Tagged: Huffington Post

June 15, 2015

Rogue Brogues..

I’ve never been a smoker – I have an issue with burning money to ruin my health..give me a strong glass of red instead and I’ll down it in one revelling in the knowledge it’s allegedly good for my heart. It’s pretty much the same with high heels..why spend a small fortune on objects of torture that look better on the page than on my feet?

Which begs the question, why heels? – and if they’re so fabulous, why don’t men wear them too? Are we women trying to prove we’re a more advanced gender because we can?…or is the joke really on us…

And then there was Heelgate at Cannes this year (which happened after the festival organisers had announced it had made efforts to address the gender imbalance between male and female directors) where women were turned away from the red carpet for wearing flats. Of course, that there was ever a heel code was swiftly denied. But they can’t deny it happened...(At the next A-lister-red-carpet-celebrity-fest I’d love to see parades of women in Docs and men in stilettos all proudly strutting their stuff) (What’s the chance of that?)

The truth, as it generally does, comes down to choice – if heels rock your world, pray indulge and gorge on the many wonderous designs available. If flats are your thing, then all these from Rogues may well float your boat.They’re designed by Katie Harland, who wanted a shoe that was both functional and full of character. She describes them as ‘A love child from the colour and comfort of trainers and the craft and credentials of brogues.’

They’re simply built from 3 pieces of leather with a choice of neon laces.

There’s a slight platform sole in white, a low cut on the ankle and a narrower fit at the toe.

They hit that magical sweet spot of being cross-seasonal, wear with anything for any event…including running for a bus.

The only shoes I now possess are those I can dance in. On that basis…who’s hidden my credit card?

Laters, Kate x

January 7, 2014

An Epiphany.. x

Yesterday, the 6th of January was Epiphany – the Christian feast celebrating the wise men meeting baby Jesus, but also informally recognised as the date by which (certainly in Europe) all Christmas decorations have to be down. Which really seems a far better date to make New Year Resolutions – far away from hangovers, chaos and tinsel – and when there’s a general sense of cleansing and moving on. There’s been time to think about what really matters and mull over plans. For instance, I’m taking on this idea..a thought jar..a place for one captivating thought or quote a day which can be put away for a rainy moment…it’s by my computer now.

Charlie and I have also started on our Epiphany Tablecloth..an idea adapted from the lovely Kerry from Love Those Hands at Home (who also sells vintage linen at her etsy shop)…she re-blogged a special story about a family Christmas cloth, with little messages embroidered on every year by members of the family, of love, of happiness, of major events. I recognise my limitations and before Christmas is too much..but now? I want to reminisce about Christmas and year gone by, and I so appreciate these treasures created out of nothing but time and love till they have a magical, talismanic quality created by and just for the family.

Each family member writes their name and something on the cloth with pencil (We want it to be special so we’re using a vintage irish linen tablecloth) then it’s simply embroidered. The original cloth was made with red and green embroidery thread for alternate odd and even years…we’ve gone for white and creams, just to be a bit different., to be able to use it at different times of the year…and keep people looking closer..

There was another post that hit a chord.. Rachel Olsen wrote on the Huffington post about not having a list of resolutions that will inevitably get broken, but rather have a single word that encapsulates the whole year. I’ve thought about what my word would be..fitter? tighter? creative?