Shoes of the Week 07/08/12 - Studded Ballet Slippers @ Matalan

Hi all

So it's that time of the week where I pick a pair of shoes that have caught my eye and deserve to be shown off to the wider world of bloggers. Before I reveal this week's pair I said last week that I had bought a tunic and jacket from Tesco and would post the links for both if they appeared on the website.

Low and behold they did! So here they are: f+f Asymmetric Biker Jacket and f+f Pointed Peter Pan Tunic Dress . I have yet to wear either item but I am looking forward to trying them out and see what other people think.

Other than that I have nothing new to tell you as I have been in work and breaking in my new Dr Martens (see previous post).

So without further ado ...

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Shoes of the Week 07/08/12

The pair I have picked for this week are Studded Ballet Slippers from Matalan .

Whilst they don't look like much, these shoes are hot right now. I originally came across a pair like this is Topshop earlier this year but with a £28 price tag they weren't exactly value for money. Since then similar shoes have been released across the high street and brands such as ASOS, AX Paris and even boohoo.com have released their own version.

The reason why this pair is better than the other imitations (in my opinion) is the price tag. At just £10 for the pair they are cheap enough to splash out on without the guilt if you only wear them a couple of times. The finish also feels high end as the studs are attached well and they have a luxurious velvet feel.

The studded shoe is certainly heavily featured for A/W 12 and the ballet slipper is probably one of the comfiest ways to wear this trend. They also go with a multitude of items so are great for just popping on when you don't know what else to wear.

Looking at the reviews online it does seem that the downside for these shoes is that the sizing runs a little small meaning that you may be better going for the next size up. Or you may want to persevere as with most shoes they do give a little after a couple of wears .



Overall I give a 7 / 10 .

Great shoes but only suitable for a couple of months wear.

Speak soon

GoodyTwoShoes x

Dr Martens Manchester Store Opening

Hi all

So today I went on a little trip to Manchester because one of my favourite shoe brands Dr Martens was opening a new store on Market Street. I got my first docs at the age of 13 for new school shoes, this then led to another pair being bought for fun , which led to another ... and another. I now own 6 pairs of different designs and had my eye on a new pair which I had spotted on line but wanted to see if they were worth the money.

So I hopped on the train , with an accomplice (Mum) and headed towards the store.

Here is a photo of the inside :

And the amazing artwork on the wall :

The store in itself is quite small but this is the same across all Dr Martens stores. There is only 1 floor with the different shoes laid out across a couple of stands. Everything is neat, tidy and clean and definitely fits in with the whole Dr Martens brand (including the retro CD juke box at the back). The sales assistants were also very happy to help.I found the pair that I had seen on line as well as several others so I asked for a size 8 and tried 3 pairs on.

The first pair was in the "Shoreditch" style in the Avery print velvet costing £65 these are new for a/w 2012 and can be found here. These are not the typical Dr Marten style as the shoreditch style gives a less structured boot design, as well as being a narrow width across. These were really nice boots but not for me because of the next pair I tried on.

The next pair I tried on were these :

These are 10 hole boots also in the Avery print velvet which are much more typical of the Dr Martens style and feel fabulous. They hit about mid calf, have dark grey rubber around the sole and were the pair that I had originally gone into see since coming across them here. At the cost of £100 they were also at the top of my budget. *Update* Official Dr Marten Link : Dr Martens avery boot

The last pair I tried on were these:

These are cherry red "Cassidy" print 8 hole boots. I had never seen these before and the store assistant said they are part of the new collection for winter. They are the typical Dr Marten boots with black vinyl print of skulls and flowers/leaves all over and come in 3 colours (black, red or purple). The only website stocking these i have found is here. At the price of £110 they were also at the top of my budget. *Update* Official Dr Martens link : Dr Martens cassidy boot

In the end I decided to go for the original pair I went in for before being ambushed by my mother who had already beaten me to the till !

When I got outside I found out that not only had I got the velvet Avery 10 hole boots but I had also got the red 'cassidy' 8 hole boots on the promise that one pair was for my birthday. Needless to say my mum got the biggest hug and I was speechless.

So all in all a very good trip and I'm just about getting over the shock. I can't wait to wear my new boots out and about and here's to all the mums out there !

Speak soon

GoodyTwoShoes x

Shoes Of The Week 31/07/12 - Vans Navy 106

Hi guys

Sorry I haven't posted much this week but I've been trying to create myself a twitter and manage that (Follow me at @MissGoody2s or search for 'GoodyTwoShoes')  as well as doing a few more hours in work so I can have some spends for the new A/W 2012 clothes which are being released across my favourite high street shops sometime soon.

As this is supposed to be a fashion blog I suppose I should also tell you I have acquired some new clothes. I bought a new black leatherette biker jacket for £30 and a black peter pan collared tunic dress for £16 at my local Tesco. However , they seem to be new to the range so they are yet to appear on the website but I will keep looking for them and if they still haven't appeared after next week I promise to post pictures of both.

The jacket was bought to replace a very similar one that I have loved and worn for about 4 years now from Dorothy Perkins. It was looking a bit worse for wear but was so comfy and versatile that I really did not want to put it to bed. After doing a bit of grocery shopping I stumbled across it in the brown and was pleased to discover they also offered it in black. It took about 5 mins to try/buy it but I am so happy with it and no doubt it will be worn a lot in the months coming up.

As for my shoes of the week I have decided to pick probably the comfiest pair of trainers that I have ever owned.

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My shoes of the week are Vans Navy 106 vulcanized shoes

I first bought a pair of Vans 6 years ago from an outlet store at the cost of £14. From then they never left my feet (and for a girl with 80 pairs of shoes that was impressive). Eventually that first pair were worn down and holey so were replaced by the above model but in a dark grey with an aqua stripe round the rubber soles. 2 years on they are still going strong but do look a lot worse for wear (holes in the toes and no lining to be seen) but they are still the comfiest pair of shoes I own.

In February I decided to replace my old favourites but seemed to struggle to find the same design of shoe. If you are new to the Vans brand then you won't realise that there are several styles available to you and they differ across both men's and women's although the men's can also be classed as unisex by some companies. Different companies will also offer different selections and so I could never be sure that I would find the same style of shoe that I liked. Eventually though , I came across the above shoes and bought them for the cost of £45 .

This was quite a difference to the original £14 I paid for my first pair, albeit in an outlet store, but due to both a country in recession and increases in popularity the prices have seemed to escalate. However I figured that they were worth it especially considering the cost per wear, quality and comfort.

This particular style is designed for both men and women and comes in 3 different colour combinations (Blk/Wht , Blk/Blk , Nvy/Wht). I picked the navy to give my feet a splash of colour and 6 months on they are still doing well.

New buyers do need to be aware that after a few wears your shoes will begin to crease to match your normal walking pattern causing some colour fading to occur along these creases. This is not specific to this particular style of shoe by Vans as some of my friends who own different types have also had the same problem.

Overall for these shoes i would give a rating of 7 / 10 .

This is because they are a wardrobe classic that do mix and match well but fail to catch the eye and do have to be replaced often due to wear on the inside rather than the outside.

Speak Soon

GoodyTwoShoes x

Shoes of the Week 24/07/12 - Red Or Dead Glitter Boots

Hi all

This is my new regular feature which I'm hoping you will enjoy. As you are probably aware I love shoes and so this is where I will pick a certain pair that I either own or are lusting over for the week and give them a review based on my experiences with the pair, brand , price, etc...

The pair that I have picked for this week aren't the ones I originally planned to do but after going out window shopping this morning I had to pick this pair (You'll soon see why).

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My shoes of the week this week are Red or dead dazzle glitter boots.

These are probably the most fabulous pair of shoes I've ever seen !

2012 is a big year for the UK as we've had the Queens Jubilee and the Olympics is coming up in just 3 days so why not show your support by wearing the Union flag.

Alright I will admit these are a bit more spice girls than sophisticated but they will certainly grab the attention of everyone in the room.

Speaking from experience with Red Or Dead personally I don't think that you can rival the quality of these shoes. Every pair that I own are long lasting , comfy and durable. However, this quality does come with an expensive price tag (£100) . If you can't afford this then most UK high street brands are now offering a union flag designed shoe and some cheaper versions can be found in markets and on line.

This design is only available at Schuh and after handling them for about 10 minutes in the shop I would definitely say they are worth the money. The platform at the front balances the high heel out nicely to allow for easy walking, the blue glitter seems fixed to the shoe so you don't have to worry about leaving a trail and the gradient on the feet allows for your legs and feet to be shown off nicely without too much pain. The downside to these shoes is that the boots tend to run narrow across the width of the foot and the small heel will only take a small amount of wear before considering re-heeling.

Overall I would give a 9 / 10 - loosing 1 point due to the fact I will never be able to afford them on a student budget.

Speak Soon

GoodyTwoShoes x 

Style vs Fashion

Hi all

As stated in the description one of the things I aim to look at on this blog is fashion and I thought one of the best places to start is the debate between Style and Fashion.

I think that style is something very specific to a person. Anybody can create their own style by combining the clothes and accessories that they love with their own ideals on what they think is pretty or beautiful. In fact, style is often a defining characteristic of a person. It's the thing that makes us remember or even notice a person because we often see something that has caught the eye.

Fashion, however, is a completely different story. We all, at one point, will have worn what others may have classed as "fashionable" clothes. This is because designers pick what will soon be the latest trends , the high street will pick items they can copy and easily imitate. From here certain items will be bought and worn in season before taking up residence in a wardrobe. Some may be worn again and again whilst others discarded.

But fashionable women will not always be stylish and the stylish not always fashionable.

Style is used as a way to express yourself to the world. This can be done by certain colours or kooky jewellery. A woman's style will change as she grows older and the people she identifies herself with change. A teenager may adopt a "Gothic" look as they face constant changes and rebellion with in themselves , a student may live in a uniform of jeans and a t-shirt, and an older woman may find solace in a well fitting suit and her favourite pair of heels.

Fashions will change just as much as the woman will and with the introduction of the Internet it is now even easier to grab hold of the latest trends. The difference that comes with this new freedom from the Internet is that every style is catered for. This means that style and fashion are no longer mutually exclusive and both no longer have an expiry date.

To me style will always take priority over fashion.

I have embraced many different styles over the years and would declare myself as an avid follower of fashion. Due to this I like to play around with clothes , wear something unexpected or find that random necklace that clashes completely with the print of a dress. It keeps my look fresh and people wondering. I like fashion but I will not always wear what is seen as catwalk worthy but this also does not mean I will discard something because the latest "it" girl/guy is pictured wearing it.

In the end if you like what you wear then you will look good wearing it no matter if its fashionable OR stylish.


GoodyTwoShoes x

Shoes of the Week 17/07/12 - M&S Wedge Shoes

Hi all

So , as you know I said I would try and post quite regularly now that I have the time and means to and here i am.

This is hopefully going to be a regular slot where I review and/or showcase my shoe lust for a particular pair of the week. I will disclose now that I do not work for any shoe shop, I do not get paid to advertise any particular shoes and/or brand and sadly, may not own the pair I pick for each week.

With that aside I will say that I generally take a UK size 8 shoe (europe sz 41) and have slightly wider than average feet so I do find it difficult to find shoes that fit comfortably.

My first ever shoes of the week are actually the pair of shoes I bought earlier this week during a sale shopping spree at Marks and Spencers. (link below)

Limited Collection Strappy Wedge Shoes

As a general rule I do not shop in M&S but with the sale signs in the window calling I felt a little look would do no harm.

I have always liked M&S Limited Collection shoes as they are designed to go with the current fashions on the catwalk but at a more affordable price. I also feel that M&S shoes offer more in the form of comfort than most other brands as their target audience is slightly older than most of the other shops on the high street.

When I first looked at shoes these were not the pair that caught my eye but upon closer inspection I thought they looked ideal for summer. The metallic blue would blend perfectly with a variety of items in my wardrobe, the straps gave great detail and would look great paired with leggings, jeans, dresses, etc... and the wedge design makes it perfect for being on your feet for a while without fearing foot ache or blisters.

I tried these on in store originally in a sz 8 but they felt a little big and I could only find the one shoe. I then looked for a smaller size but as they were in the sale and in store there was limited avaliability. Eventually I found a pair in a 7.5 which fitted nicely and so they were quickly bought and taken home.

After a little wear around the house (sadly british summer seems to have been and gone) I was pleased with my purchase. They are slightly padded underfoot to give a soft cushion and the wedge heel is not too high that you feel you are going to fall over. My only disappointment with them is that the straps that attach to the ankles fit tightly but some of the rest of the straps do not adjust accordingly so are a little wide. After reading the online reviews it seems like I'm not the only one to notice this little sizing problem for this other wise fabulous shoe.

Overall I'd give an 8 / 10 for these and definitely recommend getting your hands on them in the sale whilst they last.

Speak to you soon

GoodyTwoShoes x

Aint No Rest For The Wicked

Hi all


I can't believe I haven't been on here sooner but I'm glad I found you. Almost 7 months since my last (and first) post so a lot has happened since then.


To fill you in with the big things - I have finished my A levels ! Whoop ... But this now leaves me with a ton of spare time, not enough money to fit in with my shopaholic ways and an immense wait until results day where I will find out exactly where I will be come September. 


I have been to several friends party's leaving me to question British weather and exactly what do you class as 'Smart casual' ?


I've been volunteering with a great organisation called Hoby UK. This is a youth leadership organisation which started out in the USA but came over to the UK a few years ago and has been helping young people gain more confidence ever since.


I've travelled to London. Here I fell in love with Camden Market and Covent Garden before spending my latest pay packet in Topshop's HQ in Oxford Street. I've also spent some time in Cardiff loving the small vintage shops and little arcades where plenty of bargains could be found.


And finally to gain a little bit of culture in my life I had the pleasure of going to the "Phantom Of The Opera" in Manchester which was wonderful and beautifully executed by all cast and crew.


So yeah busy busy busy...


I suppose the main reason I finally found this blog again is due to an investment into a laptop. Before I was reliant on having time to fit in the ancient boot up of the family PC or squeezing in a browse during study time but now I have plenty of free time and the means to post.


Hopefully you'll be hearing a lot more off me this summer (and beyond) but for now this will have to do.

See you soon

GoodyTwoShoes x