Ballerina Sophisticaion.....

Some days you just don't wanna wear a pair of heels. It's just that time of the month when all you desire is comfort and convenience.

However if you are venturing into work, that smart dress sense still has to be adhered to. As anything less will only attract attention and a possible slap on the wrists.

Therefore an essential piece of foot wear is the classic little ballerina pump. The right flat always has the sophistication tag attached to it, is always acceptable and can be teamed with pencil skirts, dresses and even a trouser suit. I love to collect as many of these pumps as possible in all different shapes and sizes, sometimes you can slip a pair on and they are as comfortable as slippers. However if you just pick up a cheap pair, after a while you begin to feel as if there is nothing protecting your foot from the pavement.

The reason we are on ballet pumps today?

These little gems,

From a far they look like just a plain pair of pumps, however when you take a closer look,

they have beautiful little black diamonties stuck all over the toe which glisten beautifully in the sun light. I had to add them to my flat collection. it would of been a sin to let them go to waste in that Sue Ryder shop window.

Now I will not have any worries as I have the perfect little dress that these shoes can be teamed with on the days in which I prefer to take a more comfortable approach and give my feet a day of from those towering heels.

Retro Style...

High tops seem to have made a comeback just recently and are now all the rage especially among young street kids, who will go to the Nike store and pay a silly amount of money for them.

I did a bit of a google search to find out the history of these shoes, as mum had told me they were also popular in her day,

"High tops first became available in the 1917 when Converse tried to capture the basket ball market. However the trend was never that popular until Chuck Taylor, a famous basket ball player in his day, took to wearing them as his every day shoe."

Wikipedia.

I never realised that this shoe had been around that long and so I'm not really that surprised to see them in charity shops anymore as they are normally quite a common feature in there.

In fact only the other day I saw these high tops for sale in the British Heart Foundation in Camden,

I didn't buy them as I don't think I could carry that look of properly but the assistant in the shop was happy enough to let me take a picture of them.

These days it isn't the basket balls players that wear them, as mentioned before the proper Nike high tops are fashionable among the street kids. These converse versions are regularly seen on the feet of kids interested in indie music, that enjoy the laid back life with not a lot of hassle.

When I see these shoes the image I get is a girl in tight skinny jeans, an over sized hoodie, big earphones and carrying a back-pack. I could be wrong, but that's jut my picture. So i don't think i will be racing out to add a pair of these to my shoe collection anytime soon.

Howdy Cowgirl ....

I love old western films. The way everyone gets to ride and like mad men on horses and you can carry a gun holster on your jeans. If you had a problem with anyone you just had a fight to settle it and the Indians always had the coolest headbands around.

So when stumbled across these boots the other week in the Bosnia Community Action shop in Hackney I had to give them a quick try.

Well, when I say try we both know that it turns into the word buy! Although they are a size to big I'm sure a pair of thick socks will sort that problem out. Isn't the detail on them just fantastic though? And they weren't too expensive, because I fell in love with them that much i was prepared to pay a little bit extra for them. They even look as if they haven't been worn that often as they are in such good condition, so £17 was a reasonable enough offer for them.

Now i can go out and star in my very own western. With a pair of skinny jeans tucked into them these will be the perfect shoes for a trip around town.

It's Raining It's pouring......

England. Renowned for it's rainy weather. When the weather is bad, it doesn't just rain, it pours!

Therefore when the summer festivals come around it is always wise to pack a pair of wellies in the bag with you, because if you are unlucky, and it does rain bad in the middle or just before a festival, you can bet your bottom dollar that those fields are going to be filled with mud instead of grass, and wearing any other type of shoe will just let you sink into the earth beyond the point of return!

The wellie trend seemed to have started a couple of years ago at festivals such as Reading and Leeds, and it never really went away after that. The girls team fashionable wellies with little denim skirts and long socks creating a lovely summer style. Some girls even go as a far as buying expensive wellies such as "Hunters" which provide different colour wellington boots so that they can match their outfits.

So when my sister rang the other day telling me what she had just acquired for her Leeds festival trip i was insanely jealous, here's why,

Yes she had managed to pick u a pair of Hunters in the local charity shop back home. Could only happen to her. She always find the best stuff no matter how hard I look. Although they seemed to have encountered a hell of a lot of mud with their previous owner, (after an hours washing this was the cleanest she could get them) my sister can now be accepted into the cool Hunter gang when she arrives in Leeds later in the summer.

I no for a fact that my feet will be able to squeeze into these lovely wellies, if nothing else I will make them fit. Then when I arrive at the "V" festival I can be part of the cool girl gang to. No one leaves me in the corner!

Diverse Opinions .....

Ever tried asking the question, "What do you think of charity shops?"

Well you should, jut to see the reaction you get, they can be quite amusing! The opinions on charity shops are completely split in half. The general consensus is the same as you would get when asking about Marmite, people either "love them or hate them."

I recently walked the length of Hollow Way Road conducting a simple survey with one question only, "Do you like charity shops?" This is what the result looked like

67% answered "No" they didn't like charity shops and only 33% replied "Yes" they did.

For all the help that charity shops give us they still seem to get a bad rep.

Th general views for the "no" seemed to be that those people didn't like the thought of buying someone elses previously owned, old and dirty clothing. They preferred to go the high street shops such as River Island and Topshop to buy the latest trends brand new of the shelf. However if you think about it are those clothes really brand new? Just think how many other girls in London take a size 10. Are you really the first ever girl to go try that top on in the changing room? Doubt it!

Those that responded "Yes" seemed to have a much quirkier fashion sense. They enjoyed finding a good bargain and something that can go by the label "vintage" instead of "High-street". One girl explained that when you look at a crowd of girls it is normally so obvious as to who shops where. For example, the girl that is very neat and tidy normally picks the trends up from the high-street stores. Where as the girl that seems to be a bit ruffled round the edges and has something on that screams "a little bit out there" will definitely belong in the local charity shops rummaging around for the best buys.

At the end of the day I think that by shopping in charity shops you can gain a unique style all of your own and pick up some exclusive pieces that cant be copied by every other girl out there.

I no I get a little thrill when after rummaging for a while, you walk away with an extraordinary item at a fantastic price!

Sun, Sea and SandALS...

Ive got summer on the brain. Ever since the girls and I started to talk about a week away somewhere hot I couldn't help but to begin to make a mental list of the bear essentials that would need to be packed into my suitcase.

For your feet, the main ingredients are pretty sandals and lots of them. So when I was walking home, past the Marie Curie charity shop, I couldn't help but stop and take a second look at these pretty sandals in the window,

My excuse.. White sandals go with everything, what a great colour to base a wardrobe around, you aren't limited to any hue schemes then are you?

After inspecting the sandals inside the shop it was clear that they had never even been worn,

double whammy, sold, done deal, game over.

I mean just look at the detail on the straps,

Little seashells and gems. It's as if you have walked along the beach already and the remnants lying on the shore-side have stuck to the straps.

How can you buy and then not even wear these shoes? Madness! I don't understand some people.

What I do understand though is that I want to go on holiday asap and show these little treasures of, better not get to ahead of the game though, otherwise, I shall have the suitcase packed before the holiday has even been booked.

Wedge Appeal...

The thing I love about wedges is the fact that you can dress them up and down. If they start the day as a work shoe, they can easily be carried over and accepted as an evening piece. There is no line drawn for the wedge. They should definitley appear in every girls wardrobe.

So at the start of every spring I do like to try and keep my eye out in case any new wedges do appear, no matter how many pairs I have at home, if I find a pair in a new colour, well, it just gives me more outfit options doesn't it!

On a trip home to Hale, Cheshire the previous weekend I had a spare couple of hours free on Saturday afternoon, before it was time to start getting ready for the evening entertainment in the local bars. I got in the car and headed down the road towards Oxfam in Alderley Edge. Well my luck was in, I just could not believe my eyes, neither will you,

Are they a good find or what?

The sales assistant explained that one of their regular donaters had left a big bag of earlier that morning, mostly designer gear.

The donater explained that she had not bought these wedges long ago, but on their second outing had accidentally tripped over a stair, lost her footing a little, and scuffed the side of the wedges as she tryed to regain her balance. Therefore the shoes were marked and she couldn't wear them again.

I'm more than okay with owning a pair of shoes from Jigsaw at half price, with tiny scuff marks. I didn't even give it a second thought, my card was in the payment machine before I could even say "Ill take them".

You cant miss a once in a life time opportunity like that though, can you?

Oh I am looking forward to the summer beer-garden lunches and evening barbecues with these little beauties on!

Comfort....

The only thing worse than being uncomfortable in your outfit, is to be walking around in uncomfortable shoes. You can never make your brain forget that your feet are in pain and you still have a good twenty minutes until you can arrive back home and pull those harmful shoes of your innocent feet.

Therefore every girl needs a little pair of flats that they can throw on, walk for miles and at the end of the day feel like you have never left the house.

So when I found these gems in the British Heart Foundation I knew that theywere going to be my new everyday slippers. The best bit, they only cost, wait for it, four pounds and fifty pence. That's right you did read correctly.

Take a sneaky peak below,

I no a pair of leggings could be thrown on with them, even some nice spring/early summer dresses would even be acceptable.

I'm not too fussed, ill find something to match, that colour goes with everything. One thing I know for sure is, I can now walk round London to all my favourite places, all day every day and my feet will never be sore in these special finds.

Lady in Red....

Every girl always love to turn heads, every girl loves to be talked about, every girl loves to be complemented on their fashion sense,

I think this pair of shoes does all three,

Nobody could doubt the fact these eye catching killer heels would not tick all three of the boxes above.

On a night out these would be the perfect dancing shoes, teamed with a black dress would give the optimum effect as it would put all the emphasis on the colour and structure of the shoes.

The best bit, you only needed to have seven pounds in your pocket in order to buy into a slice of this action, I'm a sucker for shoes, you must now that by now, but I also love a bit of gossip, and the only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about at all.

That ain't going to be happening when I have these babies on my feet!

Getting serious...

For one reason or another, the time always comes round for the "smart and serious" look.

I know, I know, us students hate the bear mention of this dress style but what can you do, one day, after uni, we will have to grow up and realise that we can't lounge about in our comfy jeans and hoodies forever and pretty son after that the job interviews will start. I'm sorry for upsetting you I do realise it's a scary thought, I'm only looking after your best interests though, preparing you for what lies ahead.

Anyway, yes that day will come, if it hasn't already, unfortunately mine did the other week. I needed money to expand my spring wardrobe and book a summer holidays with the girls. However the Bank of Daddy just didn't seem to want to lend for these particular transactions, regarding them as being a "want" instead of a "need."

So it was suggested that if I did still "want" these items I would have to go about finding the money myself. Therefore the old cv got dug out of the cupboard, handed out, and a few interviews were penciled into the diary.

However, as I am a student who loves comfort or the latest trends, none of my current shoes were going to make the grade, well they could of, but I was channeling this serious and smart look for the day, just to test the waters, see how it felt.

Anyway the point was, I needed some new sensiblish yet stylish heels. So off I trotted into the Scope shop on the Holloway Road.

I was in luck, they didn't even take that long to spot and they were in my size! Looks like the smart and serious look was a good choice as I found these,

teamed with a pencil skirt, crisp shirt and tailored blazer, they are sure to go down a treat.

I even managed to enjoy the interview, still waiting or the verdict though so don't uncross your fingers just yet, have you seen the colour of my skin? All I'm saying is that it definitely deserves to see the sun sometime soon.

My thought at the end of today;

Yes I can do this"sensible and serious" look pretty well, however I'm no where near ready for it, as when I returned home, the first thing I did was to change back into that hoody and tracksuit bottoms. Let the student days last as long as possible!

Come rain or shine....

These days the weather just can't seem to make it's mind up!

One day we are in the middle of a freezing cold winter, the next the sun is shining and you are thankful that spring has finally decided to show up. However you could look out the third morning and be greeted to the sight of dark heavy clouds, ready to shed their load.

I hate leaving the house first thing when the sun is out only to end up walking through puddles at lunch time with damp feet because the chosen footwear isn't water proof.

Well after finding these booties all my problems may have been solved,

Sitting in the R.S.P.C.A shop in Islington, they were whispering my name, just begging to be bought, and it was okay when i gave into them because I know they will be put to good use.

I have nick named them my "Puss in Boots" as that's exactly how they look and feel, incredibly comfortable. Look at the back of them,

Isn't that detail just brilliant, who in their right mind would want to get rid of these? Think they will be residing in my wardrobe for the next few seasons as I can already see them as being so diverse. They could be teamed with anything from jeans to dresses or leggings. Could be used as a comfy pair of boots in the day, or dressed up for a more edgy evening look.

One things for sure though, I can't wait for the next rainy day so I can take these little beauts out for a walk, the water will just slide softy of them, keeping my feet warm and dry.

Loosing yourself....

"Are you up to much this afternoon Simone?"

"Nothing planned as yet, why what you thinking?"

"Meet me at Old Street station in half an hour then."

Those were the instructions I received from Viki and I knew from previous experiences it was best not to ask any questions and arrive on time.

I was late, I always am, but I did mange to contain myself and not ask any questions until we were sat comfortably on the tube. One out of two ain't bad, hey?

"I'm taking you to a special little in shop in Camden, my favorite place to spend a free afternoon in."

I was happy enough with that response and eager to arrive at this new hang out.

Bang Bangs, women's clothing exchange was the shop in which we ended up in.

This was a definitely worth the trip to, I would recommend this shop to anyone. It's the sort of place to go when you are trying to get away from the high street labels, with something a little bit more original and unique. In fact I would even go as far as saying that it would be verging along the lines of mod vintage.

I got talking to one of the sales assistants and she was explaining how everything in there is handpicked and carefully viewed, so that you don't find that incredible piece, bring it home, ready to enjoy and then end up finding the hole in the sleeve. It's good quality gear.

Although there were some high street branded items, they were mixed in with the more expensive designer labels so be warned that your pockets may leave the shop a lot lighter than from when they entered!

However I did uncover these little treasures,

You have to admit they definitely do fit in with the current times, everywhere you look someone is enjoying these little shoe boots.

Won't they just be perfect with a little "A" line dress, trouser suits, in fact you could even get away with wearing them with a pair of skinny jeans. Come rain or shine these little beauts will get you through the day.

I'm definitely putting it in my diary to visit this treasure chest once a month.

Has it gone to far?....

On a cold, wet, rainy day the last thing you want to do is start getting ready to head out trying to battle your way through angry shoppers. But how are you supposed to get your fashion fix? Thank God we live in the 21st century and have computers. Internet shopping... it's the way forward, the modern day saviour for most women.

I had heard a vicious rumor going round the houses about how you could now do your charity shopping online. "Are you for real?" was my initial reaction, so I thought I had best go and check this avenue out before it was to late.

Sure enough, after a few taps on the keyboard, right there in front of my very own eyes was an Oxfam website, with everything from shopping to donating.

After a good nosey round the different pages, I got into the most important part of the site, the old shoe collection. After flicking through the first couple of pages I came across these gems,

It was then I had two realisations:

1. not only can you buy wedding shoes in a charity shop and pay a fraction of the price for a pair of beautiful shoes, which have only had one previous owner, who who wore them to one function, aren't you only going to be repeating that experience aren't you?

2. and although the Internet has become a huge phenomenon, I never thought the day would come were you could organise your wedding from the comfort of your own home. I mean you don't even need to go dress or shoe shopping anymore its only a click of a button away!

Has the world gone mad? Are we taking it to far and loosing the traditions and enjoyment of going out to organise every little girls dream day?

These little gems,

are now being sold at £50, only a fraction of their original price.

Whoever said "Weddings are expensive" obviously spoke before the age of the Internet!