Shoe Pimps are Us

A lot of you liked my festive shoe clips, but just because the festive fun is over doesn't mean we need to stop decorating ourselves. Sometimes it is essential just to get through these long last days of winter, or for those of you in the southern hemisphere (*waves hello at friends and family*), you can jazz up your plain summer sandals.

I trashed two ponytail elastics to get to the leopard print plastic bow. One came apart quite easily, the other broke and had to be glued back together - never mind though, it can't be seen in the final result.

The bow now needs a new centre part. The original plastic one would make the bow too high on the shoe clip, and possibly a bit wobbly too. Luckily I had some plain black grosgrain ribbon on hand. A colour like red or turquoise would work well too if you knew what you wanted to match it too. 

The trusty hot melt glue gun (how I love thee!) makes short work of attaching the ribbon. I glued it to the back of the bow, wrapped it around twice for a wee bit of padding, then glued the tail down at the back again. 

The shoe clip (I purchased mine on ebay) glues on easily too. Be careful to let them dry while open or you might end up with a clip glued shut. 

And Tah-dah! It's like having new shoes!

These last ones have got to be my favourite. These shoes have always needed something extra and now I know what.

How are your shoes? Could some of them do with some pimping?

Shona x

P.S for those of you who are in the southern hemisphere, we have a 15% discount code for you. Check out our Facebook page for details.

How many Cinderella shoes is enough?

I had a different kind of get together with friends recently. We get together to be tended to by a vintage hairdresser, and as it was the last weekend in November, a bit early for too much tinsel. 

The time felt right for a tiny sprinkling of Christmas magic though so I made up an easy party theme:

"Dust off your Cinderella shoes"

By definition, a Cinderella shoe is one that you must get out of by midnight, which is when you cast them off to hobble home bare footed, and while not practical for everyday use, are very useful for hooking a prince.

Of course the blokes didn't really have any Cinderella shoes, but they arrived  looking stylish

It turned out to be a better theme than I thought it would, since I made sure everyone knew that the rest of the outfit didn't matter. Casual clothes on a blustery wintery day makes sense in London

The number of "arriving" shoes I have is quite extraordinary, though I didn't think so until some of the ladies gazed at the tree and asked "are they ALL yours?" 

But of course! In truth these are just my brightest ones on the tree, I have far more. But YOU guys knew that.

Having said that, I've bought most of them at car boot fairs, charity shops etc and since my classic vintage style doesn't change, some of these on the tree I've had for 10 or 15 years (it would have been longer if I'd stayed in one country), and some I only paid £2 for. Plus I think it is the easiest way of glamming or funking up any outfit as well as lifting your spirits.

How about you? Could you fill a tree with Fantasy Shoes?

Shona x

Springing up with Daisies

This last couple of weeks have been chock-a-block with work stuff, and more of the boring side of the work stuff too. So this weekend after running errands and a nice lunch I was desperate to CRAFT. It was just necessary before I could do a single other thing. Do you have that sometimes?

With the sunshine that was out I was inspired to do something about my summer wardrobe.

I decided that these lovely shoes deserved some flashing up

I got busy with some embroidered daises I have, first paying about where to put them with the help of masking tape. Then I stuck them down with a hot melt glue gun.

I was careful to stick down every petal. I tried to convince myself that it was for security but it might more because I love glue guns

How about a daisy chain around the ankle? 

I did think that it is possible that the flowers may droop without enough support, but I figure I can always iron them, being careful not to remelt the glue, and if need be, attach a piece of stiff felt behind them.

I decided I didn't want any at the toe, and I was happiest using the power of three* both on the strap and on the wedge. 

Got anything stuck on your shoes lately?

Shona x

(*Three items make up an attractive composition for decorating anything - very handy tool that)

Pops of colour

Last week the Wolf and I headed out to see a show so a bit of glamming up was required. Since it is often hot as Texas at the old London theatres, no matter the weather out-of-doors, a short sleeved, easy-wear dress was essential, covered up with a nice thick coat of course! 

I bought these red Honeys and a sister pair in black a few years ago at Heathrow airport on the way out. The Wolf was mortified because we were trying to travel light but I knew I would love them and have them for years. Besides, they were on SALE! 

Some ding dong bright bracelets. Only the bright green one is bakelite and therefore "collect-ably" expensive. The dark green one is Greenstone from NZ. The rest are second-hand charity shop bargains. Below my dress clip you can just see a little dressing trick...I have gathered the sides of my dress with a pin which holds more fabric for longer than the dress clip on it's own. Of course, the clip ought to cover it!

And here's the whole outfit, sans coat. The dress is an early sample of the Mary dress. 

I am also completely make-up less, as I was still recovering from a bad allergic reaction to either cleansers or make up or both - ouch! With this and the settling lotion allergy, I've had a bit of a bad run!

Anyway before I met The Wolf in town, I had an appointment at the Clinique counter to try their Anti-Allergy make up so a bare face was essential anyway. I was impressed that a make over from scratch was free and I got lots of samples in cute pots. I'm a cute pot kinda girl. The foundation itself is still on trial so I will let you know the verdict once decided.

Thanks for letting me share some POPs of colour to brighten up winter, and, if you haven't already, please POP on over and fill in the little blog survey I have running - I wanna know what you like! Here it is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FQZY799.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and do something nice, even just tea with the cat, for you. 

This is me

Today it was unseasonably warm. As in, too hot to get dressed. I'm wondering if our upstairs neighbours forgot to turn their heating off and we were the happy beneficiaries while they went to work. It was also gloriously sunny.
Because I had my hair in curlers I wasn't planning on leaving the house, so it was the perfect day for a last-unexpected-summer-dress-mostly-inside-anyway day. 

(I'm deliberately looking to the side because I am terrible at looking into bright sunlight)

So here is just me, without make-up and my hair in curlers. If I don't expect to meet anyone I let my face breathe, even though it makes me feel quite naked. Typically and ironically, not one but TWO people dropped in on me to see me like this today! Grrrr!

I don't really like to share me un-done, it is a bit uncomfortable to be honest. But I think it is important to let you know that some days are not altogether glamorous at Heyday Headquarters. 

This is a one off Fleur dress just made for me. I collect simple "not too poofy" petticoats anywhere I can find them to co-ordinate with my Fleurs. This one was actually an old Monsoon skirt from a charity shop that I took up. It's silk so feels LUSH.

No outfit post from me would be complete without the SHOES now would it? I picked these up from the charity shop for a tenner yesterday. (Anyone else notice that charity shop shoes have really gone up in price over the last couple of years?) They are unworn Clarks and I know I get on well with them so that is ok. The style is "bombay lights" and they currently come in black, navy and burgundy. (They also come in flats, worn here). From the front they look quite authentic enough, and the heel is a good shape, but I wish they would cover the heel in the same leather, because they would then be 89% vintage looking rather than 73% vintage looking, if you get what I mean.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good weekend - be it glamorous or just comfy. 

See what happens when I look straight at the sun?

My most beloved vintage possession

Today I thought I would tell you about my most beloved vintage possession. My knees. While the rest of me will be turning 40 next year, my knees are going to be 198. I swear my mum picked them up cheap second-hand.

Earlier this year my dodgy knees took a sudden turn for the worst, and I was off to see the surgeon. Both of them (knees, that is, not surgeons) were diagnosed with mild arthritis. Yick. In fact Double Yick. So dancing was been off the agenda for most of the year. Stairs, curbs, hills and wheelchair access slopes were all mountainous. It was depressing. I felt ALL of my 198 knee years.

During the year I've put on a bit of weight. BUT, I don't care...

Because, through lots and lots and lots and lots and still lots more BORING physio exercises aided by hours of Poirot, (thank-you Agatha Christie) I have been cleared of needing any kind of intervention, because my little knee caps are now going where they are supposed to go and not whipping off around the side of my leg-bone. (Ok, so I also don't care about technical terms today). If I look after them they should last me for another 198 years.

Today my elderly knees and I had a little celebration in that I pulled out a pair of heels that haven't seen any use.  Yes I KNOW you have seen me in heels in outfit posts, but that was mainly cos I missed them, so would put them on for a wee bit and for the photo.

But today I WORE heels. 

Thank you Miss L Fire for designing something worth all those painful lunges and leg lifts.

Hurrah!! I kiss my knees!! Smooch!!

(And please, if you have a bit of you that is feeling a little bit more vintage than the rest of you, go get it looked at, it might take far less work to make it right if you don't leave it like I did)

Autumn arrives with a thud

Hello my lovelies

If you are here in the UK then you know all about Autumn arriving. It seemed to arrive yesterday, without proper ceremony, after teasing us in the lurking-days-of-summer-ish-ness weeks we have had. It has put my normal wardrobe rotation and organisation in a bit of a delay. It has been so mild that I was still swanning about in a long cotton house dress some days, so it didn't make sense to dig out ALL the warmer things.  (Solanah, from Vixen Vintage, by the way, is the Queen of Wardrobe Rotation [HRHoWR]. Go here for some inspiration)

So already my day is revolving around when to turn to gas fire on. I find myself doing bargaining with myself, like: "not until after tea", "not until I have a proper jumper on at least", "I can't justify it today" and also regularly... "I wish we had a cat to accessorise the fireplace with". It is clear that it really is time to bring out the woollen heavyweights.  This is my favourite sweater dress. It is warm and toasty and green.

I know it looks like I am deliberately holding my stomach in, but in truth I was trying to show you my bracelet

The left collar needs a brooch because, despite many a wet-towel iron it is determined to pop up a bit. This mustard enamel brooch I think is from the 30s. The bracelet is 50s or 60s.

And my leopard print shoes. These were the bargain of the century, a few years ago at the Brighton Jukebox fair. £10! If I had known they would prove to be so comfy I would have brought more, but, you know how it is with cheap shoes, they can be expensive if they are uncomfortable.

I hope you all have a good warm weekend!

Shona

Rocket Girl

Hello all you lovelies out there
Last weekend we were trading at the Hemsby Rock and Roll Weekender  and I just gotta say - weekenders tire me out! Oh man, I always start the week like death warmed up!  It might be the 3 days standing and talking, it might be the early dash to the Hemsby car boot on the Sunday, or it might just be that this is the last in a long run of events/trips/outings and it has taken a toll.

Fellow stallholders, Rocket Originals were there as always, and I treated myself to a couple of their jumpers for my early autumn wardrobe.  This is the first one to show you - The lovely Red with Ivory jumper.  Now, being a big busted girl (and "big" is a, ah-hem... polite understatement) you would think that a high neck sweater would make me look even more dumpy/frumpy and made of 95% boobage. But I have discovered that as long as it isn't chocker-high neck, and if the colour on the shoulders is lighter than the rest of the body, it actually does me some favours! I happen to be very narrow in the shoulders, so much so that I have learnt  never to buy shoulder bags with two straps as I can never keep the second strap on.  So the shoulder widening illusion created by the lighter colour, combined with the darker colour over the boobs balances me out.
The skirt I am wearing is the one from Heyday's Wartime suit.  I have found it invaluable in this warm but autumn weather - so easy to wear, doesn't crease, comfy, and, you know.. slims and skims the lumpy bits. I imagine it will be just as useful in springtime with or without the jacket.



So, back to telling you about Rocket Originals...I also  picked up a bit of HOT shoe news for you, Rocket are about to bring out their "Nancy" sandal (above) in a lovely dark green. Ohhhh! - can't wait! This shoe has got to be their comfiest yet and as I completely thrashed my white pair this summer, I have also picked up the red pair too as you can see. Already having two colours of the same shoe won't stop me as being a red head I have lots of outfits that will go with green shoes. Indeed, florals always seem to go well with green - Mother Nature being the queen goddess of design and all that!


Back soon with more vintage adventures,
Shona

Just some bows on shoes

I thought I would talk about bows on shoes.

Who doesn't love them?

(Sorry, left pesky super stuck label on cos I was in a hurry)

But sometimes the shoemakers get it a bit wrong in trying to be funky.  These office shoes originally came with rags as laces:

I can see what they are trying to do, a distressed finish to modern up these lacy lovelies, but skinny cheap cotton rags tend to rip, in fact a bit ripped off when I even tried them on in the shop.  So now that they are safe at home with me they have their new grosgrain bows that are just the right amount of floppy to be lush and just the right amount of form to be ladylike. I love grosgrain ribbon.

I also have this pair from Hush Puppies (a year old now) and their original satin ribbons with false leather on the end comes undone all the time, and sits out too stiff and proud - making them look like witchy shoes to me. 

So now the navy ones have been grosgrained too, and they no longer come undone.

The 4 year old in me really liked the idea of contrasting ribbons, say melon or red or even cream. Or maybe some with spots on them (this might yet be re-visited). But then I remembered that I am closer to 40 than 4. Damn. They have enough girlish-ness to them already I think.

I am a funny one for finishing off the ends of bows.  They either need a diagonal line or a shape "V" cut into the ends.  For these bows I made a diagonal cut and then sealed the end by holding it really close to a candle flame. This melts the synthetic fibre and seals the edge so it won't fray. My dad used to do it with bits of nylon rope and things like webbing straps on backpacks, so that must be how I know about it. 

I feel the need to do a disclaimer now: it won't work on natural fibres, they will just catch fire. Don't do it if you are not an adult. Be careful of your clothing/hair/cat catching fire. Be sensible about it. A candle is manageable since you need to get close to the flame, bonfires: not so easy. Have a bucket of water, a loaded fire extinguisher or a topless fireman handy.  I recommend the fireman; they tend to be more effective, but he MUST be topless. Not advisable to melt ribbon while drinking. Definitely advisable to melt into fireman after drinking. Do not melt and drive. Wear a seatbelt. And finally, have a little practise first on a scrap piece of ribbon

Happy shoes

Happy Friday dear followers

What do YOU do when you are poorly and yuck?

I put on groovy heels with sparkly socks, even if I am not leaving the house.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

The Info bit: 

Shoes:Next, last winter

Trousers: Own design from Heyday! 

Socks: not sure, possibly nicked from a 1970s roller disco queen

I love your shoes!

Have you ever told a stranger that you loved her shoes as you passed her on the street? Or her dress or bag... I found you get as big a pick-me-up as she does when you see her beaming smile!

(I met this stunning girl on the streets of NY)

I sat down with a bunch of ladies on the subway and told them I wanted a picture of their shoes all together. We giggled like school-girls as we each stretched out a foot for the photo. This is what we got!

(you can recognise me by my navy Rocket Originals!)

I got a nice surprise when I got a compliment the other day too. We all could do with a bit more of that eh?

Shona x