Shoegal Flashback

What I was wearing this time last year.

Remix: Navy polka dot dress

This is my absolute favourite casual dress right now. I got it when I was in London with my sister back in July, from Topshop. It’s a little on the short side despite being from the Tall range, but can be made work appropriate with the addition of a longer skirt. Here’s how I’ve worn it this year.

Shoegal Flashback

What I was wearing this time last year! The slippers were because the snow had started and we were headed to my parents' for a family get together. I would have worn my Merrell boots out in the snow.

Remix: Green & navy stripe top

This is another ‘blogger’ piece. It came from H&M in the summer and I bought it after seeing it on Jill GG, Emily and Christine. Here’s a look at how I wore it this year.

Shoegal Flashback

What I was wearing this time last year!

Remix: F21 top

This is one of my favourite tops, and I got it right before the 30x30 in February. It works all year round and navy/cream stripes are a classic. Here’s how I wore it this year.

LTS Sweater Picks

Winter is coming and us Tall girls need some cosy knitwear, with sleeves long enough for us, to bundle up in. Here are my picks from Long Tall Sally, one of my favourite places for tall clothing.

Breton stripes are always a classic and this one in camel and navy is perfect for the winter. (£45)

LTS’s polo necks are a winter staple for me, and this year they have them in a new range of colours, including this gorgeous ice blue. (£42)

A round neck cardi is always a useful wardrobe item, and how gorgeous is this bright blue? (£45)

Remix: Brown denim skirt

This John Rocha skirt was a complete bargain – just £4.00 from a charity shop. I’ve definitely got the cost per wear down to pence already, despite only having had it since July.

Review: Batiste XXL Dry Shampoo

I have said previously that nothing can add volume to my fine hair. Well, I take that back: this dry shampoo can! I bought a can of it when I was looking for the brunette version and Boots were sold out of it, and being a sucker for anything that promises volume (I will never learn) thought I’d try the XXL one as an alternative.

I came to use it one Sunday morning and spritzed it as liberally as I would any other dry shampoo, with my head upside down. I massaged it in and the strangest thing happened. My hair took on the feeling of being very dry and as if it was tangled – they way it gets when you back comb. I flipped my head the right way up and my hair was huge! I tried brushing it out and my hair just got bigger! I decided to roll with it and the volume decreased some throughout the day. I’ve used the dry shampoo again since, just more sparingly, and I love it. I would recommend only using it on a day you know you will be washing your hair that night or the next morning though, as it does feel ever so dry.

Batiste XXL Dry Shampoo is available from Boots.

Remix: Blue check shirt

I got this shirt back in February, right before the 30x30, and included it as one of my items. It’s so Kendi, and Jentine has one too, as do some other bloggers I read regularly. Here’s a look at the ways I’ve worn it this year.

Reasons For My Shoe Obsession

I think my shoe obsession began with the launch of Clarks Magic Key shoes. Anyone in their 30s in the UK will know exactly what I’m talking about here, but for those that don’t, Magic Key shoes were red t-bar shoes with a clear plastic insert in the heel section of the sole, revealing a picture of a golden key. (All the images I could find online are of white or black Mary Janes, but I'm sure my friend's per were red t-bars.) This tied in with the TV advertising campaign and can be held responsible for millions of little girls all over Britain begging their parents for a pair, and subsequently developing a thing for pretty shoes. Here’s the ad:



My friend had a pair of these: I did not. My sister and I only had K’s shoes when we were children, never Clark’s
.
I have always been tall and my feet kept pace with my height. This meant that by the time I was in the first year of high school I was already a size 9. The school outfitter’s (we had a very strict uniform and it could be bought from just two shops) only stocked one style of girl’s shoe in a size 9: a boring black lace up and I was doomed to spend the next 4 years wearing the exact same shoe for school. I got a new pair each year, but as there was only one option, that’s what I had to have.

At the start of the fifth form, my mom made the mistake of letting my dad take me shoe shopping. We went to the Saxone (now Barratts) store in Harrogate where they sold Tall and Small shoes (sizes 9 & 10, and sizes 1 & 2 respectively) and where there was a sale on. Always one for a savvy bargain, I searched the row of shoes on the floor and found two pairs in my size: a pair of flats with a silver filigree style buckle (not unlike the ones Tory Burch produces today), and a pair of black heeled shoe boots. As they were both on sale, I convinced my dad to buy me both pairs and we returned home. My mom was dismayed to say the least to find I had a slip on style shoe for school (these had been outlawed previously in my house) but eventually confided that she had had a pair not dissimilar when she was in the fifth form.

And thus began my thing for shoes. I had a fabulous pair of brown flat knee high boots at one point in my teens, and the huge block heels I insisted on wearing all through the sixth form followed me to university until the cheap plastic they were made from split across the toes. You’ve seen the size of my shoe collection today, and for that I hold Clark’s entirely responsible.

Remix: B&W spot skirt

I bought this black and white spotted skirt back in June, and the first time I wore it was the day I decided to start Weight Watchers. I wore it every second Thursday after that, so I could use it to track my progress (and so can you, from right to left). It started out a little snug and now it is a bit big. It may go in the eBay pile shortly.

Review: Trevor Sorbie Beautiful Volume Thickening Shampoo and Leave In Conditioner

I really wanted to like this shampoo. I have used Trevor Sorbie’s straightening addict products on and off for years and love them, and I’ve used the dry shampoo from the beautiful volume collection and that rocks too.

I wasn’t expecting volume from this shampoo and leave in conditioner – nothing can give my fine hair volume except back combing and a Bumpit, but I did want to like them for their cleaning and conditioning properties. Sadly though they just leave my hair feeling a bit dry, not lovely and moisturised like a leave in conditioner should. It could be just my hair that doesn’t get on with these products so I’d be interested to know whether anyone else has tried them and what you thought?

Trevor Sorbie products can be bought at Boots.

Outfit: Grey Jeans

Another day, another pair of pants that no longer fits me. I’ll have to get another load of stuff together to put on eBay at some point.

Last night we went for tea at the local pub with my sister and her husband. We had a lovely meal as always – I had steak pie with chips, then parkin and custard for dessert. And I finally got my car back! They replaced two sensors for the price of one, so fingers crossed I won’t have any more problems with it now.

Grey jeans – Gap
Purple top – Long Tall Sally
Purple booties – Priceless Shoes
Purple hearts necklace – gifted
Silver glitter belt – local boutique
Silver hoops – gifted
Silver bling ring – River Island

Total Est. Cost £40

Outfit: More Home Working

As I knew I’d be working from home today I decided to make my whole outfit warm and cosy, rather than just throwing my hooded knee length cardi over what I was wearing. Although, by mid-morning I was chilly so threw the hooded knee length cardi over what you see here.

Anyway, there is no news on my car at the time of writing, but I will phone the garage shortly to see what excuse they come up with today.

My sister and her hubby are coming over this evening and we are going for tea at our local pub which I am looking forward to.

Beige knit dress – Bay Trading
Black rib leggings – Long Tall Sally
Black polo neck – New Look Tall
Black belt – free with a top
Tan boots – Barratts
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £99

Outfit: What I Was Wearing

So guess what? That’s right! My car still isn’t mended. Apparently there was a fault with the new part so they’ve ordered another one and will fix it tomorrow. I’ve pretty much stopped believing them now.

Anyway, I got dressed this morning thinking I would be going to the office at some point and this is what I was wearing. When it became clear that I wouldn’t be going anywhere today, I changed into my home working kit – jeans over the tights I had on, a cream pashmina, and my knee length hooded cardi over the cardi and red top I was already wearing. I have been supping numerous large cups of tea and I currently have a hot water bottle on my knees to keep warm. On my feet are my furry leopard print slipper boots. I have washed the bed sheets and they are now in the dryer (it’s too grey and damp out to put them on the line) which is warming the house a little. Caroline blogged about this yesterday, and I found myself nodding along as I read the post.

The pie I made yesterday was a success, except it tasted a little too cheesy – the recipe was for cheddar but I used blue cheese as that’s what we had in the fridge to use up so the flavour was a bit strong. Next time I’ll either use cheddar as directed, or I’ll use less cheese. In making the pie I inadvertently learned how to make beef and Guinness casserole too, so I’ll have to try that on its own at some point.

Tonight it’s vegetarian moussaka for tea, then we’re off to visit the young man’s aunty to pick up the knitting she’s been doing for the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. My mom is in charge of the warehouse that co-ordinates the collection of all the boxes in the north Leeds area – they pick up from schools, churches etc. and sort all the boxes to ensure the right contents are in them, they are not too big, too full or too empty.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Red top – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Black and white polka dot skirt – Dorothy Perkins
Black tights – M&Co
Red patent shoes – Hush Puppies (c/o Sarenza)
Black and silver stud belt – free with a pair of trousers
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted
Red ribbon – haberdashery

Total Est. Cost £49

DUO Boots

Boot season is here ladies, and if you have trouble finding a standard pair to fit your calves – be they too large or too small for you – how about trying DUO boots? Their boots come in a choice of 10 calf widths and up to a size 9 so there is bound to be something for you.

Choose from heels or flats or wedges. They have a good range of tan, brown and black boots, but if you are after something a little different, how about this pair in a fabulous raspberry red suede?

Prices start from £140 which is around what you would pay for a pair of leather boots on the high street, and for a custom fit the price would be well worth it.

I have a friend who has ordered from DUO from overseas, and she found the customer services to be spot on and very helpful. The website is packed with tips about measuring your legs and how to ensure the best fits, and I know from my friend’s experience that if you contact the customer service department they will help you further, and advise on the styles that will be right for you.

Working At Home

Last night I left the office at 3.30pm. Three hours later, I got home. I stopped off at ASDA on the way and as I was leaving the car park, my car cut out on me and refused to start again. I spent about 10 minutes trying the engine, to no avail, and phoned the RAC. The faulty sensor in my engine had finally given up the ghost and there was nothing the RAC man could do, so he phoned for a tow truck. The tow truck arrived and out climbed my friend’s husband, who I had completely forgotten works for the RAC. It was nice to see a familiar face and he had my car on the back of his truck in no time.

I got home and cooked a sausage casserole, and then had a quiet evening reading a book.

Needless to say I am working from home today, as my car isn’t running. There’s no outfit picture as I am just in skinny jeans, a polo neck and a knee length hooded cardi to keep warm. I put on my EMU boots when I went out at dinnertime because it is cold and damp out and the boots are comfy. I am not trying to make any style statements today.

I am cooking the beef, stilton and Guinness pie today and the filling requires two and a half hours in the oven before it gets anywhere near the pie stage. Tonight I have drama group committee and I’ll be back with an outfit shot tomorrow.

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge #90 and a Cold and Frosty Morning

Last night I went to join the lads and our friends from Saturday night at the pub for the fireworks and It. Was. Freezing. I had to take my hair out of the bun when I realised it wouldn’t fit under a hat tied up like that. The hat was definitely a necessity. The fireworks were excellent and the pub was serving and pie and pea supper afterwards. I declined this as I think pie and peas is the oddest combination – we’re talking traditional pork pie, not steak or anything, with mushy peas and mint sauce. Weird. I think it’s very local to the area I live in now: I’m from the north of Leeds originally and I had never come across the dish until I moved where I am now. There was also parkin on offer so I had a slice of that instead.

This morning dawned bright and frosty and I enjoyed the sight of the white fields on my drive to work – another week or so and it will be dark at that time of the morning.

I have a few errands to run today – there’s an eBay parcel to post and I need to call at ASDA on the way home for contact lens solution and some steak for a pie that the young man has requested to use up the blue cheese that’s in the fridge. I’ve found a Jamie Oliver recipe that doesn’t look too complicated, but it will have to wait for a day when I’m working at home later in the week as I will have to start cooking at dinner time for it to be ready for tea.

These boots are by Hush Puppies and I am glad I chose to save them today, as they are keeping my knees nice and warm. They were c/o Sarenza a few months back, but it hasn’t really been chilly enough to wear them until now. I am looking forward to wearing them over jeans – I tried them on with jeans when I first got them and they looked awesome. The skirt is vintage – it was my mom’s back in the 1960s/70s and was originally full length. The pattern was a bit much though, and besides, when am I ever likely to wear a full length velvet skirt? I had it shortened and it is much more wearable at this length.

Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Velvet floral print skirt – vintage M&S
Black tights – M&Co
Black leather boots – Hush Puppies (c/o Sarenza)
Pink belt – charity shop
Pink beads – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £41