And I'm also pants at this.

Sandal shopping.  Yes, I am boring myself with this.  BUT on the upside, I did manage to order yesterday from Atterley Road, the Vila set of striped shirt and culottes and the black crepe dress from the other day.   Will they arrive before my big lunch on Saturday?  Who knows.... 

So this is the second in what is growing to be a series of verbal ramblings, following on from my culottes thread the other day (which, in the end did come together nicely, to be fair).  I'm not sure I hold out as much hope for this one. 

Firstly, blogging in half term is hard.  Blogging in half term when you have a 10yr old who needs to do revision, in your infinite wisdom you didn't book your boys on any courses AND banned them from anything electrical bar an hour's use a day (seriously???) and you have a new puppy, is hard.  Oh and did I mention that you are home alone with the four small things as your husband is away all week (plus weekends) on a business trip.  Let's up the ante on "hard" to virtually impossible.  

Thank the lord for my amazing babysitter who was able to come yesterday as it was the only time I could get a hair appointment and my hair was one day away from being just totally unmanageable (it hasn't been cut since October.  Mingarama.  Overdue isn't the word)  

I happened to mention I had an issue with my colour - I had had highlights put in, instead of the balayage I had asked for and they suggested fixing it there and then.  Well bless them, they did an amazing job and I was able to spend the time searching for shoes. 

The perfect heeled sandals.  Which, if I found them, would be the IDEAL addition to my outfit for my Saturday girl's lunch.  (I should probably mention that I didn't *exactly* have an outfit at this point.  We'll come to back to this teensy tiny issue later)  

I was on a mission to find a cheaper version of the sandals I had totally fallen in love at my Me+Em shoot.  Which were from Gucci.  You know when you get in your head an idea that a pair of shoes will solve all of your problems? (itsy exaggeration there perhaps)

Gucci leather and suede sandals £575 from Matches 

I will say, having tried them on, that they are high (this wouldn't be an issue if they were £50. At nearly £600 it's a deal breaker).  Which is rather handy as, after my absolutely dismal research effort, I have come up with pretty much squat.  And when I say effort, I should say herculean search as I have spent hours looking for these.  My eyes hurt yesterday at the hairdressers from looking at pictures of shoes.  For pretty much nothing.  Can you believe it?!  I honestly think this is the longest blog I have ever ever ever written (in terms of research time.) 

Ok so it wasn't that there were none that were vaguely ok.  Let's take a step back and look at what I did find.  So other ankle straps I've found that don't cost nearly £600.  Starting at Whistles, as whilst these aren't particularly reasonable, they are a hell of lot more palatable price wise than the Gucci ones. 

Even though they're not tan... But navy?!  So starting miles off brief but they still have 20% off at John Lewis as do all Whistles things and navy sandals are really hard to come by.  I told you, the tan thing is not shaping up well. 

Whistle Senna Leather now £140 with 20% already off



And they also do them in white  (no, not tan...)



However these could well be a front runner.  I've posted these before on a clog like post (no I'm not insane - well I am, especially after this pigging tan sandal search, but...- these were a ringer at the end as they had a discount on them) and I love them.  Do I love them enough though, even with the discount?

Whistles Thistle Block Heeled Sandals in Nude £144 with discount



Again, not quite right - I have become rather obsessed with the ankle strap gig but apart from that, these look gorgeous.  Love the heel, love the strap detail, just wish it was an ankle strap.

Jigsaw Monique Leather Sandals £149





Were these to have a different heel, they'd be perfect.  Maybe I should just try and get with the wedge. (DAMN YOU GUCCI)

Ankle cuff wedges from Next £45




Now usually I'd say we were on to the ringers by the end, but we're found practically nothing to make this seem like *the end*.  The Guccis are in a class of their own.  I have FAILED on my mission I think.  So eschewing the brief for the minute, I did find some other tan sandals that are pretty lovely. 

Starting with tan... and we've also got some strappy bits even though they're not round the ankle.  And they're a wedge... but they're a woody/corky which is vaguely vaguely what I was looking for. (jeez louise can I stretch the boundaries anymore?)

Dune Graine Wedge Sandal - on offer at John Lewis with 20% off so now making them £55.20



Sticking with a wedge and these are in fact an ankle strap but they are high.  But to be honest, when we're talking high, is high is high is high?  At least they'd be comfy as they're a wedge.  And I do have to say, I did have my heart set on a browner tan - yes, I know, these are cream...  (ie the Gucci ones. ha ha ha) 

Peep Toe 70s Espadrille Wedge in tan from Next £54




Lower and probably super useful but I am now fixated with some other Italian jobs.  

Cork Platforms from Next £35



Another khaki pair - these would be right up my street if they were tan and without a wedge.... So basically rather different.   But were I looking for a khaki wedge these would get my vote. 

Cross over suede wedge in khaki £48



But finishing with a few that might sort of fit the bill.  Which isn't really saying much but they're the best I could find.  Not good enough I know, but this blog has almost finished me off.  I'm almost embarrassed to post it even though there are some lovely shoes on here, they are not what I'm looking for and I always find what I want (eventually...).  For the first time ever dare I say it... I *might* be totally over looking at shoes.  WASH MY MOUTH OUT.

Carvela Kara Leather £95 (but too high, too clumpy, just not quite right for my gargantuan proportions)



However bargains of the day go to New Look.  Where I've found two that might work.  And hell, they're cheap so that's a refreshing upside at least. 

Tan Premium Leather Crossover Sandals £49.99  But is there something about the heel I'm not sure about?  I fear I have looked at too many and have heel confusion. 




These I do love.  I really really love.  If they weren't hooker high (apologies I'm tired) 

Actually thinking about it - 12cm apparently.  Hmmm, need to go and measure my LK Bennett heels tan shoots which I wear a fair bit as I think they might be that high.  I think these might look higher because of the platform?  These would probably get my vote.  No, for less than £30 they'd definitely definitely get my vote.  

Tan High Vamp Ankle Strap Heels £29.99




Truth be told though, I have spent so long looking at shoes, I am OVER them.  Does that happen to anyone else?  You overthink something so much by the end of the process, it's totally out of your system?  I'm not sure I can even remember why I wanted them in the first place.  Sleep deprivation mode may have taken over....

This is me and the tan ankle strap sandals.  It's not happening.  On the upside, I didn't spend nearly £600 and discover that I can actually live without them a week after buying them and having worn them once.  Maybe there is a random method in my madness....

There must be another upside too.... it'll come to me, I'm sure.....

In the meantime, pics from the last day or so. 

Yesterday after my marathon session at The Square under the wonderful Ben Hards and his team.  On my way back to my old balayage. 


So there we have an absolutely rubbish blog.  I have discovered that there is a huge gap in the market for a decent tan, block heel ankle strap sandal (not that that's a narrow field or anything...)  I also may have discovered (scarily at the last minute) that I pretty much have no idea what I'm wearing on Saturday. 

Clearly there will be a third (and hopefully final) instalment in the "she's slightly lost it" blog saga, tomorrow.  Wood, trees, anyone?!