Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #64 and OTK Boots

It’s not really cold enough for over the knee boots yet, but I was flicking back through my archives the other day and spotted an outfit from last winter including these boots and these jeans and wanted to wear the combination again. I was going to go with all black but added the striped layer for interest and warmth. I knew were going to the young man’s parents’ for tea in the evening and their house is always lovely and warm so one layer is quite enough.

Last night I did the Tesco shop then caught up with a few videos on You Tube and then started reading the October issue of the Weight Watchers magazine which I somehow neglected to buy at the beginning of the month.

These boots came to me last winter from the lovely people at Sarenza via their Brand Ambassador programme. I chose them because my last pair of heeled over the knee boots had bitten the dust (the heel came off and they were deemed un-repairable). They are from the Hush Puppies brand so are well made and pretty comfortable to boot (excuse the pun!).

Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Black and turquoise stripe top – Primark (charity shop)
Jeans – River Island
Black leather OTK boots – Hush Puppies (c/o Sarenza)
Silver beads – George at ASDA
Silver bling ring – River Island
Silver cross necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted
Black leather belt – Pieces (c/o Spartoo)

Total Est. Cost £84

Arkive and Ozzys

I always like to be introduced to new stores and online retailers, especially independent ones. I was sent a link for Arkive and Ozzys, who have several stores based in Scotland (Dundee, Arbroath and Perth) and an e-commerce website. They describe themselves as having a blend of street and high street fashion and stock many brands such as American Apparel, Dr Martens and Desigual.

If you are looking for a casual pump or trainer with a skater vibe you will also find
Vans shoes for sale at Ozzys. Vans shoes come in all manner of colours and as the sizes range from 2.5 to14 you should be able to find a pair in your size! My personal favourites are the lovely turquoise pair shown above. The brand has been around since 1966 and grew in popularity throughout the 70s and 80s, especially favoured by skateboarders and BMXers. If you really want to get into the sporting groove Arkive and Ozzys even sell skateboards, scooters and snowboards!

Vans shoes will look great with a casual outfit such as jeans and a plaid shirt or casual sweater. They will look equally as good paired with a casual dress and tights now that autumn has arrived.

If you are in Scotland why not pop along and visit a store? If you’re not in Scotland don’t worry because Arkive and Ozzys ship internationally and UK postage starts at a very reasonable £1.95. Next day delivery is also available from £3.95.

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #63 and Autumn Florals

“Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” Florals for autumn and winter however? Much more original. To avoid looking like you’re just dressing up a summer dress I think the trick is to keep the fabric heavy and the background dark. This vintage skirt has so many colours in the floral print that it can be mixed with lots of other items. My favourite way to wear it is to pick out the purple flowers with purple tights.

Last night no one called round to see us, which was just as well as I had some blog posts to write. I got those done and was just watching Mythbusters when my friend S phoned. We had a lovely catch up for about an hour and then it was time for bed.

These boots have been worn already during the Shoeper Challenge but I didn’t get a picture of them so it didn’t count as an official save. They cost me all of £8 from Ethel Austin probably about 5 years ago now and they come out every year. The heel is low so they are quite comfy and I would usually wear them with bootcut/flared jeans but as I have got into pairing ankle boots with skirts this year I’m wearing them differently.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Grey top – River Island
Floral skirt – vintage
Purple tights – New Look
Grey boots – Ethel Austin
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Purple heart necklace – gifted
Black patent belt – free with a top
Silver hoops – gifted
Grey leopard print scarf – c/o Moodys

Total Est. Cost £38

Military Style

The military vibe is a strong trend this season with inspiration to be found everywhere from coats to trousers to boots. Some fashionistas are even taking the trend a step further and buying real army boots from army surplus stores. Looking for army boots? The genuine article? Look no further than Nightgear. They stock all kinds of army boots along with workwear and outdoor gear.

Military boots outfit dress by shoegalfi-1 featuring a teal cardigan

So you have your army boots, what to wear them with? Well, you could use them to toughen up a girls floral dress. Add a cardi or denim jacket for warmth.

Military boots outfit by shoegalfi-1 featuring mid calf boots

Alternatively you could funky up a basic skinny jeans and sweater combo. Add a fabulous handbag and a scarf and you’re good to go!

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #62 and a New Pair of Tights

It finally stopped raining in the early hours of this morning, having not let up since sometime on Sunday afternoon. I was still playing it safe and wearing boots today though. Plus it gave me chance to save another pair.

I went to step class last night at the gym and I had just got home and put the kettle on when a couple of our friends called round. I made tea for everyone and we had a lovely evening chatting with them.

These boots were bought in the Faith sale back in about 2005 or 2006, and they have my favourite detailing: buttons! The tights are from H&M and I got them back in August when I was in Birmingham. I decided it was chilly enough to wear them (they’re a thickish cotton mix) after all the wind and rain we’ve had this week. I spotted the same ones in a burgundy colour on Saturday and am tempted to get those next time I’m in an H&M store.

Beige knit dress – Bay Trading
Teal top – H&M
Teal tights – H&M
Brown leather boots – Faith
Teal belt – Claire’s
Teal beads – Claire’s
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted
Teal ring – New Look

Total Est. Cost £44

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #61 and Sequins For Day

It was still raining this morning so faux patent leather boots were clearly the way to go to stay warm and dry. I decided to wear one of my more interesting tops layered up for the chilly weather and the bonus is that is has sequins on it. Sometimes a girl just needs a little sparkle in her life, you know?

These boots were bought in the Barratts sale about 3 or 4 winters ago and have served me well ever since. They hit slightly higher up on my legs than most of my boots which is something I always struggle with being so tall – you can get the right size in the foot but they never seem to compensate for longer leg length.

Last night I went to Zumba then got home to find that our friends from Australia had stopped by to say farewell as they fly home later this week. It was lovely to see them again before they go back. I had my tea then made the lunches for today and settled down to watch Mythbusters.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Grey/blue top – New Look Tall (eBay)
Black top – Next Tall (eBay)
Black skirt – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Purple tights – Tesco
Black boots – Barratts
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £75

Outfit: Rainy Monday (and Weekend Recap)

It’s raining. It’s horrid and wet out. I even took my wellies to work this morning in case I had to paddle – the area outside my office front door floods each time it rains. I complain about it each time but nothing seems to get done about it. Fortunately there was just enough space to go around the water so my shoes didn’t get ruined.

Friday night was wet too. I was busy when I got home: I put a chicken in to roast, made some leek and potato soup, washed and dried some towels and changed the bed sheets. We had the chicken for tea and the soup went in the fridge for the weekend.

Let’s go back to Saturday though, which was much sunnier. I went to meet my sister in Harrogate and we had a lovely day wandering around the shops. We went for afternoon tea in the Crown Hotel which was delicious. When I got home I heated up some of the soup for my tea and cooked for the young man who had been out on his motorbike all day. In the evening I switched over my wardrobe and listed a few items on eBay that I haven’t worn this summer. I found a dress that I was sure I had got rid of, plus a couple of other items I had sort of forgotten about. That’s the beauty of packing away your off-season clothes: it’s like you have a whole new wardrobe twice a year!

Navy wrap sweater – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Navy top – H&M
Jeans – MiH (TK Maxx)
Snakeskin belt – local boutique
Navy wedges – LK Bennett (c/o Sarenza)
Blue beads – gifted

Total Est. Cost £70

Yesterday I did some washing in the morning, vacuumed and made some croutons to go in the remains of the soup for lunch. We thought about going for a walk in the afternoon but then it started raining. I baked some muffins and then made tea. We had a quiet evening in watching TV.

White and black striped shirt – Next
Black dress – H&M
Black jacket – Long Tall Sally
Black tights – M&Co
Burgundy shoes – LK Bennett (c/o Sarenza)
Black belt – free with a top
Red and cream scarf – charity shop
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £92

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2012 #60 and Little Shop of Horrors Day

“On the 21st day in the month of September, in an early year of a decade not too long before our own, the human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence. And this terrifying enemy surfaced (as such enemies often do) in the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places...”

OK, annual quote over with so let’s get on with the business of the day. It’s cold. And wet. Fall is most definitely here. I am going to swap my clothes over at the weekend I think. I was holding off in case we got some surprise warm weather at the end of September/beginning of October like we did last year, but looking at next week’s forecast that seems unlikely.

Last night was choir practice and church and it was freezing. I never got to the bottom of whether the heat wasn’t on because it’s only September (at my old church we were only allowed heat October to March) or whether the boiler is broken. When I got home I had a mug of tea to warm up and played about on my phone for a while.

I wore the leopard print booties today that I didn’t wear yesterday. I love these things and they’re pretty comfy for a heeled boot too. They made it into my 30 items when I did the 30x30 a couple of years back. These boots are by Bocage and were a gift from Sarenza about two years ago in return for some promotional work for them. This was back before the Brand Ambassador programme started. They’ve had a lot of wear over the years but the quality is fantastic so they’ve stood up to it well.

Cream sweater – Topshop Tall
Burgundy leather blazer – Mango (charity shop)
Jeans – Armani (David Jones, Sydney)
Leopard print booties – Bocage (c/o Sarenza)
Snakeskin belt – local boutique
Silver hoops – gifted
White gold cross – gifted
Wood heart necklace – Scope
Cream pashmina – gifted

Total Est. Cost £124

Outfit: Smart Jeans

Is that an oxymoron right there in the post title? Can jeans ever be smart? I, like a lot of people, prefer my denim dark so that it can be smartened up for church, evenings and even work on days like today when I’m feeling rebellious and wearing jeans when it’s not even Friday. Amber made an interesting statement the other day though, about how she prefers her jeans a perfect mid-blue, so that they look like jeans and they look casual because that’s what jeans are supposed to do. When we were in Australia last year I noticed that most of the jeans were a pale wash. This was probably to do with the warm temperatures and the fact that it was almost summer when we were there. What shade of denim do you prefer?

Speaking of jeans, this pair is the Marrakesh style by MiH and was picked up at a fraction of the RRP at TK Maxx when I was in Birmingham last month. I paid £39.99 for them, the tag said the RRP was £165. Can’t say fairer than that. There’s a TK Maxx opening up not far from my work soon which could be dangerous to say the least! Leggy girls take note: these jeans have a 36” in seam.

Last night I decided to do the Tesco shop as I have church choir practice tonight and won’t have time for my usual Thursday Tesco jaunt. When I got home I unpacked the shopping and then made a cup of tea and chilled in front of Mythbusters. I made the lunches for today and then it was time for Grand Designs and a hot chocolate. I know, my evenings are the stuff of dreams aren’t they?

Meanwhile, the weather continues in its autumnal vein and it is a bit wet and miserable out today. I was torn between these wedges and my leopard print booties for today (and the cold draught that was blowing onto my feet for much of the morning made me wish that I’d gone with the booties) and I added my huge turquoise scarf and a pair of leather gloves in lieu of a coat when I left the house this morning.

Black jacket – Long Tall Sally
White and black stripe shirt – Next
Jeans – MiH (TK Maxx)
Coral/orange wedges – LK Bennett (c/o Sarenza)
Black leather belt – Pieces (c/o Spartoo)
Turquoise scarf – H&M
Silver hoops – gifted
Whitby Jet cross necklace – gifted

Total Est. Cost £110