Don't worry sunshine is around the corner

Well, fingers crossed, hey! I'm sure it is, we'll all be able to dust off those sandals and pretty frocks soon enough. However given we are not tripping the light fantastic with those heady days of after works drinks to relish the warmer weather, why not get some preparation in instead.

What really makes a look is the finishing touches and for starters the lovely Mrs Fab has a wonderful DIY Pedi post on her blog. 
Now is also the time to get your hair cut and apply a hair treatment to get it in great glossy mane shape. Why not apply a home made potion on you locks. Sali Hughes did a great review of hair masks for all budgets in The Guardian

When it comes to your wardrobe I suggest you really re-evaluate what you have and get rid of any items you are never going to wear again. These are usually items which are worn and need repairing or you've had them since 1994 and seriously you are never going to wear them again.

Make a list of what you need and look for items that are discounted or wait for the sale as they will be very soon as retailers have been badly affected by the weather and are going to want to shift stock.

In the meantime you can help me decide which sandals to buy. The choice is between a pair from New Look (top) or Zara (bottom) and no I can't get both! Please leave your vote in the comments box as I seem to be inept at adding a voting button below!

Update: I put a voting thingy on the side!
UPDATED Update: 66% of you said 'aye' to the Zara ones. Thank you for helping me in my shoe hour of need. I ordered the Zara sandals into my local Zara store in Kingston. The order into store thingy is marvellous btw!

Starry Sparkly night

Well thanks to some eejit(s) who decided to cut through the BT wires in an attempt to get copper wires I was left without internet of phone access for 56 hours! This was not good. Therefore this post is later than intended. Plus I couldn't read any blogs, browse the internet, tweet - in fact all manner of everyday nonsense I engage in. It made me bereft. However I did realise I was so new school and reliant on all things geeky. Thank goodness for my iphone and 3G. It made me wish I'd got 3G on my ipad but I know where all this geekiery gets me now.

Post no internet trauma I made a trip to Staples and purchased some good old fashioned items that had I had during internet trauma I would have been able to do some other work. The said items are a stapler and a hole punch. Simple fare but now I realise they are exceedingly useful. My project is to complete my home office in the New Year, I'm getting organised and this is scaring me.

Back to Friday night which was the point of this post. I actually went to a corporate Christmas party. We didn't stay very long as I didn't know anyone but it was really nice and I had fun whilst I was there. I wore a gorgeous Isabella Oliver 365collection sequin dress from their S/S11 collection and sparkly gold shoes. Not Miu Miu but Zara.

 Not great photos taken by Mr MDS on the iphone but they'll do. My dress was party perfect as were the M&S Autograph 15 denier tights and my Zara shoes. The Zara shoes were such fun to look at. Mr MDS and I took a walk over the Hungerford footbridge and St Paul's and all the sights looked lovely. There was a Christmas market on the Southbank so we strolled around it to the sounds of Bing Crosby and Doris Day. It was actually really romantic and quite cinematic. Especially as we were dressed up to the nines. Isn't it funny how the simplest of evenings can be the best.

 Mulled wine and hot roasted chestnuts completed my outfit.

Fashion night nought!

Women! Take heed...do not wish away your life on thinking of men folk or the perfect relationships go out now and party for ever more. This stuff about marriage, kids etc. 'tis all nonsense.

This picture should serve as a warning that men are still on top and wearing the headdresses!

Let me put it another way, would you like control of the TV remote? Would you like to nip into London town for Vogue's Fashion Night Out? Would you enjoy making use of all the invites you've received and grab a few canapes and cocktails on the way - hmm! Would you like to fret over the choice of a car to Fulham for the Tods after party or rocking up to Mahiki for the DKNY after party? Yes, I thought so.

Rewind....Mrs MDS usually meets Mr MDS on a Thursday night for a drink or a bite to eat. It is their only time together on their own. Occasionally they have to sacrifice this pleasure but on the whole, they make the effort. Mrs MDS had so many Fashion Night Out invites she didn't know what to do. So she planned a few early meets with some friends and then the Bond St and surrounding shops invites with Mr MDS. With Mahiki being the favourite option for a cocktail then home.

Tuesday, Mr MDS comes home and says 'I forgot that I was going with *x friends* to drive *y's* car round Brans Hatch on Thursday.' Mrs MDS counts to 10 in her head. Mentally rips up all the invites in her head as well. Loses control of her facial muscles momentarily and sighs. It might have been a snort but ...Remembering it is best to be positive , she says 'Oh well, what a shame' and thinks those 'Marc Jacob shoes will be mine!'



In a fit of generosity she distributes her well organised route to a friend to enjoy with her plus one and looks forward to a night in charge of the remote control with soothing camomile tea.

The moral of the story is there is a very good reason why boots are made for walking especially ones with pointy heels.

High Street Pick of the Week

For all you leopard skin lovers out there, LK Bennett have decided to fulfil your every need with the Maryann Leopard Boot. It will set you back by £250 but given those Louboutin's are out of your price range you surely can't go wrong.

What I learnt about shoes

Truly a good pair of shoes maketh an outfit. If there are two things you should 'invest' in - a good pair of shoes and a coat. These two items will dress up everything else. I still need a good coat.

Yesterday I wore a M&S black cardigan and a Ted Baker black dress, neither were anything special although the Ted Baker dress is a lovely style and the cardigan felt v. luxe. It was the Prada shoes that made the outfit. I refrained from a photo. It was a funeral after all. Even a blogger wouldn't go that far.

My new house guests

During my malfunction week - which thankfully is all resolved, although awaiting dry cleaning verdict on dress - I gained some new house guests. I found them in the great yellow house upon Oxford Street. They loved me too. They gladly accepted a lift home and have come to stay.

Canal of Shoes

I was too slow to snap someone moving home by boat through the canals of Venice. Partly because I was concerned for the very nice large LCD TV laying on top of neatly packed boxes. The canals are a hive of activity and not just for the gondolas.


The canals, coupled with the squares or piazzas, create much intricacy to an outsider. However, for the Venetians despite the avalanche of tourism it is life as usual. I found one such business tucked away near the Rialto bridge in the San Polo district. Serafino is a small cobblers. It's owner has run his business for 50 years.



Bearing in mind he speaks not a word of English and my Italian is consistently at improving beginner, we chatted for ages although I really didn't get his name. Name aside, I do know the weight of the mushroom he found in the 1970s. I also know that he repairs a lot of shoes and many for Ferragamo including a pair for Marilyn Monroe. He has some wonderful eclectic pairs as part of his display and in the tiny shop.

I could have spent all day in there but alas, he had to wander off to drop off shoes, leaving shop unattended with no worries and I really couldn't tend the store. I did find time to safe guard his reputation as a man who can appreciate mushrooms as well as shoes, and explained to him the need to beware of people who try to 'acquire' shoes. Safely tucked in a draw is his beware notice. Probably as crudely put as this warning poster at the quayside regarding bags.

MDS goes shopping and cleans up her act

I know shopping! It was quite shocking, I'd forgotten what it was like. Normally I'm with a client or getting items for a rail or compiling a list for someone. Not only have I been good but I've had no time either. However the petit garcon was in need of shorts and he made pleasant company while I took items from my rail back.

I've taken inspiration from That's Not My Age and embraced granny chic in the form of wedge sandals from M&S. Having recently product tested nearly every single shoe in their new range I realised that stomping around London in a 'comfy' pair of wedges that give height but cushion your feet seem like a good idea.

The M&S Footglove range (serious granny credentials) and Autograph have some very Chloe-esque wedges. At £45 it makes economic sense to grab some granny action and not blow the budget. In addition I discovered M&S's own range coconut body butter that is cheaper than the Bodyshop and also there was a 3 for 2 offer on. Then ....finally I broke the knicker drought.

I've made no effort in respect of time or parting with folding to get some much needed new knickers. I cannot begin to admit the disgrace that has been my knicker drawer for the last few years. Once again good old M&S (it feels nice to have the love back for M&S) have lovely well priced cotton pants galore to choose from and so I did. Proper grown up now. Don't read on if you have no patience for someone who shares too much information...

The M&S booty, l to right granny wedges, coconut body butter and new packs of pants.

Close up of the soon to be street pounding wedges. I will wear with my flared jeans or khaki rolled up skinny chinos.

Okay, don't panic they are clean but are evidence of how falling apart I was in the knicker department. I feel like a new women now I've admitted to my underwear failing. I did actually lecturer a lovely model on Saturday on the need of having a flesh thong, brief and boyfit short with her for shoots; while crossing my fingers behind my back in the knowledge that knickers really weren't my forte.

Out! Worn out and being dumped. I will use them as dusters first before I bin them. Thrift before wastage.

High Street Pick of the Week

It is back to what not to splash the cash on. Summer high fashion sandals usually fall into the don't go overboard on the budget. And good old M&S (first time I've given them a 'good old' in ages) are rolling out some high fashion summer season beauties. The Stylist free magazine was awash with the M&S shoe adverts but the items tend to go in only key stores and on-line stock tends to be slower.

These should be available everywhere.

Limited Collection Ghillie Platform Shoes

Hello Lover

What with the last few days of political change it was a bit of a relief to be the recipient of a light hearted tag from Wildernesschic. And I thought I could do with a rest from the enormity of Project 100 and thinking about hard times.

The lovely and talented Forty Not Out has invented a new award the "Hello Lover" award where you are to display seven pair of shoes, your favourite seven pair of shoes... I was good I limited myself to just seven and opted for six heels and one pair of flats, despite living in flats on a daily basis.


My much coveted Manolo Blahnik silver pair. I just had to have them and these were the only pair in all of Manhattan in September 2007. I really could have done with the size 36 as the 37 are slightly too big, my left foot is a bit smaller. The helpful Bergdorf Goodman sales assistant gave me some half insoles to help my foot from flipping out. What price a pair of shoes. They are great to wear but I feel compelled to put something on the leather sole. Which would be sacrilege but London is so wet and dirty!

My Roger Vivier shoes are my favourite, I got married in these despite thinking Mr MDS would shout out some panto joke when he saw them. Luckily he was too nervous and had been drinking. When I wear them I glide rather than walk. They say sophisticated and also something else if you've seen Belle de jour the Luis Brunel film starring Catherine Deneuve.

I love these mesh flats I bought in Russell & Bromley in 2003 after seeing them in Marie Claire (probably the last time I bought a copy). I ran down Bond St in the pouring rain and arrived drenched but I got them! They are by shoe designer Beverly Weldmen and actually they are crying out for a pleated skirt or something similar. I haven't worn them for a couple of years but I love them and they stay.


I bought these Studio TLS wedges last summer and they are fab ...but they do leak orange dye on my feet. It rubs off! However they look great and are very comfy. It takes about 4 - 5 hours of hard wearing before pain sets in.

These are Marc Jacobs and although they show too much toe in my book I don't care because they've got great gold heels. The patent green is gorgeous and I should wear them more but haven't really been out. I think they might hurt quite quickly but will have to road test them again.

My honeymoon shoes! I changed from my wedding dress into a white shirt, blue velvet straight pants and these Mui Mui shoes. I did dance for 3 hours in these and only at the end did my feet hurt. On honeymoon in Rome I wore them with a short little black dress and a black tuxedo (with fake tanned legs of course) to go out for dinner.

The first collaboration Pierre Hardy for Gap produced these babies. I can and have run for a bus in these. I wear them a lot and when/if they fall apart I will cry.

I need to tag a few people so we can see their shoes too! Let me see...Faux Fuchsia, WaceyStyle, Miss Peelpants, teawithonesugarplease and Vintage Vixen will do for a starter....

Hero wedges

The term hero is much abused and maligned. The worst example is the adoption of hero in the fashion world where a 'hero piece' is the new 21st century phrase for an item that adds the Martini factor (the 1970s alternative), or is a trophy piece (so 1980s) and replaced the ubiquitous 'fierce' of the nouties. For the life of me I cannot recall a 1990s expression. But then the 90s were so hedonist no one probably cared.

However, my recent wardrobe update prompted a few enquires about the orange wedges shoved in the back of the wardrobe. In fairness they were my most admired item all last summer, achieving hero status.

Here they are at the front of my rather messier wardrobe last summer

The orange Studio TLS wedges made their début appearance at Harvey Nicks when a global blogging convention decided to drink Pimms

Then they appeared in a film - my short film Dress Up (2009)

They are there! On her feet.

And given I won't be buying much except a few 'stellar' pieces -my wish list is a navy blue Anglomania dress, a pair of Choo or Louboutins and for work a Topshop jumpsuit- then my hero orange wedges will be clomping around London town all summer.

High Street Pick of the Week

A bit pricey but a classic, I give you the court shoe in black suede. Admit it you'd forgotten how such a shoe looks on! The other day I tried on my clothes in Reiss with a pair of their Chrissy courts and I have to say it was a good look. I did find them a bit narrow and I don't have particularly wide little flippers for feet. The classic court adds an edge of sophistication that even surprised me. Of course you could go the whole hog and get a pair of Christian Louboutin's classic pumps as he likes to call them! I suppose court shoe does sound a bit 80s or 90s - whatever they look good.

Kurt Geiger Elsdon Black Court £180

Hijacked!

When it comes to all things style I seem to have a competitor too close to home, in fact at home. Last week Mr MDS snuck back home with a beautiful new suit from Aquascutum. Then on Wednesday a parcel arrived for him. I had to wait until we got home from a sojourn in central London to find out he'd had a shoe flutter.

The packet revealed

The brand revealed

The Paul Smith brogue on display

A free gift of Clarins men's face product!

Forced to put them on with socks and pose!

Mmmm I'm not used to being the empty handed one!

New shoes!

My second sale purchase, (truly it is such a joy to buy some new items after months of nothing) were some Studio tmls orange wedges. It's official I love orange!


PS Mr MDS fixed my camera - he has his uses!

Lazy blogging...

Due to work pressures over next three days i.e. full on busy I'm filling a gap in my writing head with two posts by Everybody Says Don't.

The first one is a piece on the new design collaboration for Fit Flops - whadda ya think?

The second is a fabulous visual feast of the A/W 08 H&M collection - it looks very promising.

Shoe lust - is it just me?

I love shoes. I could happily buy a pair a week as I'm beguiled and enthralled in eqaully measure by many a pair. My taste is dieverse and eclectic from classic numbers to truly bizarre. When it comes to shoes I'm smitten.

Recently, I encountered a lack of interest, not by me but by my personal styling clients. When it comes to magazine and film the models/actors just do - as supplied!

Currently I've probably got 10 pairs of shoes I'd love to buy ranging from £20 to £425. With the exception of one client who was delighted with a gorgeous pair of Chie Mihara from Fenwicks, most personal styling clients are displaying a less than enthusiastic interest in the many shoe offerings....and to back them up there are a lot not selling and sales galore.

Are shoes too expensive or are the current trends, shoes on sale off the mark for most? What do you think?