a brogue idea

RE: yesterday's post, I'm into flat shoes too. Maybe I'm migrating from feet to head? Not that interested in heels right now. All flats considers, but nothing too flimsy. And, actually, preferably something with a heel, but a tiny heel. A brogue heel, yknow? You'll see.

I bought these (Topshop sale, £10) the other day - they really need to be worn in but they're rather lovely and go with everything. I need my flats to be interesting, a shoe needs something if it hasn't got a heel.

Anyway, to fuel my need for flats, I set off round the internet. Maybe these 'monk brogues' from New Look [a mere £15 in the sale, and no, I've no idea what's 'monk' about them]?

Or these two-tone numbers from River Island? [£29.99]

Not exactly brogues, but ASOS have these less-than-ankle boot things for £28

BUT THESE - again, not brogues - from ebay (where else), which i missed out on by 50p and few minutes some days ago. Dream shoes.

They're orig from Office, so, yknow, if anyones got a pair of 5s (even 6s, whatever) kicking about, err, gimme gimme gimme.

Waaaaaahhhhhhhh. Suggest me some more?

gothic granny.

...would be an accurate description of this outfit, non?

river island lace body//thrifted dress+coat//priceless boots//primark ring

one of my loan purchases - i bought the lacy body from the river island post (and the leopard socks. managed to resist all of the boots. still want the snakeskin/suede wedges though... sigh.) and will be wearing it with pretty much everything, all the time.

this same outfit got drenched on the way home.

thanks, rain!

craving: river island.

oh elle.

elle; elle; elle.

firstly: you've brought on old age. this isn't really your fault, but i spent last night reading October's Elle whilst listening to jazz and eating a chocolate bar*. wearing fresh pyjamas. in bed. with clean sheets on. after having washed my hair and re-painted my nails - basically, generally being content with being clean and in bed by 10 on a sunday evening. i think it's the jazz part that's lulling me into old age. i'd quite welcome going straight from education to retirement at this point. reading fashion magazines and listening to Nina Simone all day every day sounds perfect.

secondly: your 'style for less' supplement is all well and good, but it is really 2 weeks early. meaning, there's loads of stuff i want but can't afford yet. THANKS. NO, REALLY.

one shop whose stuff they featured loads of was river island (the below bag and first lace up, high heeled boots definitely feature, though i've seen/coveted the buckle+shearling boots elsewhere). i never go into the newcastle store, because none of the actually awesome things from the website are in there - clearly the newcastle river island clientele are not in the awesome-boot-sequin-bag business. but they should be. here are some things i want and hope are still in store when i get money.

shoes: brown buckle ankle boots; £64.99//brown platform heeled ankle boots; £89.99//

grey leather cage wedges; £49.99//snake and suede wedges; £84.99//

beige leather clog heels; £74.99//brown leather buckle heel ankle boots; £74.99//

brown suede clog heels; £74.99//black leather cuff detail boots; £69.99//

socks; £3.99 each: lace//polkadot//leopard//

sequin backpack; £59.99//stripe skirt; £19.99//lace body; £19.99//

ok, i don't want ALL of these things - the sequin backpack is amazing but 60 quid is a bit steep - but i definitely have the collared body (!!!!), the leopard socks (my H&M ones are threatening me with threadbare) and the shearling boots bookmarked. i don't own any dark brown boots. SELL OUT AT YOUR PERIL, BOOTS.

oh, and the cream chelsea-clog-boot-things, which might be THE boots. i haven't decided yet. they're considerably more clog-gy and high heeled than the ones i have pictured, but they are severely awesome.

but the high heeled hiking boots, and the peep toe clog affairs, and the snakeskin heels......

dammit.

i hope a bunch of these go to sale so i can afford them. YOU HEAR ME, SHOES?

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*got a Twix Fino. they are good; just fyi.

just keep swimmin'.

swimming is fun, right?
i mean, exercise is generally encouraged, and swimming, cycling or walking is about as much as i can muster.
but - and given this is the season for that sort of thing - finding decent swimwear is harder than you'd think.
the criteria?

- affordable
- not too similar to those i already own (one royal blue knot front/cut out Topshop one piece, one black bikini made from H&M high waisted bottoms and a Topshop halter top)
- preferably something in a stripe, an interesting pattern or a khaki/coral/something like that block colour. must be nice, yknow? cut outs/interesting details preferred in one pieces, so as not to be too 'stuffy', or something.
- and (most importantly) be suitable for ACTUALLY SWIMMING IN.

because, as it goes, a large number of swimwear available that fit the first 3 points are suitable only for lounging by the pool.
i am not a lounger.
i don't tan; i burn.
also, i'm not going on holiday any time soon.

so, internet, do your worst:

topshop

as evidenced by my current arsenal, topshop is my go-to. these are the nicest looking on the TS site right now, but i doubt either of them would sufficiently secure the girls while doing lengths. I'm not a big fan of the style of bikini top where the cups are attached to the string but free to move around. because move around they will, and exposing oneself in Byker pool is not at all desirable.

river island

river island (the store), i do not like. i don't know what it is about the north east stores, but they cool stuff from the website never makes it's way there, while the orange hued folk of the north do. in droves. the site though, has good stuff.

my point is, i saw none of these in the newcastle store today but they are varying degrees of awesome. i'd be in love with the second one if it weren't so eye-searingly pink; and the last one if it weren't £60.

side note: river island's shoe department is like a sea of catwalk rip offs. good ones, like, but i could literally walk through it going "miu miu, alexander wang, burberry..."

need supply

need supply is normally a little high priced but these pieces aren't too bad (the first - from cheap monday, is in the sale for $30. i forget how much the second one is, but its from label 'insight' which is pretty cool - see below)

this is another problem i encounter. much like high street bras - hey Topshop; H&M; et al; your bras are gorgeous, a lot of the time, but i'm sure you are losing thousands of customers by stopping at a D cup. isn't the UK average a C? shouldn't you at least consider a range for larger busted ladies? just a thought.

the cheap monday bikini top looks snug on the model; i can't imagine how i'd ever fit into it (see also: american apparel)

and so, to asos.

i was sure i'd been on there earlier and not seen anything, but in writing this post found a bunch of great options.

above are pieces from Mango, two more from Insight (which are way better than the need supply option IMO) and two options from asos' own range.

print!

decent coverage!

the coral asos one is, i think, in the sale, and has the desired cut outs, but this option is cheaper and ticks all the boxes:

asos

ok, ALMOST all the boxes (note the free-to-move cup/strap design. noooooo!) - but it IS khaki with gold accents, with decent straps and plentiful cups, and is under £25 for both pieces. oh, and it comes in a coral-y shade, which is even cheaper.