Assess

I immediately loved these when they came out, in every colour way (though I think I liked the pink/purple version slightly better, especially after seeing them on Shoeperwoman Amber), but noticing the resemblance to my Asos Pace platforms, I vowed back in February to only hunt for the yellow version. Well my friends, the moment has finally come, so I'm a happy puppy. And it's Friday night too! Enjoy your weekend!

Recent eBay scores

Oh, how I love myself a good eBay score. I've been scouring eBay a lot lately, and I've made some pretty exciting purchases as well. What I've noticed though, is that not every eBay seller knows how to market his product. And I learned how to take advantage of that. Let's take the example of a pair of really "hyped up" shoes: the red Kurt Geiger Minnies with the polka dot bow. So the best description in the title would be something like "Red Kurt Geiger Minnie with polka dot bow". Simple, right? If everyone would post their items like that, all my automatic searches would work perfectly.

But, like I said, not everyone lists their items as clearly as that. So what I've discovered is that it really pays off to just go through the lists manually. It's time-consuming, yes, but that's how I scored my red Carvela Grass wedges, some red Minnies, a second pair of Ted Baker Keanahs and some Kurt Geiger London glitter Cabalahs. All of which I would have missed out on if I had only looked at the eBay alerts in my mailbox. And on the plus side: I got real bargains on all of these, since not many people "found" them. Those Grass wedges are very much sought after in red, as they have sold out nearly everywhere. They were listed as "Carvela by Kurt Geiger red suede peeptoe wedges UK Size 4". Not surprisingly, I was the only bidder and I scored them with the starting bid. So take my word for it, eBay is full of hidden treasures, just waiting to be uncovered...

A little list of my conquests (keep in mind that I usually pay about £10 for shipping extra):
Carvela Grass: £50 (retail price: £140) - worn maybe once, look as if they were tried on in the store
Kurt Geiger London Cabalah: £37 (retail price: £225) - same as above
Ted Baker Keanah: £35 (retail price: £80) - never worn, stickers still on the soles
Miss KG Minnie: £44 (retail price: £80) - never worn

Remember, all of these listings did not include the actual name of the shoe in the title. I've currently got my eye on another pair of Kurt Geigers, also listed without a name or a good description, so you better not whisk them away from me!

Coming soon in a shoe challenge

A very exciting eBay purchase arrived on my desk today. Another check on the wishlist! Excellent way to start the weekend, me thinks, I might have to wear these babies on the dance floor tonight...
(don't worry, the shoes aren't as battered up as the box, thank God!)

Shoe challenge #59: Baby blues

Remember when I went on and on last week about not having matching shoes for this dress? Well, I tried, but I still don't. These Lindsey flats are more baby blue than actual turquoise. They don't match exactly, but the problem lies mainly with the belt, because I think these ballet flats match the dots themselves pretty well. But. BUT! I may look happy in these photos, but these shoes were murder for my feet. They are the king and queen of uncomfortable. Just another lesson learned, I guess, to check some reviews before I actually buy the shoes. Because, guess what, pretty much every person on the internet who has these, has warned the rest of the internet that they run very small. And oh yes, order a size up.

I wore them all last night with socks, and I thought they had stretched a bit, until I had left for work. And I got off my bicycle. That's when the pain kicked in. Luckily I had a spare pair for those rare moments when I had to walk more than a couple of metres. I was stubborn throughout the day though, by wearing them whilst sitting at my desk. They will be broken in, damnit! Victory will be mine (eventually).

They are pretty though. I love how the bows are a bit different from the "standard" bow. You can still get them here, but remember, buy a size up...

Dress and belt Dorothy Perkins (seen here) / shoes Carvela

Biggest. Haul. Ever.

Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Amazon... It seemed like they all had packages to get to me this week! Or maybe that's because I went a little shopping crazy. Because I also seem to have gone a little overboard in H&M a couple of days ago. So I thought I'd whip together a little haul post with all the new things that will soon be appearing in my shoe challenges.
First up, H&M. I was actually on my way to the cobbler's, who turned to be on his annual vacation, so I walked into H&M thinking I needed some new basics. Two black tank tops (which I wear all the time underneath all too revealing dresses, as they offer more "support" than a cami), a heart print tank, plus a black and a white plain T. The extras I ended up with: a pair of mint skinny jeans (I'm a slave to fashion!) and a chartreuse embellished shirt.

I had all three dresses in my browser favourites for a couple of weeks, when suddenly I noticed that all three were marked down. At the same time. You see how choosing was not an option. Especially not since they all came with little belts. Among which this pretty pink one. They're the same style as this one, so I'm sure I'll get tons of wear out of them. After they get a good ironing, that is.

Also: these pony hair leopard print ballet flats. Real leather and also reduced in price, so again no hesitation on my part. They do make my second pair of leopard print ballet flats, but I'm guessing the other ones, which are satin, won't last forever.

I also got a huge package from New Look, which included this amazing turquoise skirt from Red Label, a purple cardigan, a striped T (I just love the chiffon bow!), a striped sheer shirt and a black peplum top. With bonus belt!

I finally decided to get myself a black petticoat for my Hell Bunny dresses as well, but it is very wrinkled and will make its appearance soon the way it should be: underneath said dresses. I will show you la pièce de résistance though: my new polkadot peep toes from Not Rated. I'm loving the effect of the grey polka dots and the neon yellow platform and heel, as well as the embellishment on the toe, just as I did when I first laid eyes on them a couple of weeks ago. I figured I deserved them, since my order with Boohoo fell through. I was seriously bummed out by that, but that's a different story.

And now, the challenge of transforming all this stuff into outfits! En garde!

One two three

This is what happens when I have a couple of days off from work: I arrive at my desk, only to be greeted by lots of packages. I can think of worse ways to start the day! I'll keep it short and sweet, and will let you enjoy the photos of my latest purchases. All sales, obviously.

First up: blue slingbacks (avec bow, of course) from Rocket Dog. They're a bit snug, even if I was convinced that my Rocket Dog booties are a size 4 as well, but they fit, so no problems there. The electric blue is stunning though.

Also: leopard courts from Blink. I had my doubts about these, as they're a bit too shiny up close, but they look fine when they're a bit further away. By which I mean, on my feet.

The grand finale: the biggest score ever. They are pure dynamite. Sheer perfection. I might just display them in my living room...

I just have to be careful that I don't accidentally drool on them. Now all that's missing is a pair of Loubs for them to make friends with!

Shoe review: Keanah

Another verrrrrry exciting purchase: the infamous Ted Baker's Keanah. Like so many other shoes on my wishlist (it's actually written down, just so you know I'm pretty serious about said wishlist), I've had my eye (and my eBay alerts) on these for a long time. As is the navy version, but that's a different story. Obviously Shoeperwoman Amber is at least partly to blame for my Keanah obsession.

I can't say I'm angry about that though, as these are truly breathtaking in the flesh. The colours are amazing, albeit not my usual taste (I prefer pinks to coral), and that bow! Don't even get me talking about that exaggerated bow, or I won't be able to shut up.

I didn't know whether I would need a size 4 or 5 in these. As not that many pairs are popping up on eBay, when a pair of size 5's showed up in my alerts, I didn't hesitate. They were never worn (they still had the stickers on the soles and the original "filling" inside the shoes) and I got them half price (original price being £80). Luckily they are a great fit, as I find these 5's to be quite snug. Perfect for my fickle 4,5 feet. I'm not sure what I'll wear these with yet, but I can say that I'm very excited to save these puppies as soon as possible! Stay tuned!

You asked for it

Look what popped into my inbox a couple of days ago. Oh, the irony! When I think about how much effort it took for those shoes to get here... But yes, you've read that correctly, they are finally here. I will have to reconsider buying from the States though, as I've been paying my ass off on customs fees and taxes. They almost cost as much as the shoes themselves! I've got the idea that I pay more whenever I buy discounted items, it's as if they add up the discount to the customs fees, and I end up paying just as much as I would have before the sales.

The Bette platforms are definitely a lot nicer than I had expected. For a purchase that was essentially an afterthought, they are stunning in the flesh.

The colours are much more vibrant, the crochet lace is gorgeous and elegant, and they'll look good even with tights come wintertime. And the best part? They are very comfortable, the US7 fits me perfectly as usual with Jeffrey Campbell shoes, and the padded soles make all the difference.

Bonus points for the major toe cleavage! Ssssexy!!

The pair of shoes that all the fuss was about, the Rockettes, are a bit of a letdown actually. They are gorgeous, as I was convinced they would be, but the sizing is completely off. When I tried them on this afternoon, it was tight but bearable. I could walk in them. Tonight, it has proven to be damn near impossible to get my feet in.

Lengthwise I can barely fit in them, but the problem sits within the very narrow toe box. My Daisy D's are narrow in the front as well, but at least I can get my feet in. I don't really understand the problem, as all my other pairs of Jeffrey Campbells are all size 7's and I've had no (real) problems with any of those. With the massive taxes I've paid for them, I guess there's nothing left for me to do but to try and stretch them out a bit. I'll keep you guys posted, that's for sure!

Shoe challenge #31: Biker chique

I've decided to pull into overdrive with the shoe challenge, which means that not all outfits will be perfect from now on. Or the photos, for that matter. All that counts now is how many shoes (all of them!) get saved.

Since the weather isn't exactly co-operating to get the summer shoes out of the way, I decided on Thursday to tackle my latest addition to the boot collection, these studded shoeboots from New Look. I love their look, although I think the front is a tad too lowcut, but they killed my feet. By themselves they're pretty comfortable, but they have a seam on the inside that rubs the side of my feet in just the wrong way. I was in pain. I should've brought bandaids.

Combined with the bare legs, they were still weather-appropriate, even if the sun was shining after noon. I also threw on my new (faux) leather jacket from Zara, to fight the chilly air in the morning. I've completely fallen in love with it, I'm sure I'll wear it loads.

Dress (worn a lot for Dressember) and belt Dorothy Perkins / jacket Zara / shoes New Look

Massive shoe haul

Apart from my Nasty Gal order (it'd better get here!!), all my new shoes arrived this week. I was particularly impressed with the service of the Dr. Martens site, as I got a "dispatched" message only two hours after my order, and they arrived on my doorstep within 48 hours after having ordered them. I like!
And they are as gorgeous as I remembered them to be. I do think I'll have to be careful how I style them, as my colleague asked me if I was getting into S&M and the boyfriend worried out loud if they might be a tad slutty? Consider me warned.

My order from Asos made me very happy as well. Both pairs are stunning in the flesh, and the low price I paid for them makes me even happier about my purchase. The Props are amazing, even if the toe is a lot pointier than I had imagined from the product shots (it's why I love websites that offer product shots from literally every angle). The only bad thing I can say about them though, is that it's a pity that they didn't match up the print in the back. One of the heels is rather light, while the other one has a lot of black in it. Oh well. You can't win them all.

The Ablaze wedges, man, those product shots don't even come close to doing them justice!! They are incredible in real life! Much bigger and definitely much more vibrant! And they seem to be very comfortable as well, pfew! Big sigh of relief!
I won't show you my New Look purchases right now, as I have a shoe challenge with the spiked boots coming up next week, and the white trainers aren't very special (and don't photograph well either). I can't wait to show you how I will be styling all these gorgeous puppies!!

Shopping spree

Since my London shopping was kinda disappointing, I've been going crazy with the online shopping these last few days. I had counted on maybe buying a pair of Loubs, so I had a bit of a budget as well. I thought I'd give you girls a little preview of the shoes that are on their way to me.

First, I've decided to give Nasty Gal another try, since they really seem to be the online website who stocks up on those Rockette platforms I'm so hung up on. They did give me $25 credit though, after the last negative experience, so I decided to throw in a pair of these Bette crochet platforms as well, as they were already on sale and I really dig the ombre-like effect.

Next up I finally gave into the Asos Ablaze boots, in the scribble print. I'd been eyeing them for a long time ever since I saw them on this shoe girl, and they had finally come down enough in price to justify such a crazy purchase. I also scored some collateral damage (you're placing an order anyway, and suddenly these other things end up in your virtual shopping cart as well): Asos Prop courts in multi geo. With both shoes, it was the print that did me in. I'm just hoping I'll find a way to style them, as I seem to have gone nuts over prints lately.

And finally, I saw these new boots on New Look that reminded me so much of the studded boots from River Island aka "the ones that got away" (seriously, they're still selling on eBay for more than the original price), that I just had to have them. And I threw in a pair of Converse-like sneakers in a beautiful white broderie anglaise, since I'm wearing my turkoise pair a lot more than I would have thought.

How in the world am I ever going to bring the shoe challenge to a good end? (I am already way behind on my posting, I still have a couple of challenges to show you)

On my feet: Bree

These were my only purchase in London: a pair of Schuh courts that I was already planning on ordering anyway (I already wrote about the silver version here). Well, at least I saved myself the shipping costs. Added bonus: I got to try them on, which I'm glad I did, since I actually needed to size down in these.
I really needed a pair of simple black pumps, not too high and not too low, able to survive some rain and above all, comfortable enough for a walk. Up until now, every time I went to visit my parents in my home town, I've travelled with at least two or three pairs of shoes, just for the weekend! Ridiculous! That's where these come in handy, as they'll match absolutely every outfit. I absolutely adore their plain shape and the triple bow, and I'm already waiting for the red version to go on sale.

Shoe challenge #24: Pink lemonade

For the second day in a row the weather has caught up with me. I have left the house in the morning, completely optimistic due to the sunshine, online to arrive at work to rain and a gloomy sky. So I guess today's outfit looked a bit ridiculous, what with the summery dress and the bare legs.

After yesterday's blisters, I found some comfort in these brand spanking new neon pink flats. I was a bit worried this whole outfit would look too young for a 27-year old, but I felt so comfortable, I couldn't care less! I usually go for a more yellow-, white- or green-oriented look with my trusty lemon dress, but I think the contrast with the hot pink worked splendidly as well.

Cardigan E&M By Laetitia / belt Asos / dress (seen here and here) and shoes New Look

New Look haul

I think I even outdid myself with this one. Four pairs of shoes in one order! Luckily not one pair cost over £10. And the craziest part of all? Not one pair of heels! I'm totally ready for summer now, especially for daytrips with the boyfriend and festivals with my friends. I can't wait to take these babies out.

I've been thinking about getting a pair of Converse sneakers for a while though, but decided they were a bit expensive for a style that I wasn't sure I would get much wear out of. So when I saw these cheap knock-offs on the New Look website, I didn't hesitate. I would've loved a hot pink pair like the ballet flats, but I'm so glad I chose these turquoise ones. They give my legs an instant tan!!

Two weeks ago I ordered the strapless dress with the pink car print, but I decided against this white palm tree print dress. And then my size was sold out. So as soon as I saw my size pop up again (on sale!), I couldn't help but slip it in with my overload on shoes. I'm in love with the cutout in the back.

Pink glitter sandals
Orange raffia sandals
Pink velcro ballet flats
Turquoise sneakers