CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA KITTY FLATS

Cat shoes? Black velvet cat shoes that are flat so I can actually walk in them? Yes, thank you Charlotte Dellal of Charlotte Olympia, I think I will. 

Top - American Apparel 

Jeans - Current/Elliott

Necklace & bangle - Cos 

Shoes - Charlotte Olympia

MAY 2011 WISH LIST

Clockwise from top right: Moon Ring - Pamela Love - Net a Porter, Coral Inspired Necklace - Kenneth Jay Lane - Net a Porter, Snake Cuff - Maria Francesca Pepe - ASOS, Serendipity dress - Mary Katrantzou - Net a Porter, Pandora Clutch - Charlotte Olympia - Charlotte Olympia, Triangle ring - Pamela Love - Net a Porter.

ISSA DRESS

I've been having a wardrobe clear out and whilst I cannot say I am following Anna Dello Russo's Top 10 Rules To Clean Your Closet, I am trying in my own way. I bought this Issa dress many moons ago in the Selfridges Sale (2006 I suspect) for £90, reduced from £380. How do I know that? I STILL HAVE THE PRICE TAG ON. Yup, this bargain hasn't been worn because the sleeves are super tight, and fat forearms aren't something I possess. I wonder what the designer of Issa was thinking of when she thought cutting off circulation was chic? Maybe wearing it will stretch them? Or perhaps this dress might have a little trip to be altered, because I am unable to practice the dark arts of altering clothes. 

Anyways, what with the Royal Wedding approaching and Issa being Kate Middleton's label of choice, I thought I'd have a little dress up in homage. Although I added expensive slut shoes, which she would never wear, because then she would not be marriage material. I think that's why I prefer Chelsea Davy. 

Dress - Issa 

Shoes - Charlotte Olympia 

Cuff - Charity Shop

Last Week In Pictures

I'm loving all my iPhone photo apps, I've added at least 500 images over the last two weeks mostly like this. Oops. 

New shoes by Charlotte Olympia from Yoox.com (above) and my old army boots that I stomped around in age 15 (found in a box full of my shoes dating back to my teens in an attic) - they are about 3 sizes too big for me, I wore a lot of thick socks back then.

The print on a blazer I picked up in a charity shop - I love it. It has the most 80's power shoulder look ever. 

Wedge boots from Topshop (£20 in sale) contrasted with my Mum's home made quilt. 

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Summer Shoes

My two most recent shoe purchases have been dusky pink / nude - something of a departure for me (I'm a brown / black girl usually). Apart from a solitary pair of black ballet pumps, my shoes on heavy rotation are all lighter in tone. I seem to have gone all girly in time for summer. 


Top - NW3 by Hobbs Desert Boots 
Middle - River Island 
Bottom L-R - Zara, Zara, Charlotte Olympia, New Look, Gap, River Island, KG 

A Short Story: Part Two

Today I've finally plucked up the courage to wear my Queen's Wardrobe shorts. It's the volume of them I find a little scary, but balanced out with a belt around the waist they don't look too brownie guide. If you are like me, you'll remember something very similar in the Chloe S/S 09 shows...sadly the scalloped shorts that graced Chloe Sevigny, Diane Kruger et al also cost about £700. As a mere civilian I had to wait for a whole year before someone created a 'tribute' retailing for a mere £50, and most thankful I am too. 

Top - Marni

Belt - Charity shop 

Shorts - Queen's Wardrobe 

Shoes - River Island 

Bag - Alexander Wang

After a machine wash I also got to try out my new purchase - a plaid shirt with lace edging from Oxfam earlier this week. It's very twee, and a little hot for the weather right now, but I love it. I can't wait to pair it with loafers when it's a bit cooler and play with being super preppy, or go for crazy clashes (I knew my £20 green tartan Luella trousers from T.K.Maxx would come in handy soon enough). 

Top - Charity shop

Shorts - Charity shop Levi's made into shorts 

Shoes - Charlotte Olympia 

Fantasy Shoe Of The Week - Charlotte Olympia

I just love Charlotte Olympia shoes. Charlotte Dellal, the designer has a unique voice in the world of shoes - you can tell her creations a mile off, and unlike some other designers the styles don't seem forced or try hard. She is as rad as her designs - her look is part 1940's siren mixed with modern day London attitude. 


The exciting thing in that she's just opened a stand alone store for the first time on Maddox Street, just of off Bond St. I will be going along but I might have to leave my wallet at home. 


Update: The shop isn't open yet, but there's a big poster window saying that it's coming soon. I stopped to earwig on a conversation someone was having outside about when it would open, but I started to get funny looks. Cross fingers it's soon!


Her website is http://www.charlotteolympia.com/ - it seems to be down a the moment, but when it's back up I urge you to explore her shoes. I am sure they will be collectors pieces of the future. 

The perfect footwear for a holiday capsule wardrobe

The problem with lots of shoes is that when it comes to packing there is more choice and hence more headaches about what should be taken away with you. Unless you are packing flats most heels and boots take up a fair bit of room.

I have written 3 different lists of the shoes I want to take with me to Melbourne but so far haven't quite decided on a definitive collection. I always mis-pack in one way or another and never really feel like 'me' when I go on holiday. I like my choice, and with limited options get a little discombobulated. Sad, huh?

These are the shoes languishing outside of my bedroom whilst I decide on the best storage to free up my 2nd bedroom from being "the shoe room" and make it into "the second bedroom" once and for all. I am an equal opportunities shoe freak - Prada or Primark, Christian Louboutin or Charity Shop, I care not if they have something that speaks to me.

Top picture L - R: Pierre Hardy for Gap wooden heeled sandals, Preen for Topshop stiletto sandals, Maloloes boots, Topshop shoe boots.
Middle pic L - R: F-Troupe brogues, Primark wedges, Charlotte Olympia platforms.
Bottom pic - L - R: Charity shop white brogues (11 years old, what a buy), YSL Trib 2 platforms, Opening Ceremony blue suede ankle boots.

Fantasy Shoe of the Week - Charlotte Olympia

Okay, so I was in Texas last week and bit remiss with the whole updating thing. I will do a whole post on the pleasures of Austin (many) and the buys in the Houston Galleria (Louboutin's and Alexander Wang) once I've worked out how to use MY NEW CAMERA!


But first - the ever important fantasy shoe of the week. These were featured in Stylist, the free women's fashion handout in London. Apparently they cost £805, which is pretty steep but when they are this delicious I can see how beauty could override wallet unfriendliness if you were so inclined. With these I could be a forest imp of extreme rad-ness. Sigh.

How to walk in high heels...

The best thing to happen in weeks, literally weeks, is the end of the great freeze (albeit briefly I am told). This means two things: 1) I can go out without a scarf, gloves, hat and ear warmers which means leaving or entering a building no longer takes 20 minutes and 2) normal shoes are back on the agenda! I don't have to worry about slipping on ice or my feet falling off due to extreme cold. In the recent cold snap it's been Uggs (I know they're not trendy, but oh heck they're warm) or big boots with at least two pairs of thermal socks.

One of my resolutions for this year was to wear more of my shoes more often - especially my heels. I am a flats girl at heart, and like nothing more than slouching around town in pirate boots. But I'm going to start training myself for height with Vivienne Westwood strapped boots because the heel on them is do-able, but one day soon I will conquer the Charlotte Olympia platforms outside...if only to hop into a cab after 15 seconds.