Autumn/Winter 2010 Footwear Trends

After the sky scraping heels we have seen of late, footwear seems to be going through a period of ‘anything goes’ with regard to heel height and indeed the styles of shoes and boots that are available this year. We have seen the return of kitten heels following many seasons of increasingly higher heels and platforms. Clogs are a big look heralding a return to a chunkier heel rather than a stiletto, something that was very popular in the mid to late 1990s.

For boots, the lace up Victoriana style is very big this season. Christian Louboutin has done a lace up boots with buttons up the side and naturally this has led to many high streets styles drawing inspiration from him. The over the knee style has made a welcome return for yet another A/W season and many stores are pushing the boundaries further with ever higher boots reaching the thigh high category. At the other end of the scale, flat desert boots have become popular.

Designers are choosing to embellish their footwear too. Faux fur and sheepskin are a big favourite – whether the embellishment looks like it belongs there or not doesn’t seem to matter as long as it is a feature. Studs, buckles bows and tassels all also have their place as embellishments this season.

And love them or hate them, more brands than ever are now producing the sheepskin lined suede boots synonymous with the UGG brand. They look like they have become a winter staple and are definitely here to stay.

So whatever your personal style and taste, you are sure to find something out there this season to suit you.



VivaLaDiva helped provide a lot of the information in this article, we would like to thank them for their assistance in its production.

Outfit: Thursday

Flat boots today for lots of errand running. I need to go to the post office at dinnertime, then it’s Tesco shopping this afternoon and then a walk up to the young man’s parents’ where we are having tea tonight.

It is still cold out so I wrapped up in a polo neck sweater and OTK boots. I added my lilac pashmina but forgot to get a picture with it on.

Purple sweater – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Vila (i am.....)
Black OTK boots – New Look
Lilac pashmina – Diamonds & Pearls
Silver earrings – gifted
Purple hearts necklace – gifted

Total Est. Cost £108

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge #79 and a Christmassy Sweater

OK, so there’s nothing really Christmassy about this sweater other than the colour, but I associate this shade of dark teal-green with the festive season all the same. Proving just how versatile this dress is, I’ve dressed it up with a different colour scheme so that I could tick another pair of boots off the Shoeper Challenge list. These boots were bought in Faith in the sale many (well, about 5) years ago. They are a staple each winter and are a great alternative to black or brown. Faith were using metal tips on all their stilettos that year so these boots have yet to need reheeling.

In other news: it’s cold. We had the first frost last night and I had to scrape my windscreen this morning (bizarrely the rest of the windows were clear). I was parked on the road so the young man laughed at me scraping as he pulled off the drive (where his car had been nestled between the houses), completely frost free.

Grey dress – Long Tall Sally
Teal polo neck – Long Tall Sally
Grey tights – Matalan
Teal boots – Faith
Teal belt – Claire’s
Teal beads – Claire’s
Silver earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £110

Outfit: Ruby Shoesday

Over the weekend Kendi Everyday posted a hair tutorial to show how she gets her gorgeous long hair to look so fab everyday. It involves the use of a wide barrelled curling tong and inspired, I decided to get one to try to emulate her hair. I have long been envious of how it looks and I am determined to grow my hair until it is just as long. I went to Boots because, you know, Advantage Points, but my local store didn’t have any wide barrelled ones in. So I went to Argos across the retail park because, you know, impatient. I got what I wanted in there and had a play about with them when I got home. I think I need a bit more practise but this morning was my first serious attempt at waves. I washed my hair last night and used some John Frieda Frizz Ease serum to blow dry. This morning I applied heat protector and tonged my hair in two sections – an underneath layer and a top layer. I think it has turned out OK but as my hair gets longer and I get more practised I think it will look better.

This outfit is a slight adaptation of one I did around this time last year. I added the belt to break up the black a bit. These shoes are definitely too big now, even with thick socks. I’ll try insoles in them, but I think they might be beyond help now. Sad face. This was the first pair of red shoes I ever bought, back in 2006, and they have served me well.

Black ribbed polo neck – New Look Tall
Black cords – Topshop Tall
Black socks – Long Tall Sally
Red shoes – Next
Red belt – Next
Chris Randall scarf – charity shop
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £81

Last Call

Legs21 please get in touch today or I will re-draw the handbag contest!

This Week I Will Be Mostly...

...wearing boots
...reading the October issue of UK Elle
...watching Neighbours – someone tried to murder Paul Robinson on Friday and I want to find out who!
...listening to party tunes
...eating homemade soup
...shopping for nothing

Outfit: Kept From Last Week

This is what I was going to wear on Thursday last week when I opted for trousers instead. This dress will work with a whole variety of coloured polo necks under it so expect to see several variations on this outfit in the coming weeks. I added my cream pashmina over this when I went out.

I still have a cough and a cold (it’s been a week now, surely that’s a bit unfair?) and just to spice things up I have conjunctivitis in my right eye. The treatment for that involves eye drops which are administered every 2 hours. Don’t you just wish you were me? Consequently I will be wearing my glasses all week again (I wore them last week to try to avoid getting an eye infection from messing with my lenses whilst I had a cold).

No pictures from the weekend as I was in my ‘uniform’ of black polo neck and scruffy jeans most of the time. Saturday was spent doing chores and chilling out in the afternoon, before heading up to a friend’s house to join the lads for food. Sunday I went to Tesco to get supplies for the birthday tea we were hosting for my little sister. She turned 30 on Wednesday and she and her husband came over with my parents for a buffet tea and cocktails.

Grey dress – Long Tall Sally
Black polo neck – Long Tall Sally
Black tights – Matalan
Brown boots – Faith
Tan Obi – ASOS
Silver earrings – gifted
Silver and diamante hair slide – Babyliss (Boots)

Total Est. Cost £131

Outfit: Finally Friday!

It felt like I was awake coughing all of last night. I don’t feel too tired this morning though so I must have slept at some point, but all I can remember is coughing. Not fun. I am so over this illness now.

This oversize sweater is from New Look but I found it in a charity shop. It is not marked tall but I think it must be as the sleeves are so long. I don’t know whether the early Tall collection items were marked tall as they weren’t stocked in the store in my city.

There is a real chill in the air now so I think it will be boots and polo necks from here on in. Or scarves to cover an open neck as I am doing today.

Black sweater – New Look (charity shop)
White tank – River Island
Jeggings – New Look Tall
Black OTK boots – Priceless Shoes
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted
Turquoise scarf – H&M
Silver and diamante hair slide – Babyliss (Boots)

Total Est. Cost £66

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge #78 and a Neutral Ensemble

Yesterday I worked from home so I didn’t have to go out early and could rest my voice (which all but disappeared on Tuesday evening). No picture because I was just in the same grey sweater as Tuesday, a grey fleece hoodie (for warmth), jeans and my furry pink slipper boots. Not a great look. I did manage to venture out briefly, for petrol, to post some eBay sales and for cough mixture from the chemist. I switched the hoodie for a coat and scarf, and the slippers for my tan boots.

I am a little better today – the cough is not hurting my chest so much, my throat is less sore and my voice has returned, albeit croakily. I wrapped up warm though and thought about wearing a dress but in the end opted for trousers.

These boots were bought from Faith during a sale many moons ago. I love the stitching detail and the buttons.

Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Black cords – Topshop Tall
Brown boots – Faith
Tan Obi belt – ASOS
Cream pashmina – gifted
Silver earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £126

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Outfit: Ruby Shoesday

I have a cold. I am not happy. The sore throat may have departed but in its place is a nose which alternates between runny and blocked, and a chesty cough. Lovely. I have made it in to work and am not feeling too bad, but it’s just annoying not being able to breathe properly.

When you are not feeling well you want an outfit that is simple and comfy. Nothing is simpler than jeans and a sweater, but add some heels and few accessories and you can still look put together. I have my cream pashmina over what you see here because, well, a scarf is always comforting when you are unwell.

Grey sweater – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Topshop Tall
Red heels – NOW Discount Shoes
Silver earrings – gifted
Red beads – Ethel Austin
Cream belt – gifted

Total Est. Cost £43

Snow Boots: Now Available from Fitness Footwear

It’s October and as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, it’s time to start thinking about snow boots. With some forecasters predicting a winter similar to the last one, you may be glad you made the investment early. The first snow fell on 19th December last year, but we have been known to have snow as early as November in the UK.

Fitness Footwear have a great range of ladies’ snow boots to choose from, including the trusty Merrell Oslo style (pictured above) which kept my feet warm and dry throughout last winter. They are made of waterproof leather and have super grippy soles, making them ideal for wearing in the snow.

The Merrell Puffin Frost style is another example of Merrell’s waterproof boots and with this one you can get in on the shearling trend too.

If you prefer a more traditional puffa-style snow boot, the North Face Nuptse may be the boot for you. Featuring a durable TNF Winter Grip™ rubber outsole, 600g fill power insulation and a water resistant outer, they are perfect for snowy weather.

Whatever you choose, you are sure to find something to keep your feet snug through any snow we get this winter and as always at Fitness Footwear, UK shipping is free.

This Week I Will Be Mostly...

...wearing trousers or jeans
...reading the October issue of UK Elle
...watching The Inbetweeners
...listening to my mp3s
...eating homemade soup
...shopping for boots

Outfit: Chilly Monday

There was a real feeling of autumn chill in the air this morning. Yesterday was warm and sunny. We did chores around the house in the morning washed and vacced out our cars, and I made 2 batches of soup – celery (which I would not recommend) and leek and potato (which is delish and we will be having for tea tonight). In the afternoon a friend came over and we went for a woodland walk through a local park and then to a pub for a few drinks. I made a lasagne for tea for us all when we got home. No pictures from yesterday as I was in old jeans and a black polo neck in the morning, then skinny jeans, black sweater and tan boots in the afternoon, an outfit you’ve seen lots of times before.

I had a really sore throat on Saturday and yesterday. It has abated overnight but I am a bit sniffly this morning and hoping that this is not going to turn into a cold.

Black polo neck – New Look Tall
Grey trousers – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Belt – free with trousers
Snakeskin heels – Matalan
Turquoise scarf – eBay
Turquoise ring – Dorothy Perkins
Turquoise earrings – gifted

Total Est. Cost £49