Cut and Run

Balenciaga

When the cut-out and be-buckled Balenciaga came out (was it last winter?) I thought they were hideous.

But with time and exposure to them (or the same style at any road) in real life situations I am starting to really like them.

A major influence was a young lady I have been working with who was wearing them with dresses and looking really super feminine but tough, which is a style of dressing I have an awful lot of time for.

Jil Sander

I have to say I'm tempted.

KG Kurt Geiger

Not having loads of money at the moment is kind of a blessing because I really can't buy anything. So I can fantasise, mull things over without having to commit to a particular look. While I suspect I would never be brave enough to wear these, in my head I'm wearing the hell out of them and looking pretty awesome at the same time, thank you very much.

If some money ever trickles in sufficiently to fund a shopping trip I'll see if I am still so enamoured.

Topshop

(Images via Matchesfashion.com, Kurt Geiger, Topshop, Net a Porter) 

Clear and Present Danger

(Image via Who, What, Wear)

I just bought a pair of perspex heeled shoes from Kurt Geiger (which sadly aren't on there website or I would happily show them off to you). They are strappy and warrior woman-like. It was love at first sight. But with such a fierce shoe what is the way to go? I suspect, like the lady above, it is a good idea to play down the va-va-voom. Oh gosh I really love them...

Don't Sweat It

(Images via Kurt Geiger)

I think these shoes are adorable and would be a great pair for work this summer. So why can't I get it out of my head that all they would bring me would be sweaty feet and blister based misery for the warmer months? Maybe it's because they nude patent leather looks a bit like plastic, but they aren't, they're real honest to goodness leather and shouldn't be any worse than any other leather pair... (clutching at straws...).

Don't Steal Our Sun

(Image via Kurt Geiger)

Since I bought my prescrption sunglasses I haven't even considered buying another pair. Because, you know, they are nice looking and, well, I can see out of them.

Two important things.

But this pair... sigh, this pair are siiiiiiick and I might actually consider sacrificing clear vision for looking super mean.

That'll work right? It's, um, not what you can see but who can see you...? Or something.

All Hands to the Pump

I really have a crush on these flat strappy pumps from Kurt Geiger. I think I might want them quite badly. Particularly the Neopolitan shade pair below.

It might be ever so slightly anaemic, but I think I would like to pair them with this heavenly dress from Jigsaw. I am very nearly at that point where I am ready to bid adieu to winter woolens and opaque tights for something more light and breezy.

(Images via Kurt Geiger, Jigsaw)

Lace-Up in Arms

So what do you say to a pastel shade brogue for summer? I think they would look awful cute with trousers and skirts/dresses. So I say yes please.

 (Images via Kurt Geiger, Topshop, Hobbs)

Naked as the Day I was Born

I am wearing the most darling pale yellow dress to my friend Amelia's wedding in South Africa in a couple of months. Pairing it with an off white blazer that I just happened by in Comptoir des Cottonniers. I couldn't help it, it was love at first sight.

So now I have just one dilemma. What shoes to wear. I am really over the nude shoe. I think they have died a death. Killed, I'm afraid, but the Royal Family's dependence on them. If it's alright for them, it almost certainly isn't alright for me.

So I thought grey. And it does seem as though it might be a mini trend because they are quite a few options about. I tried on the top two from Kurt Geiger which were lovely. But the slingbacks wanted to hurl me out of them, just not secure and very, very high.

And the top pair wanted to cut my foot in half. Even in the shop where I wore them for about two minutes. So I said no to them. And that's what stated me thinking. Hey! I've had a though! What about being comfortable?

Revolutionary, I know. But how about it? Would it actually be possible to wear a pair of heels that didn't make you want to slice your own feet off?

So, do you know what I did? I went to Clarks. Home of the comfortable shoe. And I found all these treasts.

So, sure, they aren't Nicholas Kirkwoods, but they aren't hideous either. And can you imagine just how comfortable I would be in them.

I could stand around and dance and be happy all evening. I won't even know myself.

And I think what I might compromise in style I would more than make up for in enjoying myself because I wouldn't spend half the evening tottering around trying not to go over on an ankle.

(Images via Kurt Geiger, Clarks)

 I know this isn't the sort of talk you expect from me, but, hell, I'm getting old, and having happy feet makes for a happy me. And who can argue with that?

Head Over Heels

A couple of years ago I went to my lovely friend Kirsty's wedding at a sweet country church. In the invitations she stated that the path to the churchyard was very uneven and that high heels probably weren't to be recommended. Pah! I thought. I'm not going to a wedding not wearing heels. I have few enough chances to rock a heel, and really weddings are the major time now when I can get done up. So I wore my very highest and most beautiful black suede Miu Mius. And of course I could barely walk in the damn things. I was clutching at all and sundry to keep myself upright. One of my friend's boyfriend (who admittedly did have to wait for an age while I crept back to his car to drive to the reception) was very snooty and critical of my choice. I almost didn't have a leg to stand on (badum, chaa!) in the argument until another guest at the wedding positively launched herself at me (although thinking about it maybe she was wearing heels too) to let me know how much she loved my shoes, and of course I felt totally exonerated. Plus the fact that said boyfriend was wearing some hideous brown mess of a shoe that resembled a Cornish pasty which of course made me feel justified in ignoring any sartorial statements he chose to make.

(Image via Kurt Geiger, The Outnet)

So, anyhoo, bored yet? No? Oh, you are kind. Well, for the wedding in SA in April I am considering a more sensible heel height. I quite like the top pair. For one thing the colour is cute, and of course the heel is reasonable. I could be happy all night in those puppies. But the strappiness? I haven't worn a shoe like that for some time, mostly because my little pig wouldn't be constrained and popped out constantly, so the strap tried to enact some revenge, converting into a cheese wire mechanism to try and slice the poor little pig off my foot. Yeah, not so comfy. So I am nervous of any other shoe that might do the same.

Actually what I really want are these incredible Camilla Skovgaards from the Outnet, but that heel's not exactly demure, is it? Knowing me I won't be able to resist a high heel, so maybe I should stop even pretending. What do you think?

Flat Out

I am feeling the masculine flat shoe. Even though I can't really rock the masculine look. But a shoe? A shoe is a little bite sized amount of masculine, and I think I could deal with that.


(Via Kurt Geiger)

But I draw the line at brothel creepers. Because they're gross.


(Via Daily Telegraph)

The Price Isn't Right

While I think these Alexander McQueen inspired shoes from Kurt Geiger with their curved heels are really rather desirable, if I was going to spend £395 on a pair of shoes (which I wouldn't, honestly...) I would be aiming a bit higher than Kurt Geiger.


(Via Kurt Geiger)

You know, at least in the vicinity of Miu Miu and maybe even Nicholas Kirkwood or Camilla Skovgaard.

Is this just the way things are going? Up and up and up until none of us can afford anything other than Primark? Please say it ain't so.

Single White Female - Part 1

The other day, while crossing the road, I spied a lady whose style was just so delightful I wanted to run after her. She was wearing a camel coat, skinny 3/4 length trousers, chunky heeled ankle boots and an amazing black handbag. Honestly I swooned at the sight of her.

Then yesterday I bought a new coat that just so happened to be the one that she was wearing. I love it. It's from COS and is camel with a black belt.

So now that I am psychotically stealing someone's style I wonder if I can go the whole hog... Or is that too gruesome?



Well, obviously I will need ankle boots and these are the ones on my shortlist. My requirements are that they are not too high, easy to walk in and not flashy. Of course the ones that look most like hers are the most expensive.



So I probably won't go for them. But there are some other good options.



Now I just have to work out which ones to go for...



Unless I decide to be sensible and not buy a new pair.


(Via Kurt Geiger)

But that's probably not going to happen.

Patently Ridiculous

So, what is the shoe holy grail? For this season at least. Well, I want a shoe that will go with skirts and dresses and trousers. I want a block heel. And I want it to be minimalist and not too feminine. I want to wear them at work. I want to be able to walk in them.


(Via Kurt Geiger)

I bought these. Do you think they fit the bill?

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Do these shoes remind you of anything?


(Images via Kurt Geiger)

I think they look rather like these by Miu Miu.


(Image via Style.com)

But I do still find them whimsical and quite delightful, even though they are essentially theft.

Ankle Biter

I am deeply in thrall to my plan not to spend money in order to save for numerous adventures in Southeast Asia at the end of the year. Gosh, giving up spending money is nearly as tough as giving up smoking cigarettes. But I found myself at a loose end yesterday and the weather was filthy so I found myself cruising Kurt Geiger. Ostensibly with the idea of looking for a sandal for said adventures.

But I saw a terrifically delightful blonde (who might well have once been the cooler, naughtier sister of the head girl) trying on these boots


(Image via Kurt Geiger)

with a view to toughing up summer dresses. And they were so cool and she was so cool and suddenly I thought that was exactly what I need too.

Obviously I don't. I could probably live in Vietnam for a week on what they would cost.

And I have a dark feeling that they might be too much like this...



which would obviously be a fate worse than death.

Hmmm...

I have also seen a pair of light blue desert boots with a heel that are super cute...

Decisions, decisions about something I need to persuade myself not to buy...