[INSPIRATION] Free Your Feet

Clarks have launched a new competition for the summer. Earlier in the year they asked which flat shoes are your favourite, brogues or ballerinas. Ballerinas won! And now they are asking, when do you free your feet?

Do you throw your shoes and socks off and your sandals on the minute the sun shows its face? Or do you wait until the temperatures rise a little? Or a lot?

For me, I like a little warmth before I free my feet. But to be honest, as long as I have my legs covered and a sweater to keep me warm – I do love the feeling of bare feet in sandals!

Last Thursday when we went to London, we left a rather cold and dismal Cardiff to find ourselves in a balmy sunny evening in the capital. It was beautiful! And definitely sandals-weather! I was very pleased to have my Clarks Oditi Lucky strappy sandals to keep my feet cool! (The whole outfit will be shown here later in the week.)

If you’re looking for the perfect pair of sandals to free your feet, check these out:

[OUTFIT] H&M Print Trousers

I’m practically living in my orange Clarks heels right now. I am in love. Head over heels! (Pun totally intended!!)

Apparently I’m also quite liking teaming them with print trousers! Today I’m wearing them with my H&M print trousers. I love the shape of these trousers: slightly tapered and cropped at the bottom. For me, this is quite a bold and clashing look, with the orange shoes, pink print trousers and a neon statement necklace. So I’ve kept my t-shirt plain:

[HOW TO] Walk In Heels

Regular readers will know that I am a flats lover and, until recently, rarely wore heels. But that has changed. And I thought I would share my top tips for wearing heels:

1. First and foremost choose shoes with cushioning and support. Clarks heels have special Softwear insoles which are cushioned and comfortable. Rockport heels have Adiprene by Adidas technology which reduces impact and allows for easier walkability.
2. If you have to walk any long distances, make sure to pack your heels up and wear flats. I walk part of the way to work and so I tend to throw on a pair of ballet flats and keep my heels under my desk to wear in the office.
3. If I’m wearing heels on a night out and I’m not taking taxis or getting a lift home, I usually pack a pair of flat shoes in my clutch for the walk home later.
4. If your favourite heels don’t have specially cushioned insoles, you can add them for comfort.
5. If all else fails, Compeed blister plasters will be your best friend, until your heels are worn in!

How do you survive your heels?

[OUTFIT] Orange Clarks Shoes

Despite having a wardrobe devoid of much colour, my shoe rack is a veritable rainbow. Case in point are my new favourite shoes: these orange heels by Clarks.

I find it incredibly difficult to incorporate colourful tops and dresses into my every day outfits but somehow shoes feel like less of a challenge. So I keep buying brighter and brighter coloured shoes – in particular court shoes, to add a splash to my work wear looks.

Like today’s look, which I wore to the office:

[INSPIRATION] Brogue Or Ballerina?

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now, you’ll know that I love flat shoes. So for all of my fellow flat shoe lovers out there, here’s the perfect competition for you. Clarks are offering you the chance to win a pair of your favourite Clarks flats plus £500 of Mr & Mrs Smith vouchers, just by telling them which is your favourite: brogues or ballerinas?

For me, both shoes hold their own attractions:

• Brogues are practical and remind me a little of school shoes.
• Brogues are great for rocking a bit of the masculine trend which is hot for Spring Summer 2013.
• But when the brogues have pretty cut-outs, like the ones above, they are the perfect mix of masculine and feminine.
• Ballerinas are always ultra feminine.
• Ballerina flats always come in such a wonderful rainbow of colours, it’s easy to have pair in your wardrobe for any and every occasion.

Which will you be voting for?

[SS13] Clarks Spring Summer 2013

For a long time I associated Clarks as the place one went to get practical and sensible school shoes as a child and the leather sandals that my grandmother wore. These days, whilst you might still be able to get such shoes, Clarks have become the go to for some of the coolest shoe collections on the British high street.

The SS13 collection from Clarks at Shoetique is filled with bright heels and colourful flats:

[WISH LIST] Five Shoe Boots For Autumn Winter 2012/13

Winter dressing for the office can be a minefield as you try to keep warm and appropriately dressed. I posted my top tips for office attire in the cold last winter but footwear is always a little more problematic. Recently I have discovered the supreme practicality and the beauty of a pair of shoe boots for winter office attire. And this week I have rediscovered a pair of Clarks lace-up heeled shoes that work well for winter as they’re nice and enclosed and are so comfortable!

The dark blue suede means that they go with almost anything I choose to wear and the cut out details offer a little more interest. But their comfort is the biggest bonus: the slight platform at the front of the shoe and the padding inside the sole makes for a pair of shoes that I can happily wear all day – and all evening, if required!

[AW12] Winter Shoes

Winter shoes are the one thing that I rarely seem to get right in my wardrobe. I either end up with freezing feet in ballet pumps or I wear my EMU boots which are basically slippers that seem less and less acceptable to leave the house in unless it’s about -15C. So this winter it is my aim to add a couple of pairs of good sold winter shoes. First up, I have found this pair of Clarks mid-calf boots. A little longer than an ankle boot which makes them warmer, with a flat heel which makes them practical and yet, also versatile. Here’s how I’d style them:

These boots will look perfect with a dress or my your favourite skinny jeans. For coffee with the girls on a freezing Saturday afternoon, simply throw an oversized knit cardigan and a duffle coat over your dress and pull these ankle boots on and you’re ready. And for a Sunday afternoon stroll with your beau, add a waffle knit jumper and cosy snood to keep the chill out.

[OUTFIT] What I Wore For The Vivienne Westwood Launch Party

Last Thursday, Vivienne Westwood’s new Cardiff store hosted a launch party and I was lucky enough to have an invitation. But what the heck does a girl wear to a Vivienne Westwood party? Well, I decided to go simple and chose a Little Navy Dress – by way of Mango – paired with my trusty Clarks heels:

For added bling and effect, I wore my new Next chandelier earrings:

And for the big hair, I tried out Umberto Giannini’s Backcomb In A Bottle which is amazing for creating a bit of volume without being damaging!

What would you wear to a Vivienne Westwood party?

[INTRODUCING] Behind The Scenes At Clarks AW12

Apparently I’m a little addicted to Clarks today! Who knew?! (Check out this morning’s post, if you need proof!)

The lovely people at Clarks have released a little teasing video to whet your appetite for the new Autumn Winter 2012 collection. Beautifully shot and filled with shoes from the new collection: what’s not to love?!