SHOESday: Got any blacker?

You can't really get any blacker than these. My first pair of designer shoes, bought on huge sale in, where else, but Singapore! My first Singapore trip. Husby had to go to Singapore for a couple of weeks for work, and I decided to join him for a long weekend. We stayed in a fairly simple serviced apartment not far from Orchard Road. Wow, did I ever love Orchard Road! Great department stores, great chain stores - Zara! TopShop! And designer stores as far as the eye could see. I'd never been in a designer store before then, I don't think. Too scared. Too scared the shop assistants (I'm sure they are probably called Sales Associates or some other upmarket name, but whatever!) would look down their noses at me as if to say "You would never in a million years fit into our clothes" or "You can't even afford to buy a keyring in here, what are you doing here". But I thought to myself, well, I can afford to buy a keyring, and more, and yeah, I dare say I couldn't fit into your clothes, but I can fit into your shoes. So I'm a'comin' in, and ptooey to you if you don't like it. (I'm sure they weren't thinking these things really, that's just me, so really this conversation was with myself!)

And not only could I afford the shoes (especially as they were on huge reduction - I'm talking like 50-75% - much better reductions than in Australia!!) but I could also fit into them (fortunately my shoe size is the largest they usually stock). And every time I wear these shoes I feel like a million bucks, and I think of something my friend Miss J said to me on the second Singapore visit (when we had a girl's shopping weekend!!): "a cat can look at a king". Why yes a cat can, and sometimes a cat can even dress like one. Or at least, like a queen perhaps!Things I love about these shoes - the cross detail on the heel cup; the buckles on the vamp which have "Gucci" inscribed on them (why yes, I am a label whore...well, in a very very very understated way...I wouldn't buy a logo handbag for example!) and the sole of the shoe, which is actually a great non-slip sole, rather than slick leather, which means I don't need to get them resoled. These shoes are at least 4 years old and they still look fantastic (one of the benefits of buying good shoes and lots of them - they wear exceedingly well!)