4 to 16, I spent every Saturday at stage school Italia Conti, studying a variety of dance styles from ballet to tap. One of my fondest memories was the opportunity to perform at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in the 1995 production of The Music Man, directed by the legendary Ian Talbot and featuring the now-iconic Succession actor Brian Cox in the lead role.
This summer, the first-ever UK revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical Cats is coming to the Open Air Theatre and is a must-visit for anyone looking for something a little different to do. Set within one of London's most beautiful parks, it’s such a special way to spend an evening with a partner or a fun family experience.
