Imelda Marcos, former first lady of the Philippines, is infamous for her enormous shoe collection. But the years have not been kind of the accessories, in storage at the national museum: termites, mould and now a flood have wrecked the designer items.

Which got the ELLE team thinking – which shoes would you save if there was a flood? The ELLE fashion team talk us through their lifeboat must-haves:

Alannah Sparks, Acting Online Fashion Editor: 'My little Mulberrys which I love a lot.'

Hannah Swerling, Commissioning Editor: 'Without wanting to sound trite, I would save my wedding shoes – champagne coloured, sparkly (a first for me) Jimmy Choos. Sentimental value aside, they have gone on to become the most useful 'going out' shoe I've ever owned. Forget a flood, the apocalypse couldn't separate us!'

Anne-Marie Curtis, Fashion Director: 'I would make sure I had a very big dinghy so I could take all of them. Failing that, my silver Manolo wedding shoes.'

Natalie Wansbrough-Jones, Senior Fashion Editor: 'I am pretty inseparable from my flat cream Gucci loafers at the moment. They are a much loved day-to-day piece.'

Alice Watt, Online Fashion Assistant: 'I could chose a pair of metallic Christian Louboutin stilettos or some stomping Stella McCartney platforms, but ultimately it would have to be my nude suede Acne wedges. They were the first pair of designer shoes I ever bought after saving for months on an intern’s wage so I’m quite attached to them. They also go with absolutely everything and are actually comfortable (I don’t think I can say this about any other heels I own!) so I’m really quite fond of those beauties.'

Carrie Tyler, Digital Director: 'I’d save the first pair of designer shoes I ever bought; some monochrome polka dot Marc Jacobs’ dolly heels.'

Bonnie Rakhit, Market and Merchandising Editor: 'What a shallow question! Ha ha! I guess I'd save my studded Hunter / Jimmy Choo Wellies in that case, especially if they aid me escaping the flood with my feet still dry.'

Alice Wignall, Features Director; 'I should probably say my Jimmy Choo wedding shoes… but in truth it would be a pair of black and gold Miu Miu wedges that I bought in the sale a couple of years ago. They were such a bargain that I had to check with the sales assistant three times that they were marked right. Not even the fact that I severely sprained by ankle while wearing them can dent my love for them…'

Donna Wallace, Accessories Editor: 'My Chanel Silver wedge peep toe ankle boots. Silver shoes always make me happy.'

How about you?