Category: High Street

June 7, 2016

Hot to trot x

Nostalgic and a bit sentimental: I’m after a pair of wedge espadrilles with ties this summer. I’d love them to be in a deep navy blue, but I suspect black is more realistic.

With just that little bit of extra height, they give an outfit the potential to carrying on strutting straight into a decadent night on the tiles.

As well as being highly adaptable (also great with culottes or skinnies) they’re supremely comfortable and, with a bit of shopping around, easy on the pocket.

If slides are your thing, check out Asos for the best selection..

(All pics from Pinterest)

With prices starting at a mere £12 i’ts winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Laters, Kate x

May 12, 2016

Life’s a Beach..

Remember this post? All about Kiini crochet bikinis and dormant lustings for the life of a beach babe. It was hot on the money for a summer trend..

For those with the bodies but without the bank balance Chiclookcloset are now selling bargain $24.99 versions..

Tempted?

Laters, Kate x

March 7, 2016

Food for Breakfast..

Things are moving on a pace on the renovation…painting has started on the cellar, lights have gone up and the hallway, which was boarded up for protection by the builders has been opened up again..it now feels twice the size. More paint samples have been bought (I swear this is where paint companies make their profit)…but at least they’re starting to make sense. Pictures will follow soon…

Outside the sky is brilliant blue and it genuinely feels that spring is knocking on the door..hence of the appeal of these spring pics from Toast, suggesting bare foot easy living with simplicity the main ingredient and quality the key.

I want to be here.

Toast also do the best summer scarves..expensive, but worth every penny.

In contrast their Swedish clog shoes are great value – just £65..

Goes to show…there’s always something exciting around the corner…

Laters, Kate x

February 25, 2016

Happy birthday..

It’s Finery’s first birthday – it seems hardly believable they’ve been around for such a short time.

It’s such a great label that fills a gap in the market you never thought was there. Until they started.

On the one side it’s reflective, mild mannered and be-spectacled.

On the other, clever, en pointe, different.

This is a label that joins all the dots.

And does the best trousers. Stalk them.

Laters, Kate x

November 10, 2015

These boots were made for walking..

If less is more and more is less, then a pair of Docs has to be a must for winter.

The do-anything-go-anywhere-shoe that can actually take a pounding and, like the best things in life, get better with age.

That’s one part of the winter uniform ticked off then..

Laters, Kate x

October 27, 2015

Uber Uterque x

If I have a complaint against the modern life it’s the way technology has made the world spin faster, shrink smaller and generalise everything. Which is why one should dismiss Uterque with a simple flick of a hand: It’s part of the Spanish-rule-the-world Inditex which has chains such as Zara and Pull and Bear in it’s growing claws. Except I like it.

There’s sleek separates, a touch of artisanal cool and even the trend pieces of the season look fresh and modern.

Of course it helps if Caroline de Maigret is your muse.

It’s a salient lesson in not throwing the babes out with the bathwater.

Laters, Kate x

August 12, 2015

Comedy Stitches x

The brain is a strikingly stretched muscle that sometimes doesn’t want to…hence the gut appeal no-brainer of these back to school beauties from Skinny Dip London: Nostalgic for some, hip for others and pleasantly pleasing on the pocket for all.

Yep. They’re Anya Hindmarch rip offs.

Yep. The bags aren’t leather.

But this is flash-in-the-pan fashion, best bought before it’s sell by date at a discount rate. When it goes..it goes…

Laters, Kate x

May 13, 2015

Birkies.. x

The rise of the Birkie shows no sign of abating, indeed it’s all praise for the fashion trend that works with any outfit, any where and even keeps the chiropractor smiling.

Except I have one unexpected niggle..the most comfortable shoe ever they might..but eewch! Give them a while and they can put up a pong that gives a goat cheese factory on a hot day a run for it’s money (I don’t think this happens to everyone, but google ‘smelly birks’ and there are enough results to prove I’m not an isolated incident)..mine reeked so badly they spent the winter months tied up in a plastic bag in the bottom drawer of our freezer in an attempt to kill off the evil, perpetrating bacteria. Sadly it worked for all of 5 mins..the time it took for them to de-frost. Loathed to throw them away, I’ve finally come up with a solution that thankfully seems to work..a regular wiping down with bleach..it makes the leather for a bit hard..but rather that than inflicting chemical warfare on the local neighbourhood and resident small furry animal population..

The company aren’t resting on their classic laurels either but are continually bringing out different colours and updating styles with subtle, clever changes – one of the best being the addition of coloured soles. Red?

Or Pink? They are the no-brainer-must-have shoe of the summer…it’s just deciding ~~how many pairs~~ which ones to buy..decisions, decisions..

Laters, Kate x

February 2, 2015

Finery London x

There’s a new label on the cyber-street..Finery London, led by Caren Downe who’s high street pedigree and gene pool includes buying director at Top Shop and ASOS.

She left ASOS disillusioned with the emphasis on commerciality rather than creativity…and has returned to fill what she sees as the glaring gap in the market: Women that know their style and want something more considered in the £40 – £250 price bracket, that magical hybrid of excellent design and affordable prices – and she’s certainly talking my language…

It’s a range cleverly jigsawed together – there’s a sense of calm and knowing, rare in the heart of the retail storm, with warm, welcoming air that gently blows you across the threshold..