week #4... week #5...

 

 

 

 

I have realised that taking a photo a day is fine, it's doable. The issue is getting around to actually posting them up here. You'd think that'd be the easy part but sadly free time is becoming slim and I just want to relax when I have it to spare. You know yourself. So apologies, but here is a two week bumper special 365 post. Two weeks for the price of one and all that!

So yet again I'll give you a very brief run down of the images taken in the past fortnight. We have the dead hydrangeas in my garden, the river Shannon just behind my office, the view from Mount Leinster, our dog Ruby (being disturbed from her sleep), my tartan pencil skirt, an empty brandy glass, my knitted minion (Llewelyn) going a tad mental in the car, the view from the car on the commute home (don't worry I wasn't driving), the desktop image from my mac in work (downloaded from here), the lime kilns just outside Carlow town, the view of the motorway as seen from the passenger-side mirror, my gorgeous red shoes on equally gorgeous tiles, furniture from work (I love that couch) and a silhouette of my boyfriend Cormac while he watches the telly.

Hopefully I'll be able to be more punctual on my 365 project next week!

the practical side, the curious side...

People! It's a brand new year! A year full of possibilities and new ideas and feelings. This year I want to do more. Walk more and use the car less, get lost whilst wandering, jump around in bars. This means a slight alteration in the footwear department. A change to something more sensible yet still highly stylish, highly quirky and still very me.

Oddly I feel bad about this decision, really really bad. It's silly, I know, but I spent such a long time conditioning my feet to wear heels on a daily basis (I am wearing a pair right now). And thanks to my job I do a lot of sitting so I can indulge in pretty heels while at work. But high heels, as beautiful and as flattering as they are, they are just so restricting and impractical (now I just sound old). But it's true! I feel they are holding me back at times. I remember I asked fellow blogger, and Shutterbug owner, Blanaid Hennessy how she manages to live in her highest of heels. She responded with 'short burst to and from the house.' An ingenious way to get around the issue but there are days where I will have to and will want to be on my feet, dawn 'til dusk, dusk 'til dawn. And I want to be able to do it in something other than my busted up converse. Countless of times I've heard myself say 'Oh wait! I need to change my shoes first,' (and yes it was usually into my old converse).

So there will be two sides* to me from now on, well two sides to my feet. The glamourous, ladylike side that enjoys fine dining, martinis and slow dances. And then there will be the other side, the curious side. The side that needs comfortable footwear in order to get that perfect photo, in order to lose oneself in the music and to keep going all day and all night. And obviously do the weekly shop....


*The two sides have always been there, just one of them hasn't been suitable dressed.

in search of the right flat...

As you all know I am a fan of my heels... They are elegant and flattering and are so pretty. But there are times when they are just highly impractical, no matter how conditioned you think your feet are! Those nights where you want to dance all night, want to stand around laughing and walk home or simply told to vacate your seat so some dweeby skeezbag can pull some not so eager drunk girl (yes that actually happened to us on Stephen's Night- we stole their drinks in retaliation).

I have a feeling New Years will be a night like this (hopefully not with the last part) and I want to enjoy it. I don't want to lose my balance when drunk people knock into me (or if I get too drunk myself), I don't want to have to ask to sit down for awhile. I want to dance into the new year! So appropriate footwear is in order. Flats, pumps... Sadly so far I have not found a pair I think will be pretty enough for a night out, for a party, for a soiree. All the pretty shoes seem to have serious height to them. I have to go on a further expedition this morning. I dare enter the crazy world of sales but I think it could be successful.

Wish me luck!

Image via Pinterest

laced up work...

I'm sure you guys are all aware that I am now a fully fledged working girl. Melanie Griffith eat your heart out! One of the great bits about my job (there are many thankfully) is that I have pretty much free range in terms of attire. As long as I look respectable I can wear what I like! And my shoe of choice has turned out to be heeled, laced brogues. In the past month I have bought two completely gorgeous and completely different pairs for work (and for general purposes too of course). One pair were a gift from myself one were a gift for my graduation. What I love is that they are both beautiful but both so different in style. One pair is super girly and quirky (satin laces, yes please!) and the other I find to be quite masculine (well as masculine as a heeled shoe can be).

In this cold weather my boots are getting used quite a lot but my new shoe of choice for work in winter (until it gets really slippy) are brogues. Heeled and laced tight! And no one can see my silly socks...

Red Pair: Poetic Licence

Navy/Grey Pair: Marco Tozzi

details of an outfit...

Today I am off to Dublin for my boyfriend's Graduation and I am quite excited about it. More excited than I was about my own actually. Mainly because at my graduation I had to wear uncomfortable robes and worry about falling on my ass a lot. For his graduation all I have to do is stand there and look pretty in pictures. Oh, and eat and drink and generally be merry... simple!

Hopefully I'll be able to snag a semi decent picture of the two of us to show off my outfit to you guys, but for now I thought I'd give you all a sneak preview.

Fur: H&M

Coat: My mum's

Dress: Hobbs

Shoes: Ebay

Purse: Shutterbug

shoe lust...

First off, apologies over the severe lack of posting this past week. I have been very busy, sometimes doing things and sometimes doing nothing (which is just as important.) But I will resume my more normal posting this week. See I am already doing it!

Anyway, I have yet another pair of shoes that I am dying for. I don't think this love will ever end. These beauties are from Zara and I think they would make a fantastic shoe all year round. Obviously perfect for the summer when I am desperate to convey a laid back seventies look but I am officially over the summer (if that is at all possible.) I actually think they would better suited with those colder, crisper months with pairs of think opaque tights in black, navy and burgundy. Worn with thick masculine coats and tartan pinafores. Worn on nights out with heavily beaded flapper dresses. Worn on lazy days with high waisted shorts and thick cable knit tights. Worn with pretty much anything! Yes, these shoes would be perfect for the autumn/winter months (even if they are open-toed.) At least i think so...

shoe lust...

Gosh, I haven't had a shoe lust post in a long time! Too busy with college and work I suppose. But trust me I have indeed been lusting! And these babies I just spotted this morning... From Acne, they are of course well outside of my budget. I think they are well over €400 after postage and conversion. Shudder! That's a lot of moolah! But just look at them... Who wouldn't want them??? A fantastic autumn boot in my opinion. A rich brick red to suit my winter wardrobe colour scheme of black, grey, navy, wine, dark green (you get the picture I like dark colours.) These boots would spice things up, give me a lift and keep my toes warm and dry. 

Perfection. Plus they are dead cool looking.

Hopefully the high street will make a wonderful replica that will suit my purse strings a little more. Hopefully!

easy comfort...

I ache today... Being "fit" all of a sudden is hurting me. Damn those runs! So being comfortable was essential to me today. At least I figured that out after being in a fitted enough dress and high heels.* I needed to change. I craved trousers! Unfortunately mine are all in the wash (all two of them) and these pair are on their last legs! No pun intended... 

I need to stop buying shoes and buy some serious clothes. By serious I mean stuff I actually need. Like more trousers, especially if this weather continues. I can't stand wearing tights anymore (the sheer effort of putting them on in the morning is heartbreaking) but bare legs is an obvious no no, so trousers are indeed needed. Plus they look more casual and I really don't own enough "nice" casual things. 

I am currently rectifying the matter...

*I am aware I am still wearing heels but what you need to understand is that these heels are like wearing flats... so so comfortable!

Sheer shirt: H&M

Trousers: Oasis

Loafers: Clarks

fire...

The weather is scarily good outside and I have the curse of two wardrobes. One at college and one at home and of course all my lovely summery shoes are at home. I am stuck in leather t-bars that are proving to be a little overwhelming. What I need is a good pair of Miss L Fire. Their spring/summer collection has me salivating severely (which is never a good look). Not only are they open toed and comfortable (to keep you both fresh and unburdened while going on about your business) but they are brightly coloured, super dotey and just plain happy looking They are indeed summer shoes and they make my heart sing. I need to invest!

Ok, back to work :(

shoe lust...

If this blog was a shoe it would definitely be these! Pink, laced, chunky, heeled and super quirky... Oh Swedish Hasbeens where have you been all my life??? Only there is a teeny tiny problem. They are around €400! An insane price to be honest. Sigh... I shall have to search for similar versions that are a little more purse friendly (if anyone knows of these similar versions do tell me.) I need to stop looking at things I cannot afford. It's putting me down.

shoe lust...

Kind of in love with these sandals by Nicholas Kirkwood for Peter Pilotto. They just sing springtime in my opinion... I love everything about them! The colours, the heel, the dotey little flowers, the thick straps. I love everything, except the price. They are expensive, very expensive! Oh well... I can look on in awe.

shoe lust...

Just so you all know... I want these! To me, these are the perfect dancing shoes, the heels are high enough to give me a lift yet low enough so I could stay in them all night and they're sparkly!

Fair play Topshop, fair play...

blue friday...

This week has been long and very busy... Since it's nearing the weekend and the sun is out on this brisk day I thought I'd be a little bright myself with this gorgeous blue number. I quite like pairing this dress with all black. Usually I would wear it with red and maybe yellow, so I thought for a change I could go back to my trusty black and some chunky knits. Think it keeps it suitable for this time of year... 

I am all of a sudden craving colour, I think it's due to the nearing approach of spring. How is everyone else fairing in this slight transition period?

Jacket: Vintage

Dress: Ebay

Tight/Shoes/Scarf: Penneys

Ring/Font Brooch: Etsy

Anchor: Shutterbug

inspired today #2

Pretzels on A Beautiful Mess

Irregular Choice

Found on Pinterest

Dianna Argon for NYLON

NeverLazy

Dying for some pretzels while working away on my portfolio, dreaming of purchasing this pair of Irregular Choice when they come back in stock (here's hoping), loving the idea of covering my walls in frames filled with everything, digging the sexy sixties vibe from the NYLON magazine (cat flicks and beehives were had today) and oozing over photos from the new issue of NeverLazy.

shining practicality...

London Rebel via Asos

Now I know I have mastered the art of "everyday heel wearing" but I can't help but resist a good flat when it comes along. Especially when it is a shiny pair of loafers. Surely they are a practical purchase, yes I think they just might be... After all I am heading into my final semester of college which is surely to be my most difficult. Many nights up til God knows when, rushing around looking for paper, getting pieces printed, making prototypes, photographing, printing... It will be a busy few months for me.

Ones needs to be practical...

pin up...

I'm sure you all now at this stage that I have an insane love for shoes and an insane love anything retro. So you can understand that when I have a proper trawl through Pin Up Girl Clothing that I was totally excited and raging that I have no real spare cash for a new pair (maybe for my birthday.) It had the cutest collection of shoes that ranged from the highest of heels to the most dotey of little flats. Here are just a few of the pairs that I want, I must stress it is only a handful of what I want, there were simply too many to pick from. Not only do I love the shape of these dresses but I love the little quirks of them that make them different to your average high street shoes. If you do pop in check out the dress section as well, they have dresses to die for... 

Funnily enough the majority of the shoes I picked were from one shop known as Pin Up Couture. Must be my taste, they had the most "pin up style" in their shoes in my opinion. Thankfully their shoes are also sold on this of the pond so no nasty shipping and tax costs. You just got search for them.

If you're like me and love pencil skirt dresses, red lippy and that elegant curved heel then you are gonna love this website. Just be careful not to get too carried away...