Which side of the fence are you on?
The love it, or the "DEAR GOD MY EYES" side?
Flatforms. Platforms. Heavy soles.. But on sneakers. (all vom at once).
Now I did mention yesterday that the jury was out on these, but to be honest with you, the fact that I'm wavering this early on in the season, doesn't bode well for me not having caved by Valentine's day. Weather depending of course. We still have the end of January to tackle yet and as one who has her birthday then and can count on one hand the number of "not ruined by the weather" birthdays she has had in living memory, I'm not confident that we will actually be wearing these pre mid Feb.
Today - my not remotely classic and definitely disgraceful item is, as I mentioned the platform. Actually, to take it one step further, the flatform. Yes, I hear you cry, these are not new? These have been around for years and years, you old lady. Well yes, they have but I would say predominantly in sandal form. Maybe the odd loafer or brogue last year.
But this year, we have the flatform on speed. I spied these when I was in Whistles the week before Christmas. First thought was (here's where you can tell I'm 40+) - ooh they won't be good in the rain *facepalm*. But then my inner disgracefulness pipes up and I think, hell who cares. These rock. The fact I couldn't stop thinking about them is always a good sign and I know I was on the right path ("right" is clearly a subjective term there) when I came across almost identical at good old Stella McCartney. Which is handy as it makes the Whistles ones look *vaguely* reasonable... Now where is that 25% off new season voucher when you need it?
Melby Espadrille Trainer from Whistles £165
Melby Suede Espadrille Trainer £165
However I also then came across these.... Not forgetting how much I loved the skater shoes from two years ago (first time in as long as I can remember that I actually wore out two pairs of shoes). These are a pimped version for this season. It's all about the heavy sole.
Felt heavy sole trainers from Whistles £140
All the love for this styling. This is a new season cardigan and polo neck but you could easily recreate the look with a jumper dress from A/W (which handily I have... bobbly or not bobbly, I love it - the Whistles cashmere one and shall be wearing it like this for sure.)
And similar at Stella - clearly the espadrille along with platform will be having a moment this S/S.
Macy Faux suede trainers £320 (personally I completely prefer the Whistles ones)
And then of course there are, what Stella calls a loafer... Not sure that would be my definition of a loafer - but a flatform it sure is.
Stella McCartney Binx Flatform loafers £295
I do then feel super smug with already having my Seven Boot Lane ones from last year - the Dakotas... hopefully they'll be doing some thing similar this year. I will let you know as soon as I find out. They also did a lace up pair as well.. I have high hopes.
Similar can be found now though at Finery. These have been so so popular and it's not hard to see why.
Elwood Luxury Pointed Trainers from Finery £59
Faux Fur version? £79 also from Finery
A complete on speed version from Mango. My excuse is that I'm too tall for these... (and they may be a tad too far out of my comfort zone.. I would also get vertigo in these). Surely the best Stella McC tributes out there though?
Contrast Platform Shoes £79.99
Stella's "originals?"
Elyse Lace up platform shoe from Stella McCartney £580
And then we're back into the more comfortable zone of a trainer with a bit of oomph on the sole. These are perhaps more wearable, and this season's slight variation on the classic that we've all been wearing.
Toulouse Leather Lace up Trainers in navy from Topshop £52
Surprise of the day though, has to come from Clarks. I got an email with this pic on and genuinely thought it must be Cos or some other such pared back Scandi brand.
But no. Good old Clarks. And they're super good for your feet as well.
Trigenic Flex in White from Clarks £100
They actually reminded me of something else.. let's just say I am NOT a trainer expert in any way shape or form so in between the boring bits of Harry Potter this morning (I will say I was glued to Little Women which was the first movie.. Harry Potter, I really really want to love but can take or leave it)
Nike Air Force 1 '07 £69.99
Or the Nike Air AF1 Ultra Force ESS white trainers £70. These are different from the above. Apparently. I'm sure to your generic trainer expert, the difference is highly visible. To the complete amateur that I am, they look the same.
If you're looking for a new white trainer this season, then I think this is an excellent place to start. Clearly, this is coming from someone with Gimmer Trainer status and those who are in the know will be rolling their eyes and guffawing as they've been sporting (ha!) these for ages.
But to your newcomer, if you're into a heavier sole as appears to be the done thing this Spring and want box fresh white, these are a great option.
However, I'm not in the white trainer market but I've spied, (during my research and education of all that is Nike Air Force 1 - yes until this morning I thought that was just what the President of the USA flew around in. Minus the Nike bit) a pale grey suede pair which has made me think - oh hello. Not something I had thought of AT ALL before but I love the pale grey with the sand coloured sole. Are these "meant" to look retro? Like I say, no idea but who cares, I love them. Really really love them.
Nike Air Force 1 Grey Suede Trainers £80 from & Other Stories. Which means they must be beyond cool. To me, they're just that bit different, whilst still being super wearable and not toooo disgraceful. Dare I say a variation on a classic or have I just looked at too many sneakers today?
Now here's the thing when it comes to these, how shall we say, more way out there pieces, is, I would try to do one at a time. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to do just one all season but I would possibly recommend (unless you are super adventurous) limiting the disgraceful things that you wear in the same outfit. She says fully aware that she probably breaks this rule on a daily basis. But what else are rules there for...?
I can, hand on heart, say I need a new pair of shoes like I need a hole in the head. I am thinking though if I have a huge "shoe out" of existing ones that I no longer wear, I'll have room for new...Certainly loads of them are heels that I seem to rarely wear now during the day (old lady with dodgy knees alert) although I definitely can't totally ditch them in the evening. And I still have a penchant for heeled ankle boots. Actually I don't have that many pairs at all - five maybe? So it's pretty much a handful of flats and some old sneakers (yes YOU New Balance) that I don't wear. Ok I feel better now.
Has anyone else come over to the flat side? And if so - what are your flats of choice?
Today.. another one bit the dust. But that's three for three children so all five of us have had the lurgy now. Two children at home today (one sick, one fine - 48hr rule..) and so tomorrow, we'll still be under house arrest. I haven't left the house bar to walk the dog very briefly since Saturday lunchtime...
Suffice to say, on a scale of one to ten of Florence Nightingales, I'm now hovering somewhere around Rose West. It will come as no surprise to anyone in my family that I finally acknowledge I am no loss to the nursing profession. Hell, I'm rubbish. I try, I really do and we all muddle through. I also make an absolutely pants patient. Thank heavens we are all done now and normal service can be resumed.
On the upside, I have managed to finish off the majority of the Christmas chocolates Box of Thorntons, home made fudge - not by me - and Belgian choc biscuits today. And yes, the joggers were obviously out again. I have managed to make a list of healthy eating recipes but since we're living out of the larder and freezer till I can get to a supermarket, I feel I'm doing us all a favour by hoovering the remainder of the Christmas goodies.
Another day and another early dog walk.
Black vest - Primark
Black Bat sweatshirt - Zoe Karssen
Charcoal harem pants - hush (and if you didn't know - their sale has started...)
Edie boots - Seven Boot Lane (I have not had these off my feet all week. Pure. Bliss)
Black knitted coat - Ronit Zilkha
So whilst we're here, the Jensens and the Ash Miras have arrived for me to compare and contrast. I haven't tried them on together yet but I will say that the Jensens are slightly baggier on the ankle than I had anticipated. And looooooooooooong. Sign me up for the next Penguins of Madagascar film. For £400 (ouch) I can already say they're not for me but I do have higher hopes for the Ash virgins at a quarter of the price. But I'll bring my full report tomorrow. When I can be bothered to try them on with something else other than my joggers.
Seeing as yet again, I won't be leaving the house tomorrow and I think we've run out of things to watch on the Sky+ and I have new magazines that the husband super kindly bought me along with some new catalogues which have arrived, I will be back with another off piste idea for the new season. Don't be shocked. Cabin fever does funny things to your mind...
Would love to know where you sit on the flatform fence though? I was sitting on it but, as per blooming usual, I've manage to talk myself into being firmly on the "which ones I justify" side.
Flatforms. Platforms. Heavy soles.. But on sneakers. (all vom at once).
Now I did mention yesterday that the jury was out on these, but to be honest with you, the fact that I'm wavering this early on in the season, doesn't bode well for me not having caved by Valentine's day. Weather depending of course. We still have the end of January to tackle yet and as one who has her birthday then and can count on one hand the number of "not ruined by the weather" birthdays she has had in living memory, I'm not confident that we will actually be wearing these pre mid Feb.
Today - my not remotely classic and definitely disgraceful item is, as I mentioned the platform. Actually, to take it one step further, the flatform. Yes, I hear you cry, these are not new? These have been around for years and years, you old lady. Well yes, they have but I would say predominantly in sandal form. Maybe the odd loafer or brogue last year.
But this year, we have the flatform on speed. I spied these when I was in Whistles the week before Christmas. First thought was (here's where you can tell I'm 40+) - ooh they won't be good in the rain *facepalm*. But then my inner disgracefulness pipes up and I think, hell who cares. These rock. The fact I couldn't stop thinking about them is always a good sign and I know I was on the right path ("right" is clearly a subjective term there) when I came across almost identical at good old Stella McCartney. Which is handy as it makes the Whistles ones look *vaguely* reasonable... Now where is that 25% off new season voucher when you need it?
Melby Espadrille Trainer from Whistles £165
Melby Suede Espadrille Trainer £165
However I also then came across these.... Not forgetting how much I loved the skater shoes from two years ago (first time in as long as I can remember that I actually wore out two pairs of shoes). These are a pimped version for this season. It's all about the heavy sole.
Felt heavy sole trainers from Whistles £140
And similar at Stella - clearly the espadrille along with platform will be having a moment this S/S.
Macy Faux suede trainers £320 (personally I completely prefer the Whistles ones)
And then of course there are, what Stella calls a loafer... Not sure that would be my definition of a loafer - but a flatform it sure is.
Stella McCartney Binx Flatform loafers £295
Similar can be found now though at Finery. These have been so so popular and it's not hard to see why.
Elwood Luxury Pointed Trainers from Finery £59
Faux Fur version? £79 also from Finery
A complete on speed version from Mango. My excuse is that I'm too tall for these... (and they may be a tad too far out of my comfort zone.. I would also get vertigo in these). Surely the best Stella McC tributes out there though?
Contrast Platform Shoes £79.99
Stella's "originals?"
Elyse Lace up platform shoe from Stella McCartney £580
And then we're back into the more comfortable zone of a trainer with a bit of oomph on the sole. These are perhaps more wearable, and this season's slight variation on the classic that we've all been wearing.
Toulouse Leather Lace up Trainers in navy from Topshop £52
Surprise of the day though, has to come from Clarks. I got an email with this pic on and genuinely thought it must be Cos or some other such pared back Scandi brand.
But no. Good old Clarks. And they're super good for your feet as well.
Trigenic Flex in White from Clarks £100
They actually reminded me of something else.. let's just say I am NOT a trainer expert in any way shape or form so in between the boring bits of Harry Potter this morning (I will say I was glued to Little Women which was the first movie.. Harry Potter, I really really want to love but can take or leave it)
Nike Air Force 1 '07 £69.99
Or the Nike Air AF1 Ultra Force ESS white trainers £70. These are different from the above. Apparently. I'm sure to your generic trainer expert, the difference is highly visible. To the complete amateur that I am, they look the same.
If you're looking for a new white trainer this season, then I think this is an excellent place to start. Clearly, this is coming from someone with Gimmer Trainer status and those who are in the know will be rolling their eyes and guffawing as they've been sporting (ha!) these for ages.
But to your newcomer, if you're into a heavier sole as appears to be the done thing this Spring and want box fresh white, these are a great option.
However, I'm not in the white trainer market but I've spied, (during my research and education of all that is Nike Air Force 1 - yes until this morning I thought that was just what the President of the USA flew around in. Minus the Nike bit) a pale grey suede pair which has made me think - oh hello. Not something I had thought of AT ALL before but I love the pale grey with the sand coloured sole. Are these "meant" to look retro? Like I say, no idea but who cares, I love them. Really really love them.
Nike Air Force 1 Grey Suede Trainers £80 from & Other Stories. Which means they must be beyond cool. To me, they're just that bit different, whilst still being super wearable and not toooo disgraceful. Dare I say a variation on a classic or have I just looked at too many sneakers today?
Now here's the thing when it comes to these, how shall we say, more way out there pieces, is, I would try to do one at a time. It doesn't necessarily mean you have to do just one all season but I would possibly recommend (unless you are super adventurous) limiting the disgraceful things that you wear in the same outfit. She says fully aware that she probably breaks this rule on a daily basis. But what else are rules there for...?
I can, hand on heart, say I need a new pair of shoes like I need a hole in the head. I am thinking though if I have a huge "shoe out" of existing ones that I no longer wear, I'll have room for new...Certainly loads of them are heels that I seem to rarely wear now during the day (old lady with dodgy knees alert) although I definitely can't totally ditch them in the evening. And I still have a penchant for heeled ankle boots. Actually I don't have that many pairs at all - five maybe? So it's pretty much a handful of flats and some old sneakers (yes YOU New Balance) that I don't wear. Ok I feel better now.
Has anyone else come over to the flat side? And if so - what are your flats of choice?
Today.. another one bit the dust. But that's three for three children so all five of us have had the lurgy now. Two children at home today (one sick, one fine - 48hr rule..) and so tomorrow, we'll still be under house arrest. I haven't left the house bar to walk the dog very briefly since Saturday lunchtime...
Suffice to say, on a scale of one to ten of Florence Nightingales, I'm now hovering somewhere around Rose West. It will come as no surprise to anyone in my family that I finally acknowledge I am no loss to the nursing profession. Hell, I'm rubbish. I try, I really do and we all muddle through. I also make an absolutely pants patient. Thank heavens we are all done now and normal service can be resumed.
On the upside, I have managed to finish off the majority of the Christmas chocolates Box of Thorntons, home made fudge - not by me - and Belgian choc biscuits today. And yes, the joggers were obviously out again. I have managed to make a list of healthy eating recipes but since we're living out of the larder and freezer till I can get to a supermarket, I feel I'm doing us all a favour by hoovering the remainder of the Christmas goodies.
Another day and another early dog walk.
Black vest - Primark
Black Bat sweatshirt - Zoe Karssen
Charcoal harem pants - hush (and if you didn't know - their sale has started...)
Edie boots - Seven Boot Lane (I have not had these off my feet all week. Pure. Bliss)
Black knitted coat - Ronit Zilkha
So whilst we're here, the Jensens and the Ash Miras have arrived for me to compare and contrast. I haven't tried them on together yet but I will say that the Jensens are slightly baggier on the ankle than I had anticipated. And looooooooooooong. Sign me up for the next Penguins of Madagascar film. For £400 (ouch) I can already say they're not for me but I do have higher hopes for the Ash virgins at a quarter of the price. But I'll bring my full report tomorrow. When I can be bothered to try them on with something else other than my joggers.
Seeing as yet again, I won't be leaving the house tomorrow and I think we've run out of things to watch on the Sky+ and I have new magazines that the husband super kindly bought me along with some new catalogues which have arrived, I will be back with another off piste idea for the new season. Don't be shocked. Cabin fever does funny things to your mind...
Would love to know where you sit on the flatform fence though? I was sitting on it but, as per blooming usual, I've manage to talk myself into being firmly on the "which ones I justify" side.