Shoe challenge #80: Navy 'n stripes

I don't have to tell you that these photos are from a couple of weeks ago, do I? I think the spot of sunshine gives the game away... As you can also tell, I really do love my Dorothy Perkins dresses. You may remember I was on the hunt for the perfect pair of navy pumps a while ago, and these are what I eventually ended up with after a little browsing the eBay. These peep toes are from River Island and had never been worn (that's how I like my eBay purchases), and I just love the cutouts and the ribbon bow on the toe. They have kind of a ladylike, brogue-ish feel to them. Close-up here.

Surprisingly, you can even glimpse some sunshine in these photos. At work (in Brussels) that day, I saw nothing out my window but grey clouds and oncoming rain. A bit more up north (20 minutes outside Brussels, the centre of Belgium), and I was greeted by the sun when I came home.

As much as I do love this dress, this particular day was kind of windy (as most days have been since then) and, well, let's say a couple of people caught a glimpse of my underwear. I ran into some friends on the way home, and when I saw them later that evening, they even commented on my skirt flaring up, oh the horror! Who knows who saw?! And I wasn't even wearing my nice underwear damnit.

Anyway, I'll still be pretending to be enjoying Summer for a little while, since, well, I have no choice. I think I've gotten through the last of the peep toes, and I'm now working on the suede ones. I have a lot of work cut out for me before Winter is allowed in!

dress and belt Dorothy Perkins (seen here) / cardigan Mango

shoes River Island

Shoe challenge #77: Dots on dots

Finally I can call these babies mine! I've been on the hunt for a pair of Minnies for a while now, and like a couple of other scores this month I'm pretty happy to be checking these off my wishlist. They're not quite as comfortable as I expected them to be (I'm usually pretty chuffed with the fit of Kurt Geiger shoes), but that's mainly because the inner sides are still quite stiff and rigid. It'll probably get better with more wear. That said, I'm a bit surprised by how big these look on my feet. Oh well, still pretty! I especially adore the oversized bow and the angular shaped heel.

As far as the dress goes, I can't even believe how long I've had it! For a while there it got stuck in my wardrobe, but since the big move last year this one has been going strong in all kinds of outfits. Like I said in the last challenge: the rushing drapes beautifully over my tummy, hiding possible food babies, which is always a huge plus. And I think the two polka dot prints work splendidly together, especially with the splashes of red. Very happy with this look, signature Daisy! As you can tell, I'm still being stubborn and refusing to wear tights, in spite of being almost blown away by the fall storms that have been hitting Belgium the last few days.

On other exciting news: my dad and my uncle are installing new furniture in my "shoe room" tonight, so you better be ready for a photo overload soon! The thought of displaying all my shoes and neatly colour coding my dresses is already making me giddy! I've got butterflies in my tummy just fantasizing about it. (my god, I am a freak)

dress 3Suisses (seen here) / belt New Look / shoes Miss KG

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!

Lady Peep Spikes

Seriously. How does he expect us not to drool over a shoe like that? Nice work Mr. Louboutin, I just slobbered all over my keyboard!

Mystery boots

I've been mainly focusing on shoe challenge posts lately, as those seem to get read and appreciated the most, but that doesn't mean I haven't been keeping my eye out for beautiful shoes around the interwebs. These gorgeous red shoe boots caught my attention on the New Look site, but so far they haven't popped up in the store. Yet. Because you just know that once they do, I'll be on that like paper on glue!

Shoe challenge #67: The blues

I had a bit of rough day today, as some things happened this weekend that left me feeling quite miserable. I'm not sure how things are going to pan out in the end, but we still have to get dressed every day, right? I could still only manage a hint of a smile though, as you can tell.

I think the colours give my mood away as well. I rarely dress in something so sombre, but I just veered towards this navy dress this morning. I don't wear it that often, as I'm usually not one for the frilly bits, but it was comfortable.

The shoes however are definitely not the most comfortable ones in the collection. I'm afraid they've become quite stiff, I think from a lack of wear. I'm not sure if wearing them will reverse the process though, we'll have to wait and see.

dress Asos (seen here) / shoes New Look (last year's challenge)

Corset

Man, Sam Edelman never seizes to amaze me. At first glance this Evan pump might seem a bit plain, but wait until you see its backside!

I love them, but not so much that I have to have them right now. But if they would pop up on sale somewhere, I won't pretend I wouldn't be tempted. So far I've spotted them in this gorgeous black, in a cheetah version and in a beautiful metallic snake upper.

Also: booties! The pumps will set you back €175, the Elsa booties €240.

Shoe challenge #65: Cars and ruffles

If you'd have told me a couple of years ago that I would happily dress in head-to-toe pink, I'd probably have called you a liar. Back then, I always clad myself in all black, my cherry red Dr. Martens only leaving my feet when I went to bed. Oh, how times have changed. Though I can't say I've ever been happier with my personal style.

Believe it or not, this was actually an office outfit. I figured a strapless summer dress would be slightly too bare for work, so I made due with a tank top underneath. White would have been better than black, I feel, but since the dress isn't whitewhite, I didn't have a perfect match.

My pink shoes with the ruffle skirt don't get out nearly enough, as satin usually means evening attire. But I figured: who even cares?! I certainly don't, and not one person mentioned anything. I might have to start my own Facebook page "Satin cocktail shoes on the office floor!"...

top H&M / cardigan E&M By Laetitia / necklace Etsy

dress (seen here) and shoes New Look (last year's challenge)

Shoe challenge #61: 50s rock chick

I love me some 50s dresses, but ever since I got myself this amazing petticoat, I'm even more in love with this particular silhouette! For a night out with friends on Friday, I went all out with sky high heels, my faux leather jacket from Zara and some red red lippy. The boyfriend hates it when I wear lipstick, so my Bourjois Sweet Kiss tubes don't get nearly enough use out of them! (I'm wearing Rouge sur Mesure in these photos, but I also own Fuchsia Cosmopolite and both colours are very vibrant and long-lasting) He still humoured me by taking these pictures though, so thank you sweetie!

As soon as I arrived in the pub one of my best friends referred to these as my "stripper shoes". And I can't exactly blame here, because they are very much on the verge of being tacky or slutty. But I adore them nonetheless. They don't pinch, they don't rub, and I don't really feel the height when walking in them, which makes these Asos slingbacks one of the most comfortable pairs I own, even if they don't look like it.

We're still enjoying some lovely sunny weather here in Belgium, but Friday was particularly windy and chilly, so I had no choice but thrown on a jacket with my dress. It's a bit shorter than my other Hell Bunny dress (because I had it shortened, as it was way too long on me originally), which is why you can see the petticoat sticking out a bit, which I rather liked. But mostly, it's the half-naked ladies on the dress that always strike everyone's attention.

I managed to save two more pairs this weekend, and am saving a pair today, so I'm guessing there will be back-to-back shoe challenge posts coming up these next few days. Hope you don't mind!

dress Hell Bunny (seen here and here) / jacket Zara (seen here)
shoes Asos (last year's challenge)

Pixelate

How awesome are these? That heel is insane! It doesn't hurt that they look more McQueen than Topshop either, even if the price tag (£90) is a little steep for high street standards. They are real leather though, and they'll surely earn you a few stares.

When Shoeperwoman Amber showed them last week in metallic pink, I wasn't very enthusiastic, but now that Topshop has launched a toned-down black version, I'm all aboard this train!

Green love

Like you all know (because I mention it a million times), I'm not a lover of green shoes. Yeah, I know, sue me. For these though, I'd gladly make an exception. After all, who can say no to butterflies? Lace butterflies! And a cute bow! I still don't own any Iron Fist in my collection (how the hell did that happen, or uhm, not happen?), but I'm thinking it may be time to change that. Meanwhile, these are waiting for you at New Look, for £80.

Leafs

Honestly, how could I not show you these McQueen peep toes before the weekend? These have a very bridal feel to them, being ivory satin and all, so they wouldn't get much use in my life, but if you're a bride-to-be with shoe size 40 and an excellent fashion sense, I'd suggest you run over to The Outnet and snag up a pair at 40% off.

Just look at that back detail! Totally worth €630, no? No? Uhm...

Shoe challenge #55: Party time. Excellent!

Instead of just celebrating my birthday on Friday, I decided to have an entire birthday weekend! We started out with a bbq at my place, with lots of my friends (the yard was way too small for so many people!), and afterwards we went to a local festival "Maanrock", which is held in my town every year around my birthday. It's so sweet of Mechelen to organize a party for me! Of course the boyfriend and I took some outfit pictures before people started arriving.

Yesterday was the first time I wore my new petticoat, and I was pleased to see that it didn't look ginormous. I was quite apprehensive about it being too much, but the difference with the tule underneath is quite subtle, I like it! When you click the link at the bottom, you can see how the dress looks without a petticoat and as pretty as the dress is on its own, I don't think I'll ever be wearing it without the petticoat anymore. I'm sold!

I did feel a bit like Scarlett O'Hara, as it took some time getting used to the rustle and the moving around when you're bigger than you normally are. Especially the sitting down part (on the floor, as we were having a bbq picnic) was tricky.

While I have already cleaned the entire house (it was a mess!), the boyfriend is still K.O. on the sofa. The poor dear. I think he's coming down with something, as he hasn't been feeling well for a few days now. I'm still feeling great though, so I hope it's nothing contagious... After all, there are shoes that need to be saved!

Dress Hell Bunny (seen here) / petticoat Amazon / shoes New Look (last year's challenge)

Fifi 100

It's my birthday today (28!), and this is what I'd like to get. Perfection! I doubt they will be a part of any of my presents, but a girl can dream, right?

Scalloped

I stumbled upon these shoes on someone's blog (sorry, can't remember where exactly), and I couldn't take my eyes off these stunning Oscar De La Renta numbers. I'm drooling over that luscious mustard colour and the scalloped edges, and they look so comfortable too! That bow kind of reminds me of pasta, which, sure, I'm obsessed about, so that's actually a good thing for a shoe.

 It's a whole lot more expensive than a plate of pasta though, €570 to be exact.

Shoe challenge #52: More polka dots

My shoes didn't match. I was really looking forward to wearing this dress with my mint green shoes, but they turned out to be too light and too greenish. Bummer. Furthermore, the only pair of navy shoes I own is a pair of ankle boots, so I wasn't going to wear those either. I would've looked a rightful fool with this warm weather. In the end I decided there's nothing wrong with a neutral shoe (especially when they look exactly like these Louboutins).

 

Except there totally is. I was so preoccupied with the non-matching shoes that I spent waaaay too much time searching for the perfect shoes to go with this dress. I suspect these Carvela beauties would've been the perfect shade, but I refrained from buying them when they were actually on sale in my size. Why, you ask? Because I didn't know what I would wear with them. Oh the irony.

I'm on a quest now, more specifically for a pair of perfect navy pumps. And in the meanwhile I'll have to accept that today, for once, my shoes did not match. Can anybody say first world problem? At least the photos looked cute, thanks to the boyfriend!

Dress and belt Dorothy Perkins / shoes Miss Selfridge (last year's challenge)

Raw

So, these are pretty fierce, right? I mean, look at them! They look like they might protect you in the dodgier parts of town. Then again, they might just get you in trouble for sending out the wrong signals though, so that might even itself out? Gosh, now I'm getting confused. Anyway, with the multiple straps, the sky high heel and the studs, these might be considered a bit much. And you haven't even seen its sister shoe. Tadaaaaaa!

River Island decided that the above sandal wasn't enough, and threw in some gingham! And I actually like these ones better than the "plain" black ones. I can totally see them with some capri pants and a plain top, for a bit of a rocker chick "Sandy" look. Or with a cutesy dress, for contrast.
You're probably thinking I'm crazy right now, so I'll just shut up. But I will also leave you with the news that these are £65 and I may or may not buy them. Eventually. (If they go on sale, I'll probably won't even take the time to think about that though)

Black crystal

I love these. Now don't get me wrong, I'm still not completely on board with the pin needle heel. But these, these I can stand the sight of. I might even allow them on my own feet. That said, these aren't any plain old pair of pin needle heels though. These Giuseppe Zanotti booties are completely covered in black crystals, which is the main reason why I like them so much. Because, you know, I rarely meet a stud or a crystal I don't like.

These booties will remain the subject of my dreams however, as The Outnet is still charging €598 for them (as opposed to the original €1195, but still way too much for my budget) and most sizes are completely sold out. If you can't say no to these though, feel free to splurge on them here.

Shoe challenge #48: To the beach

I wish I could've actually gone to the beach, with the heat wave we've been having, but instead I just wore this to work. I'm not complaining about the weather though (or not yet anyway), as it's proven to be quite useful to get a couple of urgent shoe challenge out of the way. That said, it has been boiling hot these last few days, and it didn't take long for me to get sticky with sweat. Ew!

So it was only logical for me to pose in the shadows. It doesn't deliver the best lighting and as a result the photos aren't great, but at least you can't see me melting in my own skin. In the end my beach scene dress (which I love to pieces!) wasn't the best idea, as it is cotton, but with a polyester lining. You can imagine how I felt after only half an hour of huffing and puffing by yourselves, I'll spare you the intimate details.

Dress Primark (seen here) / shoes Asos (seen here)

Shoe challenge #47: Like Dorothy

Like I already mentioned in my last shoe challenge post, we went to my colleague's birthday party, which was the reason we were in Leuven in the first place. The dress code was "one colour", but as you can see I didn't strictly adhere to that. I insisted on wearing my Dorothy shoes, as I so lovingly call them, which my boyfriend looked at once and dismissed as "too over the top". Apparently there's such a thing as "over the top" (my usual style, according to him) and "too over the top". Boys!

I had never worn this purple dress before and unfortunately the fabric turned out to be a bit too hot for a night of drinking and dancing. I felt pretty nonetheless, and we had a marvellous time.

Dress Primark / belt New Look / shoes Kurt Geiger (seen here)