SHOESday: Parity Party!

So for the last month or so, Australians who like to buy stuff on the internet from the US have been having a bit of a parity party, because our dollar has been close to, at or even over the US dollar! I don't know if this has ever happened since our dollar was floated! (It definitely wasn't when husby and I were in the US a few years ago - I think our dollar bought about US0.75 - bummer!)

I thought about buying lots of yarn but I refrained. I am so strong! (heh!!)

But I did buy a pair of shoes - they really were a bargain! And have a return shipping address in Australia in the event they don't fit. Lucky I don't need it!

I normally don't go for shoes with a lot of white on them - except for sneakers.

But I reckon these qualify as sneakers - wedge heeled sneakers! Ha! I love them! So comfortable! Just like sneakers but a teeny bit more dressy - and can be worn with a skirt, weeeeee!

I am humbled

And I thought I had a lot of red shoes.

Check this out...

Clearly I have some shoe shopping to do! (I so covet the red and white ones (second from front in the first photo), and I even hate white shoes. But those, I'd have those in a flash!)

Shoe of the Day, Pt 4 (the LAST instalment)

Last lucky last, save the best for last, whatever (you be the judge!).

I always knew that when I went to New York, I'd buy a pair of Manolos. From the Manolo store. And I did. I didn't have a particular pair in mind, I just wanted a gorgeous, classic, pair of Manolos.

I almost walked right past the store (it was about 5pm at the time and so quite dark) - I'm not sure what I expected - flashing lights and neon signs announcing "This is shoe heaven" or something. There were some relatively ugly pale blue suede/sheepskin boots in the window (I think). But walking in - as they say, it was like being a kid in a candy store. Shoes everywhere. Rows and rows. Lots of sale shoes (not so many left in my size).

So husby settled himself into a comfortable chair while I walked up and down, looking at everything at least twice before deciding which to try on. I had worn my special handmade socks that day (and somewhat unfortunately, they had dyed the soles of my feet red...which has never happened before with them). But no trouble.

I pretty much knew these were the "one" when I put them on. But I had another walk up and down the store just to be sure. And what really struck me was how comfortable they were. We'd been walking around NY all day and I have flat feet, so they get sore quite easily. But walking in these shoes was a dream. They really are a well-made, fantastically balanced shoe. The heel is so thin but it feels as secure as a wedge. And so classic. (Can you tell how much I love them!!) (And look how well my Hawaii pedicure has held up, and the tan, the Hawaii tan!!) Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Shoe of the Day, Pt 3

Ok Nora, I'll go easy on you - a nice sensible shoe for today, to replace my old faithful red suede ballet slippers (I said goodbye to those old friends on the weekend, along with a few other pairs of shoes that were really past their prime).

Love the proper ballerina square toe cap thingy. Clearly, also, I love how they are red inside and out!

Jacqui asked for shoe store stories (heh, say that 10 times in a row without taking a breath).

For me, in New York, it was pretty much designer shoes all the way. I don't buy these shoes in my "normal" life (unless they are on sale ...and even then not all the time). But for some reason, the money you spend while on holiday is not worth the same amount as if you spent it when at home - you are free and have no responsibilities - what mortgage? what renovations? what food/electricity/gas etc?

So of course I had to go to Manolo Blahnik - you can't go to New York and not go to Manolo (31 W 54th St)! And Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo (both on Madison Ave), and the shoe departments of Barneys, Saks 5th Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman (all on 5th Ave) (in my opinion, Bergdorfs had the best range). I also looked at Macy's and Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus (but NM was in Hawaii, I didn't get there in NY). I scoped them all out before I went back in for the kill.

I don't remember seeing a lot of shoe stores (except for Foot Locker, which are everywhere but which really don't count!) but maybe I just didn't walk up the right streets. Oh well, that just means I'll have to go again!!! (in about a hundred years after I've paid off my credit card!)

Last pair of shoes tomorrow - I promise they are worth the wait! And then Friday is handbag day...

Happy Chinese New Year (and Shoe of the Day, Pt 2)

Happy year of the Pig - Pigs are supposed to be intellectually curious, loyal, honest and tolerant - quite a good sign to be. Shame about the somewhat negative views about pigs - I prefer the Charlotte's Web view rather than the Animal Farm view. (see Cute Overload for lots of cute piggy pics).

Although sometimes I wish I was a tiger. Or a leopard ... which brings me to:


Shoe of the Day, Pt 2


I've got the heels, now I've got the flats. Just because you have to have some sensible shoes doesn't mean they can't be superfantastic!

Shoe of the Day pt 1

I know I've been banging on about my holiday for, like, ever, but bear with me, only a few more mentions (I hope...). I couldn't not show off the shoes. You can't go to New York and not buy shoes. Oh yes, some shoes were purchased.

Here's the first. Red patent - how naughty!

Mum takes great delight in this story: I had black patent shoes (mary janes I'd say) when I was little. When I was being toilet-trained, to be precise. Apparently the only time I wet myself I was wearing the patent mary janes and I was so upset that they got wet. I never did it again. Clearly the beginning of my shoe fetish!
Check back every day this week for the next installments...

Of sweets and shoes

these are two of my favourite things...

It's all about the desserts at the moment - and all the US blogs with their thanksgiving feasts (and photos!) are not helping! My brother M and his family visited on the weekend (they still live in my home town). M loves his golden syrup dumplings. It is a running joke in the family that he was hardly done by as a child because mum "never" made them for him! I have mum's recipe and was very easily prevailed upon by him to make them for him this weekend.
This is the last one (makes 10) - served warm with lots of the sauce and ice-cream - mmmmmm a real winter pud (yes, I know it is summer here now, well almost anyway, ok then an all year round pud!). Cakey sweet deliciousness. (If anyone wants the pattern recipe, let me know!)

And since there's been a dearth of shoe posts here's my latest acquisition:
Not purchased with my DJ's voucher (not for lack of trying, let me assure you, just that nothing has been superfantastic enough for that yet!), but purchased at the urging of my very bad influence shoe fiend friend, J. A good pair of summer wedges (for those who remember, I always have to add "wedges, weginald!")

shoesshoesSHOES!

More pretties! Jil Sander - my first wedges...if anyone can tell me how to keep cream suede clean I will love them forever; Ferragamo d'orsays - mmmm red shoes; Escada - I should have hated these, stylised love hearts are so not my thing...but something in these shoes called to me and would not let me go without buying them, and I love them; Bally - green trim rocks!

Singa Shopping Spree!

Some of my favourites - all bought in the Great (oh yes it is!) Singapore Sale in July 2005. Lucky for me I'm a 39 in shoes - that is about the largest size you can get in Singapore.
L-R: Anya Hindmarch, YSL, Christian Louboutin, Gucci
Things I love about these shoes: The buckles on the ankle strap on the Anya Hindmarch shoes are bow shaped, which is the logo - and the sole of the shoe has a bow embedded into the toe point and a quilted insole; on the YSLs - the ankle strap closes with a covered button, and the shoes are RED and PURPLE (my first and second favourite colours); on the Louboutins - well, the whole shoe really but especially the RED sole; Guccis - well, clearly they're PURPLE. I feel a little like a Stepford wife clipping around in them though...But the thing I love the most is that wearing these shoes makes me feel superfantastic!