Working Those Shoes

Last week I was standing bleary-eyed next to the kettle at work, desperately wishing it would boil faster so I could get my morning caffeine hit. In walked the boss.

 "Morning, Alex" said he.

"Morning. Tea?" said I.

"Yes please. Wow, you have distinctly mediocre shoes on today."

Sorry, what?!

He may have added "by your usual standards" but I was too busy gawping in shock to pay much heed. Sorry, what?!
 I had Converse on. TWEED CONVERSE. Admittedly not as frivolous as my usual footwear but tweed shoes can never be a bad thing.

They're lovely!!

Perhaps he was swayed by the rest of my outfit? (fat jeans and a plain grey jumper aren't the most glamorous combination but at least I matched) Perhaps he's been practising opening gambits for conversations and it all went horribly wrong? He's usually rather sweet so I do hope he didn't mean it as an insult.

It got me thinking about how much my clothes provide a talking point for the gang at work. I don't think I'm the most outrageous dresser in the world but I do seem to have developed a reputation for prints and shoes. Irregular Choice heels always go down well, particularly with the girls. One of the blokes came out with the immortal but baffling line "oh you've got your prostitute shoes on today" when I was wearing my Rosepea pair.

Personally I can't think of anything less suited to a lady of the night than red suede but hey ho, maybe he knows something I don't!


I'm in the fun position of being able to wear pretty much whatever I want at work. My role is limited by practicality on some days - I can cope in heels when I'm doing normal amounts of walking but definitely not when I'm spending the entire day dashing round. Sensible flats, jeans and a work fleece are often the practical solution. Not exactly worth blogging about but then that's why I don't do daily outfit posts. It generally has a lot more wardrobe flexibility than most of the other jobs on site though. Dresses and lavishly decorated shoes would not be a sensible option for some of my colleagues. I reckon they like to live vicariously through my wardrobe to a certain extent and it doesn't bother me at all to be known as the work shoe queen.

 Hit me with the best comment you've been given at work. I can't be the only one who is the recipient of some absolute corkers. Are the people you work with as interested by your wardrobe as my colleagues are?

Christmas Wish List

Ach, the age old dilemma of want vs need.

What do I need for Christmas?

Well, nothing really, if we're being strict on the definition of need. My phone is about 4 years old and dying and my Kindle is nearly as ancient and has developed lots of odd vertical lines on the screen so I sense that's equally close to a painful demise. I need to replace both of them fairly soon but they're not exactly within most people's price range for presents! It'd be nice to have a working car radio too but god, is that a boring present to ask for or what?!

What do I want?

That's equally tricky. I really love surprises so although any of the below things would make me a very happy Alex, I don't want to actually ask anyone for them because I don't want to know what I'm getting. Dilemma!

I'll share them with you lot though - I know lots of us bloggers have similar tastes so perhaps they'll prove to be the perfect gift for someone else you know!


Fellow grammar Nazis will love this series of mugs by the Literary Gift Company:

This one is literally my favourite.


If you go back a post you'll see just how much I love Mary Poppins. You won't be surprised that I really want both of these prints:

L: Chimney Sweep Silhouette by The Happy Thought Shop. R: Mary Poppins linocut by Blackberry Press

They're from different sellers and so they don't match exactly but I think they make a lovely pair anyway.



Having a part-time horse has reintroduced me to the joys of muddy fields and massive farmyard puddles. My Joules wellies are holding up ok so far but I would really like a fleece lined pair to keep my tootsies properly warm over the winter.

I found this brilliant pair of wellies on Amazon of all places and they're now top of my list. Green! Polka dots! Fleece lined! Wide calf! Perfect!


I love my Elizabeth I ring from Cheap Frills and I'm an equally big admirer of Anne Boleyn.

So this necklace needs to be mine, right?



I can't afford much in the way of new clothes at the moment so I've been trying to avoid the shops. Being Twitter pals with some dedicated shopaholics makes that difficult though!

I'm doing my best but I can't stop hankering after this ASOS stained glass print frock. Beautiful!


Books are always welcome. My Amazon wishlist is flipping enormous but these six are hovering near the top.

Top (L-R)Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop by Jenny Colgan, The Secret Rooms by Catherine Bailey and The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.
Bottom (L-R)The Wells Bequest by Polly Shulman (the first in this series was ace), The Exiles Return by Elizabeth de Waal and Terra by Mitch Benn.


Finally, as I wouldn't be me if I weren't lusting after something from Irregular Choice...

I was very sad when the Long Lashes boots proved to be a no-no for me. The matching bag has always been a temptation.

And I've managed to track down not one but two varieties of Flick Flack that I like. I thought it was impossible!

Shiny red

Tweedy red

All The Pretty Shoes

I was going to launch another hideous shoes post upon you, I really was. But during an epic hunt for a birthday present for one of my best friends, I discovered that the sales are actually quite full of beautiful shoes that I want to buy. This never happens!

Because it's me we're talking about, naturally all these nice things appear when I've got no money cos I've spent it all on jaunts to Edinburgh and Dublin and tedious things like passport renewals (how much?!), so I'll just have to admire from afar. Oh well.



It's kinda killing me that these Dolcis ballerinas are so flipping pretty and not available in a size 6. Waaaahhhhhh! I'd totally have found the money for them.



I've turned into such a magpie lately. If it's glittery I want it. Case in point: these Jessica Simpson heels are pink and I still want them.



These Kurt Geiger ones are a little more restrained but I still couldn't really walk in them. I'd just stroke them every now and then. That's not weird.



Hello there sparkly green shoes. Why do you not live with me already?

I am also being vaguely sensible in my admiration though. These ASOS beauts are super classy.

And I really like this two-tone pair, also from ASOS. They get some stick in my hideous shoes and hideous frocks posts but I'll be fair - they also have some lovely, lovely stuff.



It's not long till autumn and my perennial hunt for knee high boots that will fit my massive calves continues. Perhaps this Moda In Pelle pair will do the trick?

The Big Day

My big brother is getting married in October. Too soon to start planning my outfit? I think not!

I already have my heart set on this dress:

50s halterneck polka dot dress by Vivien of Holloway.

As I've been reliably informed that someone my height will have to have a VoH frock shortened, it's best to get it bought in plenty of time, isn't it?

I'm much less certain on the subject of accessories. I think I'm fixed on the plan of making them black - I don't want to be head to toe in green, plus it'd be really hard to match specific shades without either going mad searching the shops or getting things specially dyed. It's the style that I can't decide on.

In the footwear department, do I go for something a bit frivolous like these Melissa Lady Dragon Westwood shoes seeing as it's a wedding?

Or maybe something a bit chunkier but still very cute, like this Shelly's pair?

I really like them both. Argh.


As the constant battle to cover up my awful upper arms rages on, I'm also trying to decide between sticking with the 50s theme and getting a Vivien of Hollway bolero:

Or looking for something else.  I'm inclined to think that a cardi would be too casual and a jacket/blazer wouldn't work in terms of shape, but I'm struggling to visualise it.

Help!

Out With The Old...In With The New

Meet my very favourite pair of red flats. Mysterious creatures that they were. Size 5, yet they were originally owned by my mum (size 4) and then me (size 6) and fitted us both just fine.  I wore them with everything. Jeans and jumpers, girly frocks, skirts and cardis. A good pair of flat shoes is a useful thing to own.

The one problem with this particular pair? They were made from fabric. Quite sturdy fabric, which meant they lasted a decent length of time, but I am not a dainty Audrey Hepburn-esque creature who can waft around barely touching the floor and this means my shoes don't last forever. The toes got scuffed, weird black marks developed on the sides and then holes started to appear where the heels met the soles. It was time for them to go to the great shoe rack in the sky.

It has proved very hard to find a decent replacement for them. Nothing is quite right. Too red, too dark, too shiny, too pointy...

I went for this Blowfish pair in the end.

Nice, sensible flat shoes: ü
Pleasant shade of red: ü
Leather: ü
Bit of interesting detail: ü

I really like the buttons. Usually I'm not a fan of having a brand name/logo emblazoned over things *gives River Island and Dorothy Perkins handbags a stern look* but I think shoes are generally the more acceptable way to do it. It's not like anyone is going to be peering that closely at my toes!

It's A Shoe Zoo Out There

It's on days like this that I realise what a giant moron I am at times. I had utterly forgotten that I even bought these amazing shoes.  Who does that? How is it even possible??* They are actual #wardrobezoo SHOES!

* Answer = Me. Because I am messy and disorganised and can't get anywhere near the shoe wardrobe.

Giraffes and elephants and ostriches. Oh my!  They are so brilliant and super fun - I was clacking around in them all day and thoroughly enjoying myself. If I had any dancing ability whatsoever then I'm sure I would have launched into an impromptu tap routine to fully express my sense of new-shoe-joy.  Ok, so I'm not entirely sure they'll be comfy enough to wear without tights underneath due to the slightly low vamp but I am in mild despair about it ever being warm enough to go bare legged again, so that's fine and dandy.

Only mild despair. After all, I've still got loads of lovely winter coats to wear. When they're this cute, it seems a crying shame to have to stash them at the back of a cupboard for six months. I want to wear them and spin around going "wheeeeeee!" at the loveliness of the Puritan collar.

Like I said, I'm a bit of a moron at times. Perhaps the confectionery nature of my shirt is giving me a sugar rush or something.

Coat - Vero Moda
Dress - New Life
Blouse - ASOS sale
Shoes - Irregular Choice via ebay
Earrings - local shop

Things I Own That Everyone Likes

It's a funny old life being a fashion blogger.  Especially when you work in quite a conservative place where the usual attire consists of jeans, walking boots and fleeces.

If I ever had any sense of shame about trotting into the office in Irregular Choice heels, #wardrobezoo prints or frivolous frocks, it's long since disappeared.  I'm at work 5 days out of 7 and I cannot see the point in dressing like a bore for most of the week.  Don't get me wrong - I'm quite often to be found in jeans and the walking boots and fleece do get donned when necessary, but I can't see the point in leaving all the fun stuff in my wardrobe for the weekends.

My clothing choices do draw comments from my colleagues and they're not always especially nice but I forgive them because they are clearly misguided fools.  Anyone who can call my beloved Irregular Choice Rosepea heels "hooker shoes" is an IDIOT (or the sort of person who frequents classy hookers - who knows?)

Look, not a hint of perspex platform!

Most of them have got much better taste. As you have you lovely lot! I realised the other day when wearing my cat, wine and hand print cardigan that even though it's a bit odd, everyone seems to like it.  And although I wouldn't say I dress to please the masses, I do have a few things like that. Here are some of the things that have drawn nicer comments recently.

The aforementioned cardi.

The amazing cake print blouse.

My red Mary Janes.

CAPE.

The Mary Poppins locket.

My Kookai coat. Probably my best ever purchase. Definitely my best ever car boot sale purchase.


ps - oh ffs. I did NOT mean to press publish instead of save on a half written post last night. Bless you all for not pointing out that it made no sense.