Choosing a Pair of Designer Shoes: Getting the Fit Right *

Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash

If you’re planning to invest a significant amount of money into a beautiful pair of designer shoes or sneakers then the last thing that you want is to end up with a pair that simply don’t fit. Shoes that feel uncomfortable probably won’t be worn as often as you would like, and if you do get around to wearing them you’ll probably regret it after they’ve been on your feet for five minutes. Getting the right fit is absolutely crucial when you’re buying a pair of shoes, not only to get the most out of the money that you’ll spend, but also to ensure that your feet are well-protected. Here are some tips to keep in mind. 

#1. Have Your Feet Measured for Size:

The first thing that you should do is go to a store and have your feet measured by somebody who’s been trained to do so. Even if you’re considering buying your Gucci sneakers online from a reputable site like SSENSE, for example, you will find that many shoe stores will offer a free measuring service and will be more than happy to tell you your size. You may be surprised as to what you hear; adults don’t always stay the same shoe size throughout their life as there are many factors which can contribute to changes such as pregnancy, injuries, or weight changes. 

#2. Avoid Brand-Based Shopping:

Yes, SSENSE stock Gucci shoes with a great range of choices available, but there are plenty of other designer brands to choose from to, so don’t limit yourself to just one. It doesn’t matter just how much you love one particular shoe brand – they just might not have a shoe that’s perfect for your needs right now, which is especially true if you are planning to buy designer sneakers or running shoes. Try several different brands to find one that works – you might be surprised to find that the perfect brand for you right now is one that you’d not heard of before. 

#3. Shop Late in the Day:

Even if you’re planning to take advantage of cheaper prices by shopping online, it’s a wise idea to go to the stores first and try shoes on in person, so that you have a better idea of what they look and feel like, and have the opportunity to try them on and have a walk around in them before you buy. The best time to do this is late in the day – your feet tend to swell more as the day goes on, so later on in the day is when they will be at their biggest. It’s better to shop now so that you don’t end up with shoes that are too small in the evenings. If you’re planning to shop online, then it’s also worth bearing in mind that shoe sizes can run small or large depending on the brand, so the size that fits you well in the store is the one you should order online. 

When you’re investing a lot of money into a designer pair of shoes, a well-fitting pair is essential. 

Posted in shoes, shopping

Permalink

Another Day, Another Wish List

I’ve had so many good intentions for blogging lately, determined to get back at it and start sharing more of what I love/wear/do/buy, and then life happens and before you know it over a week has passed since I last had a chance to put anything down on screen, and when I do all I can muster is another wish list.

Nothing wrong with wish lists of course, and mine is seemingly endless at the moment despite quite a large amount of retail therapy. It’s only 6 days now until we escape on our American Road Trip Adventure so every spare penny has been going towards that, hopefully when I’m back I’ll have some spare cash once more and be able to shop away the inevitable post-holiday blues…and what will I be buying? Hopefully some of the below!

I’m still obsessing over Angel Eye, although this time it’s a more casual number that’s caught my eye. This is the kind of dress I’m loving for every day wear right now, and at £30.00 it’s incredibly reasonable.
This dress and I would sadly never work out. I am a spiller and I would place money on me spilling something over an all white ensemble within seconds. Still, I couldn’t not include this dress from Joy; so simple and yet so covetable with that sleeve detail!
I’ve seen this Miss Selfridge dress* all over social media lately. I’m not normally one to jump on the hype bandwagon but I make exception for this beauty (currently discounted too!)
Another Miss Selfridge beauty* here, also discounted to just £28, my resolve not to shop is seriously wavering over this one.
This Disney x Coach hoodie is pretty much sold out everywhere, although Very have a couple of sizes in stock. It’s just as well really as I cannot drop £195 on a hoodie no matter how adorable it is, but I am seriously coveting this.
It’s clearly a week for dresses, and I couldn’t not include this delight from Yumi. A long time favourite brand of mine and this little show stopper should explain exactly why I love them.

What have you been buying, or spying lately? And what stores do I need to hit up in the USA?

Is it actually Spring yet?

How gorgeous is the weather right now guys? I can’t help but feel cautiously optimistic that Spring has sprung, although having lived in this country for the best part of 32 years now I know it could all change by tea time.

I’ve been sat on these photos for a while, unsure if could bring myself to post them. I appear to have found myself in hyper self critical mode again, and when I’m not overthinking every inch of my body my thoughts have turned to facial expression, my hair, my everything.

So what’s finally made me do it? Well, to be honest I just wanted to post something that wasn’t a review and reflects what I’ve been wearing lately. I picked up this dress on ASOS a few weeks ago whilst on a desperate mission for some new work clothes; all of sudden it felt like everything I owned was too tight and that I had gone up three sizes overnight. Turns out that wasn’t the case, but it’s scary how I could physically feel a difference that wasn’t there. Eating disorder recovery isn’t all about re-discovering food and living happily ever after; even being so close to the finish line it’s amazing what anorexia can make you believe.

I ended up buying two dresses from the Vero Moda brand and I think they might be my new go-to. They both fitted exactly as I needed them too (skimming over my perceived bloated belly) whilst still looking smart- this poppy printed version can easily be dressed up for an evening too, and is perfect for this between seasons kind of dressing.
I’m currently signed off work for a week with a rather nasty flare of sciatica, the likes of which I haven’t had since pre back surgery. It’s not much fun and seems to have been made that much worse by the fact I’m bloody terrified that the enforced inactivity might make me balloon further.

I’m finding recovery almost impossible to fathom at the moment. I’ve come so far but I truly feel like overcoming these last hurdles might break me.
On the flip side to that, I’m using all of my mental and physical capacity to push on through; with the holiday of a lifetime coming up soon and so many exciting plans for after that I know I can’t afford to give up.

I’ll always be able to find new clothes, like this dress to flatter and conceal a body I am not yet used to and not quite ready to love. You can’t buy true health though, nor the things that achieving it will bring.

I have no idea where all of this mental overspill has come from, but hey, I have a new dress and I love it- admire away and feel free to have skipped the babble!

Cat Lady Fashion feat. Oasis

A few days ago I posted a spring dress wish list and mentioned that I’d re-discovered the high street hero that is Oasis. They’d somehow slipped off of my radar for a while but a month or so ago a fellow crazy cat lady at work mentioned they had some fabulous feline themed pieces in store, and with a shopping tripped planned with my Mum that weekend it seemed only right that I pay them a visit.
It was a tough call between this dress and this jumper but after trying both on it was swiftly decided that it was the skater dress that was coming home with me.
This dress is just part of a partnership with the animal charity Blue Cross which provides support for pets, and pet owners in need, ensuring they can access affordable veterinary care and finds homes for abandoned animals. I could quite easily have taken everything home as I had forgotten just how well Oasis clothes fit and how good quality they are.
It’s not just this collection that has caught my eye either. Oasis are currently killing it with their new arrivals and it’s seriously paining me that I can’t afford to go on a wild spending spree (especially as they are running 25% off some of their seasonal styles at the moment).

For now I’ll just enjoy my latest addition to my ever growing cat themed clothing collection. Is being the wrong side of 30 a bit old for this kind of novelty print? Not a chance…not in my book anyway…the more cats the better for this lady.

The Spring Dress Wish List

The recent milder spell of weather and odd sunshine bathed day has me full of hope that Spring might be on the horizon; I do remember having this same train of thought last year though and then we got hit by The Beast From The East so we’ll see how long this optimism lasts! Still, un-predictable weather aside it’s been a long time since a wish list post graced this blog, so here we are with my current obsession- dresses perfect for that transition in to Spring.

Monki Wrap Dress | Joanie Star and Scallop Dress

I love the bright and bold prints on both of these dresses, especially the star and scallop print on the Joanie dress. The Monki shirt dress looks perfect for dressing up for work, or down with trainers for the weekend, and the Joanie number is a bargain at just £30.

Floral Skater Dress from Oasis | Unity Posy Midi Dress from Joy

Both Joy and Oasis dropped off my radar for a while, and both used to feature regularly on the blog back in the day. These floral dresses are both ideal for Spring and I’ve made myself a promise to frequent these stores more regularly for inspiration and the occasional purchase when budgets allow. I did pick up an awesome dress in Oasis just after Christmas which is coming up in a blog post soon. Florals for Spring may not be groundbreaking, but they sure do work.

Ruffle Floral Dress from Warehouse

I saw this dress pop up on Warehouse’s social media recently and instantly fell in love. My current shopping ban means I can’t make the £69 purchase at the moment but I’m mentally making excuses to break the ban; would it be perfect for a late Spring wedding I’m going to? I’d love some opinions on this as it might be enough to justify the spend!
What’s caught your eye lately? I’m loving the high street right now, and it’s the worst possible timing to feel so inspired to shop as all of my spare pennies are being filtered towards spends for the epic holiday Bob and I have planned…it’ll be worth it, but I can feel my halo slipping.