The Kooples Revisited. And a Dog.

I had some Christmas shopping to do and a couple of returns. The perfect excuse to head in to Leeds. The black wedge trainers went back but I kept the grey Aldo ones and I have to confess - they were very comfortable. I wore them for 7 hours solid, pounding the pavements of Leeds whilst doing some Christmas shopping, followed by a supermarket shop and not a murmur of protest from the feet.

These wedge trainers were made for shopping!

And that's just what they will do!

These wedge trainers were made for shopping!

And they'll help you shop like you never knew!

And a massive bag to put all the shopping in!

Marks & Spencers Altered Coat (old)

Zara Camo Leopard Scarf (not online but in store)

Black Butter Soft Bag (Hong Kong)

Like everyone has noticed, it really is starting to feel a lot like Christmas.  Speaking of which, have I mentioned that little George has decided he would like a dog for Christmas? Probably not. I asked him what he would like for Christmas and you expect an answer along the lines of "toys", "cars", "trains", but I got "dog". "Big dog". "Big white dog". The Grumps is delighted of course as he is a dog man. I however am cat woman (not the pvc clad one). Grumps would happily grant George his Christmas wish except for the fact that yours truly has said "NO" in capitals. "NO" on the grounds of I will be the one walking it and picking up its poo. Thanks but no thanks. But I don't really want a sad George face on Christmas day and I am good at improvising, so we have a barking toy dog for George courtesy of Marks & Spencer. Be it a brown one rather than a white one.

Cute but deadly for the nerves.

The dog barks ... a lot. I found that out as we barked our way round Leeds and in to the Kooples. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, along with the returns and the Christmas shopping, I had something I needed to check out in the Kooples. Something a bit like these boots. Actually, let me rephrase that. These very very deliciously yumtastic boots. 

Kooples Low Cut Boots with Buckles

I opened the door and the shop assistant looked up straight away and smiled at me and said "hello". Not "Bonjour". Just "hello" in a non French accent. Why would I imagine she would be speaking French just because I'm going in a French clothes shop? I stroked the boots, felt the lovely soft suede (we are talking seriously nice velvety soft suede here, not the cheap and cheerful variety) and checked over the clean lines of the leather straps. I asked the shop assistant if they had my size. There was a part of me that was wanting her to say "no" but she said "yes". And then the silly toy dog started barking again which makes for a good conversation starter but also means I am already regretting buying the darned thing. The shop assistant was lovely and friendly. We had a little chat and I said the boots were going on a Christmas wish list. I tried one on and had a nosey in the mirror and was very satisfied with the view but I knew I wouldn't be buying today so handed her it back. Then promptly asked her if I could try both on to make really sure they really were that nice. And they were. Le grand sigh. 

Just to wind myself up over how nice they were, I took a picture. The boots remind me a little of the Chloe Susanna boot but minus the studs. I love the Susanna boot but I would find them too much for me so it's good I can't afford them. But these .... not too much at all. These are the "gently does it" version which befits an older rock chick. A bit Chrissie (Hynde).

Dear Santa ....

And so it was that I came home with a Kooples bag.

Open the bag!

Katie (the shop assistant) was lovely - I have to say she was everything you would expect a shop assistant to be and very helpful and patient with me. I checked with her about stock availability and how good they were at replenishing stock as they are currently sold out online. We talked about the changing rooms and agreed how disconcerting it could be if there were a shop full of people and you had to come out to check yourself over infront of everyone. And we talked about blogs which she loves reading and she asked me the name of mine which I very sheepishly told her along with gibbering on about it's not really about fashion fashion but just about clothes and wild ramblings of a SAHM. And then she sent me on my way with a lookbook and catalogue to put in my Kooples bag!

A little bit of bedtime reading.

This is really good for improving your French.

Katie, you have done the Kooples proud in my eyes today and redeemed the brand in my eye. You were helpful and lovely and much more personable than the assistants I have previously encountered - all I could ask for in a shopping assistant! 

Once again, I have to say I love the clothes, the styling, the marketing, the branding ... but and it's a big BUT. I still don't like the changing rooms.