New Boots - and there's 30% off until 31st October

(Livy Love top Baukjen (£59 - gifted) Boots Jones (£112) Jeans Zara previous season)

Quite often if I'm doing a post about a particular item, I try and include at least a couple of alternatives but on this occasion I'm just sticking to these boots, as I really love them.  But you know me - the odd alternative is bound to creep in! 

Jones Nala boots, (£112 in the sale instead of £160) until 31st October

For a few years now I've been after some boots with a bit of detail on them. Of course the Chloe  Susanna's (£850) started it all off several years ago now and you know, if my legs looked like this in them then maybe I could be tempted (well, aside from the price tag that is) but they don't. So we need consider that particular issue no further.

An alternative shot of the Chloe boots...

The other problem that I have with these is that the heel slopes in a little too much and there are just a few too many buckles on them and they are slightly too bling. Lovely on others but I just feel a bit heavy legged and a bit like Adam Ant. "Stand and deliver oh, oh your money or your life....."

For those who like this style but who aren't in the market for an £850 pair of boots, there's the Alabama style from Office which come in at £90 (there's 20% off with the code TREAT.)

Or for similar, there's also the Hush Derby boot (£220)

OK, so having digressed and having gone off at a totally random tangent, I'm coming back to the style I was considering initially - and offering an alternative in the form of the Dune Queenie House of Fraser (£104 instead of £130). Now I tried these too - how handy is it that Jones and Dune are right next door? But for me, the Jones ones just pipped the Dune ones. To be honest it was all about where they finished on my legs (in relation to my veins). I kid you not!

Dune Queenie at House of Fraser (£104)

But coming back to the Jones Nala boots, here are two more shots. I don't think that I've really articulated what it is that I like about them so in a nutshell - firstly, they make me feel taller (that could well be the heel) second the block heel balances out my legs better, third they are a little pointy which feels quite elegant, fourth they make me feel much cooler than I actually am because they have studs and stuff and fifth, they are really soft leather with a soft leather lining. I'm sure that there are many similar ones out there but these just give an idea. 

Ooooh well that was all a bit of a crazy all over the post wasn't it? It must be something to do with Halloween.

(One of) THE shoe shapes of the season - the V throat toe sandal (no, I don't really understand that either!)

Next £38 - they also come in black, red and orange

I'm going to have to ask you to bear with me on this one because these shoes really don't make a very good first impression do they? If you were out on a date with them you'd maybe have a G&T with them before making your excuses and leaving. And as for thinking about having them in your wardrobe? Well in some ways they're not really an obvious choice. But then let's take a minute to think shall we? Because stranger things have happened. I mean people wear furry Birkenstocks after all.

Darcey flats from Office (reduced to £32 from £58)

I tried a pair of these yesterday and in that odd sort of "these are so horrible I quite like them" kind of way, they suddenly became quite appealing. For a start they're a little different to what has been around for the past few seasons (well, other than way back in the 90s) and that's always a good thing because when you've done quite a few summers (like I have) it's good to see something different.

Office grey leather slingbacks (£69)

And they're flat. Which for Mrs Sensible in the corner (i.e. me) that's a really good thing. They also offer a decent amount of foot coverage so for people who don't want too much on display, that too is a good thing. But the sling back makes them slightly more summery. Am I persuading you?!

New Look suedette slingbacks (£18)

A lot of the styles are fairly pricey - but the New Look ones (above) are a good price point and a great choice for those who prefer not to wear leather.  And whilst we're considering the pros of these little babies, let's look at the "V" styling at the front - which makes them really flattering and leg lengthening. Which may go some way towards counteracting their ability to create cankles.

These Autograph leather slingbacks from Marks and Spencer (£49.50) come in black, as well as white, and they also come in half sizes. It's good to see M&S in on the act!

Block heel slingback from Office (£68)

Now maybe a block heel will increase the appeal of these slightly ugly ducklings - which I have to say are growing on me the more that I write this post. I like the idea of these  with a midi skirt - probably my pleated Topshop one that I lived in last year and that I'm wearing now. I'm trying to get myself out of trainers but I'm finding it hard to wean myself off them as they're so comfortable.

Magic bow back slingheels Office (£68)

With straight leg, slightly cropped, jeans these too would be great. I think that for people as pale as I am, a little fake tan on the ankles also assists against these paler grey and cream colours.

Sling back court shoe by Topshop unique (£115)

But where this style of shoe could really come into their own is with a heel. Maybe if there's an event coming up, such as a wedding, the races, or a birthday party and you have an outfit that's been worn before but which just needs a lift, these could inject what's needed to bring the outfit up to date. Plus, they can be worn again with jogger style bottoms and a white shirt, or jeans and a fancy pants top.

Grey suedette v-throat toe pointed slingback New Look (£22.99)

And again, for some that are a great price, look no further than good old New Look.

I'm heading into town in the next few days so I'm going to have a good try on and see what I think. Where do you stand on the v-throat toe sandals? Love them, loathe them or sitting on the fence?

Some lovely pieces from the High Street - sparkles, stripes, spots, sheer, denim and neon brights. Take your pick!

 

After my weekend working with the Touchwood Shopping Centre, I thought that I would bring you some photos of some of my favourite pieces, which I put together in (loose) themes in between presentations. Some of the clothes moved around in the breeze so I had to keep dashing to straighten them before running back to photograph them - so please excuse any wonkiness! I haven't linked to each piece but from left to right, I've listed the brands.

 

The QR code above was amazing. It was able to be scanned and went straight through to the Touchwood Look book. A really innovative piece of PR!

 

Pretty in (shades of ) pink

 

Next, French Connection (x2), Hobbs, Bravissimo, Office, River Island (bag)

 

Soft Citrus Sparkles

River Island, French Connection x3 and French Connection mules.

A type of monochrome

Next, Hobbs, French Connection x2, Bravissimo, French Connection mules

True Blue

French Connection, Hobbs, River Island, French Connection, Bravissimo, River Island (hat and bag) Office (cobalt shoes) Next (striped slippers)

Pale and interesting

GAP, French Connection, Hobbs, Next, River Island

Nineties throwback

All GAP other than jumper (French Connection) shoes and trainers (both Office)

Working Girl

Hobbs, French Connection, Phase Eight (dress and shoes underneath), Hobbs, Next, Office (blue and pink shoes), River Island (bag)

 Tropical prints

River Island, French Connection, River Island x2, Next, Office (pink, blue and green shoes) French Connection (mules)

Chic in White

Hobbs suit, River Island top and bag, Office shoes

I am hoping that there may be one or two pieces there to get you thinking about your spring/summer wardrobe, now that we finally have some sun. Ooh and there's a competition running at the moment, the prize being £250 to spend in Touchwood, which you can enter via their website. Don't let a small thing like distance put you off!

My current lust have - Sophia Webster shoes - and a cheaper alternative from Office

I've been watching Sophia Webster for a while now and I love her shoes more and more. I've never been one to hanker after a pair of Jimmy Choos, or Louboutins, but her shoes I get quite excited about. They have such a distinctive look all of their own and I'd quite like to have a few pairs to display on a shelf. If you haven't taken a look already, I've included a link to the Sophia Webster site just so that you can see what you think.

These Sophia Webster pale lime yellow and navy striped Lola pumps (£230) are a real favourite of mine.  Fortunately, unlike lots of her other designs, they're not so distinctive that there isn't an alternative out there - which means that (at least in my dreams) I can have one "look alike" pair (which are also leather, unlike the SW ones which are canvas) whilst saving for one "real" pair.

So my alternative suggestion are the On Top style from Office (£65) which, as you can see come in blue...

...pink...

...and yellow...

 

I like the idea of these with all sorts of things from the predictable scruffy/boyfriend jeans with a crew neck jumper, to the same jeans with a pretty but simple blouse, to black cigarette trousers and a tux jacket for the evening or maybe with a simple shift in the summer. It's so nice to see something refreshingly bright and zingy coming into the stores after all the dark clothes of winter. I wonder whether Spring might be on its way soon? (Watch it snow now I've said that!)

A masterclass in how to mix your prints.

With the other Mrs Goodrham visiting this weekend, it gave me an opportunity to feature someone else on the blog.  My sister in law, who is Venezuelan (half indigenous, half Trinidadian) had the pleasure of meeting my husband's brother 14 years ago now. What lucky ladies we are!

 

Yazury was wearing a fabulous outfit in which she had mixed the prints on her top half and on her bottom half. On her top half she had a pink leopard print F&F short sleeved blouse, whilst her Next jeans were a tonal damask print. Working in a trench, Office desert boots and a Jigsaw tote, she was the epitome of early autumn chic.

 

Apparently Yazury's outfit stemmed from the fact that when she was out with friends the other day, it was noted that she was wearing black, which wasn't like her. So she made up for it by introducing some colour and mixing her prints. Working from the same colour palette, and ensuring that the scale of the prints works together, is the best way of mixing prints successfully. I love how this outfit is interesting but also subtle.

With her Trinidadian heritage, Yazury has incredibly curly hair. About twice a year, she has a Brazilian Keratin treatment which makes her hair much easier to handle - especially during the damper winter months. It also reduces the time that it takes her to dry, and straighten her hair, from around an hour, to twenty minutes. The intricacies associated with long, curly hair, are clearly something with which I am not familiar - but for those who do have styling difficulties, I thought that this might be worth mentioning.

On the Run - The Topshop pink brogues get their first spring outing

When the sun finally came out in Birmingham yesterday, I decided that there was only one thing to do and that was to cast aside some winter layers.

I'm not one for revealing all to the world at the first sight of the sun - oh no, it has to be very hot for me to do that and I wouldn't inflict myself on anyone without a certain amount of preparation - but I do like to lighten it all up a little when the sun shines.  I do this by swapping my winter coat for a trench, moving away from woollen scarves, wearing less heavy knitwear and changing my boots for something more spring like. Of course tomorrow it may be snowing so those winter items are never too far away!

I have been looking for some pink brogues for a while now - it must be at least a week - and this pair from Topshop fitted the bill.  I am a sucker for patent so they always were going to grab my attention.  It's always a risk ordering on line but I was fairly confident that they would work for me and anyway, the in store returns policy is so good that it wouldn't have mattered if they hadn't.

Whilst I am unlikely to wear these with a dress (wrong shaped legs but I'm not complaining) others will and for me, they are great with skinny jeans and trousers.  I really hate being restricted by the footwear I am wearing and these will enable me to skip about to my heart's content - like a spring lamb.  Oh, OK, maybe that's taking it a bit far but you know what I mean. I fear that my back may also be telling me to take it easy on the heels so flat shoes are perhaps something I should be wearing a little more often but I shall deny ever having made that statement if I am cross examined on it.

Here's a closer pic of the brogues and you can get hold of a pair by clicking here

This was my second attempt at some pink brogues, my first attempt having not worked too well.  They were an example of an online purchase which didn't quite go to plan, only because the colour wasn't the same in reality as online.  They were more of a ballet shoe pink than a baby pink, so had to be returned to Office but again as they could be returned in store it wasn't a problem.  At the sale price of £20, had they worked they would have been a great buy.

When I sent the pic of me in the Topshop brogues to Easy Living Magazine they responded that they thought they were "cute", which I much preferred to the "practical" and "sensible" considerations which prompted my to buy them in the first place!

Speaking of Easy Living Magazine, I really would love to try and win the schoolrunway competition that they are running this month.  So, if you felt able to "Like" my picture by clicking right here I would be very grateful. It may mean that I get a chance to appear in Easy Living Magazine, which is a very exciting prospect and I know that it would make my Mum very proud and give her something to tell the neighbours!