In Singapore where I live, the tropical weather’s all year round. So we’re lucky enough to be able to live in pretty summer frocks 24/7. And trust me when I say a good pair of espadrille wedges just elevates colourful cotton and linen outfits. The best I’ve come across so far are by the Spanish brand Castaner. Started in 1927, it continues to manufacture its espadrilles the traditional way. Industry insiders even claim that the luxury labels rely on Castaner to produce their wedge espadrilles, most notably for YSL a couple of decades back. Today, many high-end brands pair up with Castaner to produce limited edition collections; from Manolo Blahnik to Missoni and most recently, Paul Smith. Also, it is no secret that Castaner has fans from the royal family; who are often spotted in the earth-toned shoes in the paparazzi shots taken in summer. And for good reason: Castaners are so comfortable for wedges, and they elongate your legs with the ribbon ties at the ankles. They are very well-made for a reasonable price …