ASOS Dialog Plimsolls
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Let's get back to my first love. Shoes. And the shoes I have been living in until very recently have been my felted grey Next skater pumps. These have been my 2014 autumn update to last years cheetah pony hair versions which I lived in prior to their usurper. Maybe you spotted me wearing them here? So why is there a picture of me in a pair of Asos ones instead? Read on ....
At the beginning of September, I finally decided to give in to the felted grey skate pumps I'd seen at Next. I've decided to pass on the white trainers this season and just settle for something tried and tested but just in a different fabric and different colour way. I like grey, I like wool, so grey felted wool skater pumps it was then. They came, I thought they were great and super comfy (no breaking in required) but I did wish the colour was a little darker. In their favour, they also didn't make my feet too boat like and they had fleecy insoles - how considerate for the colder months ahead!
And then I noticed that the material was coming away a little from the rubber trim at the sides where the foot bends - not an uncommon problem with plimsolls and pumps like this - it's a main stress point. So I rang up Next and mentioned it and they said, just return to us and we will refund you. Well you can't say fairer than that and I was probably going to buy another pair and hope that they faired better as yes I really did like them but then I spotted the ASOS Dialog version in a slightly darker grey. So I bought those instead. Do I like them as much? I don't know. You know how they say the grass is always greener on the other side?
Plus Points for the ASOS version include they are a better colour but they also fit slightly bigger. As a result, I've popped in my own fleecy insoles because I like to treat my feet. And I liked the idea of a fleecy insole for the cooler temperatures anyway. But I feel a little clumsier in these.
Plus Points for Next include - they are a better fit, slightly less boat like and they come pre-fleecy-lined which did bring a smile to my face when I first saw them. And now that I have the darker version, I'm wondering if I prefer the lighter version.
There's no pleasing some is there?
So I've made my bed and I will lie in it. Or rather I have chosen my shoes and I will now get on with wearing them. Oky doky.
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Last Note :
- These felted skater are my favourite current shoes - I've worn these constantly (first the Next ones and now the ASOS) since I've got them. They're just neutral, they slip on and they are ace for the school run. Pants in the rain though.
- These are some of my favourites out there currently ...
Black Silk Shirts
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Taking my cue from the Aldi adverts ....
- Uniqlo silk shirt available here. And on special offer at the moment for £29.90 instead of £39.90 (02.10.14).
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Last Note :
- Does anyone recognise who's closet I'm in?
Can You Pinch More Than an Inch?
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
I can! Special K - you have a lot to answer for - that has been ingrained in my consciousness since I don't know when.
And so I find myself liking my shirts and blouses more than I like t-shirts these days. I've only recently made this discovery but then again, it wasn't something that I was losing sleep over. I found my hand would hover over and skim past the tees hanging in my wardrobe and automatically reach for a favourite blouse or shirt.
Why? They are just more flattering on me. They are my new best friend. I like that they give you a little coverage and hide the bingo wings. I like the looseness of a woven fabric which helps skim the chubby bits whereas jersey tees like to point those bits out. And I also like that you can undo a few buttons at the neck and show a little skin. Covered up but not totally - that's what it's about. And I have a preference for blue shirts. Because they work well against my skin tone. And they feel a little less formal.
H&M shirt, Bag from Hong Kong, Topshop Koala espadrilles, MIH Tomboy jeans
A Birthday Bag Present from the Grumps
The black leather bag is about 5 years old and one I picked up from Hong Kong for a birthday present when I was last there. Not bought from a shop or anything but from one of the street stalls that was around when I used to go for an evening stroll in to the village. And just because it's a stall, doesn't make them peanuts, believe it or not. But I did like this bag - I think I visited it 4 times before I handed over the Grump's Hong Kong dollars. The lovely thing about it, is I can wear it as a shoulder bag and it also comes with an extra strap in the same webbing detail so I can wear it across the body (last seen here).
It was that little strip of burgundy which nabbed my heart!
Anyway, my blue shirt is an H&M number. A little bit oversized but not so much as to overwhelm. It's a light thin cotton and came with some horrible sleeve tabs which I unpicked as I'm not fond of these. My other blue shirts include my Gap Oxford one and my Zara light denim one. Both still going strong, but very useful and getting a lot of love at the moment in the daily wear stakes.
Gap Oxford Shirt Zara Denim Shirt
Anyway, like I was saying, I removed the sleeve tabs on my shirt and if you're not keen on them either and you want to remove them, can I recommend you get a thread picker if you haven't already got one. This is an indispensable little tool (you can get them on Amazon) and is fab for fraying hems on denim and their intended purpose of unpicking thread. It's just that bit more precise than when you get a pair of scissors out and go a bit gung ho with them and then realise you've put a big nick in your fabric. Doh!
In this instance, I also started unpicking from the inside as you're less likely to catch the sleeve fabric. However, you will be left with something like this ....
... lots of small holes in the fabric at which point you go "nooooo - what have I done!!!" but what you do then is get an iron, dampen the area and steam and press it and it should look more like this. Which is a bit less scary.
A once through in the washing machine and the marks should practically disappear. The washing and drying action should knit the fibres back together again and then you're good to go!
See ya!
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Last Note :
- Be careful which fabrics you choose to undertake this task on. Silks and finer fabrics are a little less forgiving and the holes might remain.
A Very Short Wishlist
Saturday, 27 September 2014
1. Bella Freud Aura Dog Sweatshirt
Woof woof. I have a navy APC sweatshirt with a logo on the front. I have a black Ganni sweatshirt with a logo on the front. And if I get this one, I will have a really cool grey Bella Freud sweatshirt with a logo on the front. Navy, black and grey. Tick, tick, tick.
2. John Lewis KIN Allerton Bag
Mwah mwah! I walked through John Lewis and stopped at this bag. What a gorgeous navy and black combination. I played and pranced in front of a mirror with it for a very long time as I didn't want to put it down. I luuurrrvvve it. It's soft and it's squishy and it's roomy. Hey Santa Grumps - can you note this as being down on my wish list? Thank you!
3. Hobbs NW3 Lucian Duffle Coat
Lush, lush. I saw this last year and I actually tried this one on in store and loved it but it was full price at the time so I sadly put it back on the rail. It is beautifully made which appeals to me enormously and so smart for a duffle coat. The leather trims are well finished instead of being a little rough around the edges which I see on so many coats (go online and look at the closeups) and again it's another navy and black combo which gets me every time. I may look a little Paddington but I will look like a very chic Paddington, so there!
I told you it was a short and sweet list :o)
Damson
Thursday, 25 September 2014
I've harped on a few times about damson coloured Porselli ballet pumps in the past and if the truth be told, I can't bring myself to pay full price for them ... yet. There are too many other fun things to be had for that amount of money! And I've always wondered how much wear I would get out of them anyway given the amount of shoes I actually have and then I would be worried about if I was actually getting value for money.
Well fear not. I can work that out for myself with these little damson coloured pumps I picked up from Dotty P's.
They are the most perfect shade of damson - almost identical to the Porselli's in colour. They call them oxblood (bleurgh!) online but I think damson sounds better - agreed? And no they're not leather and they're not like for like - mine have gold tips on the bows and the Porsellis do not but at least I won't be all huffy and puffy if the boys stand on my toes or I'm out in the rain in them and they get sodden. And if I get my wear out of them, then that makes a strong case for investing in the original and hopefully the best. Part of me says though, by the time I've worn these out, I will have exorcised that Porselli demon right out of my system anyway.
Time will tell :o)
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Last Note :
- These were on offer in store with a 30% off which brings them to a grand total of £8.40. They don't look bad for £8.40 don't they?
- They have a cushioned insole and are a wide fitting. They come up a fraction big on me so not good for anyone with narrow feet.
- These actually look less plasticky than some real leather ones I ordered and sent back earlier in the year.
- For those who don't like excessive toe cleavage, they have these black ones (selling out fast online) with a higher vamp.
- I only venture in Dorothy Perkins once in a blue moon so it must have been a blue moon when I went in.
- That was a lot of last notes wasn't it?
- One more last note - Dorothy Perkins are running a 30% off promotion online and in store till Sunday.
Jigsaw Pom Pom
Sunday, 21 September 2014
I first clapped eyes on one of these early on in May when I saw a few Instagram and Facebook pics of them from the Jigsaw press day and my gut reaction was "I WANT ONE!". There's no explanation - these things just get me.
And just recently, they've started cropping up again in my Instagram and Facebook feeds so I started stalking the Jigsaw website to see when they were coming online. Guess what - they've arrived!
I spotted them last week and the lovely inky blue one was only available in a few London stores. Pah! I even tried to to convince the Grumps to swing past one whilst in London but unfortunately he was on the wrong side of town. Pah! x 2
Anyway, the inky blue one finally became available online (stalk and ye shall find!) and free postage & packaging appeared too so guess what's turned up in the post? My pom pom keyring!
It's so cute!
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