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.

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

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.

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A little leopard never hurt nobody!

Everyone needs a little leopard in their wardrobe and the best way to add the fierce print to your collection is in the form of footwear. And my newest shoe love, is the Nine West 'Orion' boots!

Wearing: Cue top / Kookai pants / Tony Bianco pouch / Nine West boots

I love these boots for the little splash of leopard print at the heel. With an all black outfit, they add an interesting detail to your look and gives your outfit an edge.

As I have mentioned in so many posts, I love ankle boots. They are the easiest shoes to wear and the most comfortable to wear all day long. And, they look fabulous with almost everything.

So when I saw the Nine West Instagram feed and the beautiful Rebecca Judd styling these shoes, I knew immediately that I needed to add them to my already large ankle boot collection.

My reason for needing them was very much justified! In my ankle boot collection, I don't actually own a pair of flat ankle boots for everyday wear. I have stiletto heels, block heels, lace ups, wedge booties but no flat ones.

So this season, I made sure I had a pair!

And I love them!

I love styling these boots with jeans and black skinny pants and I love to add some feminine silhouettes to make the look more girly.

It's a rarity, to see me in flat shoes, but I think I have just found myself a pair of shoes, that I will be building my daily outfits around.

Shoe of the Week

Sometimes you may not be looking for shoes, or even in the mood for shoe shopping (which doesn't happen often!) and they just catch your eye. Even in the unlikely event, you can find shoes you love.

My Shoe of the Week is 'Prelude' by Siren shoes.

I bought these shoes on my recent trip to Adelaide. I was walking through Rundle Mall with my family, when I discovered them. It was love at first sight.

It was a cold and rainy day in Rundle Mall and it was the bright yellow, patent that caught my attention. It was nice to see something colourful and bright for the Winter season.

I love shoe shopping. If I am having a bad day, I know shoe shopping will always cheer me up. When I stepped my feet into these shoe, I felt happy... I felt confident, excited, feminine and stylish. That feeling, never gets old!

Wearing: Sass and Bide singlet / Country Road Jeans and Tony Bianco sunglasses

I love the 11cm metallic heel. It's a great height for elongating my silhouette without being too high. They are extremely comfortable and easy to walk in. 

These shoes are a great style for dressing up, any Autumn/Winter outfit. 

I love the contrast between the materials and colours on the shoes. I love the black suede pointed toe, fading into off white mesh and settling on yellow patent leather. It is definitely a style that will turn heads this Winter season.

These shoes are a classic style and shape, which means they will be extremely versatile. They look great with skinny jeans for a more casual look, but they can also be dressed up with skirts and dresses.

I am head over heels in love with these shoes. 

My Winter Staples

I sat in front of the wood fire, basking in the warmth of the flames. I can hear the pitter patter of the rain, lightly hitting the window. God, I love that sound. I take in a deep breath and the smell of rich, hot chocolate hits my nostrils. I can't help but smile. Everything about this scene is perfect, right down to my furry slippers and pile of fashion magazines. 

I am a Winter girl, right down to my core (it may be hidden under a few layers of clothing!). I love the relaxing sound of rain, I love the cold wind on my face and I love the smell of fresh air. But, I especially love, Winter fashion. I look forward to Winter all year round. I love tailored jackets, warm woollen coats, scarves, boots and jeans. 

I have spent the last few months building up my perfect Winter 2013 wardrobe and I thought I would share it with you. The below are my Winter staples for 2013 and items I cannot live without in the dead of Winter.

Shoe of the Week

My major Winter crush right now, is anything burgundy, marone and everything in between.

This is what drew my attention to Kookai's 'City Chic' Boots in deep red. 

I bought these shoes while I was shooting a previous Shoe of the Week on King Street in Perth. I spend a lot of my spare time browsing online shoe stores and social media platforms. It's great for keeping up to date with the latest fashion trends.

One day I was browsing through all the pictures on Instagram, when I noticed these boots. As soon as I saw them, I loved them and I knew I had to try them on!

I love everything about these boots. The colour is amazing and sure to turn heads this Winter season. These boots are the perfect accessory for adding a splash of colour to your dark, Winter ensembles. 

And who could look passed the stiletto heel? The heels are a sure "ankle breaker" but they look amazing and gives my calf muscles a great workout! These ankle boots are a great accessory, to dress up any outfit.

Wearing: Kookai jacket / Kookai tights / Kookai boots 

The hidden platform is a great addition to the shoe. It helps reduce the height of the heel, making them more comfortable to wear and easier to walk in. 

I love the contrast of the gold zip details against the deep red suede. It is a great combination and makes them appear dressier. Despite the colour, the shoes are incredibly versatile. They go great with jeans for a more casual look and they also go great with dresses and tights. 

These are one of my favourite ankle boots, this Winter season. They are a simple, classic style, which means they will go with absolutely everything. 

Images by Jessica Pavalech

I am looking forward to putting my best foot forward in the show stopping heels!

Ankle Boots

I was recently asked,

"What can you tell me about ankle boots? I am new to this trend and do not know what I can wear them with or how to style them..."

What a great question! 

Ankle boots, for me, are a Winter necessity. They are extremely versatile and can be worn with anything. Ankle boots are becoming more and more popular and they now come in a variety of colours, styles, cuts and materials. 

If you look hard enough, I can guarantee, you will find a style that suits your needs (and wants of course!).

I wear my ankle boots with my skinny jeans for a more casual look during the day or I wear them with dresses and skirts, with or without tights, for work and going out. 

I have many ankle boots and I style them all differently. I have a pair of chunky heeled, black leather ankle boots that I love to wear with dresses and skirts. I love the style of them and I don't want to hide them under jeans. 

I also have another pair (black suede and extremely comfortable!) that I only wear with jeans and sweaters during the day, for a more relaxed look. 

Ankle boots are the perfect Winter accessory. They are great for keeping your feet warm and dry during the cold and wet season and they are great for adding your own personal style to your Winter wardrobe.

If you are new to this trend, I would suggest choosing a classic style that can be worn with everything and choose a neutral colour. Black or nude ankle boots are a great place to start. If you are like me and have so many ankle boots, it is time to add a splash of colour to your wardrobe!

Shoe of the Week

Now that Perth, is finally cooling down, I thought it was time to pull out my Winter clothes and my favourite ankle boots, for the season.

My Shoe of the Week is 'Alias' by Sempre Di. This is my first and only pair of Sempre Di shoes and all I can say is... I want more. 

Wearing: Cue coat / Cue skirt / Cue accessories / Witchery handbag / Sempre Di heels

I bought these shoes back in early March, when Winter shoes started arriving in stores. I have held onto them, for months but now that the weather is cooling down, I can finally step out, in my favourite ankle boots.

These ankle boots are perfect in every way. I love how incredibly comfortable they are and how versatile they will be throughout Winter. The leather is durable against the rain and they are perfect for keeping my feet toasty warm and dry during Winter.

I am a lover of thin, stiletto heels but every now and again, I am thankful for chunky heels. These boots are very comfortable to wear all day and the chunky heel makes them easy to walk in.

Another feature of the boot that I love, is the cut out details on the side. Sometimes ankle boots can make your legs appear shorter. But, with these cut out details, they elongate your silhouette, so you won't have to worry about that!

I have worn these boots with everything. Dresses, skirts, jeans, shorts and I cannot get enough of them.