Shoe Lurve - Bronx wedge gladiator, £68.50

Boots, they look good on most people and really go well with summer denim. One problem though, they are essentially cold weather wear. No matter what we tell ourselves, the denim shorts/summer dress and boots combo borders a little too closely on WAG territory. What to do then? Step forward, the summer boot.

Here's a prime example of what I mean. Schuh have decided to call them gladiator sandals but we know better, don't we? This is not a gladiator sandal. This is not a sandal at all. This is clearly a boot; one made to be worn in the summertime.

Note the cutout detail and the peep toe, note the way the back rises to embrace the back of the foot and ankle (muck like an ankle boot would) and it has laces. Come on!

They would look damned good with some jazzy socks (especially if your like me and think that your bare feet are not fit for public viewing) and rolled up jeans. I am also totally smitten by that covered wedge. The perfect boot for summer.

Nummy scrummy come to mummy

Happy mother's day to all you hot funky mamas out there. Especially all the newbie sprogging machines. Honestly, I am drowning in photos of cute little bundles of joy from every angle at the moment. It's lovely... like spring lambing season... er... I guess.

Anyway, as it seems increasingly likely that I shall die a childless old crone (my mother is of course delighted at this turn of events), I shall have to console myself with these babies instead.

They look ridiculously precarious and should probably come with a health warning but they're also an irresistible vision of yummy pewter and faux snake loveliness.Available from April at Faith, just in time for pay day. Being a shoe mom is just sooo rewarding.

That's so fetch!

Mama needs new shoes! Okay, maybe not, considering I have a whole tree of them growing in my room. So I don't need new shoes but it's hard to resist the Farfetch sale when that I can get gorgeous and hard to find designer shoes for 30% or more off.

Here are just some of the beauties I've got my eye on (click on image to enlarge):

Jan's the man

Given my natural predilection for extraordinary shoes, I'm surprised that it's taken this long for the name Jan Jansen to register with me. This is even though I'd come across a few if his designs in one of my favourite shoe books Linda O'Keefe. I don't know how I've managed to last this long without once googling his name or encountering his work in some other way. All I know is, if ever there were a crazy shoe-maker that I would most like to meet it would be this guy.

His shoe designs are beautiful, surreal, ugly, mesmerising works of art. Seeing all his designs together finally helps me understand how Irregular Choice or Dries van Noten or Antonio Berardi shoes exist. Jansen, for me, is the missing creative link.

Jansen has been making his distinctive shoes under his own name since 1964. He is also based in Amsterdam - information that prompted much kicking of myself as I had just been there recently and would've had to seek out his workshop for the appropriate hero worship. I do however have the next best thing within my grasp because I have just found out that there is a shop in Muswell Hill that sells his shoes. Yippee! At a price point of between £120 - £400 depending on style, they aren't cheap but I would gladly pay the £210 asking price for these winged platform shoes or £315 for the hairy boots: Here are some others that I would mind laying my hands on either:
To find out more about Jan Jansen and feast your eyes on a selection of his shoes over the decades go to JanJansenShoes.com

To find out more about the shop in Muswell Hill go to JanJansenLondon.co.uk

Nothing but the Irregular

I know I have had occasion to rag on Irregular Choice for being a little, shall we say, over-imaginative with their style. But, let's face it, their shoes are never dull or boring. This exhuberance appeals more than it repels.

So imagine my unbridled joy when I found out that they now have an online store. That means pile upon pile of pictures of shoes like this, all available to buy:Aren't those multi-pastel coloured booties in the middle just the most adorable things you've ever clapped eyes on. Like fairy cakes. For your feet. Mmmm!

And, as if the very heavens conspire to make my joy complete, they've recently opened a physical store on Carnaby Street (off Oxford Street in London). What's that high pitched sound you hear? Why, it's my gleeful girlie squeals of sheer delight. "Wee!"

*Note to add: Here's a link to the UK store.

Shoe Lurve animated logo

You may have noticed the new animated logo for Shoe Lurve in the side bar. It's all my own work. I've never made one before and was slightly over-ambitous (40 layers, for anyone who's interested) but it came out okay and I really like it.

If you click on it, it takes you to all the posts on shoes that I have ever written - which is a lot. Try it.

I might do some more on different topics on the blog, because there are almost 500 posts on this blog and I'm worried you're not finding them all. Besides, we need a face-lift up in here.

Mainly I just posted to gloat. "Look Ma! I made an animation!!"

While we're on the topic of posts, there's a small contigent of loyal readers who have been reading this blog since it began and continue to come back. Whoever you are, you rock! Make yourself known. Leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Marc Jacobs shoe lurve and haaate

This Marc by Marc Jacobs boot is called Shepherds Bush. I'm pretty sure he got the "bush" part right but possibly the material came from the Sheep's, um, bush. Personally, I'd just like to be assured that no Yeti's were skinned in the production of this footwear.
Marc, there is no other way of putting this: these boots are crap and will possibly smell like dead dog if worn in the rain... and for that reason? I'm out.

On the other hand... (Or should that be foot?) these simple patent peeptoes in bright blue with cute red heel, are definitely on my fantasy shopping list. I know that at least Winona would approve. That red heel might just stop her from doing the full smurf.

Shoe images via: Kurt Geiger

Shoe Lurve- Thomas Burberry for SoleTrader quilted biker boots, £90

Good golly! When I first saw these boots on Stylefinder, I had to do a double-take. "£90," I thought, "shurely shome mishtake?" But upon further digging, it turns out there is no mistake at all.

These lovely, quilted babies - the result of a collaboration between SoleTrader and the Burberry - are indeed only £90. But forget that, because they are - and this is most important thing, afterall - straight up foine.

I'm finding it hard not to think of all the wonderful, things that I could do with these gorgeous boots:

• Wear with leather/shiny/PVC leggings? Oh, yes!
• Wear with pretty, lacy goth babydoll and black tights? Don't mind if I do.
• Wear with skinny jeans and slouchy tee? And why not?
• Wear with a pin-striped suit? You know I would!

They roll into Soletrader in September. Can't wait. Till then I'll be stalking SoleTrader's website like it's Angelina Jolie and I'm a random, shiftless, horny dude with a thing for big lipped brunettes and multiple psychological problems.

Shoe Lurve - Irregular Choice t-bar sandals, £64.99 at Schuh

If you are in any way interested in the whole pin up look then these shoes must've caught your attention. They have just the right amount of apple-pie cuteness to make any pin up outfit look even more perfectly quirky.

The shiny pillar-box red is offset beautifully by the blue candy stripe and I love that delicate, manageable, demi-wedge of a heel.

Wear with big hair and a tiny dress or a naval-inspired outfit; or clash 'em up with some contrasting prints and patterns.

So pretty, I could eat them with some ice-cream.

Shoe Lurve - Kurt Geiger Scania lace-ups, £180

How do I lurve these gorgeous lace-ups? Let me count the ways:

1. I lurve them for their beautiful curves, that rounded platform and that cheeky, slightly pointed, slightly snubbed toe.
2. For their two-toned, shiny patent, navy blue and white loveliness, made even lovelier by the spiky red heel.
3. For the perforated vamp that adds extra fun detail and texture, and the playful little red tab at the back.
   

Alas, I do not lurve the price tag... *sigh* Maybe they'll appear in the sales.

Step away from the shoe sales!

My thoughts on buying shoes at sale time run something like this:

Before I hit the shops: Hmmm, time to buy a decent and reasonably priced pair of sandals and maybe snap up a pair of sturdy shoes/boots that'll see me through Autumn.

Once I'm in the shops: Shoes, lovely shoes and all so cheap! Shop assistant, I'll have every pair you've got in my size!! Yippee!!! *gibber, gibber*

Trust me, loosing your mind in the presence of shoe choice overload is not the most useful way to approach the sales. All you end up with is a load of cheap shoes many of which you will never wear unless you live in a place of perpetual summer and have genetically modified centipede feet...

Okay thinking about what that would look like is really freaking me out... Moving on...

So this summer, I've decided for my mental health to do a little forward planning and set a tight budget. First I'm online checking out what might be onsale and deciding what I need to buy. Then, I'll go see if I can find what I want in the shops and hopefully return with only one pair of summer sandals and - if I'm lucky a nice pair of boots.

Summer sandals (click on image to enlarge):
I adore those lace-up flat pumps from ASOS, even though their pleather. They are dirt cheap at £5.

Sturdy autumn shoes (click on image to enlarge):
Those Chloe wedge shboots are now reduced to £99 at Kurt Geiger! They're dark green, perfect Autumn colour.

Shoe Lurve: Chloe wedge shboots, £225 at Yoox

I am not now, nor have ever been afraid of wearing yellow. In fact I positively embrace it. Especially if I can wear that colour on my feet in the form of these bright yellow, patent shboots.

They are ugly, but in a good way. I love the shape, the way that the leather smoothly covers the entire shoe and that exaggerated bit of heel/sole.

For some reason these shoes remind me of a sports car. It must be the sleek lines and the shiny pop of colour (oh dear, fashionspeak!)

They'd be great for dressing up jeans or dressing down a cocktail dress. It's times like this that I wish I had a bottomless bank account.

Shoe Lurve - Topshop Scarlet platform shoe, £65

I love a good platform shoe, I do. And over the past couple of years the High Street has been going absolutely platform mad.

I've recently been burning my way through my future childrens' inheritence by collecting these irrisistable boosts to my ego and height and, just when I think I couldn't possibly need or want another pair, these gorgeous shoes from Topshop turn up.

They're a pretty, simple shape but that lovely pink platform just takes them to the next level. Makes me think of teaming them with something quirky - harem pants, high-waisted shorts, ditsy printed skirts, comic book tees, brightly coloured plastic jewelry/accessories... Or doing something 80s- black with accents of bright colour.

These shoes give me aches of longing in the pit of my stomach. Must have them.

Shoe Lurve - Red or Dead Maxa, £69.99 at Schuh

It's no secret that I like Mary Janes. It's even a less of a secret that I like bright colours. So it's a no-brainer that these shoes from Red or Dead are rocking my world right now. The jewel bright colours and contrasting pink lining are gorgeous (and, oh look, there's pink and green again).

There's a nice, manageable, 3.5 inch heel and it's all finished of with that enormous brass buckle, which leaves the shoes just the other side of cute.

If I have one niggle, it's that the buckle is emblazoned with the Red or Dead logo and - FYI guys - let's be a little more discreet. If I've bought a pair of shoes, the last thing I want is to be someone's walking billboard.

Their perfect round-toed loveliness, is just the right alternative to sandals for this summer's round of parties. They also come in black or tan, if you are at all interested. I prefer them bold and bright.

Feeling flats

The lovely sunny weather we've been having lately has seen me finally doing away with most of my winter wardrobe (although I'm holding a few things back because the British weather is just not that predictable).

Mostly I've been wearing cotton t-shirts, cotton skirts, summer dresses and sheer tops, and lots of colourful accessories. Shoe-wise, I thought this seasons would be all about the high wedge sandal for me. Surprisingly though, I seem to have also developed a latent taste for flat shoes. Mainly due to not having much money to shop with lately, and also because I re-discovered some hidden gems in some of my "yet-unpacked boxes" pile. See below (click on image to enlarge):

Silver Mary Janes, New Look; Peach with rose print, Zara; Mint with bows, Nine West

I'd almost forgotten I had these, bought them in that long ago season when flats were rocking. I love the Zara rose print ones because they're so unusual, and flats that are both mint, peeptoe and double bowed? Fab. The silver ones I've just started to get into, as they make a nice neutral shade to wear with floral dresses and pretty skirts.

It's almost impossible to find really cute flats anymore. They're mostly of the Kate Moss/Amy Winehouse ballet flat variety - so very, very boring. I did manage to find a few that I like online though. The Red or Dead plimsolls remind of PE class. See below (click on image to enlarge):

Grey bandage, £75, KG; Fuschia with ankle-strap, £25, Topshop; mint and print, £49, Poetic Licence at ASOS; two-tone Mary Jane, £20, New Look; zip front gladiators, £30, ASOS; black plimsolls, £20 and multi-coloured courts, £35 both Red or Dead at Schuh; bronze t-bar, Pied a Terre, £85

See:
All the shoes I own
Head of heels

Shoe Lurve - El Dantes cutout wedge sandal, £116 at Faith

I really, really want some super high, super glam, wedge sandals for summer. I've seen a few doozies knocking about on Facehunter that I totally covet but I'm yet to find anything like them.

Still these El Dantes cutout wooden wedges have definitely caught my eye. They're a bit pricey, even when reduced from £145 to £116 but they're also more than a bit gorgeous. They'd look great with a floaty, floral maxi dress and chunky, ethnic-inspired jewellery. Or hoiking up my legs so I can just about get away with short, shorts.

Now, I just have to decide whether to go with the black or yellow... I. Must. Resist. Buying. Both.

PS: Yes, I'm aware that the Outfit of the Week is still pending. I'm having a busy week, so it'll be late but it will appear at some point this week. Promise!

Shoe Lurve - Shellys wedge canvas pumps, £35 at Barrats

I hate white shoes. I have managed by some strange osmosis to imbibe that whole Essex-gel, not-after-labor-day, thing which means that white shoes are now complete anathema.

I also find pointy-toed shoes a bit difficult. For the most part, that extra inch-age makes my great, big, gallumphing feet look even more like boats that usual.

Add to these, the fact that I have hated high-heeled tennis shoes, ever since I saw an image of the inimitable (and I mean that in the worst possible way) Victoria Beckham wearing a pair by Dries Van Norten for the actual playing of a sport.

Why, then, do I find these funky wedge canvass shoes from Shellys so damned attractive? I'll tell you.

Although they are white, they remind me of the Dries Van Nortens that I loved so much and couldn't get my hands on. I love that edgy wedge, sooo much.

And I think with a bit of fabric paint and a few hours' DIY, I could transform them into pretty, arty, paint-splattered darlings like these Jenny Ayayo shoes (left, last seen on Style Bubble). They are also an astoundingly cheap £35. Fantastic!

Only one problem though... I fear they may already have sold out. Ho-frickin-hum.

All the shoes I own - the lost Zara platforms

Yes, I know it's taken a while, but finally, here are the grey sandals with chocolate heel and platform from Zara that I had given up for lost because I couldn't find them anywhere.

All last year, I would wear something brightly coloured and think, I know just the right shoes to go with this, then peer mournfully into the back of my shoe closet hoping that they would somehow magically materialise. Of course they never did.

Do you know why? Because the entire time they were hidden away in an old, decommissioned work handbag, under the Bloke's bed. They had obviously been worn to work, exchanged for flats at some point during the day, taken to Bloke's house and then completely forgotten about.

Note to self: Must be more organised. Yeah, right.

The XXX shoe show

Having just spent the past few hours scrolling through a succession of gorgeous shoes online I've finally admitted to myself something that I suspected all along but was loathe to fully acknowledge:

Shoe sites are my porn.

Steve Madden, Kurt Geiger, Miu Miu, Bally, Gucci, Shoe Studio, Schuh, Office... I am a daily visitor to all these sites and more. I just cannot seem to get enough of the sweet shoe stuff. And this isn't even about buying the things, this is about spending whole swathes of time in a drooling daze while I ogle fancy shoes.

Surely this can't be normal?

Head over heels

I love me some high heeled shoes. The higher the better. It all started with those ridiculously high, Westwood super-elevated ghillie shoes that made Naomi take a tumble in 1993. I didn't care about the obvious danger, I fell in love with those shoes and I longed for a pair.

It wasn't just that the shoes were, super duper high, it was that whole shiny blue, faux croc leather, the beautiful curvy lines and the fact that - until she fell - Naomi looked like a beautiful, impossibly long-limbed goddess. I still get a lump in my throat when I think about those shoes.

Anyway, 15 years later and I still can't pass a pair of high heeled shoes without coming over all queer. It's what led me to covet and buy among others my Gil Carvalho mock-croc platforms, Slick Cinderella Minx courts, and Shellys mock crocs but when I finally got own my very own pair of genuine Westwood platforms? Well, I tell ya. It was a good day. That day a shopping angel got it's wings.

I've been talking and thinking recently of shoes as pretty things, as objects to be admired in their own right over and above any functionality that they might have. Most of my high heel collection fall into this category. I just don't wear them half as much as I should but I look at them a lot and I really love them and I have no intention of giving them away.