shoes glorious shoes

Tags

Berlin, fashion, high heels, shoe collection, shoes, shopping, style, trippen, vintage, wooden shoes, woody shoes, Yves Saint Laurent, yves saint laurent shoes

I’ve been bad, oh so bad … but it feels good, oh so good … yes I am talking about my new additions to my ever-growing shoe collection. And since I spent a quite day at home yesterday I thought I should share my new foot adornments.

In the Scheunen Viertel (see my blog a walk in the middle) I found a beautiful shop filled with the most divine shoes by a favourite shoe manufacture of mine: Trippen.

walls of back-lit shoes

piles of shoes I tried on

even the tiles on the floor showed shoes

As Trippen is based just outside of Berlin I think a pair of their shoes are the perfect “reminder” of the time spent here wandering around this big city.  So I did end up buying a pair, a little to big as they are all handmade and it was hard to find the perfect fit … but oh they are so comfortable and as you can see in the photo I have been wearing them … lots.

Then I found these wooden shoes by a Dutch company Woody. They are so pretty, comfortable and I think perfect for me.

On my strolls around Kreuzberg ( see my blog cruising around Kreuzberg) I went in to several second hand shops and always came out empty handed. Except for the last one! As luck would have it I found a pair of never worn vintage (not sure if late 80s or early 90s .. or even late 90s) Yves Saint Laurent shoes from Paris. They are a tiny bit to big but with an insole or a gel-patch they should fit perfectly. I have to bring them to the cobblers as one of them is missing the tip of the heel (possibly why they have never been worn) but they are so beautiful and I just can’t believe my luck and at 35€ a complete steal.

aren’t they cute?

and not too high

And that’s not all,  I even bought a pair of bright blue espadrilles, really cheap, cheerful and already a little manky from walking around in them. But I did want to be 100% honest!

I know, they already look well loved

I do truly believe that like the unforgettable  Imelda Marcos, I too will be able to one day say:

They went into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes.

time warp

Tags

80s, 80s movies, beauty, Cindy Lauper, converse sneakers, fashion, Girls want to have fun, John Hughes, Madonna, miscellaneous, movies, Prettu in Pink, prom king, random, spiked punch, style, The Breakfast Club

I am typing this with orange fingernails and puffed-up hair, leftovers from my trip back in time. Last night friends and I traveled trough the years and landed in an eighties themed prom-night and a midnight viewing of Pretty in Pink.

A true child of the eighties, just twelve when the film came out, I am a big fan of John Hughes and his films have probably helped form a lot of my worldviews in general and idea about love in specific. My all time favourite is The Breakfast Club, a big crush on Judd nelson was a given, but I think it was the music and fashion that had a long lasting impact. And while I still love the music, the fashion just leaves me amazed at the collection of bad tastes the eighties managed to assemble.

So last night I searched for my inner Cindy Lauper and Madonna (the good one of the eighties) and got all dressed up. A big scarf tied up into my curls, an array of long pears and necklaces dangling around my neck, a stripy fingerless glove (of course just the one) bangles jingling on the other wrist, leggings and a pair of green converse sneakers adorning feet.

The evening was perfect with all guests looking worse then the last, Dallas and Denver inspired puff-sleeve dresses competing for who was the biggest Joan Collins look alike, power shoulder-pads forcing people to enter doors sideways and lots of puffed up hair, freaky colours and polyester perfecting the eighties allusion. And yes there were balloons, a prom king and queen and even some grotesquely coloured spiked punch.

We danced, laughed and suffered along with Andie, cheered Duckie and booed Steff. But sadly it was time to leave the eighties behind and return to the now but since I can’t quite give up those happy days, brilliant tunes and ugly fashion. I have decided to watch Girls Want To Have Fun this afternoon,  a large cup of tea and some chocolate at hand to watch Sarah Jessica Parker chase her dream and dance.

think pink

Tags

beauty, couples, cupid, fashion, film, friends, love, mental-health, miscellaneous, pink, relationships, style, Valentine's Day

The world seems to have fallen into a paint bucket, a pink and red one at that. An explosion of pastel pinks and fuchsia reds has given birth to lovesick window dressings all in honour of cupids  hay-day and his empty quiver.

But for other singletons like myself Valentine’s Day doesn’t always feel quite as cheery and the sudden need to devour whole selection boxes of chocolate may fill the hole in our bellies but not in our hearts. However the benefits of being single means you don’t need to sit in overcrowded  busses protecting roses or stand in line for a love-themed dinner out.

A survey done by Psychology Today two years ago shows that 40% of people, regardless whether they are single or not, have negative feelings towards Valentine’s Day. This could largely have to do with how advertisers and marketing experts have shaped the way we perceive the day. Knowing that everyone is tugging at our pockets to get their share of this 14 billion dollar industry, which is suppose to celebrate the day of Love, may turn sweet to sour.

And then there are our expectancies which are bound to be disappointed. The petrol station flowers instead of the bouquet of red roses, the box of Cadburys not Belgian truffles,  the silver bracelet instead of that longed for diamond ring. Somehow our hopes get shattered turning us from lovers into haters, even if only secret ones.

The best thing to possibly do is to re-frame the situation. Remember that Valentine’s Day is NOT a test on your relationship, nor does it mean that you are doomed to eat chocolate on your own for the rest of your life. And since it is always better to smile instead of frown, put on those pink shades and give Valentine’s Day a positive spin. Think pink, not grey or blue , but a much more happy hue!

PS: look at the shoes Kay Thompson is wearing at around 2.20min, they are on my “want-list”

hot tea

Tags

crafts, diy, family, gifts, home, home made, miscellaneous, random, style, tea, tea cosy

The sound of something dropping in through my letterbox woke me up this morning. I could tell by the sound that it wasn’t just a letter and since I wasn’t expecting any deliveries and it’s not my Birthday anytime soon, I was pleasantly confused over what it could be that made such a promising thud.

As soon as I saw the large brown cardboard envelope I recognised my mum’s handwriting and my puzzlement grew. My mother is a generous person but she doesn’t normally send me gifts out of season, so I was more than a little confused.But as soon as I opened the little parcel up I had to smile.

When I was in Germany for my mum’s 70th Birthday I had brought an old apron of mine with me. It was pink and had shoes on it but it was starting to get stained and as I had received a sparkling new apron for Christmas I figured I could sort it out.  However since I love shoes, I wondered if maybe my mum could make something out of the fabric, possibly even a cover for my tea-cosy that had seen better days. And that is exactly what my mum did.

So now my turquoise teapot can keep my tea warm underneath a beautifully unique shoe-y tea-cosy. What a lovely way to start the day, and week for that matter. A surprise gift symbolizing home and comfort reminding me that sometimes receiving is just as lovely as giving.

 

clean closet

Tags

clothes, clothing, fashion, home improvement, miscellaneous, quotes, random, style

I spent the best part of yesterday reorganising my closet. I have been meaning to do it for a while now but somehow I have never had the time or the right state of mind to dive in and declutter.

As I waded through mounds of clothes, trying on tops and pants, deciding the fate of flower and plain, I realised that I wasn’t just sorting out clothes, I was looking at lots of memories. The dress I wore to my brothers wedding, the skirt I wore on a date, the blouse I took to Egypt, the T-shirt I’ve had since I was 18. Of course these memories of happy and sometimes sad times can make it hard to sort things out, but if you take a step back and see the items for what they really are it makes it easier.

If something didn’t fit right, was too tight or too wide, if something was well past it’s wearable-in-public state, or was something just wasn’t really me, it was put aside to either bin or donate. So one big, black, donate bag filled with jumpers, cardigans, skirts and tops later my wardrobe was looking much better.

But to my surprise I actually do wear most of the things I own. I have certain items that I wear all year round, others at specific times of the year and then there are a few held back for special occasions. And I even found a jumper I have been looking for tucked away in the back, a pair of shoes I knew I had, but that where hidden away in the wrong box, and dress I forgot I had but fits beautifully.

And yes, I admit I still have way to many clothes and I did keep a handful of items I could of thrown out, but they pulled too much at my heart or reminded me of a past me. A skirt and dress I love but are a little too tight, I kept them to inspire me to lose weight and wear them in the summer again. Two tops that I have had forever and love, but have to admit I can only really wear around my home, so I decided to give them one more summer before I turn them into rags. And finally a silk blouse I bought 15 years ago in Istanbul, it doesn’t fit em anymore but I want to re-purpose it, into what I do not know yet.

This morning when I opened my clean closet I smiled, all my hard work visible dangling orderly on hangers. And with Spring not too far off I was reminded of a quote I once read by Carl Friedrich Gauss, the Prince of Mathematician who paved the way for Einstein. He said so beautifully:

Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new brilliant clothes.

slapstick slice

Tags

foot, health, injury, knee, miscellaneous, quote, quotes, random, style, thought

I flew yesterday. My feet literally left the ground and I sailed through the air. It wasn’t very graceful and I am sure had someone seen my flight, it would have caused it’s fair share of guffaws and snickers. Luckily no one was around to see my one woman act, leaving me with a bruised knee but an intact ego.

It was a perilous peel, a sticky slice of orange that set everything in motion, again literally. With one innocent step I lost touch with the ground, banged my knee and sprained my ankle in one massive Chaplin-move.

So I spent the day hobbling around like a horse without his shoes and silently groaning whenever I had to take a step. Sadly that meant no red boots today however I did sport a perfectly purple knee on my lower limb instead.

But no mater how sore my knee or tender my foot I had to chuckle whenever I pictured myself swan-dive to the ground, red boats and dress flying. I do believe even Mr Chaplin would have widened his black rimmed eyes and twitched his moustache in appreciation of my slapstick slide on the a sticky slice.

After all he did say so beautifully:

Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease of pain

red boots

Tags

clothing, fashion, grafton street, miscellaneous, red shoes, shoes, shopping, style, thoughts, Wizard of Oz, yellow brick road

As those of you who follow my blog now by now I love shoes. They don’t have to be expensive or fashiony as long as there is something about them that makes my heart smile.

This lifelong passion started from an early age and like most little girls I yearned for my very own pair of sparkly red Dorothy slippers. I wanted to dance down the yellow brick road holding hands with the scarecrow, sing with the munchkins and click my heals while making a wish.

Sadly I never got those sparkly red shoes and ever since then my eyes light up when I see a pair of shoes in any hue of rouge, and if I even like the design I find it very hard to resist the urge to want to own.

So yesterday evening, after teaching a class, I walked down Grafton Street making a short shopping list in my head. Sadly I underestimated the danger all those sale signs dangling in the shop windows. Half way down the street the lure of the 70%-Off won me over, so I wandered into a shoe shop.

Luckily for me I didn’t really see anything I wanted, flats with studded, spiky tops aren’t really my style, simmering disco ball stilettos are very low in my “need” list  and as I really only but leather shoes the variety of plastic and faux fur didn’t really inspire me. However as I was heading to the door a flash of red caught my eye and I saw them and they called me “mammy”.

I tried them on and was in love. I may not need them and Mr Winter is on his way out but the little red ankle boats were to pretty to leave behind. So as I stood and admired them in the mirror I clicked my heals three times and mumbled under my breath “there’s no place like home”.

bag lady

Tags

bag ladies, bags, brown suitcase, clothing, mary poppins, miscellaneous, random, style, thoughts

Shoes may be my ultimate passion but my love for bags is not far behind. Even as a little blonde, curly haired girl I would rarely leave the house with out a collection of luggage.

Before I had a schoolbag I would lug around plastic bags filled with ‘scraps of important papers’, handbags stuffed with tissues, coloured pens and purses, mostly empty or filled with fake money. I even owned  a little brown suitcase, my ‘bumper-case’, which would bump against my knees as I walked, hence the name.  This little suitcase was a prized possession and came with me wherever I went. It was filled with loved objects and toys, papers and books and my favorite dolls clothes. For a while it even lived under the bed, ready for me to grab, in case the house burnt down or I needed to make a quick get-a-way.

I may no longer have an ’emergency pack’ under the bed, and the things I deem important definitely have changed, but my bag lady instincts are still very much intact. I am always carrying stuff around with me, and my belief is that a bag can never be too big.

I marvel at those women who survive with tiny clutches and miniature shoulder bags and I am in awe of those rare ladies who seem to exist perfectly out of their pockets. While I do find it very unattractive to have bulging bumps sticking out of peoples jacket, jeans and shirts, I still don’t know how they do it.

After all the minimum amount I need is this: my purse filled with money and cards, my glasses in a case, tissues (I always have a runny nose), a book/magazine, a notepad and pen (I am a writer after all), my phone, my calendar and a little pouch filled with toiletries (well, cream really a I have eczema) and of course my keys.

In addition to the essentials comes what ever I need for the day, college paperwork, laptop, lecturing notes, a variety of pens, a flask of tea and a bottle of water, snacks and fruit, a bag for the shopping,  maybe a cardigan etc. So I normally leave the house laden down like a pack mule.

I’ll never be a minimalist and maybe by lugging around all these items I am carrying a little bit of home with me, in true bag lady style. And I don’t really have a problem with it either, but on day like today, when I need to pack for the weekend, my overnight case and the amount of things I want to bring never seem a perfect match. And in moments like these I dream of Mary Poppins and her wonderful carpet bag, wondering where I could get one of those.

shoes glorious shoes

Tags

bette midler, books, christian louboutin, clothing, dr martins, fashion, imelda marcos, miscellaneous, photography, quotes, random, shoes, style, thoughts

I got a surprise today and oh what a good one it was. A gorgeous and generous friend sent me a little parcel in the post, and as I sat down for a cup of tea this morning the mailman knocked on my door and handed me the box.

Scissors in hand I cut the sellotape and found a cute card and a brilliant book. It’s a colourful pop-up about shoes. While I flicked through the pages and pulled little leavers 3D stilettos, sneakers and boots appeared in front of me and I just couldn’t help but smile.

the book just out of the box

open the box and have a peek

dancing shoes

a sneaker

Christian Louboutin ” A good shoe is one that doesn’t dress you but undresses you”

Now I am a big shoe lover and I even have a shoe tattoo on my left ankle. My wardrobe and the space under my bed are filled to the brim with boxes of shoes, not quite Imelda Marcos but I do have at least 100 pairs.  And even though I run around barefoot as much as I can nothing makes me feel better about myself than a sexy pair of shoes.  I just have to agree with Christian Loubotin  “A shoe has so much more to offer than just to walk.”

When I meet people I always look at their shoes, I think they say so much about the person wearing them. After all if someone wears Birkenstocks, Dr Martins or Mary-Jane’s tells you something about how they want to be seen and do they prefer beauty to practicality, fashion to uniqueness. Colours, shapes, designs, material and are they polished or not tell little stories about the people in the shoes and since we take so many steps in them every day they become part of us, more so then any other piece we wear. Shoes become markers of a persons individuality, little platforms (even when they are flats) to show off who they are.

So before I go back to read about shoes in all their glory and play with the pop-ups and other movable bits in my lovely new book I want to leave you with a quote I wholeheartedly believe in and the wonderful Bette Midler once coined:

Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world

my tattoo, the only Manolo Blanik I can afford at the moment … the black shoes were hand made by Sarah-Jane Connolly an Irish Shoe designer