Shoe challenge #82: Orange flare

Right after my Carvela Grass wedges arrived, these Dorothy Perkins wedges went on sale. They're pretty much the same shoe, in an equally vibrant suede, real leather and marked down to £17. Let's just be honest here, I couldn't not buy them, now could I?

I bought the dress in last year's sales, but I hadn't worn it until now. I thought it complemented the shoes perfectly, it was comfortable, and I got lots of compliments in the pub. And just like that, the weekend has come and gone again.

dress Closet / shoes Dorothy Perkins

Shoe challenge #78: Layers

I don't wear these half-wedges nearly enough, but to be brutally honest, they don't always fit. Luckily today was a good day, and the squeezing was limited to a minimum. Like last year, I paired them with turquoise. These shoes have quite an effect and they do get lots of looks on the street. I love how you can't see all the differently coloured layers from the front. I love sneeky little touches like that.
It was the first time that I wore this skirt, since it's quite a thick fabric and therefore not very suited for hot weather. But now the weather has taken a turn for the worst and this skirt has the loveliest movement to it (perfect for twirling!), so I'm guessing it will become a staple piece this Winter.

skirt Red Label / cardigan New Look / belt came with this dress

shoes Office (last year's challenge)

Shoe challenge #74: Grass

You guys, I've been feeling kind of down. My personal life is a bit upside down right now, and I'm not sure how much of it I'm willing to share on this blog. Let's just say I went out with some friends on Friday night to get my mind off things, and well, it helped. Lots. I've gotten pretty good at handling the punches life throws my way, and I've pretty much got the "carry on and live life, because things still need to get done" attitude down to a tee. If life hands you lemons etc etc...

Anyway, the shoes. These are one of those pairs that I finally got to cross off my wishlist, and I knew I wanted to make them the focal point of the outfit, so I paired them with a little black dress. I love this Mango dress to bits, because of its simple, slightly 50s shape, and I figured it was due a night out on the town anyway.

dress Mango / shoes Carvela / doggy mine

Shoe challenge #64: Floral

With statement shoes like these, especially if they have a lot going on (like these), I tend to keep my outfit as non-fussy as possible. But, being who I am, I couldn't resist a bit of colour clashing with the orange dress and the red belt. This was a perfect work outfit for a sunny day, simple and comfortable, yet very bright and cheery.

These Northern Floral wedges provoke pretty strong reactions: people seem to either really love or really hate these shoes. My male coworker who I share an office with, has said multiple times that these are his least favourite shoes. The boyfriend said they were the tackiest pair he's seen me wear so far. Pretty harsh criticism, isn't it? Then again, girls really dig them. Maybe it's just the girliness of them throwing the men off? After all, Irregular Choice shoes aren't for everyone and these shoes do pile on the embellishments: a floral printed wedge, teal suede, orange contrast stitching, a floral printed bow, an orange lace bow, and some cherries on top... What do you think? Are these simply too much? (Not that I would love them any less for it, mind you)

dress Dorothy Perkins (seen here and here) / belt from peplum top New Look

shoes Irregular Choice (last year's challenge)

Damsel

Sometimes you run into a pair of shoes that catch you by surprise. As did these Jeffrey Campbell Damsels. I didn't expect to like them, but I guess the chart print won me over in the end. And they remind me a lot of my Asos Ablaze boots. If you're rather keen on these however, you can get them here for $190, but only if you happen to be a US 6, as they're completely sold out in all other sizes

Forget

I'm not necessarily crazy about the design itself, but that print had my heart fluttering. It's so fun and vibrant! I won't be spending my $145, but maybe you want to? The style comes in a myriad of different uppers, but I would be very afraid of the big bad ankle strap.

Djaldos

At first glance I would've never guessed that these were Louboutin. Which they are. Which is one of the reasons why I love Louboutin so much as a designer. Even though he is most known for his elegant stiletto classics, he still knows how to surprise us from time to time as well. With a studded pointy ballerina shoe for example. Or this magnificent wedge.

First up, I really dig the structural shape of the wedge itself, with the narrowness of the heel that is almost like a stiletto, and the way it creates a little overhang under the ball of the foot. This wedge is edgy, and looks a even a little dangerous, in spite of the girly colour scheme.
Secondly, it's those colours that I love. The bright pink suede and the red metallic straps look like they shouldn't work together, but for some magical reason they do. If you want to be part of the magic, and I can't say that I blame you, you better hurry up, as these are only available in a couple of select sizes anymore.

Lively

In the spirit of showing you some shoes that are not 4 inch or higher, but still cute: these very pretty cork wedges. Combined with the small platform, I'd say these are a nice and summery midheel alternative for those of you that don't go wild over stilettos.

Personally I love the blue and yellow combo, and even if I can't get a really good look, I suspect that lattice detail on the toe is beautiful. Get them here for $80.

Minx

At first glance, I was sure these would be Jeffrey Campbell. I was wrong though, as they are actually Dolce Vita, which I would probably never have guessed. Regardless of the brand, I think they're ace. The cutwork on the wooden wedge is unique, but not impractical, and the rest of the shoe isn't overworked. I love the simplicity of the nude suede uppers with the black piping (contrast always works so well on a shoe), and I'm pretty certain these would look marvellous with a floaty summer dress. I bet you would even feel like a... (wait for it) minx in these.

Starynite

I love these. In a OMG I LOVE THESE!!! kind of way. I heard that Jeffrey Campbell's Nightwalks aren't all that hard to walk in, but I can imagine the star definitely helps for extra stability. It also adds a bit of a fairytale vibe to these otherwise rather plain (as plain as JC can go) wedges.
So far I've only found these at Karmaloop, and I have promised myself to not by from the States for a little while, but if that won't hold you back, you can get them here. They're $190, which is not bad for a very distinctive shoe. You know they're the perfect shoe to start the weekend with...

Athlete

I'm not completely on board with the hidden wedge sneaker trend, but that doens't mean you guys might not be! And as far as the style goes, this pair is certainly one of my favourites I've seen so far. I absolutely adore that cute little drum print, and I must say there is something alluring about a comfortable yet cool shoe. Still, these wouldn't exactly work with my wardrobe or my style. But, like I said, they might go splendidly with yours. All Topshop wants in return is your £75. They are real leather though, so they should be rather durable.

White edge

You won't find these on my wishlist any time soon, but I do think these pointed wedges from H&M are really, really nice. White shoes are quite difficult, I find, as they often tend to look very "wedding-y" to me. These however, have an edgy shape that saves them from that dangerous bridal territory. They are €80 though, which is steep for H&M standars, but they are real leather. I can totally see them with the obligatory LBD, or a pair of skinnies.

Shoe challenge #41: Ombre hues

New shoes, so you just know I had to wear them as soon as possible. I decided to play up the ombre effect of these crocheted platforms with my mustard yellow shirt dress, and I quite liked the result. I had a sushi date with my BFF after work, which explains the rather grainy, unfocused and underlit photos (taken at 10.30 PM).

I must say, I absolutely adore these shoes, but I do not like ankle straps. Am I the only one who can't handle the rubbing? The backs of my feet are killing me right now, I'll have to think carefully about which shoes to wear next...

Dress Modcloth (seen here and here) / shoes Jeffrey Campbell

Sea and believe

Personally these remind me very much of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. Other people seem to like them though, as they appear to be selling out slowly but steadily. One reviewer is even raving about how "fun" they are. These wouldn't be allowed to be anywhere near my feet, but if you like them and you wear a US size 9, 10 or 11, you can spend your $80 over at Modcloth.

Shoe challenge #39: Like a feather

I'm just so happy I took a few days off this week, it's been just too hot to properly work anyways. It makes me go into the office dressed like this: in the lightest cotton, in the lightest colours, and with open shoes to let the little toesies breathe a bit. I'm afraid I didn't get a good photo though; this me-walking-towards-the-camera is actually the best visual image I can give you of the full outfit. Just as well, as it was very early (before work) and my hair was still wet from the shower.

I don't wear these gold wedges nearly enough (with the Belgian weather and all), but they're comfortable enough and I quite like their casual/sparkly ratio.

Dress H&M / shoes Carlos Santana (seen here)

Jayde

Not everyone can walk in stilts, and definitely not everyone has the same (extravagant) tastes as me. To keep everybody happy, today you get a very un-Daisy shoe. It's one of those shoes that I like very much, on someone else. I love the vibrant yellow with the nude ankle strap, and the midheel wedge is comfortable enough for practically anyone to walk on.
I actually have a good friend who would totally rock these, but she has extremely small feet and doesn't feel comfortable enough buying shoes online. If you're not blocked by such issues, you can run over to Lulu's and get yourself a pair for $85.

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 #36: Spring in my step

I'm loving this newfound Summer! I'm overjoyed that I can wear my pretty dresses and my summer shoes. I actually wore sandals to work today! Let's hope it sticks, and I can work myself through all of those shoes that have no chance of being saved come Winter.

On the chopping block today were my floral wedges from New Look. They are airy and breezy and incredibly comfy as well. And I thought they added some extra cuteness to my whites.

I definitely prefer this look over how I wore the shoes last year, which confirms my mantra in life: all you need is a cute dress and some nice shoes!

Dress Karen Millen (seen here) / shoes New Look (seen here)

Shoe challenge #29: Gingham

I wore this to go for dinner at my boyfriends parents' place. We were going to eat fancy food (oysters and lobsters and other deliciousness) so I thought I might as well dress a bit fancy as well. So I wore my newest Karen Millen dress with my gingham wedges. They didn't get much wear last year, but I thought they'd be able to shine with a completely white dress. The embroidery on this dress is amazing by the way. I can certainly recommend it!

Dress Karen Millen / shoes Schuh

Roxie Spike

Meet Roxie Spike. Those Jeffrey Campbell rocking wedges that I've been losing my mind over? Yeah, they make boots with that platform as well. With studs. Major fierceness! I might as well get it over and done with and just hand over my money now, right?

At $265, these will have to go on the wishlist though (and possibly forever remain there).