"Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well."

Matching shoes and handbags aren't usually my kind of thing but, trawling the web this morning, I came across some delightful duos that made me re-consider. Although I can be obsessive when it comes to co-ordination at times, the thought of matching accessories just seemed too prissy for my liking. However, I've found three matching shoes and handbags that compliment each other perfectly without looking too OTT:











The only problem with these slick sets is the huge price tag! Fendi's B bag and shoe will set you back an eye-watering $2600. Jimmy Choo's snakeskin hobo costs a cool $2100. Good job the matching snakeskin pump is on sale at $415.90 then! Alexander McQueen's chain pump (featured previously as 'most coveted') and 'Novak' bag seem like a bargain at $1615 by contrast!

"When there's uncertainty they always think there's another shoe to fall. There is no other shoe to fall."

On the left is Marc Jacobs ankle strap wedge shoes, available from Net a Porter for £200. On the right is ASOS's version, priced at a mere £18. The colour might be slightly different but other than that, the only real difference I can see between the two is a £182 saving! Also worth checking out is Primark's version of this sandal..I popped in there on Friday and they had racks of Marc Jacobs-esque shoes, the majority of which were under a tenner! Hooray for the high-street!

"Stiletto? I look at it more as an attitude as opposed to a high-heeled shoe."

Well converse to the title of this post, it's all about flatties. Or thong sandals to be more precise. However, I just loved the quote so I had to put it up anyway. The thong sandal is a hot new trend for spring that is the perfect in-between shoe..not too casual or too smart, not a flip-flop and yet not a proper sandal and also not too high but not totally flat. I love Dior's metallic thong with tortoiseshell heel. It also has a cute little 'D' charm hanging off on the ankle strap. Ok so it is Dior, it is gold and it does involve tortoiseshell and a charm but I think it still manages to look reasonably subtle...for Dior anyway. Equally adorable, and also rather kitsch, is Miss Trish of Capri's anchor thong with heart detail and an anchor charm. These are a cute take on the nautical theme and would look great with a crisp pair of white city shorts. Last but not least is Prada's wood trick thong with wooden embellishment. These are proving to be very popular at Saks, where all the shoes can be purchased from, so if you want to get your hands on a pair, get in there quick!

"It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out- its the stone in your shoe"

Ok so this is a new little feature that I've decided to introduce to the blog. In addition to looking for high-street imitations of celeb-favoured shoes, I'll also be putting up whole outfits. The first outfit is inspired by none other than Nicole Richie. Get a similar look with Chloé tweed style city shorts, white vest from ASOS , diamante bow pointed flats, also from ASOS and for a nice finishing touch, accessorise with their chunky chain and heart pendant necklace.









If anyone wants me to look for any other celeb-inspired outfits let me know!

"Most women prefer the trip to hell in heels than to walk flat-heeled to heaven"

Find the animal in you and take a walk on the wild side in bold animal prints this summer. It's impossible to miss how popular animal print is at the moment in the shops: skin is in. Go all out in ASOS court shoe (in the style of Gwen Stefani) or Manolo Blahnik's Hair-Calf d'Orsay ($585). If leopard isn't your thing, try Gucci's High-Heel pump in Ayers Snakeskin with a gorgeous pearl satin finish. If you want to try this trend but don't want to go too bestial, Christian Louboutin's Patent Leather wedge with leopard print inset offers a more subtle approach, as does Jimmy Choo Leopard-Print Sandals.

"I kick them in the butt with a diamond-buckled shoe"

I have to admit that I've never really been into the whole 'vintage' thing. The closet I've ever really got to it is the basement section in Topshop at Oxford Circus and a one-off trip to Rokit. Instead, I prefer to raid through my mum's wardrobe. However, I thought it was time for some fab vintage finds.











I'm loving the 70s gold t-bar sandal from Martha's Closet. With their dance-inspired style, these could easily be from the current Miu Miu collection, as could the 60s silver slingbacks from the same website. From Vintage Designer Clothing is YSL's red-pointed leather slingbacks with a cute bow detail. At 1860-1960, you can find a pair of 'De Lux' silver metallic evening shoes from the 1930s, apparently in excellent condition. However, if you don't really like the idea of wearing someone else's shoes, Pin-up Girl Clothing offer a variety of vintage style shoes. Their satin open-toe pumps are suitably retro looking while still offering you the satisfaction of knowing that no sweaty feet have graced their soles!

"What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot recognize the fact that the foot is more noble than the shoe?"

Another designer-inspired high-street selection. On the left is Marc Jacobs Triple Strand shoe, (also available in blue) and on the right is Faith's Neep peep toe court.

"Who will wear a shoe that hurts him, because the shoe-maker tells him 'tis well made?"

Ahh this shoe is pretty isn't it? Introducing the 'Larry' from Faith, yours for 45 pounds. The actual shape of the shoe is reminiscent of Louboutin while the crystal bow harks back to the Chloe bow sandal from last year that I fell in love with. In fact, I still love those shoes now so I think that these babies might be worthy of some of my student loan....

"You cannot put the same shoe on every foot"

With an impending holiday just around the corner and my thoughts constantly turning to my summer wardrobe, I thought I would go in search of some sexy sandals. These gorgeous strappy numbers would look great with a loose kaftan for daytime glamour (Nikki Beach awaits) while their dazzling colour and blinging embellishment makes them more than suitable for evening chic.













At the high end of the market, Jimmy Choo's Roy Muslin Tie Sandals (also available in black) are 220 pounds from Net-a-Porter. Somewhat less expensive is Clark's Sheena sandal, available at 34.99 pounds. Word of warning: these shoes are seriously difficult to get hold of! Last but not least is Faith's Danny sandal in bright orange at 45 pounds.

"Reading a book is like waiting for the first shoe to drop."

Most coveted:


Christian Louboutin's satin sandal in sexy red, available at Neiman Marcus for $690.

"if the shoe fits, it is probably worn out."

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been in the middle of my final year exams at uni so it's been rather hectic! However, I did manage to stumble across these tassel front leather court shoes from ASOS. They're £35 and are available in sizes 3-8. When I first posted about this trend last week, I was definitely not too sure but I'm a convert already...these shoes would look great with a pair of city shorts for a slick, sophisticated summer style.

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush."

Another lookey-likey. Seems I'm on a bit of a roll today! On the left are the Prada peep toes I mentioned the other day for $450 while on the right are Via Spiga's 'Spruce' sandal, available at Nordstrom for $169.

"Any girl that's got a $500,000 table and $5 shoes, I'm in love with."

Tassels are going to big news this autumn, with Louboutin, Bottega Veneta and Burberry Prorsum featuring them heavily in their collections. While most of us are only just beginning to think about wearing flip-flops again, the designers are focusing on what's hot for autumn/winter '06. I'm really not sure about this trend as they scream 'golf shoes' to me but come fall, I'm sure we'll all be wondering how we ever lived without our tasselled toed shoes.










Bottega Veneta's brown calfskin 'Kiltie' pump is the most expensive of the tasselled trio at $690. Christian Louboutin's 'Steva' stacked pump is slightly more affordable at £410 while my favourite of them all and which I am already starting to imagine myself wearing are Burberry Prorsum's 'Bunhill' patent sandals at £345. Word of warning: they're all already describing these as the editor's favourite on Net a Porter so for those fashion-forward folk, I recommend you get in quick!

Newsflash

Just to let you know that I am now part of Coutorture. This online fashion community promises to be the 'new destination for online fashion.' It gives fashion lovers 'news, commentary, and community in one convenient location': www.coutorture.net by 'integrating old media, fashion blogs, online magazines, and exclusive new media rich content, all while promoting a live forum of feedback and active participation.' I'm already there, so what are you waiting for?

"When people wear shoes that don't fit them, it says something about their soul. Generally, I think it means they are good people."

I once spent about a whole week trying to organise my shoes by putting them all into boxes with a description on the front so that I could easily locate them at quick glance. Of course, once it came to getting ready, I would pull all of them out of their boxes and then have to put them all away again with a sore head in the morning. Now, however, you can pack them away in these see-through storage boxes so you never need panic again. They also have boxes for knee length boots, ones for calf lengh boots, hat boxes and simple storage boxes. In a mixed pack like the one on the left, you get 4 crystal clear, 2 powder puff pink, 2 tantalizing turquoise and 2 luscious lilac.

"It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe."

Dr Scholls Gem sandal for $39.99 or Christian Louboutin's silver ball thong sandal for $510? They both look rather alike to me....

"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes."

With the nautical trend set to be around all summer, and with an increasing number of clothes with stripes finding their way into my wardrobe, I might as well embrace the trend and so I set off in search of some suitably nautical footwear to compliment my wardrobe. From the highstreet is the dolly interbow shoe from Office at £54.99. This shoe has proved so popular that it seems to be constantly sold out but apparently, new deliveries are coming in all the time for those of you who fancy getting your mitts on a pair. From the designer end of things is Gina's Memphis at £325. I think I'm having a little bit of a love affair with Gina at the moment but with shoes as cute as these, who can blame me?

“Is it time to go home yet? I keep clicking these damn shoes, but nothing happens."

The other day, when I was browsing Gina's website fo ry post about my ultimate flat shoe, I came across their Casablanca and decided that if I were to be getting married anytime soon, this would be my shoe of choice (shame I don't have a boyfriend, let alone a fiancee!) Browsing through Dune's website this morning, I came across the Wildo. For a whole lot less, these shoes look a whole lot like their designer counterpart.

"The shoe that fits one person, pinches another; there is not one recipe."

Marc Jacobs Ribbow Bow Ballerina for $295 or Accessorize's version for 35 pounds? The Accessorize pumps also come in gold glitter and grey satin.

"Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world."

Most coveted:

Alexander McQueen chain pump in black calfskin, available from Neiman Marcus $495. All I can say about these shoes is that they are seriously sexy, like...Damn hot!

"Mama always said there's an awful lot you can tell about a person from their shoes. Where they're going, where they've been."

Apologies for the delay in posting but I'm in the middle of exams. However, I still managed to buy 2 new pairs of shoes whilst studying..both from New Look and both less than 20pounds! They've got some amazing shoes in at the moment and I would definitely recommend taking a look. Both pairs are seriously high but I've been on the lookout for some new flats. As I'm writing this, I'm wearing 6pound pewter Primark ballet flats but in another life, these would be the shoes I'd be wearing...









First and foremost is Gina's Cairo. These sparkly little numbers are a whopping 650 pounds. However, despite the hefty price tag, I am absolutely in love with these shoes. Although I only really wear flats during the daytime, these deserve to be worn with something equally glamorous and expensive. More casual is Chloe's ballet slipper at an equally extortionate $490. This is the classic ballet shoe in sleek, dusty pink satin but I can't help thinking that I've probably got something that looks very similar to these in the back of my wardrobe from when I was about 5 years old! However, I know that I definitely don't own anything so gorgeous as Miu Miu's blinging ballet pump ($395). I actually saw a girl walking down Tottenham Court Rd with these on last week and they stand out a mile. Nevertheless, in terms of luxury, it doesn't get much better than Manolo's Jewelled Napa Ballerina Slipper, priced at $630, just behind the Gina's. Time to get saving....