Shooooes

Open-Toe Marni Clogs £160

Shoes are my favourite accessory. The right shoes can catapult your outfit from bland to breathtaking, give you confidence and make your day. Between you and me - when I work from home and I'm feeling down/tired/unmotivated I sometimes pop on my heels and - bang - I'm back to my old self feeling strong, sexy and on top of the world. Is it justifiable to spend your monthly salary on footwear? Yes, but no. From a styling point of view of course but looking at this from a surviving angle maybe better not. After all there must be some money left for an occasional Prosecco...


So what a delight to find Retro Women on Notting Hill Gate selling designer shoes for a friction of the original price.

Metallic courts with block heel - Sergio Rossi £100

The whole length of the shop and the entire back is dedicated to designer shoes. Nicely displayed and lit from behind in floor to ceiling glass cabinets. All our friends are here: Rossi, Zanotti, Miu Miu, Prada, Marni, Louboutin - name your favourite brand and I bet you find it here.

Miu Miu stilettos with neon stripes £170

Guiseppe Zanotti heeled trainers caught mid-air £80

 Only downside is that you've got to find your size. Surely I managed to discover pair after pair after pair

I wasn't allowed to look at the rest of the shop (our parking ticket was about to expire...) but I couldn't ignore this skirt from Issey Miyake. Padded black, perfect for the winter chill and truly a snap at 80 quit.

The Zanotti trainers were super cool but two sizes too small. If I was a size 38 (6) i would go there quick and get them.


Love. Piece. Happiness.


Your Spy-ness


xoxo


Images: Naomi Cole

Cocktails at Selfridges

I was at Selfridges today for the Everything event and after a glass of white in a stock room decorated with paper streamers and strange art on the wall we felt we needed a boost and went upstairs.

Its dangerous to be let loose in Selfridges under the influence of alcohol and with the floors full of the new AW collections. No money in the world would be enough to satisfy the appetite for fashion i build up when I wander through this department store.

We started at Dries van Noten to check out their new AW11 collection and god, its amazing. The entire collections blows you away. Its colours, the patterns, the fabrics - they are combined beautifully.

Dries van Noten AW11 (photo: style.com)

The collections is boasting in colours and patterns. We were both immediately jumping excitedly from rail to rail discovering what seemed endless variations of bright blues, greens, mixed with gold, shirts with delicate beads, draped silk and a lot of bell sleeves.

The bell sleeves are totally cool and very feminine. They come in silk blouses but also incorporated in wool/cashmere/silk jackets.

I was particularly smitten by this blouse.

Dries van Noten AW11 (photo: style.com)

To be worn either with a skirt or much cooler with jeans and heels.

That's all autumn trends nailed - snakeskin, patterns and the new blue.

Dries van Noten AW11 (photo: style.com)

No trip to Selfridges without a 'quick' visit to the shoe floor. Just wanted to check out the new Miu Miu  glitter heels in the flesh. They are even cuter in real. But which colour?

Miu Miu (photos: style.com)

And if you don't want everyone staring at your feet during the next meeting have a look at these.

Miu Miu bananas in sophisticated black (and no comments from your boss if you've been accepted for strictly come dancing).