Last year I saw some Seed Heritage espadrilles on Jamie-lees blog Mademois-elle. BIG love. A plainer take on the Chanel espadrilles which flooded the blogsphere.
So I was over the moon when Topshop produced the Koala espadrilles. But first I had to get my head around all the colour combinations they had (unfortunately no ivory and black) and I finally settled on the black.
And when I went to hit the buy button - they had sold out in my size online and at my store. Pffft! Undeterred, I found out the Grumps was going to London and hatched a cunning plan. A plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel*. I did my homework and armed with a list of where there might be some pairs in London, I set my poor London based niece to task on my shoe mission. She was also instructed to pay for them in cash so I could exchange them should something go wrong - see I even had a back out plan in place! Then on the Monday evening when the Grumps was in London, they needed to do the exchange. Cash for Shoes. It was so well planned and thought out, I gave myself a pat on the back.
What I didn't plan for however was the fact that I didn't like the way they looked on my feet. They fitted, they were a perfect untouched pair, really soft suede and leather but they made me look like I was doing P.E. at school - remember the little black plimsolls that you had to change in to for P.E? Bad. Very bad. And if looks could kill, I would have been ten feet under when I fessed up to the Grumps that I didn't like them after he had hauled them back from London for me. :o(
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So I was over the moon when Next launched these two tone leather espadrilles which looked like the perfect dupe for the Seed Heritage espadrilles.
I couldn't order them fast enough. They came and I was so excited! I carefully unwrapped the first shoe and oh the disappointment! They were a dull (greyish) cream leather rather than a light ivory which is what I wanted them to be and they were a bit gappy. However, after I tried them on again, I appreciated the fact that they were leather lined and and the insole appears to have extra cushioning so they're kind to your feet. But the colour was off. I could have lived with the slightly gappy if they had been the right colour but they're not. So back they go.
So near yet so far (for once I don't like grey).
So I think this is telling me something. That I am not destined for any Seed Heritage dupes and that I need to move on.
This shoe mission has been aborted :o(
* From Black Adder
oh wow the colour difference is immense. i don't blame you for sending them back, the ivory is a lot nicer with these shoes. i'm sure you'll find something though! i've been seeing a lot of these around for spring summer.
ReplyDeletesteph / absolutely-fuzzy.com
They're like a very pale grey yet the picture on the website looked cream - arghghgh! And I wanted something light and fresher for spring - I've done enough grey this winter!
DeleteI would have sen them back too! How disappointing.
ReplyDeleteThey're packed, ready to go back!
DeleteOh no, I hate it when things don't meet you expectations, especially if you are like me and envisioned them with everything in your wardrobe! Have you tried the Kurt Geiger Madison? Very similar although bit of a higher price point than the Topshop or Next ones?! They may fulfill your yearning for this style of shoe though Sue x
ReplyDeleteI had a look at the Madison ones and they're nearly there but they have a black trim on the top which I don't want - just call me picky or what. The black band cuts off my foot instead of the paler colour losing itself a little more against the skin. I'm a lost cause aren't I?
DeleteOMG I was just looking at these for a spree v steal post! I so want the Chanel, espadrilles never go out of fashion but I'm loving the Next ones too! Feel we might all be buying these Sue, but as usual, you are first! x
ReplyDeleteNo, I think Jamie-Lee and a few others were there before me with their Seed Heritage espadrilles but yes, I've been after them for some time. Jamie-Lee was kind enough to offer to help me get them over from Australia and part of me says, I should have done it when I had the chance. But my luck with the last few pairs of espadrilles has been dire for they way they fitted and I didn't want to risk it. What's the chance that they would have been perfect!
DeleteLooking at the photo from Next I thought I am getting them!! What a find they look such a good homage to the Chanel but yes I can see your colour disappointment ...... What a shame. Love the story about Grumps getting the Topshop ones and after all that you didn't like them x
ReplyDeleteAh - the Grumps - he's a little Treasure. A grumpy Treasure but a treasure all the same ;o)
DeleteAnd yes the espadrilles were a major disappointment. There's a part of me that says, should I order another pair to see if the colour was a bit off in this pair or should I call it a day? What says you?
Oh no, how disappointing! Have you seen the Topshop Unique white leather eyelet ones, I thought they looked pretty cool, although not the traditional espadrille style? xx
ReplyDeleteThey are very cool indeed - I like them a lot but at the moment, they are not what I'm looking for. They are too close to a plimsoll style for me and I have the Converse to cover that off for now. But never say never ... you have sewn a white leather eyelet seed ....
DeleteOh Sue after all your planning too!!! That would so be me with the London mission, I have been known to phone round virtually every shop in the UK trying to track something down!!! Hopefully a better pair than either of these is waiting for you, good luck with the mission!
ReplyDeleteJane xx
My Midlife Fashion
So I am normal then? I knew I wasn't the other one who gets a little bit obsessive about matters like this - it's like red rag to a bull isn't it saying you can't have something!
DeleteAww I'm sorry to hear that your mission to find some hasn't had much luck. You know they still sell them here in Australia, if they ever go to clearance it might just be worth risking a pair (and I'd happily help you buy them and send them over!) xx
ReplyDeleteI know - I check their site every now and then and the Ava sandals in the cream and black are sold out now in a size UK37. Do they run big? See how I like to torture myself?
DeleteAnd thank you - you are so kind to offer. Fellow shoe fiends unite!
I love the grey/black Next ones - they look super .. what a shame you weren't as happy with them
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those things - you have in your mind what you want and if it's not 95% there - it's no go for me. And the more I think about it, the more wrong they get by the minute!
DeleteI love a good hunt! I'm sure you'll find the right pair eventually. Maybe it's time for me to get back to my idea of exporting espadrilles from here in Spain...
ReplyDeletewww.nomadicd.com
Ooh - I still remember the espadrilles you had on your blog. Can you find some just like the Seed Heritage ones please and I will be your first customer!
DeleteWell, Baldrick, you were doing so well ;) I think that Next could be done under some misdescription act. They look like a beautiful cream and black in the picture? I am sure you will get the right ones, eventually, you are so tenacious. H xx
ReplyDeleteThe colour looks a bit like the white teeshirt which went through a black wash by accident and then got washed again and faded a little to this pale pale grey. Could I be any more descriptive?
DeleteI think I am losing the will and the fight on this mission though - tenacious or not.
How are we having parallel shoe adventures? This is me right now with sandals (but I might have found a pair that might stay--it just needs to go through a road test.)
ReplyDeleteBe interesting to see what you have found and what is your keep criteria. Sometimes, I think if I was 5% less picky, life would be much easier.
DeleteAhhhhh! I was looking forward to the next installment too x
ReplyDeleteAnd the next instalment goes something along the lines of there I was browsing the ASOS website and found out that I'd missed out on the Park Lane versions which were just perfect and they had sold out! The End! Pffft.
DeletePah...I was hoping you had come up with the perfect dupes!! I am soo lusting after them, looked at them in the Chanel shop last year but the price was just absurd for a pair of espadrilles! Pls let me know if you find any good ones xxx
ReplyDeleteI will let you know but as I was just saying to Donna, I've missed out on some on ASOS which I'd never seen on the website before and had sold out! How did that happen???
DeleteThe colour is so different! But I am a huge fan of grey so think these may be perfect for me;)
ReplyDeleteI hope they work for you Rosanna - they're nice shoes - just the colour which is off for me.
DeleteI loved the Chanel ones when they appeared, alas, the price....well, I couldn't really justify it. I bought regular canvas ones instead, from Soludos. Very comfy and great for summer.
ReplyDeleteIt's a big price to pay for the Chanel ones isn't it so I'd be happier with some plain dupes but can I find any which are just perfect? Hmmph.
DeleteAww - if only you weren't such a perfectionist! I expect there will be more tributes that appear - patience my dear - even good old M&S will be doing them soon! xx
ReplyDeleteThis shoes are fantastic!
ReplyDeletewww.agoprime.it
I hate it when this happens! They look great in the picture but not so good on your feet & so you did well to return them! I'm sure something will turn up & their are already a few popping up here & there! xx
ReplyDelete