Getting ahead of the game

If you are a parent, you will be acutely aware that if you don't buy your child summer shoes in March, they will be forced to wear Uggs (from TkMaxx..) or snow boots come the warmer months as that is all that will be left to choose.  I mean, god forbid you should wait until it's actually warm to buy sandals...

Well, I hate to break it to you, but it's now the same for us.  Gone are the days when product was launched in the Spring and the same product, having been replenished, is still on our shelves until the latter days of Summer.  Oh gone are those days of easy shopping. 

Nope these days, product - in this instance we're talking shoes, will be for sale in March.  For two weeks.  Once it's sold out, it's gone, stocks no longer replenished a plenty like the good old days.  Now there are different sandals for the following two weeks, ditto above and repeat until mid June, huge sales and then straight into A/W stock. 

We are forced to play Shopping Chicken.  Will the sandals you see now be the perfect ones..... or will there be a better pair in a month?  Of course, the obvious answer is that the ideal pair of sandals will hit the shops one day after the returns period on your previously favourite pair runs out.  Along with Shopping Chicken, we are now also faced with Shopping Sod's Law.

Last year, there were the Isabel Marant lookeylikeys in Dune that were totally sold out by the end of March.  (maybe not the exact date but very early....).  They came back into stock in about November.  Chocolate teapot springs to mind. 

So this year, as ridiculous as it sounds, I am going a sandal hunting.  The sun has been out for a week now, I am getting carried away.  (nothing new there then) 

Armed with inspiration from yesterday and still confused as a dog with a plastic bone about which direction I should jump with regards to S/S styles, I am starting from the ground upwards. 

Starting with proving my point and wanting to sob at the same time.  The smugness I feel at being right with my "it's never too early to buy sandals" theory, is minimal compared to the devastation (slight overreaction) at my size already being OUT OF STOCK.  What was I saying about that Sod's Law?  I saw these a week or so ago and thought, ooh they're going on my wish list definitely.  When will I ever learn?  

Somerset by Alice Temperley Lacey leather flat sandals £95





Suede lace up cuff sandals from M&S £39.50.  These are gorgeous - love the colour and the simplicity of them but ever so slightly confused by "this item only comes in one size".  Really M&S??  Not sure if they've changed it by now online but I simply cannot believe they make a pair of shoes only in a size 6?  As you can see, the sandal shopping, going really well already.



Or the rust.... again £39.50 and apparently only available in one size as well. 



Extra interest in the form of snakeskin now.  I love these - very Aquazzura for a fraction of the cost.  My very old (about 6yrs old...) tan gladiators are from Aldo and they have lasted really really well. 

Aldo Wares Brown Gladiator Flat Sandals £50




Slightly more simple style in a suede leopard print from ASOS £20 - Foozle Leather  



Gladiators with a bit of oomph now.  These aren't going to be everyone's cup of tea but these have grown on me and I'm definitely going to try them on. 

H by Hudson Newton Black Strap Gladiator Sandal £90




Pure minimalist at Hunter (who knew they did sandals...but I love these).  I have to be careful though with sandals like these - I can't have too much toe on show at the front as I suffer from Toes like Fingers syndrome and it looks like my feet are trying to claw their bony way out of the front of the sandal.  Tis a beautiful look.  

Hunger Original Moustache Slide leather sandals £50



Staying with clean lines, these look very like a pair of Ancient Greek sandals which would be 3 times the cost. 

Steve Madden Ainsto £55











Again, these could be Ancient Greek for a fraction of the cost. 

ASOS Flick Leather Sliders £20 (although these do seem like a slightly funny fit on the right foot..... but they look ok in the silver)





Crossover again and these are the Jolenes from Dune which were the ones that sold out in about 30 seconds last year (the aforementioned sandals that have me all a panicking this year) 





Possibly my favourite though from Aldo. 




Whilst these are a simple style, bit of leopard print adds that extra bit of interest. 



A bit of buckle detail now.  Nothing too over the top though.  Can you see where I'm thinking of heading this S/S? (at this moment in time...) 




Buckles wise, these were also out last year and I loved them then but I think I may love them even more this year. 

Carvela Kall Flat leather £75




And there I must stop otherwise this will be the longest blog in the history of blogs.  Doesn't mean I'm stopping looking though.  It also doesn't mean that I am anywhere nearer nailing down which is my favourite.  Handily though, the weather looks like it's not warming up this weekend which means my feet can stay firmly housed in boots.  

So which way are you going to be hopping sandal wise?  Have you made a purchase or are you hanging out for something super special..... playing sandal chicken?   Will you go gladiators, buckles or minimalist?  And you may notice that I haven't mentioned anything Birkie related.  Well that's not because they're not back with a vengeance and it's certainly not because I've gone off the style - it's just that there are so many variations on the theme, I'm putting together a little blog all of its own. 

Finishing with outfit from yesterday.  Had friends over for dinner last night, lovely and casual and not too late although I'm not sure 6 adults should be able to drink that much wine and feel fine the next day....


Untitled

Breton top - H&M
Camel knitted blazer - Whistles
Indigo Baxters - Topshop
Leopard print scarf - Louis Vuitton
Whiskey Medium Marcie satchel - Choe

Today, off for the 8yr old's First Reconciliation (Confession in old money) and then he's off to a tennis tournament (hoping hoping hoping he doesn't have an Autistic meltdown if they lose....I have xbox games at the ready for encouragement) and then a lovely movie night with the kids as The Husband is off at the rugby. 

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!


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CONVERSATION

32 comentarios:

  1. Is it wrong to not like a single pair? They're so flat and fugly! I will eat my words when you wear a pair and I'm all 'oh Kat you look amazing'!

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    1. oh I LOVE flat sandals. I seem to hardly ever wear a pair of heels in the Summer! What do you wear in the Summer on your feet during the day? (just different sandals I guess! It would be such a dull world if we all wore the same things) xxxx

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    2. Tried on the schu vacation sandal and loved them but have a voucher for M&S hoping they may do a version similar

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    3. ooh I"m not sure I know which ones they are..... Will check them out x

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  2. The Fyria's are lush and the colour is right up my street. Still on the look out for the perfect strappy, stringy shoes (I've decided I really want the Aquazurras - luckily for hubby, I think they sold out many moons ago). Wearing those boots well Kat, they're gorgeous with a capital G x

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    1. Thank you lovely - I've just ordered the strappy shoes in the navy from Boden. I can't get my head around the black and the irish dancing shoes correlation.....!!

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  3. Love the carvelas, have a similar pair, lasted for years. Oh how I remember my first confession. I couldn't think of any sins so I made some up. It's been downhill ever since.

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    1. Ha ha ha ha - still have no idea what the poor 8yr old said (or should I say poor Fthr Gregory... apparently he was just going to say that everyone is an idiot which is why he sometimes sins but it's not his fault - the problem is that everyone else is an idiot. Good luck with that one Father...!!)

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  4. I love, love, love the silver Haldi platform slider at Whistles.. Still expensive even with the discount but may treat myself.

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    1. I can't quite get to grips with the curved sole... which means I'll have a pair by June!

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  5. When I looked the M& S sandals ARE available in other sizes, particularly the rust ones

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    1. But not my size :(

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    2. That's plain odd - although I did think it was obviously a mistake that they were saying they were only available in one size!

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  6. I got the m and s sandals in store. They have all sizes available. Love them. Now need the sun to shine. Love the dungarees. Been in h and m today looking for them. My husband asked if I wanted a paint brush too!!! They crack me up these men!!!

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    1. They think they're so so funny, don't they... ha ha ha NOT!

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  7. Love the aldo snakeskin ones. I love flat and chunky sandals. I have chunky black ones, navy birkies, so I need a different style now...

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    1. They're gorgeous aren't they? Am going to check them out tomorrow in the flesh x

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  8. I love the Temperley ones but they are sold out in my size too. *cries*

    A trip to JL may be in order.

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    1. I'm sure you'll be able to order them instore - they can also deliver for you from another store so definitely ask if you like them x

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  9. I made up stories at my first confession too, it's been down hill ever since! I did however order the Temperley sandals and collected them today, love them, thanks Kat :)

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    1. Are they as amazing on as they look in the pics??!

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    2. They do look and feel great, probably worth a visit in store .

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  10. Just bought both colours in the M&S - this ALWAYS happens when I read your blog!!!!!!!! :( :)

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    1. Keeping the rust and returning the blush - they are like slippers and look amazing!

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    2. The blush is very very pale isn't it? Although I do think they look more similar in the flesh but yes, I would say the rust is more 70s stylee!

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  11. Flat, tan, simple sandals are what I'm after this summer. I ca't do heels during the day when it is hot either. But I don't like to be forced to buy them now and leave them in the wardrobe for another 4 months. I probably have to (indeed kids sandals were already sold out, how ridiculous is that!) I saw nice ones at &Otherstories and they do have a 20% off shoes now....
    http://www.stories.com/nl/Shoes/Flat_sandals/Low_Heel_Leather_Sandals/9958394-11316316.1

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    1. It's so ridiculous isn't it? And yes, some of these are already sold out. Just bonkers. I'm still wrapped up in two coats, hat and scarf at the weeekends!

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  12. Bought the Aldo snakeskin gladiators a few weeks ago, they're fab. Great line up of sandals you have there. Audrey x

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    1. ooh great minds! I can't wait to check them out in the flesh x

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  13. oh that sounds really odd with the dungarees... but then I have no boobs whatsoever to speak of. RIght, the dress - if you google it, and click on images there are lots of different ideas of how to wear it. I would say you could go ankle boots and a blazer for now. I'd wear with any flats actually, from skater shoes, sneakers to strappy flats. Or heeled sandals for the evening. And definitely any sort of slider or sandal for the Summer. I have to say I struggle with a low block heel with a dress... I think they work better with trousers. x

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  14. Oh I LOVE my new glasses - my birthday present were the Chanel Pearl ones and I am absolutely adoring them. x

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