Ask anyone who knows me about my shoes, and you will hear all sorts of details—pink, mock croc heels; embroidered, mid-calf, camel boots; girly Steve Madden sandals to dress up or down—the list goes on and on. Being a self-proclaimed and evidenced “shoe girl,” I have picked up a few tricks I want to pass on to help all my readers put their best feet forward—on and off the sidewalk. Let’s call them Miss Dressed’s Shoe Rules for the Road.

Rule #1: I shouldn’t even have to say this—if you have to dust them off and polish them in hopes of making the leather less stiff or hiding the sea of scratches and scrapes, you shouldn’t wear them. Newer is definitely better. Sure, you can have that one pair of ugly shoes you wear to do laundry or take out the trash, but other than that, out with the old and the ugly and in with the new and the fab.

Rule #2: Venturing off the beaten path and still want to look cute? Sure, we all know what footwear is appropriate for hiking or jogging or biking, but it’s that stroll through the sunshine-filled park that gets us every time. Choose something with a solid enough heel that you won’t sink in and get stuck. Yes, you could try and saunter on tip-toe across the dangerous grass or sling your shoes over one shoulder, but we all know you won’t and we all know you’ll get stuck, break a heel, end up muddy. Ick.

Rule #3: Sidewalks can also be treacherous. Yes, they are relatively safe for you best kitten heels or stilettos, but you must then pay attention to where you are walking. Otherwise, you could end up like a dear friend of mine who ruined a great new pair of mules prying one loose from a sidewalk grate—on her lunch hour—in a dress—heading back to work late and limping on a broken heel.

Rule #4: In the rain, pick something closed and waterproof or open and secured to your foot. No one wants wet toes squishing in shoes or sliding out of them altogether. This is especially important for an afternoon date or walk to work because damp feet and broken ankles are very poor accessories.

Rule #5: Whose butt doesn’t look better when she’s in heels? So, wear them already. They come in all shapes and sizes, and no, you don’t have to balance on tiny, skinny heels if you don’t want to. In fact, this summer, everyone seems to be wearing the early 80s wedge again. Whatever height your heel, just make sure that you can walk smoothly. No woman looks good in heels she clearly can’t handle. Heels are about confidence; have some when you are out in great shoes—even if that means you need to take a few practice turns around your apartment before taking a true “road test.”

Rule #6: Pick shoes that make your legs look good because that is the real point of great shoes in warm weather with warm weather skirts. Ankle straps cut your legs off square, so choose them only if you have long, long legs or at least the look of them. Short women (like me) need all the extra lift we can get and look better in heels that allow the length of the foot to lengthen the look of the leg. (Some ankle strap shoes can work well for all; try before you buy and look in a long mirror, not a foot mirror. Oops, an extra rule!)

Well, readers, if you keep these things in mind when choosing and using your footwear through this particular steamy Washington summer (and many more to come), you will do your pedicurist proud—elegant feet, graceful presentation, nothing but style.

Monica F. Jacobe is a DC-based writer who is constantly amazed that some people looked in the mirror this morning, said “I look good,” and went out to show the world their poor taste. She welcomes fashion questions and commentary sent to missdressed@hillrag.com and can often be found wearing fantastic shoes while making fashion commentary at various DC cafes.