The one thing I cannot master

Shoes to wear in the Winter with a dress - for the evening. 

Ok so that's not entirely true - I do have a trusty (read old) pair of Zara suede ankle boots which, for the past FIVE years, I have been saying I must replace.  They are perfect, well they are nearly perfect.  They're too high.  And it's not so much the verging on tranny territory that bothers me.  Alas no, I drink way too much to let that bother me after the first five minutes of being out. 

No, it's a sad fact I've had to come to terms with but it's Old Age that is the problem here.  Not my height, or the shoes, no it's my knees.  And my feet.  And my back.  Oh god I want to sob writing this - it's all catching up with me. 

I know people said "ooh everything starts falling apart at 40".   They were telling the truth.  Not only can I have one Big Mac Meal and put on half a stone (actually I don't have Big Mac Meals, I am a Big Tasty convert.  The fact they have double the calories of a BM, oh and I always super size it, is perhaps more the issue), I can't drink on two nights in a row anymore and I can't stand up in a bar for longer than an hour without wanting to cry. 

If I wear vertiginous heels, my knees honestly feel like they're going to give way.  

So rant over - I'm not going to get maudlin about this.  When the going gets tough, the tough go shoe shopping. 

Except that I've been trying to do this for the last number of years and have failed miserably (hence I keep knackering my joints by wearing those ridiculous shoes)  

I thought I'd mastered it last year with some from John Lewis but they weren't quite right.  Ditto the ones from Mint Velvet which I *may* have bought and returned x 3.  (honestly - embarrassing or what?)  In fact, they were in the sale for about £40 and even then I didn't get them as they were Not Right. 

So...................................... What am I looking for?  Well.  The issue I have with dressy dresses is that there is a fine line between dressed for a wedding and just a casual dressy (you know what I mean) night out.  And if I dig deep and am truly honest - I don't want to feel too grown up. 

Saying that at the ripe old age of 41 is clearly ridiculous.  Not even faintly ridiculous - it's well and truly moronic. 

But I've put it out there now and with dainty heels and a dress, I feel like a frumpy mum.  In my head I'm not 41, I'm still 28.

And then of course, I have the mutton issue..... Oh look, talking myself round in circles here, let's see if there are any other there that will finally fit the bill. 

Shoes that aren't too ladylike.  Something with a bit of "edge" to them (typed with my poncey hat on yes).  Not an ankle boot, not even necessarily a shoot.  Normally I'd say suede as I think leather in something more substantial can look too heavy.  To go with a dress, even a skirt and top, for a Christmas night out, dinner party, Christmas Day.  Clear as mud eh?

I have been putting this off (procrastinator, moi?) but the other day I saw these on the Wallis website and thought - hell they could work.  They are the perfect balance to me of shoe and boot.

Black Leather Asymmetric Cut Shoe Boot was £95 now £85.50

I also spied these on the Wallis site which would do a great job of livening up a plain little black dress and would also be fab with jeans or trousers. 

Black Glitter Buckle Shoe Boots was £39.50 now £35.55



At Mint Velvet they do have some this season - I adore the styling here, as you can see they work so well for during the day as well as purely for evening wear. 

Black Lenni Blocked Boot from Mint Velvet £129




These are perhaps more bootie than I'm now veering towards but they are a bargain and not as vertiginous as some. 

Black Junette by Nine West was £125 now £39



However these are top of my list and I've ordered them after trying them on instore today and finding only THREE pairs left in black - in titchy tiny Cinderella sizes or at the other end of the spectrum.   Nothing like everything been sold out to ensure that I HAVE to have it. Duh. 

I have had these on before but did I heed my own advice and buy them?  Did I heck as like and now I have to shoehorn my foot into a 6 (I did try it on today...) as opposed to a 6.5. (this isn't going to end well, is it...?)

Suede Elasticated Autograph boot £59.00  BUT there is a 20% off Discount at M&S (yes again..) with the code OCT14EM (usable as often as you like) OFF EVERYTHING! 



White jersey layering shirt - Me+Em
Black thin knit jumper - Cos
Black Tuxedo jacket - Hush
Patch skinnies - Mango
Leopard print loafers - Zara

And today - another inbetweeny outfit.  I am loving the navy.





Navy merino jumper - Uniqlo
Navy dress coat - H&M
White leather tennis shoes - Zara
Print trousers - Zara
Camel bag - Prada

Today I had a lovely lunch with a gorgeous friend and a fantastic mooch around the shops.  And I may have managed to tick off another item on my list of obsessives.... From a shop that I don't normally shop in.  I have done definitely, but I can't think of one thing I own from there.  However I did a big trying on session of things that caught my eye and there are some goodies and some baddies.  Guess which shop?!  I'll give you a clue - it's a pretty cheap treat - what's not to love?