The 5 shoes to avoid this Winter in London

We are definitely well into Winter now and it's sadly time to pack away some of your favourite shoes to get you through the rain, cold and snowy Winter here in London. Firstly, I haven't been in London very long but I can say from my experience... it rains a lot here. So there are many styles, materials and heels that won't make it through the season..

So, for now, it's time to pack away your trusty Autumn shoes and get prepared for Winter. Here are the 5 shoes to avoid this Winter.

1. Say goodbye to your beloved stilettos:

It pains me to write these words but it's true. Rain, snow and London, are not a very good combination! Walking in stiletto high heels in London, is a challenge in itself but add Winter elements... It's a disaster waiting to happen!

Instead, opt for a slightly chunkier, block style heel. They will be more stable and comfortable when walking around the London sights! 

2. Suede? No way!

Suede is one of my all time favourite shoe materials. The are soft, comfortable and elegant to wear, but sadly, they won't survive a second in the torrential rain London has. No matter how much waterproofing spray you put on them, I can almost guarantee, they won't survive. So leave them at home until the Spring has sprung!

Reach for your durable leather shoes, they'll hold up so much better in the weather!

3. Relaxed trainers

Since I began travelling, I have a new love for the sports luxe trend. I wore my white Armani canvas trainers with so many outfits. But they are not made for the Winter months. No matter how comfortable your canvas trainers are, I'm sorry, but they will not keep your feet dry. I remember walking home from the Tube station and completely underestimated the depth of a puddle! My poor feet were freezing cold by the time I got home. So, say goodbye to your old friend for now. They'll be waiting for when the puddles dry up!

If you can't survive without your comfortable trainers, you can find some luxe leather trainers which will have a much longer life in the Winter.

4. Sandals...

My biggest shoe weakness is suede, strappy, high heeled stiletto sandals so this post is completely crushing my soul! I'm sorry but sandals are not designed for Winter. So, if you want to keep your toes and not lose them to frostbite, it's time to let your favourite sandals rest while we endure this frightful season! Sandals shine the brightest during Spring and Summer so be patient!

If you can't survive without making a statement in sandals, opt for statement closed toes, you can wear hosiery to warm your feet up without drawing too much attention to your feet.

5. Ugh!... I mean Uggs!

I'm all for relaxed outings but please, Uggs are not boots! Leave your Uggs at home this Winter! I know they keep your feet toasty warm and comfortable but they are not proper Winter boots. Aside from the water resistant styles available, your Ugg boots will not handle the outdoor terrain, no matter how well you protect them and clean them. Keep yours Uggs fluffy and cozy for your feet to step into after a cold and busy Winter day.

As a shoe lover, it is very hard for me to say goodbye to some of my trusty shoes this Winter but, the silver lining... It's time to go shoe shopping for Winter.

Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

Check back next week for the must have shoes for Winter.

What happens in Vegas...

When I think of Las Vegas, I think of shining lights, spectacular shows and amazing hotels. When it came to styling my #UltimateVegasOutfit it was natural for me to think of glamour, luxury and high heels!

I chose a classic, black jumpsuit from Zara for my Ultimate Vegas Outfit. It's classic, fun and easily dressed up for any event. It would be the perfect outfit to enjoy a romantic dinner at one of the amazing restaurants, followed by a spectacular show at the Bellagio fountains and to finish the night at a rooftop bar.

I styled my outfit with my favourite strappy high heels, because Vegas is about going over the top when you can! I added this suede fringe handbag by The White Company to give my outfit an edge and finally added my favourite statement jewels to add some luxury.

Wearing: Zara UK jumpsuit  / Nine West Australia high heels

Michael Kors watch / Samantha Wills Bardot ring / Topshop black and white ring

The White Company fringe handbag

This outfit has me dreaming of a Vegas vacation!

Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

The power of shoes

Just the other day, I remember looking down at my shoes and thinking, how far I have come wearing these shoes. As a person I have evolved, matured and progressed. I never thought travelling would hold so many life lessons and experiences.

Once upon a time, a not so long ago time, I was a shoe addict. I am not at all cured of this addiction, I have simply found a way to tame it. For the passed 6 months, I have worn the same ONE pair of shoes almost every, single day. For me, this is a rarity. I have over 200 pairs of shoes in my wardrobe back home, some of them never being worn. So for me to wear the same pair of shoes around the world is astonishing.

Upon reflection of my 6 months away, I realised that my trusty, once white trainers have carried me to so many places. I have been to Singapore, Paris, Angers, Moliets, Vannes, Nantes, Nivillac, Montpellier, Toulouse, Argeles, Barcelona, back to Toulouse and Paris again. They also carried me to Munich and now London. They are a well loved and well travelled pair of trainers!

My value for shoes has now increased immensely. Once upon a time I was attracted to the way a shoe looked. The way I felt when I wore them, how sexy they were and of course, who made them. But now I look at my shoes as an investment. They protect my feet from the harsh environments and they are comfortable and durable for exploring different places. I have run up and down many stairs, carrying my heavy suitcase. I have dragged my suitcase up and down many cobbled streets, run into many rain puddles (thank you London for the miserable welcome!) and even climbed some mountains wearing them. 

My now mud covered trainers hold the story of my travel.

What's your shoe story?

Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

Upcoming:

Check back on Friday for my #UltimateVegasOutfit

Top 5 must have items for surviving Winter in London

Growing up in Australia, I've had to deal with some extreme heat but fortunately for me, I've never had to endure extreme cold...

Until now!

I have been lucky so far with the weather in London but many people tell me that London is going to get more and more cold which leaves me with chills.

So to prepare myself for the upcoming colder season, I have invested in some good quality Winter essentials to help me fight the cold.

So what will you need?

1. You will definitely need a warm jacket to survive the Winter weather. Find a neutral, versatile style that you can wear with everything. My choice for the season is a grey feather jacket from Zara France. It is super cozy and I wear it everyday.

2. I've never been much of a beanie kind of girl but when I saw the luxurious cashmere beanie, I knew I had to have it. In Australia, there isn't much need for cashmere in our warm Winters but this season, I thought it would be an essential! I wear my grey cashmere beanie almost every evening on my way home from work. It keeps the heat in and the wind out. It also protects my delicate ears from the cold wind. This is a definite must have for the cold London weather.

3. You will never appreciate the value of warm gloves until you've suffered through a windy and raining London! One of my first nights in London, I felt like my fingers were about to drop off! Since then, I've been carrying around a pair of gloves in my handbag to keep my fingers and hands toasty warm.

4. Since the weather turned cold, I never leave the house without my woollen blanket scarf. This is my favourite accessory in my suitcase (that isn't shoes). My scarf is very warm, it's oversized and it matches all my Winter outfits.

5. Layering essentials are a definite must have for your Winter wardrobe. You should definitely stock up on long sleeve tops, neutral vests (singlets) and knee high stockings. By adding an extra layer, it will protect you from the fierce London wind and keep you warm!

There are so many places in London to stock up on all your Winter essentials so you can stay toasty warm this season.

For more tips from London click here.

Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

A year in review

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have a very wonderful and prosperous 2016!

Welcome to my first post of the year... And I thought I would kick it off with a review and reflection of last year! It's better late than never, right?

2015 was a big year for me! My shoe collection took a hit as I jetted off from the land of Oz to Europe with my Frenchy. I have learnt many life lessons, experienced the highs and lows of travelling and I have seen some wonderful places.

So what were my highlights for the year?

Firstly, I collaborated with a close friend of mine to produce a series of popular shoe posts.

Images ny Jordan Swioklo of Precision Film Editing services

Together we had so much fun, many outfit changes and locations to showcase my latest and favourite shoes! During my time away, it has made me miss my shoe collection and I love to review these photoshoots frequently! 

A little leopard never hurt nobody

Hello Sailor

Block it out

Foxi and Fabulous

Arm candy

Fullforce

Autumn is here

It's a jungle out there

Next I prepared myself and planned my travel into the unknown!

The 6 must have shoes for travelling overseas was one of the most popular posts and well read posts from all around the world! 

For the remainder of the year, I got to travel and explore France. I got to experience French food, the french language and explore nearing countries. Read My Travel Diary to see where I've been on this amazing journey.

Finally, I finished the year off in London. Experiencing, exploring and working in this wonderful city. For more information from London, head to my London series for everything I have discovered so far.

2015 was an eventful year for me and I look forward to see what 2016 has to bring!

What was the highlight of your 2015?

Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest

Come Shopping with Me...

I thought I would share with you, some of my favourite places to shop in the Perth C.B.D.

A traditional shopping day for me, starts with coffee!

And my favourite place to get coffee is Cimbalino in Enex100. The coffee is amazing and the people are pretty great too.

Once I've had my coffee, I embark on my shopping journey.

Firstly I start at David Jones

I love to check out the Christian Louboutin footwear first and then make my way through Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stuart Weitzman and everything in between.

Once in David Jones, I love checking out Samantha Wills jewels, Zimmerman, Ginger and Smart, SABA and Witchery. I love shopping in department stores because you can get a taste of everything all in one place.

From here, I head to the other department store giant, Myer!

Myer

In Myer, my two favourite concession stands is definitely Cue and Tony Bianco. I can't resist checking them out to see if they have some new styles available. And if I see something I like, I usually end up trying them on and falling in love with them.

Next, I head to King Street

This is one of my favourite shopping streets in Perth. I love the designer stores up and down the street. Usually on King Street, I love stepping into Zomp and checking out all the new shoe styles. 

Once I've seen (and dreamt) about the designer pieces, I head to one of my favourite stores...

Miin Boutique

This is Samantha Wills heaven. I can't resist checking out the new pieces and some of the older ones too! They have so many pieces that sparkle and shine, demanding me to buy them. I am a lover of statement jewellery and love the Samantha Wills brand. 

From Miin, I usually need a bit of a shoe fix so I head straight to Nine West for some shoe inspo.

Nine West

I love the shoes by Nine West. They have many classic styles to choose from and also the fashion trending ones. I can't help but find something I must add to my shoe collection.

Where do you like to shop in Perth?

The 5 shoes I'll miss the most!

I am going travelling overseas soon and I have had to pick some of the more practical and versatile styles in my collection to come with me. Which means I have to leave some of the most amazing shoes behind.

So here are the 5 shoes I'll miss the most from my wardrobe:

1. My Christian Louboutin 'Fifi' heels will definitely be missed the most. Although, I haven't actually worn these yet, I still unpack them, just to look at them! I fell in love with the thin stiletto heels and the black spikes. They definitely wowed me! Read the full story of my Christian Louboutin heels here.

2. My Red 'Clairre' heels by Cosmoparis. This shoes were purchased in Paris back in 2011. I had been hunting for the perfect pair of red high heels. And I finally found them. I love adding a bold pop of colour all year round. I'll miss adding them to a simple, monochrome outfit. Check out the full story on 'Clairre' here.

3. My Nine West Sari sandals. These are definitely my weekend go to shoes. They are super comfortable, chic and feminine. Whenever I wear these shoes out, I always get people asking me where they are from. It is such a confidence booster when women admire my heels.

4. The newest member of my shoe collection, 'Foxi' by Tony Bianco. I love the 12cm high heels and the lace up front. They are amazing and perfect in every way. The black suede is comfortable and the pointed toe is super chic. The perfect heel for any occasion.

5. My wedge espadrilles by Witchery. I don't own many pairs of Witchery shoes but these ones are amazing. Whenever I look at these shoes, it makes me think of Summer, sand and sunshine. They look great with skirts, dresses and shorts.

What are your favourite shoes in your shoe collection?

In Her Shoes...

So it turns out, I have just as much fun behind the camera admiring other people's shoes, as I do showing off my own. So I thought, why not do it again.

And as I enjoy embarrassing my friend Jordan, I thought I would continue her story this week.

What do you love most about high heels? My favourite thing would be how they make you feel. Whenever I’m in heels I can feel how my posture is better and I feel like I can do anything! I always feel more positive about myself in heels!

What do you love most about these heels? My favourite thing about these heels is the colour. I have loved this particular shoe for a long time (in other colours) but as soon as it came out in the pink suede it was mine! This is me in a shoe.

What made you buy these shoes?
Like I mentioned before, it was definitely the colour that attracted me. I love suede in anything because its so comfortable, so when this particular make of shoe came out in hot pink suede I was in heaven. In terms of the style, the heel has always attracted me to this shoe. I love the heel placement how it goes straight down the back, and how its square. It’s not too thin, not too thick and it’s the perfect height for me.

Working part-time in a shoe store, you must see some crazy styles. What’s one shoe trend you would like to see disappear for good? One of the funny things you see in a shoe store is when customers come in wearing shoes that they have obviously pulled out from the archives. My particular pet hate, which I’d love to see never return are ridiculously pointy shoes from the 80’s/90’s. I love the current style of point that’s in fashion, like my pink ones, but some people need to learn to let go of the past, that’s not what we’re talking about when we say points are in fashion! But in the end, that’s just me!

Aside from working in a shoe store, you also work as a film editor, what inspired you to become a film editor?
I didn’t know until I started my degree that I wanted to be an editor. I’ve always had in interest in media, and when I met someone who had studied it, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Once I started making films at uni, I knew editing was my forte. I’ve always been good with computers and technical things, and I love the art behind being the editor and creating projects.

What’s your long term career aspiration?
My long-term career aspiration is definitely to be editing feature films. I love anything film related, but my real passion is in features. My life dream is to edit blockbuster films, and make it to the big screen!
What do you most enjoy about film editing?
My favourite thing about film editing is that I get to create a story from a collection of different shots. When you get all the footage, everything is a mess and there’s so much to go through. As an editor, you get to put all those shots together in a way that makes them something completely different. I love being able to tell a story visually, and I just love the technical side of it.

Read In Her Shoes Part 1 here.

In Her Shoes...

During a recent photoshoot, my lovely photographer decided to show up, wearing a pair of boots which I have been coveting for the past 2 months. It inspired me to do something I've never done before...

I turned the camera onto her.

Meet Jordan, my photographer and film maker. And also my friend.

What inspired you to buy these boots?

I was originally inspired to buy these boots when I saw an almost identical pair at Stuart Weitzman. I absolutely loved the look of them with the leather front and elastic back because I’m not a huge black leather person, and it was just the right amount for a knee length boot. I told myself that if I ever found a similar pair for under $300 they would be mine! As soon as I found out Wittner made these, I went in and put them on layby (It was 40°C outside).

What do you love most about them?

My favourite things about these boots is how fitted they are. I bought my first ever pair of boots only last year, so I knew it was true love when my third ever pair of boots were knee-highs. They’re so slim fitting around the ankle (which is hard to find) and they go right up to the perfect height, just above the knee.

How do you style them?

My favourite way to style these boots is with black pants. I wear fitted black pants all the time and they just go perfectly with the leather. The black on black works really well and I find neither black gets washed out from the other. I’ve seen people wear them with skirts/dresses and stockings too which I will definitely try when it hits winter.

Are you a shoe lover like me?

Before working in a shoe store, absolutely not! I’ve always been a clothes person (and still am) but I’ve come a long way! I used to rotate between two or so pairs of flats, and really only had about three or four pairs of heels. Being exposed to good quality shoes really changed my wardrobe and style. Now I love shoes and almost buy them more than clothes. Unlike many shoe lovers, I don’t buy shoes if I already have something similar. I like to stick to the classics and then I have the odd colourful and more out there shoes.

How many shoes do you own?

11 pairs of flats, 12 pairs of heels and 3 pairs of boots.
Sounds like a lot when I wrote it down but some could definitely be thrown out!

If you could buy one pair of designer shoes, which ones would they be and why?

That’s a hard one! I’d have to say I’m not really into designer shoes, but before I bought my Wittner boots I would have said the Stuart Weiztman version! Now that I already have my dream boot…hmm maybe the beautiful blue Manolo’s from Sex and the City!

Sometimes you can take fashion inspiration from celebrities. socialites, bloggers and even people who surround you.

Who influences your fashion choices?

Foxi and Fabulous

What I'm Wearing:

Kookai Sloane leather skirt

Cue black knit

Tony Bianco 'Foxi' high heels

Calvin Klein Watch

Samantha Wills ring

Ginger and Smart Sonic Clutch

I have a confession to make... I'm a shoe addict! I have way too many shoes in my wardrobe already and I keep buying more! 

I would like you to meet the newest member of my shoe family, 'Foxi' by Tony Bianco.

I love everything about these shoes. The black suede is the perfect texture for the Winter season. The pointed toe adds femininity and elegance to any outfit. And the lace up front is super chic and adds an interesting detail to the shoes. 

And, I have to mention my love of the 12cm stiletto heels. I'm addicted to them! They are fierce and full of attitude. And it's the best way to fake runner's calves!

I love how much these shoes can dress up any outfit. They add elegance and class to your pencil skirts and dresses. But, they also look great with cropped jeans and trousers.

If you are ever feeling down, these shoes will be sure to lift you up!

It's true love.

Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest