Shoe. Porn.

In a nutshell.  

I am over day shoes.  I've over thought it, I'm happy with my sandals and my sneakers.  I'm going to order a random pair of babouches online which look identical to the Acne Aminas and save the sum total of about £300.  Ha.  What's not to love about that?! 
  And all this talk of occasion dressing has led me to think of new shoes.  For the evening.  Of the complete and utterly impractical variety.  You won't be walking very far in these.  You really won't.  But you will look at them and want to cry with joy. (ok so maybe I shouldn't have admitted that out loud but shoes can give bring me real happiness.  I get my kicks where I can, especially when we're one week into the holidays.  Please tell me I'm not the only one...).

I blame the internet.  So it *might* be my fault for signing up to all the gorgeous websites and then fawning over the jewels of loveliness that fall into my inbox every day.  But I look on them as inspiration...

Plus I have been promising one of these blogs for forever - all about my beloved shoe boots.  Or a bandal (that's a boot and a sandal by the way.  Snort.  REALLY??!!).  Who cares what they're called.  I look on them as sandally shoe things that means I don't have to fake tan to perfection as most of is encased in leather.  Plus I may have also discovered that you only have to paint the first couple of toe nails.  There must be others who do this... along with only fake tanning the section of leg that's visible?).

May I introduce you to my new obsession - the Balenciaga Sandal thingy.  The official name seems to change depending on where you look and to be honest, they're not available in that many places.  Glove shoe?

I have been lusting after these for ages.  They go with absolutely every permeation of evening outfit I can think of.  Every single dress I own, not to mention culottes, jumpsuits, skinnies, boyfriend jeans, cargos, flares (scraping the barrel now) and that's about all I wear (the latter added in to bulk my samey samey wardrobe). 

And will even be super wearable during the day for lunches and days out (so long as you're not walking too far..) in the mid heel.  But is the mid heel too mid?

I basically need a mid heel between the mid and the high... oh decisions decisions...

Balenciaga Mid Heel Glove Leather Sandals from My Theresa £425

Orr... the higher ones.  Balenciaga Mules £425 







And a cunning trick to make them look vaguely reasonable is to find an even more expensive pair... (for the record, this is Very Bad Idea).

Givenchy Rojda Sandals £680







However the best thing about finding a designer shoe that's popular (clearly that isn't *the best thing* but trying to find a silver lining and all that...) is that you can often find a similar version on the high street.  This time though, I have to say I love everything about the shoe above (apart from the heel height DANG) but let's see what else is out there. 

Whilst I'm wedded to black, I appreciate that other colours might be more suitable in the Summer.  Oh and personally I'm also loving the leather but again, others might find it too harsh so there are definitely suede alternatives.

Starting with M&S and of course they do the perfect heel.  Although I say that - interestingly, it's the same height as the one above... hmmm I think I will need to try both,

Cut out Sandals from M&S £55



And in the black 



Lower again and the only ones they seem to have this season at LK Bennett. 

Lara Peep toe sandals were £225 now £150





Hunting out the bargains now and no they're not leather, but if you don't wear them that often, they'll do the job perfectly.

Estelle Shoe Boots from ASOS £45.00




Boohoo Tie up Heel Shoe Boot £22.99


Some more bargains from Missguided at Zalando.

High Heeled Sandals in Tan £45  Also available in black.  Whilst we're talking about tan - I have a pair similar to this which I got from LK Bennett at Bicester three or four years ago.  They have been amazing.  




Lots on offer at Aldo with a block heel which, as we discussed the other day, is possibly (definitely) easier to walk in.  

Callie high heeled sandals £80 from Aldo




And in the bone... which is what they call it.  To me, it's tan but what do I know?



Suede in what they call khaki but is obviously the US khaki which is tan.  Someone at Aldo has a beige issue.

Zaneca high heeled sandal £70



And in the black leather - although I'm not sure this works.  Actually I'm pretty sure it doesn't.  The heel just looks clumpy as opposed to a decent block heel.  This is a perfect example of why most shoes like this are suede as it's hard not to make the leather look - well..gimpish.  Maybe they look epic on... and maybe not... (or I'm possibly being very unfair but maybe they do look very different on... )

Zaneca in the black 


Going slightly off piste now but they still do offer more coverage than your average sandal.  And they're a bargain in the sale so it would be rude not to include them. 

Janne high heeled sandals was £70 now £35




And in the black - which definitely works with a tan heel, again now only £35



Burgundy lace ups at River Island £65



Then there is the full on peep toe boot.  With added studs.  

Fersengold Berlin high heel boots £190



Bargains from Wallis at Zalando were £84 now £60  Yes - Wallis.  Apparently.  Have to say I think these are amazing.  Really, really rather amazing.  Free delivery and free returns, I may have to *try*.





And again these which I am ridiculously taken with.  I think with a Self Portrait or any other lace dress, they (and the ones above) would look simply fabulous.

gx by Gwen Stefani Tropical was £130 now £65



Shiso Black mid heel ankle boot from Nine West was £120 now £59  Much better heel height here.



So.  There we are.  Lover or hater of the shoe booty sandally things?  I am now officially hooked on the Balenciaga ones.  If someone can tell me where I can find an identical pair for a 10th of the price, I would be more than grateful.  Or shall I just make do with all my old shoes from the last couple of years and just splurge on these...  But then do I go mid or high?   My head says mid but my heart says high... Need to try them on to scratch the itch I think. 

Outfits from yesterday.  Great day with the children. NO TEARS!  A good day was had by all.  Which included swimming (and McDonalds...all the class here).



Black and white Breton top - H&M
Black boyfriend jeans - hush
Onyx biker jacket - hush
Brown monogrammed scarf - Gucci
White Superstar sneakers -  Golden Goose
Black Hazlemere bag - Village England

And then out for drinks and dinner with friends. 



Gold vest - hush
Essential silk shirt - hush
Black leather leggings - hush
Onyx biker jacket - hush
Red Soho Disco bag - Gucci
Nuria sock boots - Iro 

So we've had another great day today.  Swimming, out for lunch and now settling down to watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.   Which means that one of mine will be up all night with nightmares because of the Child Catcher, I'm betting.  Doh.  I'm 43 and still terrified of him.  And tomorrow.. a Lie In.  Yes, a Lie In.  Pure and utter bliss.  The 7yr old has decided he wants to "quit rugby" and after forcing him to go three times, we've concluded he means it.  Secretly I'm thrilled... although we do still have the rugby tour to look forward to *weeps*.  That's a whole other blog of misery right there.