GRATUITOUS SHOE PORN

Stick two fingers up to the gloomy weather and wear Sophia Webster's summery sherbet shoes out in town on a winter's eve. Great with a cocktail dress and faux fur; best with a zingy swimsuit and not a lot else.

Available soon on net-a-porter.com.


There's still time to enter my £30 Groupon voucher giveaway. Go go go!!!

SUCKER MC

I first fell in love with Cleo B shoes when all the models rocked them at the Bottega fashion show back in April, and was overjoyed to hear that the Cleo in question is Cheshire born and bred, just like myself. I was even more overjoyed to receive an email informing me about a competition to win a pair of shoes by putting together a sa-weeeet outfit including the pair of Cleo B shoes of your choice.

I'm going to a wedding in December, and have already bought my (dream!) dress for the occasion - the Minkpink Stolen Moment skater dress. In normal land I would pair this dainty dress with stompy boots, a chubby fur, and lots of cheap hippy jewellery. Wedding land is a completely different ballgame, however - especially if you don't know the bride and groom all that well - so careful thought must be applied to ensure you're wearing something appropriate, but essentially still you.

The ideal Cleo B shoe for this situation? The Sucker MC. In pink.. duh. In fact this entire outfit is rather pink, a colour I wouldn't normally wear, but the dress just makes me come over all Clueless (but there again when am I not channeling Cher Horowitz in some way or another?) and totally colour co-ordinate. Jewellery can stay super simple - like this beautiful Pamela Love necklace with turquoise accents to match the Cleo B clutch - but elaborate headgear is a must for a wedding. I do think I will be buying this starry crown!

Look at the Sucker MCs from the side - a simple court shoe, with a graceful gold heel. The mother-of-the-bride will nod in approval. But from the back it's a whole different story - a gilded cassette tape, straight outta the hood in the 80s. Not that I have ever been near a hood, but at least if I won the shoes I could pretend.

sucker mcs by fashiondotty featuring a fur bomber jacket

Fingers crossed I win this amazing competition, as I really wouldn't want to be ejected from the church for wearing my Miista boots or yellow Dr Martens. If you'd really like to break my heart and make a better outfit, you can enter too - just post your dream outfit on your blog, then let the Cleo B crew know (via Twitter or Facebook) before 31st November. Good luck! But not too good, obviously.

AGGY DOES DOCKERS

You guys, there is some kind of witchcraft going on here. That, or Agyness Deyn is a mindreader. There is no other explanation for this Aggy x Dr Martens being so close to my current aesthetic, other than maybe - just maybe - we grew up in the same era and are both pining for a time of watching My So-Called Life on a tiny yellow TV, discovering Nirvana just four years too late, and getting your first pair of (hand-me-down, forest green) Docs.

There's really something in this twenty years 'til a decade's cool again theory, huh?

Daisy prints, checked flannel, and lambswool knitwear work together in the clothing collection, with each piece designed to be layered with another or worn alone. The standout pieces are - naturally - the shoes. Laying somewhere in between the back pages of Kerrang! and the Victorian period, the double height soles and triple buckles are just right for stomping around Manchester's rainy streets and sticky clubs, with burgundy velvet adding a touch of luxury.

I checked out the Aggy preview with Manchester's hardest working fashionettes, Sara and Jordan, who simply had to try on the reversible daisy bomber and Crombie coat respectively. Kate couldn't hold back, and bought a pair of black velvet creepers. Everyone at the preview was rocking their Dr Martens - it'd be rude not to, right?

With prices ranging from £30-275, this is definitely one for the birthday bunny to consider, but don't dilly-dally - the collection is strictly limited edition - and you're safe in the knowledge your footwear will last pretty much forever. #Firstandforever.

CROCODILE SHOES

A few weeks ago I sparked a passionate, opinionated debate on Twitter. I'd like to say it was about politics, or the environment, or something that actually matters, but it wasn't. It was about shoes.

I couldn't decide between Office's Nighthawk or Billy the Kid. I mean, how could I? They're both so different. Twitter decreed it should be Nighthawk, so naturally I went into store and... decided on a completely different pair.

Hello, Break of Dawn. I don't know how I coped without you but now with you my life is complete. You add a Western edge to skirts and dresses and are the perfect accompaniment to jeans. My only qualm is that every time I see you Jimmy Nail's Crocodile Shoes pops into my head. But that is something I will learn to live with, my love. I will never need a new pair of shoes as long as you live.

Oh. You come in pewter, too? Heeeey baby. How you doin'...?

ELECTRIC WITCHES

Back in late January (that's an entire fashion season ago, WOW) I got the chance to visit the wonderful Miista team in East London. I was ridiculously excited that their spring/summer stock samples were littering the office, about to drop in-stores, whereas Laura and the team were already busy masterminding their autumn/winter collection.

 

How you get from a seemingly chaotic, yet incredibly well thought out moodboard to a collection of designer shoes is beyond me, but maybe that's why the Miista team design the shoes and I just drool over them. 

I'm pleased to present to you the ELECTRIC WITCHES lookbook. The shoes (and styling!) are somewhere between my 11-year-old self's separate obsessions with the 1970s and Clueless, and my velvet-clad traditional gothic phase, aged 15. Basically everything my dreams were, and still are made of. 

My top choice from Electric Witches is the silver May - that big, bouncy rubber soul looks so comfy, and there is something totally irreverent about the Chelsea-style boot perched on top - followed closely by Luela and Ida. If my choices don't boil your cauldron then check out the rest of the lookbook: every season there is unfailingly a Miista to bewitch us all.

Sneaker Weakness

Yeah, so I totally caved in on my longing for sneaker wedges. WHAT CAN I SAY, I have very little willpower when it comes to matters of the sole. I perused my options online like I was choosing a fine wine, but ultimately my shortlist became more like choosing cheap fizz from Aldi; I predict these shoes will reach fash-saturation point soon so I didn't want to invest too much (as much as I craved the Isabel Marant pair). 
This pair are from Boohoo; initially I didn't want carbon copies of the Bekkets but these were the pair I was drawn to the most. I love the colourway, and these shades go with most items in my wardrobe. At work today I received reactions from "those are AWESOME!" to "I like your little boot things, they're.. er, different". A day's retail work is the real test for any pair of shoes and I'd give these 7/10 for comfort. The wedge heel posed no problem but they are fairly narrow, so ended up rubbing my little toe at the very end of the day.

I've been leaning towards a slightly tomboyish, slightly hippy style lately, and I'm happier with my look than I have been in a long time - I'm tired of slavishly following trends and trying to stand out. I've been busy routing through stashed away clothes to re-style them and customising, too - these jeans started out life as Oasis Cherries. Being a denim despiser I was not impressed last year when I was told at work I needed a pair of jeans for uniform, to coincide with Oasis's relaunch of denim. "Jeans just don't fit me!", I protested.
Well, I hadn't tried the Cherries. These are the best fitting jeans I've ever tried and I'm now a convert with three pairs; the personal shopper at work says he only sells Oasis jeans, and I've met so many customers who swear by them too.
These were the pale denim wash which didn't really suit my style, so I attacked them with bleach, a sponge and a pair of scissors. 

I wore these to go into the city on Saturday and felt a little self-conscious; did I look a bit too 1990s retro? In the bad way, of course. I remembered the Wardrobe Angel telling me about dying a pair of trousers black with the result of them coming out grey, so I thought it wouldn't hurt if I put a light wash of Dylon grey through them. How wrong I was! They are now near enough black. Don't be surprised if they don't soon have another run-in with the bleach to make them more mottled once again.
What has this denim-related episode taught me? Absolutely nothing. I will carry on bleaching and dying as if I've never bleached or dyed before. That's the fun of customisation!

If you would like to try your own pair of Oasis jeans - or perhaps raid the sale, with tops starting at £9 (I KNOW RIGHT) I have a £30 Oasis gift card to give away to one lucky reader, plus a mascara and lipgloss kindly donated by Clinique Selfridges Exchange Square.
** This competition is closed, sorry! **

And you're DONE! If you don't have a Bloglovin' account let me know and we can work something out. Your email address is just so I can email you if you win - there's no adding to any email address lists here.

This competition closes on the 20th June at 7pm, and the winner will be contacted shortly after. Best of luck to you all. You could even come and visit me to spend your voucher in my store!

A Sneaky Confession

That's it... I admit it. This has been niggling away at me for some months now, and I've tried to resist it, but I really must confess.

I WANT SOME SNEAKER WEDGES.

Sure, I liked the Isabel Marant versions. Their chunky weirdness and awkward colour combinations had to be appreciated; but on other people, not me. And a select few people at that - Natalie of Canned Fashion being my favourite, as she doesn't take them seriously. As we ventured further into spring I found that they were being communicated to me via multiple mediums and I just couldn't get away: they're all over magazines, blogs, even people in the street. I really didn't expect them to filter down so quickly, especially not to the mass market. And then one day (yeah, today) I just snapped: I think I may need a pair. This ASOS pair would do the trick just nicely.

Will I resist? Only time will tell...

Carpe Calciamenti

  H&M via Red Cross shop blazer & jeans, Chris's tee, ASOS sandals, vintage (can we call ten years old vintage?) New Look pleather jacket
"Have you got any hi-tops?" asked Chris as I got dressed this morning. "Because you look very 80s, very John Hughes."

We decided today's bleached jeans and white tee was totally Winona Ryder in Heathers, but forget the hi-tops - I'd already been convinced to wear sandals by Bottega's Sam.

"I'm embracing summer, I'm just dealing with it" she tweeted. Well, I already tried that yesterday wearing shorts and bare legs, and ended up freezing; but today the sun tried its very best to come out, hence my ancient ASOS Surface To Air knockoffs took a turn around Manchester.

I don't own any sandals in-between Havaianas and heeled (or wedged) sandals, so I'm now on the lookout for a chunky pair of flat ones. I'm rather keen on the Acne Ambrosia (though the name makes me hungry - darned diet) but I'm not so keen on the price tag. I hit Zara today after hearing a rumour of something similar but no such luck. Any ideas, Team Shopaholic..? (that's you guys!)





PS. Google tells me "carpe calciamenti" means "seize the sandal", but I have a sneaking suspicion there isn't really a latin word for "sandal"...

Take Me To Funky Town

Those of you who have seen me in the past few days may have noticed me whistling the Lipps Inc classic and strutting along a little more wiggle than normal. I haven't suddenly become a massive Shrek fan (in fact I've never seen the film.. how bad is that?!). It is because I was whisked away to a Funky Town - or rather, Bottega's glamorous Seventies-themed summer fashion show.




The crowd were not only glossy-haired, well-heeled (literally - see McQueen, Louboutin, & Marant above!) and gorgeous, but were also very generous. The event was in support of Claire House Children's Hospice and at first count raffle tickets and donations added up to £700 but this was before the real shopping began. With 10% of each purchase made from the Bottega and friends collections available, it was the perfect excuse to shop - and yes, I may have made a purchase. But I had to do it. For charity, darling..!

The Grade II listed building Bolesworth Castle was the evening's venue, which just so happened to be shoe designer Cleo B's family home (read more about Cleo B at Newsic Moos very soon). Bottega have recently started stocking Cleo's collection and the evening proved to be a fantastic showcase for the pieces - in fact the first two looks were dedicated to Cleo's Rockbox and Jam Master Jay espadrilles and Sucker MCs casette heels.

 







All models wearing Des Petits Hauts Gold Katarina midi skirts and Sucker MCs shoes.

The Jam Master Jay is a classic with a twist - a raffia sole and heel, plus cool metallic and suede straps. Me likey.

'I'm in Miami Girl' was surely just gratuituous, giving us a chance to gawp at the babe-licious models. So full of attitude and sass, and each one different to the next - perfect casting! I think I'll leave this look to that sexy lot, though I'm sure I could find an inventive way to style the printed We Are Handsome swimsuit.

 





To me 'Le Freak C'Est Chic' was the most wearable and on-trend look of them all. Bottega stocks a fantastic edit of the Olsen's Elizabeth and James label, and each model was attired in at least one piece from the brand. My mum's favourite (did I mention my mum came along? She loved it) was the floral pyjama pants, and I was rather partial to the floral midi-maxi dress - it had a great movement and fluidity.

 





The 1970s references were coming thick and fast as we reached look 5, 'Saturday Night Fever'. A tight-fitting, one-shouldered top tucked into high-waisted flares. A floaty kaftan top, a tassled obi belt. On paper these may sound costume-like but the modern accessories (namely Cleo B) and neon accents kept the looks modern.

 




I really wish I could dress like 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life' every day, though trailing hemlines in wet Manchester may not be the most practical. This look mixed vintage and modern pieces, though you would be hard-pressed to spot the difference. Can you see the Blank cross body necklace in the first look? Genius idea!

Awesome looks, beautiful venue and an atmosphere abuzz with lively chatter - the perfect platform for Bottega's wares and Cleo B's goodies.

 


The name tags were a lovely touch!
I like to think I dressed appropriately to the theme - this French Connection velvet jumpsuit doesn't photograph so well but it fits like it was made for me. I adore it. Accessorised with Terry De Havilland wedges and hair styled by the rain (thanks for that) I felt like a 1970s diva. And how on-trend is my mum?! Sporty tailoring, coral, and a scarf-print blouse. I reckon she's secretly been looking at the Philip Lim 3.1 spring/summer show on style.com without telling me...

 




You'll find Bottega in Tarporley village centre. I recommend you take a day trip; eat at Bottega's Birdcage café, then visit all of Tarporley's other treasures - numerous castles, top tea rooms, and more striking scenery than you can shake an SLR at.