As a seasoned May Ball survivor, I have vivid memories of loaning my shoes to a struggling stiletto-ed friend at 6am, accidentally losing a shoe Cinderella style near the John's dodgems and regretting all my life decisions at King's as inebriated techno-enthusiasts stepped on my open toes. Now I want to share my footwear tips and tricks to help you make it to the survivors' photos in style – without having to smile through the pain of unwanted blisters!

One of the furtive joys of May Balls and June Events, at least for me, is finally getting to tread mischievously on the forbidden grass. However, be wary if it’s been raining – strutting in your best stilettos through a patch of lawn that’s slowly becoming a sink hole is not a good look. If the weather app forecasts thunder clouds, why not go for a sturdier wedge or block heel? 

Likewise, if you’re someone who likes to make the most of the unlimited drinks on offer (and who could blame you) but doesn’t like to end the night stumbling around like a baby giraffe learning to walk, slingbacks are probably a wiser choice than stilettos.

If you do decide to go for six-inch heels, try to pick a pair with ankle straps (thank me later) and make sure to put on blister plasters before the event starts in the places you know you tend to get blisters. And don’t forget to pack extras in your bag in case you, your partner, or your friends need top ups throughout the night.

“You don’t want someone to stamp on your toes during ‘Teenage Dream’, and ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ is not supposed to end in hip replacement surgery”

Something else you might want to think about is how to get back in the morning (especially if you’re from a hill college). If walking barefoot over tarmac and gravel doesn’t sound appealing, you’ll probably want to bring a pair of flat shoes such as sandals, flip flops, ballet pumps or trainers with you in a tote bag that can be quickly deposited in the cloak room on arrival. Plus, having options means you can suddenly ditch the heels if your feet get tired, or if you need to bring your A-game to the 5am ceilidh. 

If you’re planning on singing your heart out to the Katy Perry tribute act or channelling Shakira at the silent disco, choose a closed toe shoe, flats or a small kitten heel. You don’t want someone to stamp on your toes during ‘Teenage Dream’, and ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ is not supposed to end in hip replacement surgery.

A minimalist option that closely matches your natural skin colour might be for you if you intend to wear something bejewelled or with elaborate cut-outs: a bright, patterned or embellished shoe can distract from a statement outfit. But if your dress is a block colour, why not go for a novelty shoe? A gold heel with a black dress can bring some art deco glam, and sparkly silver straps with navy can jazz things up a bit.

“A bright, patterned or embellished shoe can distract from a statement outfit”

If, like me, you like to pretend May Week is the Met Gala, get creative and match your shoes to the outfit. If your dress has a subtle flower pattern, how about adding a flower embellishment to your footwear? If you’re wearing sparkles, try a sparkly sheer shoe for maximum dramatic impact on entrance. 

Of course, these are just ideas. The best shoes to choose are always the ones that allow you to have fun – without hurting the bank, or your feet. If you’re privileged enough to be able to afford to go to a May Ball or June Event this year, the main thing is that you feel comfortable in what you wear. As the saying goes, if the shoe fits, wear it!