Lanvin ♥ H&M

Last year, a friend and I went to the Jimmy Choo event at H&M in Dundrum, Dublin. This year, it's the turn of Lanvin. Unfortunately, I couldn't accompany my friend as I'm currently working in Amsterdam.

Therefore we struck a deal. I would head to the H&M store in Kalvertorade while she headed to Dundrum back in Dublin. I think I definitely got the better end of the deal - she was queueing from midnight, getting No 6 in line, while I headed out at 6am and got No 30. God bless the lasstitude of the cloggy nation. It saved me from the overnight ordeal I would have experienced in Ireland.

I have to say that I found this even to be much more enjoyable than last year's Jimmy Choo event. While we were standing in the queue on Kalverstraat, we got treated to some free tea or coffee. In addition, early queuers also received a free Lanvin wool scarf (in navy, red or pink) and later when it started to drizzle slightly, we all received a H&M umbrella to keep us dry. Top marks for hospitality.

As I was an early arrival, I was able to gain admittance in the second group of shoppers (a whole hour ahead of my friend in Dublin due to the time difference). There was a really good selection of dresses, tops, jackets and coats. The yellow, pink, purple and floral dresses were the ones which featured heavily in the advertising campaigns, but to be honest, I was more intent on a black dress - something with a little more longevity.

I ended up purchasing the dress below - €149. The only fault I could find with the collection is that the largest dress size was a 42. This could be very disappointing for some folk, as a 42 really isn't all that big. All the dresses come with their own printed cloth dustcover and a chunky hanger.



A great collection of accessories and shoes accompanied the clothing. I nabbed these beauties below for €99, but I did have to go for a size 38 rather than my usual 37 as I did find them tight-fitting. Sunglasses (chunky a la Wayfarer) were flying off the shelves at €19.95 while I did hum and how over the lovely chunky red gothic style necklace at €39.95.

All of the shoes & accessories came packaged in lovely cardboard boxes which really added to the designer sense. Even the sunglasses came in a chunky little box. For the sake of comparison, the shoe box featured in the picture above compares well with my Miu Miu, Dior & Prada boxes at home.

All in all, I enjoyed this collection at H&M. I'm not a die-hard fashionista. I prefer style to fashion. And even though this collection was definitely fashionable, a few items were also quite stylish. And the carrier bag in which I received my purchases is nothing short of adorable. Well done!

Recent purchases

Sometimes the urge to shop takes over - and when it does, you have to satisfy it!

eBay is both my most favourite and most hated site. It's been the cause of too many impulse purchases. However, these Irregular Choice shoes for about $25 didn't break the bank.

On our way to Waterford today, we stopped at Kildare Village for a quick browse and bite to eat. Despite the horrible rain, the place was pretty full. I popped into Reiss and couldn't resist this gorgeous beige trench coat with pleated trim. I have been thinking about changing from my red wool winter coat - so this will do the job nicely.

New Irregular Choice Shoes

I just picked up these beauties in the Schuh sale. They are reduced down to €64.50, which when combined with a €50 gift voucher made them a steal! The next problem is when to wear them...

Jimmy Choo for H&M

So, my newly-married friend texted me yesterday to find out if I was heading to H&M to shop for the Jimmy Choo diffusion line. TBH, I hadn't really considered it, as I like my Saturday mornings in bed, but the thought of catching up with my friend, and shopping for shoes won out.

I arrived in Dundrum for 6am as I figured that it would be busy. I'd estimate that I was about the 100th person there, and when my friend and her sis arrived, I'd say that they were somewhere around 120. The first 160 people were given wristbands, which would get them access to the accessories area in allocated timeslots for 10 minutes. Clothing items would be a free-for-all with no restrictions.

When I entered the shop, the two rails of clothing had been stripped. It was apparent that most of the items were in the accessories section, so I went for a coffee with my friend, returning later to gain access to the shoes. There still was a good selection when I was granted access in my group of 20 and I was quickly able to nab the clutch that my friend wanted, as well as the shoes that each of us had our eyes on.

I had wanted the red, strappy, patent sandals, as they were the only style with a platform sole. (top lefthand in the above picture). My usual size, 37, was all gone, but I tried on a 36 (the last pair) and they fitted! By the time I left the shop, it was 10.45 am (4.75 hours after starting to queue), so I was delighted to leave with a gorgeous royal blue bag on my arm.

Carvela Antique Black Courts

Aren't these lovely? I got them today in the Shoe Rooms at BT. They're very comfortable and look kick ass. They're from the Carvela range and cost E150.

Irregular Choice Store, Carnaby Street, London

I had to visit the new Irregular Choice store on Carnaby Street during a recent trip to London. I'd say that I've got over 15 pairs of Irregular Choice shoes, collected over the last 6 or more years. Danny O'Sullivan's designs have always interested and fascinated me, and what better way to pay tribute than to visit the store.







Shelves and shelves of fantastic shoes, along with bright, colourful clothes. I especially love this robot-themed raincoat. The motif will be familiar to Irregular Choice fans, appearing as it does on shoes and soles.


So, did I buy shoes in this fantabulous new store? Of course I did! One pair of red suede and pink patent platform shes on sale for approx £50. I especially love the robot box, and managed to squish it into my luggage on my Ryanair flight. So IC, do you see what ends I go to for your shoes!

Miu Miu Wedges

I've had a stockpile of Brown Thomas vouchers hanging around for a while now, but until today I couldn't find something that I was happy to spend them on. I could have gradually spent them on MAC cosmetics, which would be nice, but I really wanted to buy a handbag or shoes.

So I hit the BT sale today around 10.30am (it had started at 8am). It was actually much quieter than I expected, with the exception of the 1 million chinese women ravaging the D&G and Gucci handbag section. Well, I exaggerate slightly, but there was a lot of them there.

I've been thinking about a new pair of wedges for a while and I got lucky upstairs in the Shoe Rooms. These lovely yet comfortable gold wedges were reduced from E450 to E225. Now even at E225 I think that they're still expensive, but my vouchers helped ease that pain somewhat.

eBay is Bad for You!

I haven't bought a pair of shoes in ages. In fact, I'm gearing up to clean out my shoe pile. I think that in 8 years I've probably managed to get rid of 5 pairs max (all of them horrible pointy toed affairs).

I thought that I could handle a quick browse on eBay. So I went and searched for my favourite brand - Irregular Choice - size 4 thanking you. And I ended up buying this pair in a Buy It Now auction. Dammit! At least they were cheap.

Red Platforms from Faith

We went to see Ireland play France last week in Croke Park. I was lucky enough to get three standing tickets for Hill 16, where we had a great view. It was a heartening victory for Ireland, and Croke Park was magnificent.

I would like to comment on the cost of the tickets though. Standing on Hill 16 was E38, while all other tickets, which are seated, were E90. That is just a ridiculous amount of money. Croke Park has a capacity of 82,300. Allowing for 13,000 on Hill 16 and Nally Terrace (Railway End), this means that approximately 70,000 seats were available at E90 each. It really just goes to show how much money there is in rugby. In contrast, tickets for the Ireland vs Georgia world cup qualifier were just E50. (Still too expensive in my opinion).

In return for the rugby ticket, my other half today bought me a pair of shoes! He knows me too well.

We were wandering in Debenhams in Waterford when he saw a red pair of platform courts on offer in the Faith concession. As today is Valentine's Day, they were on special offer for E45 and are absolutely lovely. The glossy red mock-croc leather just cries out to be loved.

Another Pair of Duo Boots

Thanks to those fine folk at Duo Boots and their marvellously well-fitting boots, I now have another pair of boots that fit my calves perfectly. This time I went for a more sedate pair of Bologna boots in black leather. They have a soft heel and will be brilliant for everyday wear. I love the detail - it kind of reminds me of Napolean Bonaparte.

Best part of it all? Thanks to the sale on Duo Boots, total cost, including shipping came to approximately E80.

Leesburg Outlet Shopping

On our way from Harrisburg to Washington D.C., we stopped off at Leesburg Premium Outlets to do some shopping. In particular, I wanted to buy some jeans, and hopefully some shoes.

Leesburg has one of my favourite outlet shops, Saks 5th Avenue Off 5th, and it didn't disappoint this time. I headed straight for the shoe section where I picked up a pair of L.A.M.B. Gem shoes (a kind of platform Mary Jane) in tan leather for approximately $80 and a pair of Betsey Johnson Florina peep-toe platforms with adorable black and white leather hearts for approximately $55.



I was delighted with the shoes, but then I made a fabulous find while browsing the sale rack. A Diane von Furstenberg dress marked at $80 but with 50% off!! I couldn't believe it. I love the fabrics that von Furstenberg uses and this dress features a lovely black floral pattern on an off-white background. This is definitely one to go into the wardrobe for that next party.


I also picked up a fantastic black dress in Banana Republic for $25!! It's in the style of Roland Mouret and fits like a dream. At long last, I have the perfect little black dress.

A trip to the Tommy Hilfiger store and I got one pair of very comfortable boyfriend fit jeans and a lovely pink cashmere cardigan for approx $55 (40% off in store).

I just love shoping...

I'm coveting Miu Miu Again

I've gotten some great Miu Miu and Prada shoes over the last few years. I don't always like her utilitarian style, but she also has an adventurous streak that I just adore. Right now I'm coveting two pairs from the new collection.

First up are these sequin-embellished beauties. Just look at the different colurs! Mmmm... tasty


Then there are these somewhat bizarre pointy-toed platforms. They have the look of shoes that could be on sale later as no one really quite likes them. But I do!


From a previous season, we have these diamond-patterned shoes - they just bring out the joker in me!

Irregular Choice Sky Fox

I bought another pair of Irregular Choice shoes!! This time I went for quite a blocky pair of heels, with straps across the front. This isn't my normal style as I dislike cutting off part of my feet with straps, but these are nice.

They're comfy too for such high shoes. The padded sole will definitely help ease the height. And there are cute little bears printed on the shoes. I bought these online at Schuh, and had them delivered to the Dundrum store for free. Now that's just great service from Schuh.

Harlot Aura Shoes

I first set eyes on Harlot shoes in Schuh several years ago. The unique, modern styles caught my attention first, but close examination revealed that these shoes are really well made from high quality leather. A bit of research on the net revealed that the shoes are made in Spain as part of a collaboration between Portugese shoe factory Meigo S.A. and the English designers Perry and Carol King (further information here).

At this stage, I have three pairs of Harlot shoes (it doesn't quite yet compare to my 17 pairs of Irregular Choice) but this shoe brand has potential. My latest pair are the Aura - in blue suede with fantastic patent detail.



Additionally, they are quite comfortable shoes, so I can definitely see myself wearing these to the office as well as out at night. Gotta love shoes!

My Holy Grail - Boots That Fit

I don't have thin legs. My calves have always been wider than normal and as a result I've only ever bought two pairs of boots from the high street that fitted me. (I'm not including those horrible cloth stretch boots in this category).

I've known about Duo Boots for quite a while, but never took the plunge by purchasing a pair of boots from them. But then I saw the Jesolo boot on their website and I had to have it. Red metallic patent leather boots with a little platform to make them comfortable. I ordered them last weekend and they were waiting for me when I arrived home this weekend. When I put them on, I was so pleased. They fit snugly, but with no struggling with the zip. They're very comfortable and made from real leather (well they'd want to be, given that they cost 195 sterling). I just adore them.

So I want to say a big THANK YOU to Duo for making boots that fit. For thinking about women who'd love to wear boots but can't find them in the high street. 

Brown Thomas and Forgotten shoes!

I went into Brown Thomas in Dublin on Saturday to check out what was left of the sale. I dont like the change in BT's focus that has occurred over recent years. They've moved steadily more upmarket away from mid-price items. Now, I realise that Ireland has a lot more cash than ever before, but BT is getting to the stage that even picking up a sale bargain is becoming unaffordable. I remember buying a leather DKNY handbag in there a few years ago for E120 in the sale. You'd be lucky to find anything that affordable there now.

I wonder will things change now that the economy is getting tighter. Today's Sunday Times mentioned that London department stores are seeing an upsurge in the sale of mid-market designer items. The excess seems to be over. Maybe someone should tell BT.

As part of their upmarket move, BT created a shoe salon a few years ago which stocks all the major brands. But I'd love to find who their shoe buyer is and shoot them. They consistently stock the duller items from the designer ranges. Go to Harrods or Selfridges in London and you'll see a much better effort.

This year, all the shoes were out according the size. However, the amount of 3s and 4s on sale was far less than other sizes. Does this mean that there are more smaller-footed people out there, or do BT buy more of the larger sizes. I don't know, but the lack of choice on the 3 and 4 tables makes it harder for me to find my bargains.

I spent a good 30 minutes wondering around, finding nothing at all, until I espied a pair of Miu Miu platforms on the size 5 table. Picking them up, I realised that they were a size 37.5 which is just the tiniest bit too large for me, but I decided to give them a whirl. Thanks to the strap, they fitted just fine, and they are so comfortable despite the tall platform. Best part of it all? They were priced at E150 down from E490.


When I got the shoes home, and looked at my shoe stack, I realised one awful truth. I have other pairs of Miu Miu and Prada shoes that I had forgotten about. Shoes that I had lusted after and had been thrilled to buy. God, I'm a disgrace. I have to pull these forgotten shoes out and start wearing them again. I think that I'll start with these beautiful satin covered pumps...

Charlotte Olympia - Charlotte Dellal's Range

Last week'Sunday Times supplement featured several up and coming shoes designers. Most of the time, I think "YAWN" when reading such profiles. Very few designers actually create something new and fresh. But one individual stood out with sassy, edgy shoes that just beg to be worn. Step forward Charlotte Dellal, creator of the "Charlotte Olympia" line. The sophomore collection from Charlotte Olympia will be stocked at Browns, Net-A-Porter and Harvey Nichols.



Her shoes are meant to be worn proudly and despite all their glamour, possess a stylish and chic edge, featuring interesting materials. This is one lady who appears to know how shoes should be. Vamp, kitsch and boudoir chic appear to be inspirations for this collection. I can't wait for my next trip to London and to Harvey Nicks and a chance to see these shoes in the flesh. If they are half as good in real life as they appear in the photos, I think I'll be making a purchase. There's always room for another pair of sky-high, funk-me shoes in my wardrobe!

The Ecstasy and the Agony

I did not own one neat pair of black shoes until I started full-time work nearly two years ago. Even then, the ones I bought had a small platform sole and a sexy little Mary-Jane strap. I had to push the boundaries just that little bit. I still can't wear plain shoes. Life is too short to wear the same colours and styles that are in the window of every highstreet shop.

Hence, I'm always on the quest for shoes that will do for work, but yet allow me to be my little flamboyant self. I saw this gorgeous pair of Irregular Choice samples on eBay, I added them to my watch list, I bidded and I won. (Julius Caesar, eat your heart out, this is the modern woman's version of Vene, Vidi, Vici).

I love Irregular Choice. Sometimes the shoes are simply daft and other times they are just exquisite, just like this pair. Imagine my excitement when I opened the parcel and tried on the shoes, and then imagine the opposite feeling I had when I realised that they just wouldn't fit.

But I'm not daunted. I'm an IC fan, and they make their shoes small. I've dealt with this in the past. I'll wedge some bottles of nail varnish down into the toes and push them further in everyday for a week. This is an old trick in my book, and has worked wonders in the past with one of my favourite pairs of shoes.



These divine blue and gold suede shoes were simply too tight at the tips of my toes when I bought them. I spent most of our first night out together with them dangling off under the table as they threatened to kill the circulation in my toes. However, two and a half years later, we're still together and still garnering compliments. Surely that was worth a little pain at the outset and that makes me look forward to wearing my green patent wedges with a little flash of scarlet.