Sabrina Handbags

As I mentioned in a previous post, Sabrina is now one of my favourite handbag brands and it is available at Spartoo. Did you know that Spartoo sell handbags as well as shoes? Well you do now.

The Sabrina range is crafted from lovely soft leather and is very well priced for the quality and the size of the bags. There are also some bargains to be had in the Spartoo sale right now.

If, like me, you like a good sized shoulder bag, check out Serena. She comes in this gorgeous burgundy red, black, grey and cream so there is a colour to suit everyone’s taste.

If you prefer more of a slouchy, hobo bag, how about Shona? She comes in the black you see here, and in taupe. Her handle can be replaced with a shoulder strap, which is supplied with the bag.

Finally, who can resist Selma? Her beautiful tan leather will go with any outfit, but she also comes in black if you prefer.

Sabrina also make range of wallets and purses so for the full range, check out Spartoo today!

Happy Blogoversary To Me!

Shoegal is 5 years old today! 5 years! Can you believe I’ve been blogging that long? Now usually at this point I would post a picture of a fabulous cake in the shape of a shoe, but since cakes don’t sit well with Weight Watchers, this year you just get some fabulous shoes instead. That OK with you?

New Shoes?

The new season styles are starting to trickle into stores now, and Spartoo is no exception. So if you’re looking for new shoes now is a great time to find a fresh new style.

Vivienne Westwood, one of my favourite designers, has released a new version of her popular Lady Dragons for fall – red on red. I love them, especially the red metallic hearts!

These suede camel shoes by Paco Gil are kept from being ordinary by the fabulous purple platform and sole (yes, the part of the sole that is sloped is also purple suede!).

Another of my favourite brands you may recall, is Hush Puppies. They have a gorgeous grey suede Mary-Jane style. How cute is the flower on the front? And the low heel makes them really practical for work.


All of these styles and many more are available now at Spartoo.

A Handbag?

I have become rather a fan of leather handbags since buying my first one last summer. Fortunately for me, Spartoo sell some lovely leather bags, and the Sabrina brand has fast become my favourite. I received my second Sabrina bag this week and it is just as gorgeous as the tan one I already have. The navy leather is butter soft and it is lined with a lovely thick cotton fabric. The strap is detachable and it comes supplied with a shoulder strap so it can be used across the body too. You can’t tell from this picture, but there is a smaller zipped pocket on the back of the bag, as well as a couple of zipped sections inside. I am saving this for the fall (I need to get some more use out of the tan one whilst it is still summer) but I am definitely looking forward to using it as an alternative to my black bag.

Outfit: Super Casual Friday

Today dawned grey and overcast but I wanted to get out for a walk at lunchtime so I went with my planned outfit of jeans, shirt and Converse. I really like my Converse, even though they are totally not my style. My sister has a black pair and when she saw my blue ones the other night she said she fancied getting another pair in a different colour.

I went to the gym last night, and cycled up there as planned. However, by the time the class finished it was pouring with rain and I got quite wet on the way back. The young man was sitting in the conservatory laughing at me as I dripped my way into the garage. Still, I managed to earn 7 activity points yesterday which isn’t bad going really.

Blue and white check shirt – H&M
White tank – Topshop
Jeans – South Tall (c/o Very.co.uk)
Converse – c/o Spartoo
Blue beads – gifted
Blue bead bracelet – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £20

Outfit: Spots and Stripes

I think I like polka dots as much as I like stripes. I only have a couple of items of clothing that have spots, but I intend to get plenty of wear out of them, especially as they are both pieces that will work year round. I added classic red shoes and my trench coat to leave the house. It is sunny with blue skies today, fingers crossed it will stay that way for a while.

Last night was my weigh in for Weight Watchers and I have lost a further 3lbs taking me to half a stone in total. Yay! We went to the local pub for tea last night with the young man’s parents and as I had 71 spare points (from my weekly and activity totals), plus some of the day’s points left, I decided not to worry about what I ate for one night and enjoyed the small portion of fish and chips, with jam roly poly and custard for dessert. It was delicious. I am back on plan to day though, and I have one point less per day now thanks to my weight loss.

I wore this skirt two weeks ago, the day I signed up to WW. That day it was wrinkling up when I walked and I just felt like it wasn’t hanging very well. Today it is still wrinkling up when I walk, but not as much, and I feel more comfortable in it. Perhaps I will make this my fortnightly marker skirt – wear it every second Thursday and see how the fit has altered.

Tonight is Boxercise class and I want to cycle up to the gym too to earn an extra activity point. I have no intention of actually using them up, but it’s nice to know I have them built up, just in case I need them. And there is talk of Chinese food on Sunday which I know will be disastrous!

Red and white stripe top – H&M
Black and white polka dot skirt – Dorothy Perkins
Red shoes – c/o NOW Discount Shoes
Red beads – Ethel Austin
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £31

Outfit: Actually Wednesday!

It’s really Wednesday today, although I am still a little confused and I’m sure I will be thinking it’s Thursday by the end of the day.

The eagle eyed among you will have spotted that this top is actually the Topshop dress I bought in London. As it’s a bit on the short side for wearing to work I decided it would make a great top as well, and put my pencil skirt over it. I briefly contemplated nude shoes (and another shoe save) with this outfit, but as you can only really wear white shoes in the summer I thought I’d give them another outing instead. They are supremely comfortable too.

As I mentioned in my previous post, we are out for a meal tonight at the local pub. It is weigh in day too, fingers crossed I’ll have lost a couple more pounds.

Navy and white polka dot dress (worn as a top) – Topshop Tall
Navy pencil skirt – Long Tall Sally
White shoes – Priceless Shoes
Red belt – Next
Red beads – eBay
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £62

Outfit: Cycling Evening

Last night the young man and I loaded up our bike and headed over to my sister and brother-in-law’s house to go cycling with them. There is an old mental asylum not far away which is in the process of being turned into a housing development. We had a cycle round it and a good nosy at what is left of the old hospital buildings and the new houses that are being built. We were out for an hour and 35 minutes and did just over 7 miles, which gave me a whopping 8 activity points. Just as well really as we are headed out to our local pub with the young man’s parents for tea tonight.

I wore my new Converse and I love them! I can see them becoming a weekend staple as they are practical but so much lighter than trainers. I put a cardi over my tank top when we went out at the temperature had dipped somewhat by the evening.

Brown tank – c/o Joe Browns
Jeans – River Island
Converse – c/o Spartoo
Tan leather belt – River Island
Brown necklace – Scope
Silver bangles – Scope
Brown bangles – Dorothy Perkins

Total Est. Cost £64

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge #71 and Thinking It’s Wednesday

I keep thinking it’s Wednesday today. Which is kind of annoying when it’s only Tuesday.

I awoke to the sound of rain this morning (which was not forecast) and was annoyed as I planned to wear my new suede shoes. I decided to give them a good spritz of all weather protector spray and wear them anyway. It had eased off by the time I left the house and had stopped completely when I arrived at work. It is still looking grey and overcast outside, but it had better stay dry. We have plans tonight to go cycling with my sister and her husband and rain will not do.

Last night I went to the gym (and I cycled up there – Weight Watchers activity points for the win!), spoke to my sister on the phone and spoke to my friend S on the phone. It felt as though I had a long evening despite going out. Sometimes evenings just seem to fly by and sometimes I manage to get loads done.

Brown zig zag dress – charity shop
Brown tank – c/o Joe Browns
Brown tights – New Look (maybe?)
Brown suede flats - Georgia Rose (c/o Sarenza)
Brown necklace – Scope
Silver hoops – gifted
Brown bangles – Dorothy Perkins
Silver bangles – Scope

Total Est. Cost £14

New Shoes!

I am finally the owner of a pair of Converse. Now, I know what you’re thinking. I am not a trainers/sports shoe kind of girl and you’re right, I’m not. But my recent trip to London had me wishing I owned something lighter than trainers yet just as comfy to walk around in so I used part of a Spartoo gift voucher to get myself a pair of Converse pumps. I had a pair of canvas boot pumps (which might have been genuine converse or might have been a copy, I can’t remember) when I was about 12 or 13 and I lived in them at least one summer, if not two. I think I wore them until they fell apart, they were so comfy.

I had a few problems getting hold of the package though. Spartoo dispatched it around Friday 15th July and entrusted it to DHL/Yodel. Monday morning Yodel’s website was updated to say it they had received the data and were awaiting collection. When it still said that on Wednesday morning, I phoned them and asked what they were doing (nothing) and when I could expect delivery? They said they didn’t know and I needed to contact the retailer as the package hadn’t been dispatched.

I called Spartoo and they said it definitely had been dispatched and that Yodel’s website often said they hadn’t received packages when they in fact had. I have asked this question before, and will ask it again – Yodel, what is the point of having online tracking if you are not going to update your website? Secondly – retailers – if you know how bad a courier company is, why do you keep using them?

Friday morning the status was FINALLY updated to say the package was out for delivery. Friday afternoon the status changed again to say ‘unable to locate’. What does that mean Yodel? You can’t locate my package or you can’t locate the building you delivered to the day before (oh yes, I’d had another – delayed – delivery from Yodel to the same address on Thursday last week)? As far as I knew the building hadn’t moved overnight.

I phoned Yodel again Monday morning and they claimed they didn’t know where the package was, and that I’d have to wait for the next update to the website. By 9.15am the status was showing out for delivery again. It was finally delivered mid-afternoon and I am looking forward to wearing my Converse this evening.

With the rest of my Spartoo voucher I got a gorgeous new handbag – post to follow on that later in the week.

Outfit: Dull Monday

The forecast promised more sunshine for today, but it is rather overcast and dull. I don’t really mind, as long as it’s not raining.

I went for an all-teal ensemble today, with contrasting shoes. The scarf and belt weren’t planned but it needed something hence the scarf. I’m glad I put it on as it’s not overly warm in my office (again). And the waist needed cinching, hence the belt.

I’m off to the gym tonight – my usual Monday Body Conditioning class. I hurt my wrist at Boxercise last week, but it seems to be almost better today. This is shaping up to be a busy week by the looks of it.

Teal top – H&M
Teal skirt – H&M
Fuchsia shoes – Vivienne Westwood for Melissa (c/o Sarenza)
Turquoise scarf – H&M
Teal heart necklace – Scope
Teal belt – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £37