After much competition from brogues and loafers, posh slippers have ousted ballet pumps as the go-to flat shoe choice for a certain type of stylish but slightly prissy woman.

For the woman who idolises Olivia Palermo (always impeccably turned out but rather lacking in edge), a velveteen slipper is now the thing that you pop on with your capri pants. These types don’t do trainers (yes, they know they’re terribly in vogue but to be honest they’re just too clumpy) or lace-ups (they make everybody bar Alexa Chung look stumpy) but they can’t always be hobbling about in heels.      

The velvet slipper is an ideal ballet pump replacement as it is neat and ladylike while feeling slightly more ‘fashion’ than the poor old ballerina, which simply became too ubiquitous after Primark started selling them for six quid a pair.    

The posh slipper also gives designers a little more room to have fun because they can embroider playful motifs on the front. See, for example Charlotte Olympia’s Kitty flats, especially the ones she designed in collaboration with jewellery designer Tom Binns. Or take the colourful and fun styles from Palermo’s favoured posh slipper purveyor, American brand Stubbs & Wootton, pictured above.    

But it is Italian label Del Toro that has created the ultimate playful posh slipper. In an exclusive collaboration with the ultra-luxe website Moda Operandi, the label has designed a range of velvet slippers emblazoned with everyday dicta translated into Latin. So there’s the ‘Ambulets Pudoris’ (Walk of Shame) slipper or the 'Capillus de Cane' (Hair of the Dog) shoe.  So, you see, you’re sending out a witty message with every step – but only to those clever enough to know a little Latin. Much posher than the simple pump…