What I bought // ASOS

Needing more work appropriate attire, I was on the look-out for simple, classic, versatile pieces that would equally be acceptable for post-work drinks. I could have easily spent hours trailing the high street, but I knew of one website which always has exactly what I need. A website where "just a browse" turns into a guaranteed order every time. The website I am talking about is of course ASOS - an online shopping mecca. Discovering a 20% off discount code, this was something that couldn't have come at a better time!

ASOS pea coat   //   Mango shirt   //   ASOS mid heel sandals

ASOS organza top  //  ASOS Sugar Rush heels   //  ASOS Snap heels  //  River Island necklace  // Warehouse top

• As much as I love heels, our London office is too vast for me to survive 9-5 in them. These low and mid heels are a lot more practical, but at the same time I don't have to compromise on style!

• I have a new found love for blouses and shirts. I love how versatile they are as you can dress them up or down. I especially loved these lace organza type blouses as they'd look lovely layered with a simple dress. 

• I have been on the hunt for the perfect camel coloured coat for over a year now and I think I've finally found it! Camel coloured AND a pea coat... it ticks all the right boxes.

• Not traditionally a colour I would go for, but I couldn't resist this light pink / nude River Island necklace. It will really perk up a simple tee. Or add interest to a shirt collar.

If you wish to jump on the 20% off bandwagon, use the ASOS discount code ASOSGLAMOUR when you get to checkout. Hurry though, because this code expires on 9th September! If you do make any purchases, please tell all in the comments below - I'd love to know!

Sod's law

Remember that ASOS 20% off code that expired a couple of weeks ago? Well, me being the complete sucker than I am, pounced on it like no one’s business. It’s too easy to shop online. Particularly when the website in question is ASOS. I managed to find some beauts but alas, the shoes I’d been stalking coveting for so long had sold out in my size. But life goes on, right? I placed an order regardless and received some absolute gems in the post:

Blue velvet playsuit with relaxed ‘legs’ so when worn, looks more like a dress. 

Way too big (oh the joys of sale stock…) but it was too beautiful to send back.

The most versatile of dresses. Perfect for dates, nights out in general and 

a day at the office. Elegant and a decent length skirt for once 

(not looking at anyone in particular… *coughs* Topshop *coughs*).

Stockings. Amazingly toasty and look so cute teamed with a short skirt.

But I couldn’t get those damn shoes out of my head. I checked back most days and was all set to give up when yesterday, the miracle of all miracles happened - my size back in stock. Without thinking, those bad boys were in my basket. Officially my smallest (and cheapest!) ASOS order ever.

Hopefully they’ll be the perfect substitute for my black Primark courts which stretched with wear and alas, won’t stay on my feet any more. Being ASOS, I expect the quality to be tons better and fingers crossed, they’ll actually last. Plus they have a wedge rather than a heel – satisfying my love of wedges (both potato and otherwise!)

All I want for Christmas is you

Happy Boxing Day! Hope you all had a blast yesterday!

I spent Christmas with my family and it was pretty standard – alcohol first thing in the morning, big lunch time feast, hours of presents after lunch and then eating some more (despite everyone moaning they’re still full from lunch and couldn’t possibly eat another bite - yet still managing to somehow!)

Later in the evening we all sat down and watched Michael McIntyre's Christmas Comedy Roadshow and sampled some liquors I'd brought back from Paris:

It's not milk, I swear!

I’m not a liquor drinker and I can’t stand Baileys – but these are amazing! I brought two bottles of the stuff – chocolate and biscuit. Lethal but majorly tasty!

I decided to wear my trusty French Connection dress (the gold not the silver - felt the gold was more festive) which has just the right amount of sparkle for Christmas

... with obligatory festive underwear 

Photographed from the worst of angles – 

knickers look ma-hoo-sive and they’re really not!!

... and my block heels which were first mentioned in this post here

Tonight I’m off to the pub for a mate’s birthday and

first thing tomorrow morning I’m braving the sales!

Hope you’re all enjoying the festive season! 

Shoes for Show: The Sculptural Art of High Heels

A couple of weeks ago I attended the “Shoes for Show” exhibition in London. It only ran in Brick Lane for a few days and being the shoe-a-holic that I am, I jumped at the chance.  

It all sounded good on paper so a couple of weekends back, I travelled into Central London to go and perve on the pretty shoes. Except the pretty shoes were nowhere to be found. My Google Maps led me to the wrong location – a charming, secluded area where I had visions of being knifed so got back onto the main road ASAP. I finally found the right number but when I got there, the Polish security guy sighed a loud sigh (I guess he had this a lot) and redirected me to another part of Brick Lane. Which I couldn’t find.

I was confused. I was lost. I was smelling amazing Brick Lane food and was damn hungry. I very nearly gave up. But thank goodness I didn't!

Finally found it. It was like a little abandoned warehouse, very simple and minimalist. One thing I’d worried about is that it’d be uber strict with lots of security personnel and photography prohibited. Not the case at all. There was one male “guard” who stayed out of the way and didn’t seem too bothered about anything. And people left, right and centre were snapping away. So I had no qualms about getting my camera out.

Manolo Blahniks. Oh my.

The charm wrapped around the heel, the lattice 

detail and the colour all make me melt a little inside.

These Vivienne Westwoods are not my cup o’ tea but 

they do remind me all of the Creepers all over 

the blogsphere at the moment.

Nikes! Can you imagine Nike Town selling these? I can’t.

Perhaps the weirdest shoes I’ve ever laid my eyes on. 

Not one, but two elevated heels so in theory, quite a 

sturdy pair of shoes. But then check out the weird shape 

of the heels…  And bath shoes? Really? I can’t imagine 

anyone wearing these by the poolside. 

Not even Lady GaGa. 

And that’s saying something.

No explanation needed here! 

Have already shared my thoughts of the Armadillo.

Don’t know about anyone else, but in these I see Litas. 

But really funky, velvety, glitzy / sparkly ones.

These are art. ‘Nuff said.

Simple, classic and yet, no less worthy of interest.

And these? I was lost for words then. And I still am now.

An artsy revamp of the gladiator sandal

A print like this would be amazing on a dress. 

And my favourites:

Alice in Wonderland shoes!

The delicate tea cup charms, 

the key, the fob watch, the 

foliage… all a bit OTT but at 

the same time fabulous 

for this very reason.

Get a load of these! Stunningly beautiful with 

the embellishment detail but just not practical. 

But even those who don't "get" shoes would 

have to admit that these are pure art. If 

Louboutin sell these as flats, I would 

snap these up in a heartbeat,

 no questions asked.

I actually liked these! A good mix of “hard” meets 

“soft” with the glitzy champagne-like colour 

combined with the spiky / studded exterior. 

These would get you noticed!

And now over to you! Do any of these fill you with horror? And which of these are love at first sight?

And for the latter, to wear or to have displayed in your home as expensive-but-totally-worth-it art?

Make your mark, Primark

Occasionally in my spare time I do market research to generate some extra cash. Every little helps right? I usually apply for the ones I like / am eligible for however this time a lady approached me: how would I like x amount of pounds and free clothes from a well known high street store? Er… yes please!

They swiftly sent me some vouchers asking me to go forth and spendeth. At a later date I would need to attend a focus group where we would need to do a show and tell on our purchases and talk about the brand.

So far so good.

I then learnt that the well known high street store was in fact Primark and had mixed feelings about it. On one hand I was happy as I knew the vouchers should go far there - but then on the other hand, I was a little disappointed. Primark isn’t one of my favourite stores. The crowds and queues just kill me.

Another kick in the proverbial balls was that I had been told to shop in the London Oxford Street store. The stuff of nightmares. The crowds, the queues… and not all that impressive stock wise considering it’s a flagship store.

So one Saturday morning, I got up at the crack of dawn, gritted my teeth and got my game face on. I was amazed at how expensive Primark seems to be getting. It’s not crazy expensive but it’s pricey for the quality you’re getting. I found it so hard to make my vouchers stretch. In the end I had to fork out a little bit of my own money just so I could afford my basket(!)

Here’s a sneak peek of my purchases:

I didn’t even stop to think about the bag. It was tan. It was fairisle. DONE.

The top I initially loved but am considering returning as I’m not sure about the keyhole neckline. Maybe I’ll do a bit of DIY and cut the neckline lower.

These stacked heels were an absolute bargain for a mere £18. 

Boohoo, Topshop and New Look sell similar ones but they are quite a bit more.

I got the royal blue ones but they also had some in burgundy. I tried them on and had quite the audience of women around me ooh-ing and ahh-ing. After being told numerous times that they looked incredible on me, I couldn’t ignore that voice in my head screaming “buy them!” any more. Those bad boys went back into my basket and that was that.

I must add that later after having paid at the tills, I did spot some of the aforementioned women clutching the very same pair of shoes and heading to the tills. It did make me laugh! I'm a terrible influence! ;)

The actual survey was fine. The last minute kick in the teeth was that they paid us in Primark vouchers rather than £££ :( I found that the heels and bag I purchased helped me get over this annoyance very quickly. Here they are in action:

Next time I’ll be heading to a far quieter branch me thinks!