Last week I had the pleasure of discovering the biggest M&S shoe department in Britain, at their newly refurbished store on Oxford Street.

When I stumbled across it, tucked into the middle of the ground floor of their Parthenon store, I was amazed to discover it was end-to-end stocked with their freshly minted new autumn shoe collection, all presented together for the first time.

Can I admit to a jolt of excitement? I think I can. Because the very first shoes I zoned in on were an elegant pair of soft cherry red suede ballet flats with a dainty bow, which I immediately tried on.

Suede Bow Flat Round Toe Ballet PumpsSuede Bow Flat Round Toe Ballet PumpsSuede Bow Flat Round Toe Ballet Pumps

Round-toed, soft and surprisingly well made, they hugged my feet in a chic way making them look far more designer adjacent that I expected them to be.

Like Dorothy’s famous ruby slippers, these red ballet flats possess a little wardrobe magic, and to note, in real life, the red is brighter and richer than the pictures here suggests.

In fact, the pop of red had a transformative effect on the outfit I was wearing, and my navy linen shorts from Boden and chic white top from Massimo Dutti went from summery to fashion forward in an instant.

Suede Bow Flat Round Toe Ballet PumpsSuede Bow Flat Round Toe Ballet PumpsSuede Bow Flat Round Toe Ballet Pumps

I’m telling you this, because today these rather brilliant shoes made their debut online at Marks and Spencer in the full range of sizes from 3 to 8.

While there are other ballet flats in their range, these, at the time of writing are the best in the collection. Daintier and more refined than the rest, and with a softer, more pliable suede and that pop of red, I recommend them as a properly good transitional buy. With M&S £40 red leather patent slingbacks coming a close second.

Leather Patent Flat Chisel Toe Slingback SoesLeather Patent Flat Chisel Toe Slingback SoesLeather Patent Flat Chisel Toe Slingback Soes

You can wear them this month with your summer clothes, and be satisfied in the knowledge that they will be just as brilliant with cream jeans, or a denim maxi skirt when the autumn weather arrives.

For just £58 and looking more expensive that that, if you have the budget to make a clever shoe buy that will update your summer and autumn outfits, red shoes are the way to go.