The 12 outfits of Christmas - Outfits 9 and 10: Mixing Jigsaw, Kurt Geiger, Warehouse, French Connection and Hobbs

I threw yesterday's outfit on first thing just before heading out of the door in the pouring rain.  I wanted to wear the dress and the boots were just handy. Rather than changing when I got home I just added in the scarf to bring the black and brown together. I know - it's lazy and I should have changed and posted something more inspiring. However it was a miserable day, my right ear was still pounding away and I didn't fancy stripping off.  It was always my intention for Style Guile to be true to life - Christmas or not!

 

However looking on the positive side, a black jersey dress with a bit of stretch in it is a really handy piece to have. I have worn this with shoe boots, bright red shoes and knee high boots - a blazer, a cropped bright pink cashmere cardi - a chunky oversized boyfriend cardi, a necklace and a whole variety of scarves. Essentially it is a great backdrop against which to paint a picture to fit your mood.

 

The dress is Jigsaw, the boots, Kurt Geiger London, the scarf Oasis and the cuff Coccinelle.

 

Today the rain finally stopped. I felt that sparkles were the order of the day so put a Warehouse navy sparkly jumper with this printed skirt from French Connection.

I also wore Hobbs NW3 purple shoes. Despite the height of the heels, they are sturdy enough to be comfortable when out and about. At home I just swapped them for my Zara sparkly flats which I have been wearing a lot of late.

The skirt is far, far shorter than anything I would wear in the summer but that's one good thing about the winter - being able to wear short skirts with thick tights. It just opens up a whole new wardrobe of possibilities - which is always welcome.

 

I love Christmas Eve - it's my favourite day of the year. I hope that your plans for a lovely Christmas are all coming together - wherever you may be and with whoever you may be.

The 12 outfits of Christmas: day 8: A printed silk shirt, skinnies and sparkly flats

Talk about three in the bed and the little one said. Last night one said that they had had a nightmare. Another one said that they were scared of witches. Another one said that they were scared that the world was going to end - so they all ended up in our bed. Then one asked another one to stop coughing. Another said her leg hurt and one wasn't tired. Except none of the above was me. All I wanted to do was sleep!

 

Having guests is such a great reason for tidying the house top to bottom, which is what I spent the first half of the day doing.

 

With that in mind, flats were a must. I also fancied a printed blouse/jumper combo - just because it's a warm and comfortable option but it feels as though I have made a bit of an effort. Trousers were also a change from yesterday's dress outfit.

 

This is a shot of the Zara coat done up, which someone asked for. We were on the way out to collect some anti-biotics that I need for an ear infection, so it was more a case of chucking the coat on for warmth. It sort of gives a flavour of it though.

Now this is my idea of a good Christmas pressie - a great big bottle of sloe gin. Hic! Happy Christmas!

The 12 outfits of Christmas - Day 6: The jumper dress

Day 6 of my 12 outfits of Christmas saw me wearing this Hobbs NW3 Ashdown dress over grey Cos jeans. Possibly one of the warmest jumpers I own, it is lovely and cosy so I felt snug all day.

In the closer shot of the jumper, it's possible to see the gold thread which is woven through it. I think that it just about qualifies as something a little bit Christmassy.

I also wore these Clarks Lotta Beccles boots which are now unavailable online in black, although they are still available in tan. They are one of the most comfortable pair of boots I have ever owned, particularly given their heel. At £69.99 they were a good price too. I would imagine that there will still be some available in the Clarks stores for anyone who is after a pair.

 

I also wore this H&M necklace as the jumper needs a little something at the neck, whether it's a scarf, a necklace or a shirt collar.

So, that was me done for the day. It must have been a comfortable outfit because I am still wearing it even now whereas normally I would have abandoned everything in favour of PJ's.

The 12 outfits of Christmas - Day 5: A The Zara coat

After I posted yesterday's blog, the Whistles scarf that I was wearing had an unfortunate encounter with a chocolate roulade. It somehow got caught up in it as I was rolling it up. Now I know why Mary Berry works in the print in her outfit via a Zara bomber jacket.

 

As we were off to see my Mum today for a Christmas visit, I thought that I ought to wear some sparkle. I knew that not only would she appreciate it but also that I would blend in with the surroundings. My Mum is the Queen of Christmas decorations - no surface is left unadorned!

 

 

I had intended to keep my top for Christmas day but I woke up feeling in need of a little sparkle as I think I have an ear infection.  This Reiss top is so comfortable and warm (and a little sweatshirt like in shape) that, when paired with some black Jigsaw trousers with a cuff at the bottom, I could almost convince myself that I was in a comfortable shell suit. Perfect!

The coat is a recent Zara purchase, which I also featured in an article for Easy Living magazine. Since buying mine, I have also seen it in a camel/black colour combination. Despite not being wool, the coat is really warm and comfortable too. Having chosen my Marc Jacobs handbag, we were good to go on our trip to see Grandma Pickles.

The 12 outfits of Christmas - outfit 4: Colour and print

After all these years of being a parent you would have thought that I would have realised that I have LESS time in the school holidays rather than more. So why do I still think that I will have more time to answer emails, write articles, respond to clients, answer blog comments and so on?  Anyway, to anyone who is waiting for me to get back to them - sorry. I will do so soon, I promise.

 

I was working this morning with my youngest client yet - a 14 year old girl. We hit the shops early and had a great time in all sorts of different stores. Knowing we would be whizzing round the shops, flats were a must so I wore Hobbs patent loafers, navy Cos trousers and a Jigsaw coral cashmere jumper - because colour is always good on a cold day.

My jumper even elicited a (postive) comment from the smallest one. She always notices when I am wearing something bright and she really loves it, much more so than when I am wearing darker colours.

A Whistles scarf and Orla Kiely bag brought it all together for me and I also wore my cream leather jacket.

I can't pretend that there's anything remotely Christmas like about this outfit either - it's just a good, honest, feet on the ground, warm and practical outfit with a bit of colour and print involved.

The 12 outfits of Christmas - Outfit 3: A trip to the cinema in GAP coloured cords with some Zara, H&M and LK Bennett added in.

The main highlight of our day today was a trip to the cinema to see "Nativity 2 - danger in the manger." Don't we just know how to have fun? I love Christmas films and the fact that this one managed to keep all 5 of us entertained made it especially fab.

 

 

Other events for the day included food shopping and feeding the ducks (see what I mean about  knowing how to have fun!) - so it needed to be pretty low key.

 

As part of my 12 outfits of Christmas, I wanted to wear some coloured cords. These are my GAP cords which I have worn several times before. I also wore an H&M cotton shirt, navy H&M jumper with sparkly cuffs (see below), Zara boots and blazer and navy LK Bennett snake print bag.

 

 

 

So far I have ticked off wide leg trousers, a skirt with sparkly shoes and today, coloured cords and snakeprint. I'm not quite sure what tomorrow will bring...

 

 

The Twelve Outfits of Christmas - Day 2: A sparkly Saturday

Sadly for our eldest, she chose to feature herself in the best of a bad bunch of photos - which is why she is appearing here today. It is also a shame for me in some ways as it means that I can't now pinch her Johnnie B Christmas jumper to wear on here - or can I?!

 

I knew that heels were out as an option for the day as there was a lot of dashing about to do. I also knew that a thick jumper was in order as my husband and I have very different thermometers. We play a game of cat and mouse in switching the heating on (me) and off (him).  

For some reason I felt that jeans were out so that really left a skirt that would look OK with flats. I have a few options but this one just felt right for today.

Option one (above) is with the belt in view. Option 2 (below) is without. I don't want to peak too soon on the fancy pants outfits - that is if I even have any - which is why I kept it simple today. However the addition of my Zara sparkly shoes made it just a little bit festive for when we were decorating the tree  - well that and my reindeer deely boppers.

One of our tasks involved getting the smallest one some new school shoes. As we went into the shop she sat down and said: "I've come in for some new school shoes as I have trashed these. I have worn right through the leather." I was just waiting for her to say "So bring it on and let's see how long the next pair last." Instead she dutifully dismissed four pairs, boxed them up for the assistant, decided on the fifth pair and off we went. I think that both the shop assistant and I felt rather redundant. She also left with a pair of new pink trainers which will be a Christmas present and dismissed the purple snow boots on the grounds that they were "too purple." Oh help. Like mother like daughter.

The 12 outfits of Christmas - Outfit 1: The Carol Service

This time last year I ran a feature entitled "The 12 days of Christmas" during which, predictably, I showed an outfit a day for the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

 

This year I'm calling the feature "The 12 outfits of Christmas". Why the title should be different when the content will be the same I have absolutely no idea - but there it is.  

 

Outfit 1 is what I wore to the school carol service yesterday.  It is a lovely event - a full on affair, held in the chapel by candlelight with the pupils in traditional blue capes, the choir in their robes and the teachers having a "robe-off" of their own. It was observed that none of the teachers' robes had fur on them which is just as well because I may have adopted one of them as my own.

 

 

 

The nature of the occasion made me think that it would be nice to wear my velvet(ish) Jigsaw wide leg trousers, which I haven't worn for a long time. They are lovely and drapey - and so comfortable too. It's also nice to have a change from skinny trousers/jeans.

 

I know that some people have an aversion to lilac but I like it in small doses.  This jumper is from Cos and underneath it I wore a white long sleeved T and a "collar on a bib" contraption from Cos. As the trousers are long, I needed a heel to go with them, so wore my Jigsaw shoe boots I am carrying a gold snake print purse with a purple trim, which is from Boden.

 

 

           

 

 

I'm pleased to have given the trousers a test run in a place where a) it was dark and b) no-one saw them. Now that I am satisfied that I am OK to be seen out in public in them, I shall wear them again. Outft 2 is already in its planning stage!

 

As for the picture, sorry about that. The 4 year old was the only one available to be David Bailey.

Mum on the Run - Here's a little snake print mid heel court to pep up your wardrobe.

OK, so I know that our weather might not be quite up for a no socks look - and I admit that this is another look involving skinny jeans but I liked this outfit (below, middle) that I saw Miranda Kerr wearing last week. It's simple, stylish and eminently "do-able" (as long as you are indoors, or at least not outside for very long).

 

Miranda Kerr is wearing a polka dot court with her outfit. Initially I thought that they were a red snake print, which got me thinking about snake print shoes, which then led on to me thinking that a mid heeled snake print shoe would be a good addition to my wardrobe. Funny how these things happen isn't it?!

Knowing that I had spied a pair when working at M&S at the end of November, I went to find them in our local store. And oh golly me - there they were! My size, great price (£15 - just in case you hadn't spotted the huge label in them below) not too high in the heel department and very comfortable. Oh yes, they will do nicely thank you very much. As one friend proclaimed - "they could be absorbed as part of the weekly household expenditure" i.e. no need for guilt or confessions!

Unfortuntely, as is quite often the way with the M&S site, I can't find them anywhere online. However for anyone committed to the cause, the style number is T02/0459A and they do carry this style in most larger stores.

Here's a side ways shot of them - just to demonstrate the height of the heel. I plan on wearing them with skinnies, fitted black trousers plus dresses and skirts too. The height of the heel is such that I could wear these at home quite comfortably without feeling either like I was going to topple over or that I was way over dressed. I like the idea of them with jeans and an oversized knit too.

 

I might need to dig out a bit of spray tan for the ankles but thinking about it, it hasn't quite yet been put away for the winter yet anyway (which has more to do with not having got around to it rather than going for a Benidorm look, in Birmingham, in December) so that won't be a problem.

 

As an alternative - because it's always good to bring an alternative - there's also this Elizabeth court (£139) from Hobbs. I slightly prefer them but are they worth nearly 10 times as much? For those wanting to make an investment purchase possibly yes but for now, I am happy with my little £15 numbers from good old M&S.

 

 

Mum on the Run - Finding her Wardrobe saviour just in time for Christmas

 

I don't know about anyone else but in the run up to Christmas I start to think of where we might be going, what we might be doing and who we might be seeing. Inveitably my thoughts then turn to what I might like to wear when we are out and about. By "out and about" I don't mean anything high brow but something along the lines of drinks with friends, visiting relatives, going to a carol service or entertaining at home.

 

In that sense, for me it comes down to adding a few pieces to what I would ordinarily wear, just to lift my outfits a little. I dislike feeling over dressed, so the idea of wearing something party like when at home on Christmas day just doesn't feel right to me - much as I might like it to!

 

With that in mind, if you too are looking for a little wardrobe pick me up, this Warehouse Lurex Tweed Jacket (£46) could be perfect. I saw it when styling a lady last week and went back to investigate further today. Although it's cut like a jacket, it isn't stiff or rigid and feels more like a cardi to wear. The shape is great too - no buttons, no collar, no lapels - no fuss, just a lovely, easy to wear piece.

 

As for it's versatility, it would do a great job of pepping up a LBD that has had many an outing. It would also work really well with jeans of all descriptions - not just skinny ones - and it would work just as well with smoking slippers, brogues or loafers as it would with heels. It would also look great with tailored trousers, cigarette style trousers, peg trousers, wide trousers, a pencil skirt, a pleated skirt....you see where I am going with this?

 

 

 

 

I think most of us could come up with at least three or four pieces in our wardrobe which would benefit from a little kick up the whatsit that this jacket could give them! Go on, have a think and I will too!

Benetton Jeans - With new technology to lengthen the legs, raise the bottom and flatten the tummy. Could they really make 3 of us look like Elle MacPherson?

I used to love Benetton but my relationship with the brand ceased when the Birmingham store closed. Since then it has never really come back onto my radar.

 

Do you remember all those piles of neatly stacked v-neck jumpers in varying shades that we looked at lovingly in the 1980's? They were so lovely and calming to look at. I am sure that there was a Victoria Wood sketch in which she said that  her idea of rebellion was to go into Benetton and mess up the neat piles of jumpers.

 

So when I was contacted and asked whether I would like to try the new Pin Up Lift Jeans (designed to lift your bottom and lengthen your legs) I was hardly going to say no was I? Who could resist an offer which came with such promises?

 

The jeans came with us on the girls' weekend to Wales because I thought that a few of us would be able to test them out. 

 

When I held them up in broad daylight I nearly fainted. They didn't look big enough for our 4 year old to get in - let alone me. Remarkably though I could get them on. They were snug but they went on. Just.

 

Anyway here's my friend, Libby in them. She's 5ft 3" and they looked great on her. In fact we all decided that they were universally flattering. It's something to do with the even colour, the darts, the shape of the yolk and the shape and positioning of the pockets.

 

 

This is another friend wearing the same pair and she too totally rocked them. She is 5ft 6" and a size 8 and is headless and nameless only because she thought that some of her patients might recognise her on here. She's never owned a pair of skinny jeans before but needless to say she now does - and they just happen to be these!

Whilst I could get the jeans on - and could just about do them up on a good day, I wouldn't have been able to wear them for any length of time but that's more because I am probably a size 9 in jeans rather than a size 8. I liked the feel of them though and I thought that they looked amazing on the other two ladies.

There's also another fantastic pair of jeans by Benetton which will particularly suit apple shaped ladies. They are the Pin Up Shape and come with a high waist, slight flare to the leg, side zip and a brilliant spanx type panel over the tummy. Genuis!

 

 

 

 

Benetton also have a slim and regular fit jean, which are great for anyone who is after something in between a skinny and a boot-leg jean. At around the £45 mark, they also have a good price point.

 

Given that the jeans were such a success for us three ladies, I thought that I would put them back on your radar too - after all we are always after the "perfect" jeans aren't we?

 

*The pair of jeans that we tried were gifted to me by Benetton but I in turn gifted them to my headless, nameless friend as they looked so great on her.

A Saturday Superstore outfit comprising Zara, Cos, Hobbs, Boden and Gap

After yesterday's debacle in the Onesie, I thought that today I ought to show you something slightly less, well...I'm not quite sure what the word is. Appropriate?! Incidentally have any of you seen the articles in the Sunday Times about Onesie's today?

 

Yesterday morning I needed layers galore for the weekly trip to gym. If you aren't leaping into foam bricks it really is rather chilly. Hence the combination of the white shirt, the Ashdown jumper from Hobbs (the link is to the cardigan as I can't find the jumper on-line) and the Zara coat.

With the outfit being predominantly grey, black and gold, as per the jumper, jeans and boots, this navy jacket from Zara (£79.99) probably shouldn't have featured at all - but its warmth meant that it did. The jumper is also one of those pieces that takes on the colour of whatever else you are wearing, so it's quite handy in that respect.

 

Although it is a puffer jacket (70% down and 30% feather filling for those interested) the jacket is nicely shaped and not too bulky. When I first spotted it, I also liked the contrast tan piping and the gold detailing.   

 

Given the colours mentioned above, there's probably no way that this leopard print bag from Boden should have featured either but a) it was handy b) it's lovely to use because everything stays in place c) I had an important engagement with Sainsbury's Homebase prior to gym and needed to get out of the door quickly. My trip to Homebase was to purchase silver spray paint for the hydrangeas I had lovingly dried before turning them into a wreath. We'll say no more about that for now!

With the other three members of the family still in bed when the youngest and I returned, it fell to the youngest to take the photos - but I don't think that they are any better or worse than usual.

I can't wait to get my hair cut tomorrow as I currently look like one of the Beatles. The thing is that my hairdresser is so young (his Mum is a year older than me) that when I say that to him, he looks at me blankly. Only recently have I realised that he probably doesn't know who the Beatles were and that he probably thinks I am talking about the insect. Sometimes I think that I just need to learn when to keep quiet.

Outfit: Gap shirt, Hobbs jumper, Zara coat, Cos grey skinny jeans (great as they come in in-between sizes) and Chelsea boots, Boden bag.

Mum on the Run - Urban Chic? I think not - I am probably wearing one of the worst "outfits" known to man!

One should never judge other people's outfits without having tried them oneself - which is how I came to be wearing a (Primark) Onesie and (Mini Boden's version of) Uggs on today's post.

 

Yesterday at the workshop I was running, one of the ladies spoke about how she had seen a woman out wearing a Onesie, accompanied by her children in pyjamas. It wasn't Children in Need or anything like that - it was just her outfit of choice for the day. I have also heard of Brad Pitt ("Inevitable" - what a rubbish advert!) and One Direction wearing them.

Wondering what could possibly make anyone wearing a Onesie look in the mirror and think to themselves "Hey, that's a cracking outfit, I'm going to go out in that today" I thought that I would put it to the test. Even without looking a mirror it's pretty obvious that they are dodgy in the style stakes.

Seriously? You just wouldn't would you? I get the idea of Onesie's at home - they are very comfortable and warm so to that extent I can see why they might be an outfit of choice behind closed doors - in fact I might even put one on my Christmas list now.

This being our daughter's (from last Christmas) it is a bit short in the body. I would have put the cow hood up but doing so could have caused serious injury, so I didn't.

I did wonder whether a different angle might be more flattering but no - I still look like I am wearing a baby-gro.

All I can say is, it's a good job that Onesie's weren't around when Trinny and Susannah were writing their "What not to Wear" book. If so I imagine it would have been a short book with this featuring in the first, middle and last chapter. Well that and a pair of too tight leggings with a cropped top - and no, I won't be wearing that particular combination any time soon. At least I am covered up in this.

To everyone out there: You wouldn't, would you? Or would you?

Mum on the Run - Boden Bits and Bobs!

As many of you will know from yesterday's post, today I was working in the Boden store in the Bullring. I really like being there - for a start it's a shop and I am always happy when I am in the shops! There's also something nice about being surrounded by Boden clothes - and both the customers and the staff are lovely. I spotted lots of very distinctive Boden coats from over the years, many with spots on.

 

Having never seen these in the store before, I felt that it was my duty to give the Fair Isle hat and scarf a whirl. Ooh, they are lovely and so warm, especially now that the cold weather has hit. Whilst the hat is available on-line, the scarf isn't but fortunately the store has it in both the pink and the blue colourways. 

There are a few pieces which have sold out on-line but which are still available in the store, so I thought that I would show them to you - just in case you had been after them.

The Chelsea Bag is available in all colours. The navy and the orange (which is more like a lipstick red) and which is shown below, are sold out online.  There is a three week wait online for the dark coal colour.

For anyone after the Fairisle jumper  the store has it in all colours and in most sizes.  This is the navy one...

...and here it is in washed red.

Also, the Velvet slippers are still available in most sizes, although not a size 5. These slippers are completely sold out online.

Whilst in store I tweeted a picture of this Claudia dress which is really lovely and the reviews of it are great too. It's just above the knee, more gunmetal grey in real life than mink, which is what it looks like here and it also comes in navy. There are plenty of these online but I just thought that it might be worth taking a look at for anyone who is after a Christmas party dress and who has previously over looked it.

Unfortunately the Boden store can't send items out but if there is anything that anyone wants, I am happy to help. One of my favourite things in life is sourcing things for people that they desperately want (either for themselves or others) but that they can't get hold of. So, provided that I won't be assisting in making anyone bankrupt, or causing any civil unrest, I will do what I can to help.

Mum on the Run - Running a Style Workshop with the help of M&S, Zara, Hobbs, Boden, Warehouse, Cos and others.....

Tonight I am preparing for a Style Workshop that I am running on Friday. It's for a group of ladies who will then be heading off to the Clothes Show. I will be covering all aspects of styling, both practical and theoretical, and I can't wait. Boy George is even going to feature in there somewhere!

 

These are some of the pieces that I will be taking along to illustrate the topics I will be covering, whether it's the shape of the pieces, the trends, colours, outfit building, brands or a particular styling job that they do well.

I will also be taking along shoes and bags - these are just a flavour but further additions will be made tomorrow when I head to other brands which I haven't yet included.

I am also really looking forward to being in the Boden store again tomorrow. I will be there from 10am giving style advice and putting outfits together for different occasions. There will also be a 15% discount, present wrapping and free gifts - so do pop along if you are able to. It would be great to see you!

Mum on the Run - Brunch in a blazer (plus a little more besides you will be relieved to hear!)

On Sunday morning we were invited to an impromptu brunch at a friend's house. Cheekily I had requested the help of her hubby to sort out a technical issue I had with some photos I was sending through to a magazine and it went from there really. I have to say it was a top brunch - bacon, pancakes and maple syrup. Yum!

 

 

My friend grew up in deepest darkest Devon where shooting, hunting and fishing were a way of life, rather than a hobby, so I thought that she would appreciate this Thorpe jacket from Hobbs. Her response didn't disappoint. I seem to recall a few jokes about me leaving my horse behind!

I really like the whole Heritage trend and it is a nice way of wearing a blazer which isn't too corporate. There are some great ones out there this season from Marks and Spencer, to New Look and Zara. Although, for me, one piece at a time is enough.

 

Afterwards we were showing our faces at a Christmas party at my husband's work. It was really for the children and involved a Santa's grotto, face painting, craft - you get the idea. I knew that it would involve a bit of sitting on the floor and there's always the risk of sitting in a squashed mince pie, or getting face paint wiped on me, so I wanted to wear trousers that would be easy to wash but which weren't jeans.

Poor Santa got more than he bargained for when he asked her youngest what she would like for Christmas. She looked at him indignantly and asked "Haven't you read my letter?" Well that told him.

The jacket has a blue fleck running through it, which I picked up in the Gap cords, Mango scarf and Orla Kiely bag. My NW3 Hobbs shoes were lurking in the hall as another friend had borrowed and I just fancied putting some burgundy into the mix - so I did!

Silver, glittery, high heeled shoes (without a ridiculous price tag) - what more could a girl want?

As an antidote to the slightly more masculine shoes that I showed you yesterday (which I know some of you won't have liked) today I am bringing you something altogether more sparkly and feminine.

These fantastic high heeled glitter shoes from new brand The Shoe Bar come in size 4 to 8, in silver and in black, and cost £75.99.

A style like this is great for pepping up a little black dress which has seen many an outing. They also look great teamed with simple pair of fitted black trousers and a black knit, with jeans and a blazer, with a pencil skirt or a pleated skirt - with so many things really!

 

It is often the accesories that make an outfit. It's quite easy to swap one LBD for another (ask your husband whether he can differentiate between the different LBDs in your wardrobe) but these shoes would breathe a new lease of life into so many outfits over the festive period that they would earn their keep in the blink of an eye.

 

 

The Shoe Bar is a new brand, established to fill a gap in the market for women aged 30 plus who seek shoes which are sophisticated, well designed and elegant. From ballet flats to knee high boots and court shoes to ankle boots they offer lots of lovely styles so do take a look, they may have just what you have been looking for.

Mum on the Run - I'm dreaming of .......a pair of Church's shoes!

During our day out in Leeds yesterday, my friend and I dropped into Church's shoe shop. Leeds is definitely worth visiting for a day out - especially, it would appear, if you are on a hen do! The shops are lovely - housed in old arcades, shopping there is a real pleasure and a lovely experience.

Initially we went into Church's to see whether there were any work shoes in the sale for my husband. He only take a size 6.5 so it is really difficult to find any shoes to fit him. Anyway, it took me about 20 seconds to establish that there weren't any before my attention turned to the women's shoes.

To say that the shoes in Church's are beautiful is an understatement. There's very little that would make me contemplate thinking about parting with £350 for a pair of shoes (assuming that I had it in the first place) and I have to say that if I did, it wouldn't be on a pair of Jimmy Choos, or Louboutins or Manalos. They just don't do it for me.

For a pair of the Church's studded brogue (£350) however - then yes, I would. I think it could be argued that a pair of their classic brogues would be a better investment, given that the studded ones would date sooner - but it's all academic anyway so it doesn't really matter.

With the ever increasing need to wear flats, a pair of these would definitely make me a "happy flatter." The quality is incredible and I suspect that, unlike a designer pair of shoes which haven't really earned their high price tag in terms of quality and craftmanship, these certainly have. Apparently it takes eight weeks to make a pair. There are also some great loafer styles and from memory a couple of other styles for women which I can't seem to spot on-line.

Unfortunately, I suspect that these shoes would outlast me - which isn't a pleasant thought but I suppose that it would make them a better potential investment!

Although I was aware that Church's was a traditional brand of English shoes, the history behind them is really interesting. Should you feel inclined to do so, you can find out all about them here

The other style that I liked was this Slipper (£110), which, even though it is designed to be a slipper, is probably more hard wearing than lots of slipper shoes which are available at the moment. These are in the men's section but they do start fairly small.

There's something really attractive about a traditional brand which has earned its reputation over hundreds of years. Yes, the price tag may be high but I know from the couple of pairs of work shoes that my husband owns, which were bought pre-children (so more than 14 years ago now) they are fantastic quality. Unlike lots of designer shoes I have read about, I don't think there would be any suggestion of the soles of these falling off after a day's wear.

Actually, I've just had a thought. My husband is only half a size bigger than me. I'm off to find a pair of thick socks....