The Return of the Shoe

I came home this afternoon (empty-handed, save for a bottle of Anbesol to numb my poor gum where an abscess has developed around my very slowly emerging wisdom tooth - ouch) to find the Topshop package containing the shoes waiting for me in my porch.

As expected, they were indeed too big; oh, the heartbreak! It also has to be said, they were bloody uncomfortable. So, they've been packed back up, ready to be returned...

Looking pretty in their box as I sadly prepare them for return...

The dustbag is placed on top of them. Bye bye, shoes...

Finally, the lid goes back on the box...

I'm aleady planning what to spend the money I've just 'made' on. A supply of American Apparel basics, I'm thinking. See, very sensible.

An Unprecedented Passion for Pastels

It's weird how lifelong fashion prejudices can change just like that. Trends don't dictate my wardrobe, though of course they seep into it, but it's odd how, when there's a proliferation of a certain thing that you've always been completely averse to, you can see it with brand new eyes, so to speak.

Case in point, pastels. I'm the least pastel-ly person ever; it's a whole colour palette that's always made me shudder and has never been spotted in my wardrobe. The pastels that are around for this season, though, I'm finding truly delectable. There's a freshness, a vibrancy and just a general ice creamy loveliness about them. The current issue of Fashion156 is dedicated to them, and it's a real treat for the eyes.

Pairing pastels with nude tones works for me, as does teaming them up with pure brights.

Any outfit featuring an ice cream works for me.

It's hard to believe I'm liking candy pink trousers, but I do...

All images taken from the current issue of Fashion156

The Shoe Shakes

Oh God, I literally feel as though I'm going to heave. I involuntarily (seriously!) clicked onto Topshop this morning (it's right there on the tool bar; my cursor just goes there all by itself every day) and they had the shoes. The shoes I've been dreaming of for weeks, since I first saw them posted on Style Bubble. There they were, available to buy. My brain disconnected from my hands and I found myself clicking Add To Bag, putting in my details and bam! I'd bought them. Yes, I'm not supposed to be buying anything right now (I've just bought a new computer; I'm going away for a few days soon; I have to pay for the cat's booster shots this month)... Yes, they're too expensive, really... YES, THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE MY SIZE!! But clickety-click, I bought them anyway, in one size too big (Goddamn you, Topshop, I'm a 38 everywhere else, why am I a 37 in your shoes?!)
Okay, so I'm rationalising this unplanned purchase thus: a) I can actually afford them. I don't like the dive the figures on my bank page have taken, but financially, it is okay; b) I have a wedding to attend in the spring for which they will be perfecto, and of course I would have had to have bought some shoes for the occasion at some point; c)I'm pretty sure the sizing won't be that out - I'll stuff cotton wool in the toes if I have to; and d) they're so pretty!
It has to be said, also, that they are not the only totally killer shoes they have right now - it's a dangerous place to browse onto today, that Topshop shoe section. (The Emma Cooks are amazing).
So, here they are. So beautiful. So giving me the shakes.

I'm so off to barf now.

EDIT: In an act of attempting to appease my concience, I've popped a few bits up for sale on Ebay. If you live in the UK (sorry, can't post abroard), please check them out. Only a couple of bits right now, but more things will appear in dribs and drabs over the next few days.

Oh, You Pretty Things

So, I'm imposing a little bit of shopping abstinance on myself for a while to compensate for the impact a couple of clickety-clicks on Amazon will have on the numbers on my bank statement after I buy my new netbook (and I'll be going on about said netbook for some time yet, I predict). But as clothes buying is not a priority right now (and I'm still waiting for purchases made in the last couple of weeks to arrive in the mail, anyway), my web-browsing became focussed on beautiful things that weren't clothes. These are all definitely things that would make Holly Pop World that much more of a pretty place to live in.

Tea. I cannot get enough of it. If I had a cup this beautiful to drink it out of, I don't think I'd ever be without my favourite beverage in hand. The cake plate and dessert stand are equally lovely.

Tina Tsang Blaue Blume Teacup, £32.25, from hiddenartshop.com

If there's a cooler way to carry around a laptop, I haven't seen it.

ab-irato Computer Bag, £78, from Beyond the Valley

If I have to wear glasses (and believe me, I do), getting to store them in this would make it way more fun to be a specs-wearer. I still say hooray for contacts, though.

Owl Design Glasses Case, £6, from Paperchase

Kris Chau's illustrations and paintings are all so wonderful but it's this one, entitled Sweet Anatomy, that I'm particularly drawn to. I've never seen such beautiful insides before.

Sweet Anatomy by Kris Chau, $55, from krischau.com

As a self-confessed mad cat lady, I would be very happy to have this cushion residing on my daybed, I think.

Milk Thief Cushion by Ashley Thomas, £54.76, from hiddenartshop.com

Neon pink hands on a cream base. Need I say more?

Rose Clock by Mr Kaliski, £73.36, from hiddenartshop.com

A complete waste of time to buy pretty toys for my own beloved cat because the amount of money I've wasted on 'fun' toys for him already is enough. His disinterest in any (non-living) thing except cheap ping-pong balls, food and feet is palpable. But this mouse... so pretty!

Pink Felt Mouse Cat Toy, £6, from Mungo and Maud

Exploring ASOS

I may be about to make my first purchase from ASOS (well, aside from some polka dot flip flops and a cliched skull-print scarf circa 2005). It's rather annoying that the spotting of this blouse took place approximately 0.35 seconds after deciding that I was going to halt all fashion-related purchases for the time being to aid the procurement of a Samsung netbook. I thought to myself, should I really even be here, when I am emphatically NOT buying any new clothes for at least a few weeks? But I reasoned that I've never been taken with anything on ASOS enough to buy it (though the odd thing does take my fancy now and again), so I was safe. I didn't bargain on this pretty peach double-breasted blouse.

It's in my colour of the season and ripe for pairing with a nude palette a la Christopher Kane S/S09, or maybe sleek and shiny black.

I browsed on a bit further to see if I could find anything else covetable; predictably, most of these came from the accessories departments or the designer collections (which I tried to exclude for the most part, because that seemed like cheating).

(L-R, Top - Bottom: Woven Track Pant/ Neon Trim Across the Body Bag/ Body Con Mini Pencil/ Markus Lupfer Corset Shadow Applique T-Shirt/ Bow Front Sandal) - You can click on the image for a bigger version.

Hmm, slightly regretting my further foraging, because as well as the blouse I want the shoes and bag now, too. Oops.

All pics from asos.com

EDIT: Can't decide now whether I like this blouse, or actually think it's gross. Either way, I'm really holding up on the not buying any new clothes - it's been a couple of days now! I'm much more excited about making a visit to Comet this afternoon to futher investigate the purchasing of the netbook! (I'm a computer geek, and I just don't care.)

A Grey Day

Despite the craze for colour (well, it's a craze by my standards) I've been exhibiting here lately, today it's all about the grey (to match the day outside, rather than try to inject some colour in to it).

The view from my back door at lunchtime today.

Okay, well, a lil flash of colour, then, in the form of my favourite colour to combine with grey (and taupe and cafe au lait and cream...). It's coral, of course!

Some DIY Shoulder Action

The detachable shoulder pads in Michelle Lowe-Holder's Spring/Summer 08 collection are a great way of adding interest to a plain vest or tee. So, I've been inspired to at least attempt a DIY version.

To say I don't exactly live in fashion central would be a gross understatement, but my town does have a good haberdashery. I visited today and picked up a pair of shoulder pads and some milky-coffee-coloured fabric. My skills in this department are sorely lacking, but I shall have a go at attempting something to attach to plain grey, cream or maybe coral jersey t-shirts and cardigans. Once I can figure out a way of attaching them, that is.

While I was there, I picked up some coral buttons to sew on to a cream slubby top I haven't worn in a while. I instantly zoomed in on the duck, strawberry, heart, starfish and smiley face-shaped buttons, such is my innate love of The Kitsch, but I opted for regular round buttons, which I'm planning to decorate around the top of the sleeves or neckline with.

The results will be posted in due course, the results of a DIY experiment that I will make look painfully difficult, no doubt.

Colour Lovin'

As previously touched upon, I currently have a raging appetite for all things ice cream-coloured. This Vivienne Westwood purse is, to continue the theme, making my mouth water. I especially love the way it teams brights with neutrals, which is one of my major fashion loves. The bag version is a little too much for me (or is it? I'm having second thoughts on that), but the wallet I could happily imagine residing within my own, more neutrally-toned, bag.

Vivienne Westwood Harlequin Wallet

The Vanessa Bruno Blazer Makes Its Debut...

After arriving in the post and having a trip to the dry cleaners, my Vanessa Bruno blazer got its first outing today to, um, Tesco. It's a great jacket, not showcased to its best advantage by this photo. Today was about dressing for warmth and comfort, and I cropped my face out, because it wasn't really up to being photographed today (is it ever?). So, excuse the crap photo; it was hurriedly taken during the Neighbours advert break (love Neighbours - it's so good lately!)

//Vanessa Bruno blazer/Urban Outfitters Renewal plaid shirt/Topshop beige cardie/old Topshop denim mini/ Tabio charcol grey 120 denier tights/ Penny hearts Kenny white jazz shoes//

Introducing...Mishka!

Browsing in a cool little art gallery yesterday, I came across a selection of Andrea Willamson's work. Williamson makes knitted accessories and interiors pieces at her studio in the Shetland Islands, including scarves, cushions and a very cool knitted clock which she doesn't seem to have on her website but which they had on the wall at the gallery (which I unfortunately don't know the name of, otherwise I would put a link to their website - if they have one - as they had some great stuff). I was quite smitten with a scarf (and also adore the gingerbread men on her website) but it was a small lambswool Russian doll cushion that I had to have as soon as I saw it. There's a bit of a fashion for Russian dolls at the moment, but I've always been keen on them, and I love the colours on this cushion. I have named her Mishka, after the Russian air hostess who dated Lou in Neighbours a while back. Here she is out to lunch yesterday:

She didn't get to share any of the scrumptious desserts, though.

It was a delicious lunch all round. Thanks, Baileys!

Pretty Holly

When you fall in love with a beautiful shoe, and then find out that it is not just fabulous but your namesake, well, it's a sign, isn't it, surely, that they're meant for you. Now, if only I was meant to have a £380 shoe budget.

Georgina Goodman Holly Shoes - £380

Actually, it would have to be more like a £1140 shoe budget, because I couldn't possibly decide between the three colours. My love for brighty coloured accessories has extended, though, into a current passion for all things in ice cream colours, of which I'm sure they'll be plenty around for Spring/Summer. So, while, if pushed, I would probably plump for the green Hollys, a wealth of other beautifully-hued shoes will be around for the picking. And a more affordable pair of shoes that I'm also admiring can be found at ASOS. The awful styling of their clothes normally puts me off even looking at ASOS, but they do their accessories a favour by just picturing them solo, so I don't get distracted from a cool pair of shoes by the cheap-looking styling. I'm actually quite impressed with their shoe collection, and in particular these platforms:

Asos Premium Leather Sporty Platform Sandals - £64

Grey and yellow has always evoked the 80s for me (not particularly sure why), but on these shoes the colour combo seems really fresh, and I am quite besotted with them. The shoe fest is still continuing...

Paraphernalia

Like Ebay, Etsy is a place I can happily lose track of time randomly searching. This Paraphernalia necklace was something I came across after admiring Kirsty Lee's camera necklace on That's Just My Vibe (see Reading List on the right). I'm looking forward to experimenting with it a little bit with different looks.

The Emotional Highs and Lows of Ebay

Along with cups of tea, crumpets and listening to old Roxette hits (crashing on from there), I am currently addicted to Ebay. I love scrolling through the pages of tat and ludicrously high Buy It Now prices, to come across a true bargain or that perfect something something. Today, however, has not been all good on the Ebay front. Two items that I've been watching all week both ended today, and as the days have gone past, with me compulsively checking the state of bidding on My Ebay page, I had come to think of them as mine, you know?

Unfortunately, I fell prey to the Last Second Bidder on the perfect faux fur coat I was the highest bidder on all week. Quite often, I'll envision a piece of clothing in my head and be constantly keeping half an eye out for this imaginary item whilst shopping. It resulted in big success with a pair of flat black studded boots I found in Peacocks (a shop I never go in, but popped into on this one occasion on the off chance I'd find an approximation of the mythical boots - and I did... for £9). And when I came across this faux fur coat on Ebay, it was exactly what I wanted, from the picture at least. With less than a minute to go on bidding, it was so close to being mine... But it wasn't to be, and I have moved on swiftly and brutally to another, very similar, coat. And so the anxious waiting begins again.

But, happily ending on a bright note, I did win a Vanessa Bruno off-white blazer, for the wonderfully bargainious price of £10.

There has been a shift in my thinking when it comes to shopping, with less interest in the high street and more interest in thrifty Ebay buys, and saving up for that something special which I have yet to settle on right now.

Anyways, I'll be modelling the Vanessa Bruno jacket for the blog when it arrives, but for now here's the Ebay snap. Of MY jacket!

Bags

Bags are probably the one accessory where I don't really go in for quirky or playful. That's not to say I don't have any that fall into this category (my favourite being a little black sequin one shaped like a cat's head), but I mostly favour sizable bags that are fairly classic and timeless. Browsing the web, I spotted these ones, by Rachel Vasnik, which definitely fall into that category.

Rachel Vasnik Tabitha bag, $346, available from Refinery 29

Unfortunately, they're a little out of my budget, though I think something like this could definitely be considered an investment piece. Anyway, once I'd got thinking about bags I decided to showcase my own. I don't switch bags all that often, carrying the same one around for probably at least a couple of months, only switching if I'm going out in the evening or something. So, this is the current holder of the random mix of essentials and not-so-essentials that I carry around with me every day.

The Bag
This bag was a present from my parents for my most recent birthday. It was the end of a life-long aversion to navy blue when I fell in love with this bag.

The Contents
And here is what's inside at the moment. I literally emptied my bag and this is what was in here today. The only editing I done was to dispose of the old sweet wrappers lurking at the bottom.

My phone (a Sony Ericsson W800i, I think. I've had it a few years now but I couldn't bear to replace it, I love it so!); my keys, completely lost in amongst the crazy amount of keyrings attached to it; a Topshop purse; yummy lemony flavour sweets my mum brought back from Belgium for me for Christmas; this month's pay slip, which is just one example of something that has been shoved in my bag and forgotten about until it re-emerged today; a compact mirror and a tiger bracelet that were both gifts from my cousin; a little wooden box with an elephant on it that my brother and my future sister-in-law brought back from a holiday in India for me, and which I always carry around with me; a No 7 SPF stick for lips; a hot pink string bag from M&S for groceries; a pair of Primark sunglasses that I don't really understand the inclusion of, seeing as how it hasn't been sunny in forever; my old 2nd Gen iPOD, an 18th birthday present, and my new yellow iPOD nano; an in-car iPOD charger; hair grips; and Palmer's Cocoa Butter hand cream (yummy!). I'm not sure it's entirely surprising I get back ache.

Oui Encore

A while ago, I was enthusing about my love for the Dior Fine Jewellery 'Oui' ring. At around £400, it would require some serious saving up for. I was considering getting a 'oui' necklace made up by Tatty Devine, using their name necklace service, but now I've come across this cool Alex and Chloe necklace.

Don't Say 'Non' silver necklace, £46.00, by Alex & Chloe at kabiri.co.uk

Fun and youthful (and affordably priced), I'm particularly taken by the bright pink version, but unfortunately that's currently out of stock. The silver one pictured above is available, though, and the rest of the collection is also very covetable, I think. Though I favour reasonably classic and simple clothes as the basis of my outfits, I really like quirky and playful jewellery and accessories. The Alex and Chloe collection is right up my style street.

Shoes Part 2!

Up until a few weeks ago, I only owned a couple of pairs of heels, and lived almost exclusively in flats. But no matter how cute a pair of pumps might be, they can never give you the thrill a pair of killer heels can, I don't think. With Christmas approaching, a few weeks ago I decided it was the right time to purchase a pair of shoes purely based on aesthetics, with no practical issues being considered. At 5'2", it's not that I don't need the height (though being petite is something I actually quite like), but I've just always considered myself to be a girl that can't do heels. With Christmas being a time of year that gives rise to occasions that provide an opportunity to bust out some heels without being required to do much walking in them, though, I bought a pair of bright orange platforms (and see this post), which I love. And I got reasonably well used to walking in them, too. But neither aesthetically nor practically are they a shoe I will wear out many places other than restaurants, people's houses, etc... Nowhere that requires me to walk much, basically. They've only fuelled my love for heels, though, and now I have these:

Hideously chipped, week-old nail varnish - Chanel

Not only are they a shoe that has the looks to go with daytime pieces, they are supremely easy and comfy to walk in! I guess it's because of the chunky, square-toed platform; whatever, they don't feel as high as they look. So, okay, I haven't worn them out yet, just around the house, but I can actually totally forget I'm wearing heels. Or almost, anyway. It does take me by surprise when I glance down and catch sight of the towering heel.

My other new shoe purchase is totally different but just as pleasing:

Knowing my tendency to wear shoes in completely inappropriate weathers, these will get totally trashed before too long, but I am really loving them. The bright colour, the cute fabric and the comfort factor. You know, I always used to consider myself a bag girl, despite apparently being fascinated with shoes even when in my pushchair, but right now it's most definitely shoes, of all types, that I can't get enough of.

Above shoes both from Topshop (yeah, I know it's sick how obsessed I am).

Headwear Happy

I think it was the awesome Judy Blame headpiece sported by Mary-Kate Olsen in the September 08 issue of Elle UK that sparked off my love of fun and unusual headwear.


Photo: http://www.olsen-files.com/

Then I spotted Cate Blanchett looking cute in a Ryan Styles for Piers Atkinson pom-pom headband in the January 09 British Vogue.


I photographed the magazine, so excuse dodgy photo quality.

And I had fun on Christmas Eve and New Year's Day wearing an over-sized black sparkly bow-adorned headband from Topshop.



Now I have my eye on these fabulous headbands by Jennifer Ouellette. I especially love the turban-style pieces:

Wide mustard satin turban hairband and dark blue metallic turban hairband, £60 each at Liberty.

These are definitely going on my list of special purchases to make (part of a new shopping ethos of only buying things I really really love - more considered spending).

Miu Miu and Marc by Marc Jacobs also do cute ones, but these are much more simple. And I definitely prefer to make a bit more of a statement with my headwear!

Shoes Part 1

A few days ago, I posted about a fabulous pair of Nicholas Kirkwood shoes in the Browns sale. After debating for a while whether I would cut down on high street purchases and buy them, I realised that they are only available in sizes 36 and 39 - the former too small, the latter too big. Oh no! (I consoled myself by hitting the Topshop website -whoopsie! I guess the answer to whether I can 'do' buying less high street is a resounding NO - more on my Topshop purchases later). So, anyway, yesterday I came across these F-Troupe booties at the Amelie Boutique. Reduced from £110 to £55 and available in every size from a 4 to a 7!



Photo: amelieboutique.com

However, I have bought far too much lately as it is, and so somehow I have found it within myself to resist them. It's not easy! But, selflessly, I pass this find on to anyone who may read this and adore them as much as I do!

Nice Things

When it's cold outside, little is more cheering than tea (in a nice cup, definitely), cake and a prettily-presented book about Chanel, perfume and macaroons.

P.S: Talking of nice things, thank you to anyone who has been looking at my blog, and especially to those who have left sweet comments.

High Street v High End

Photo: brownsfashion.com

Though I am not one for New Year's resolutions, if there is one thing I would make up my mind to do in 2009, it's to buy less but better. I checked my bank statement for the period since 10th December and the amount I have spent on the high street in less than a month would easily buy me a dream pair of Nicholas Kirkwood shoes (pictured above) - currently in the Browns sale at a price I baulked at until I realised I'd spent about the same amount in Topshop in the last three weeks. (Of course, I could just stop spending so much money full-stop, but I really don't think that's something I'm capable of.) Anyway, as fond as I am of my Topshop purchases (and, boy, do I heart Topshop), I'm sure the fashion-tingle I would get from these purple/blue beauties would be incomparable. So, can I do it, can I actually go for quality over quantity? Hmm...