December's outfits

Another month has gone by. Again, I am reminding you all my outfits presented in December. I have to admit that, to my surprise, one of them doesn't have any black! I seem to be very much into black at the moment in my everyday outfits... I think all my latest sale purchases (that I'm still awaiting to arrive to my door grrrr...) are either black or navy. I actually noticed that there's nothing in navy in my wardrobe! So, without hesitation, I purchased a navy coat! But going back to December, my definite favourite is the outfit with tweed shorts. I have to start wearing them more often! Which one did you like most?

New Year's Resolutions

New year’s resolutions? I know, they’re sooooo last year. I remember when I signed up for my gym membership in January last year and I all I heard was ‘Oh, a NY'sR, is it?’. ‘No’, my answer was. ‘My old membership with a different gym finished after one and a half months of waiting for it and it’s just a coincidence, thank you very much (in a Fearne Cotton style)’. Do you even remember your NY'sR from last year? Dare I ask whether you actually followed it after 31^st of January?

Well, I actually did have one and it made my life so much easier. It went like that: ‘If something needs to be done, do it. Do it now.’ But I started treating it as a great piece of advice to myself (and I rarely give myself any advice, not to mention the reasonable one). It wasn’t just a temporary silly rule that I would never follow. It worked like that: if I needed to book a ticket – I booked it the minute I thought of it. If I needed to make a trip to Boots to get cotton buds – I did it during my first lunch break coming. Simple.

Not only did it make my life easier but also kept me…. busy. I kind of became my own boss and servant at the same time. Beneficial for both sides! The boss stops moaning and the employee gets what she needs. You would probably say ‘how boring…’. After nearly six years of being a uni student and frequenting the late submission office on a regular basis I found out that being organised saves you a great deal of stress and drama. So, ladies and gentlemen, do yourselves a favour and try to fight your inner free-spirited mess lover.  

Burgundy, nude and black.

Even though the photos look a bit sad today, I'm in a cold but beautiful and sunny home town enjoying my last cup of coffee here. I've just been out for a short walk - just like in the photos. But, unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to a dear friend. The end of the year always makes me think about what happened, what didn't happen and what could've happened. I try to learn from my own mistakes (easier said than done, I know) and figure out what is it that I really want (again, easier said than done). And a walk is a great opportunity to figure out what you really want so if you're not too busy pop on your shoes, wrap up warm and go for a walk. I wish my last walk was longer but there you go. I'm sure my friend will go for another walk with me when we meet in a few months. It should be warmer by then as well lol. 

Photos by PJ

shirt, boots, bag - Zara

jeans - H&M

coat - Mango

Dear Sale.

Dear Sale,

I was looking forward to seeing you. It's been months since we last met and I have to admit that I was beginning to feel a bit... anxious. Whilst doing my Christmas shopping I was just peeking at all the other pretty items I could put under my own imaginary Christmas tree. 'To me for myself' the note would say proudly. I would open the DHL box and act rather surprised at what I would find inside. It would all be the right size and just... perfect.

And here it is. A few drinks on Christmas Eve, last minute gift wrapping under the influence of alcohol,  official dinner with family, an after-party with friends. Far too many colourful cocktails made with your boyfriend's new shaker (great gift idea auntie Beth). Covered in glitter and other people's lipstick you finally manage to get to your own bed. You realise that there's a really busy day ahead of you - Boxing Day.

It's one of a few days days that the British nation is religiously looking forward to. Before Christmas we repeatedly say 'I need a new printer but I'll get it on Boxing Day in the sales'. We postpone all the purchases that we can into that sacred period of price cuts filled with glory. The brave people will even go and buy what they urgently need in the actual shops! The smart people have already browsed what the shops have to offer and will conquer the sales world online.

I woke up in the morning feeling rather ok. Instead of having a shower, breakfast, any sort of hot drink, I dashed to find my laptop and dig into the sales 'before my size is gone'. Whilst the laptop is turning on I ramble on about how difficult it is to get anything decent in the sale if you're a 'most popular size'. Being proportional is normally a good thing but on Boxing Day when we see the shoes we really like we consider squeezing size 7 feet into a 5 or a 4, in extreme situations. Also, for the first time this year we wouldn't concern wearing a size 14 instead of 10. Why? Only because our dream dress is 70% off but only i sizes 14+. As if by magic we wouldn't mind being a bit... curvier.

As I scroll down the long list of clothes nobody bought within the last 5 months I realise that the sale doesn't look very generous. My dreams have been sliced off more heavily than the prices. The numbers representing value haven't 'melted' as they promised on telly. 'Is that really the biggest price cut down ever?' I think to myself. 'I'm sure they can do more'. And I end up with the ancient dilemma - to buy or not to buy? That is the question... Do I buy a top that is only 20% cheaper or do I wait another couple of weeks for further reductions? H E L P! 'OK, I'll wait. That's the reasonable thing to do. But what if my size will be sold out in 10 mins? What if all the people fancying a leather cut out t-shirt woke up this morning and decided to buy it in this very minute? What do I do?'. My mind starts buzzing in despair for the right answer!

And finally I am done with browsing. I've eliminated what would not look good on me even though I fancy it. So I go to the basket. Far too many items. How do I decide what to keep and which ones should go back on the warehouse shelf? I set up a budget. No more than this. As I keep on pressing the little crosses in the right hand side corners I realise that I am rejecting potentially good clothes. Without even trying them on. They aren't given even a small chance to live happily ever after in my wardrobe. But I manage. With confusion written all over my face I got exactly, spot on the budget.

Clicking 'confirm order' feels like stepping into heaven. Now my mind is at ease. Just need to pay and my dreams will come true. My wonderland will be a step closer. To my surprise, the credit card is not accepted. Panic! My knees are shaking. I've been hand picking the clothes for the last 3 hours, still in my PJs at my parent's dinner table and them waiting for me to join the family for breakfast. 'I'm nearly done' I shout out but I'm nowhere near being done. I'm going through all my recent bills remembering the credit card one. Wondering whether I paid it off or not I do not hesitate but dig in my handbag in search for another one before it's too late. Ok, I haven't used that one for a while but it should work. Anxiously I put all the numbers in. Why on Earth is this number so long? Those seconds after clicking 'confirm' drag so slowly as if they were years. APPROVED. I burst out with a massive sigh.

Now I can rest in peace. I've done my duty as a British citizen to help rescue the economy. Now i've been one of the 60 million people buying in the the Boxing Day sale. I feel united. I feel reassured. I feel good again. I feel myself. I feel at ease with the world but only till the next drama with a courier arriving at my door when I'm not in. But I don't worry about it yet. I enjoy my turkey sandwich for breakfast and relax...

Yours faithfully,

Eva

Merry Christmas

My Dear Readers form all around the world,

Iamshoeshopping would like to share some joy of the festive season. I hope you're spending your Christmas with the ones that you love just like we are. It doesn't matter where you are from and where on planet Earth you currently are. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, we would like to wish you a peaceful Holiday filled with lots of smiles, wonderful emotions and festive cheer. And some fabulous and fashionable gifts as well haha. All in all, Merry Christmas x

Eva & PJ

Black and white.

As everyone is running around in the last bit of the pre-Christmas fever, I'm sat at my parent's kitchen table enjoying breakfast and finishing off this post. Black and white. Classic again. The weather in the UK is not very Christmassy at the moment but that's no surprise, is it? 10 degrees is more like an only-jumper kind of weather hence no coat in the photos today. But the best part about today is.... One more sleep to Santa!

Photos by PJ

All from Zara

The power of mid heel.

Looks like another season will be marked by a mid-heel. Is it just a sign of designers’ tired feet? Is Tamara Mellon fed up with wearing ridiculously high Jimmy Choos and woke up one day in her New York penthouse only to realise that there’s nothing wrong with a lower heel? If that is the case – thank you Ms Mellon! Thank you designers for making shoes that make us o more than a couple of inches taller and allow us to wear heels at work all day.

I did go through a phase of wearing 4inch high shoes that, at the time, I’ve found to be on the comfortable side. As a quite tall person I was even taller and could easily see which shop assistant was serving the beginning of the queue quicker. However, since last summer I have been in camp mid-heel. Why? In lower heels one can move quicker in order to grab that last smoked salmon sandwich at lunchtime in M&S. One can also walk a longer distance than car park-main door. Also, I stopped receiving comments like ‘could you be any taller?’ in a Chandler Bing voice. So, ladies, don’t be afraid. Don’t be scared of the mid heel. It’s still glamorous. It still makes a statement. It still is making your hips swing softly as you walk. Believe in a mid heel and it will believe in you. 

sources: whowhatwear, themanrepeller, harper's bazaar uk

Tweed shorts.

As promised, ladies and gentlemen, I am presenting to you my attempt to rock winter shorts. Classic tweed shorts accompanied by black, brown and camel. Is it just me or does a camel coat go with anything? Obviously, I popped classic black tights on to keep me warm. The transition from 'no tights' in the summer to 'black tights' seems quite sudden every year, doesn't it? As I'm wrapping up warm (and even warmer staring tomorrow) PJ is sizzling on the beach! Tomorrow I'm going to sing 'Driving home for Christmas' by Chris Rea all day long. I've already received my first Christmas gift this year and I have to admit that Santa has been listening to me all year long (well done, Santa P! congrats on your patience as well haha). It's fabulous to receive items that will make you look and feel good both when you're going out and when sitting at home on the sofa...

Photos by PJ

coat, shorts - H&M

jumper - Pull&Bear

wedges - River Island

bag - Zara

Winter shorts.

'Winter shorts'. When I introduced this idea to PJ he nearly tripped over and ended up with a broken foot. Once he gained his balance back he came up with 'a summer scarf' and 'a summer coat'. Doesn't make much sense? Well, it sure does to me. I came across this short feature on shorts in this month's Tatler and I couldn't help myself but wonder. Does it rally not make sense? Why is it that people look at you weirdly when you're wearing shorts in winter? It's just the same as wearing a skirt. Nothing wrong with it. If you happen to live in a similar climate to the one that we have in the UK just don't forget to wear tights. Black. Blacker. As black as it gets. They will do you all sorts of favours: keep your legs warm, make your legs look slimmer and cover any bruises/running a bit behind on waxing. This season I went for a pair of tweed shorts (that I'm going to reveal tomorrow) but I'm still looking for a perfect pair of loose leather ones. Remember not to get them too tight and too short - they might bring all the wrong ideas to people's minds... Below, you can see Mira Duma rocking the winter shorts style. What kind of look would you go for?

Photos by Tatler, Miroslava Duma and myself

Black and denim.

Black and denim... It's always a tricky one... It does remind me of the times when I was a 15 years old badly dressed student. It's funny how we go through phases. Punk, grunge, no-name-for-it, all very different yet significant in our lives. A black shoes and denim combo reminds me of those times as well. Of the times where I had no clue what I was doing but I thought I looked great (will it be the case when I look back at these photos in 10 year's time?). This grey coat is definitely my favourite one of the season. It doesn't just look good but is pretty warm as well. Not that I should complain about this month's temperatures but it's nice to feel cosy and wrapped up. In any situation!

Photos by PJ

coat, jeans, top, boots, bag - Zara

hat - H&M